Can a Family Build a Life Off Grid?

[@LifeWorkRestPlay]

I initially found your channel due to my interest in off grid living but found it more interesting (in a good way) about your views on organic farming & politics etc. Keep it up, its great to have an all round view from someone doing the off grid life for real. Thank you for your content.👍

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@LifeWorkRestPlay Thank you for watching. We got some initial hate from talking a bit about politics, and people couldn’t see the connection with off grid and politics…… If we are going to be healthy and free we need to not go down an authoritarian route. This life and what happens outside it are connected.

[@LifeWorkRestPlay]

@@The_OffGridFamily I totally agree, we ourselves put off our plans to have a Tiny home & a small holding because of the short sightedness of our local council (Northumberland) with planning consent. Thank you for standing up and discussing the issues surrounding off grid living and associated issues. The people who say that you aren''t truly off grid do not appreciate the reality of the process of getting there!

[@LivingOnPrayersOffGrid]

Good to see others trying to live better lives. I loved the quote at the end of the video, your spending is your only vote!

[@yellownev]

I always enjoy your videos thank you for the content. You are to be applauded on your efforts as a family to be different and literally ploughing your own furrow in life. Question to you “ is it ever too late to start this lifestyle”? I’m 62 fit and capable, we could sell up and buy something to develop into a sustainable future, possibly to pass on to our lads and their kids….. just a big leap when we can afford to be comfortable into our unknown future ! Keep the focus on the family and be lucky.

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@yellownev Thank you for the lovely comment. We are going to be doing a Q & A in the next video. But for you I would say if your fit and have money to get people to do the difficult time consuming bits……You want to get comfortable and not be slopping around in the mud for years like me and my family 😂. If your lads are nearby and are prepared to look after you in older age…… The thing that happens to people a lot is they sell their property for their care. It is a worry. I hope my kids look after me so I don’t have to sell for care! If you don’t have deep pockets this life can be uncomfortable. Don’t rough it. Have a home dry and warm very soon into whatever you do. If you get the living conditions right you will be healthier and you will leave something great for your boys. 💪

[@yellownev]

@@The_OffGridFamily Thank you for taking the time to give such a comprehensive and considered reply. Everything you say I can relate to especially about the potential for funding the latter stages of life. I've two people I know who brought their parents into their estate with the parents funding a chunk of it and it worked for them, the parents got the nearby care and when they died the children got the enlarged estate. But it takes commitment planing and trust. If it's meant to be it will be but your advice is very logical and sensible. Thank you

[@emmakavanagh3485]

Ahhh, such happy children. They will learn much more growing up in an environment like yours. Always good being educated on such topics with what’s going on in the world now. Make informed choices. But without getting down about the shite going on. Well done to your family.

[@dtvking]

Hope your polytunnels survived these winds. All the best to you all X

[@The_OffGridFamily]

Thanks for the comment. The commercial one hasn’t moved 👍 The small one that was £122 has been doing the Mexican wave and bits have fallen off many times. I’ve moved it behind a hedge where it’s now ratchet strapped to hay bails. What a pain 😂

[@HPLP85]

I can understand the community comment. I live on the West coast of Ireland and am so grateful after the past few years to have likeminded thinkers around. Even if it's just for a chat.

[@The_OffGridFamily]

Thanks for the comment. Lots of ways to live in a community some more like minded than others.

[@gf3803]

Always enjoy your videos especially when you talk about the world we're facing. Glad to see your family taking action. Sadly, the food situation might be remedied for those with the money to do so, but I fear a larger change will lose to economic reality. Some folks can't afford the bad food available, many are in debt to afford it, and very few will have the resources for a better product or for your lifestyle.

[@The_OffGridFamily]

I agree. When I was doing the video and saying about having to pay more for food it was in my mind that some are buggered to be honest. But most could do more in terms of growing some veg. When I lived on a council estate the people that seemed the poorest became that way through bad choices. Drink cigarettes and sky TV. You have to be willing to do a bit more and that being said I feel everything is getting deliberately more difficult for anyone wanting to help themselves.

[@gf3803]

@@The_OffGridFamily yeah, there is no magic solution for the human condition and those who are fortunate enough to become aware of such issues can take steps. But such people are always a minority of the population and even the promise of the Internet wasn't able to change that. As such, the larger mass of people will drive the economics and it's unlikely that the global food system will correct itself, so taking it upon yourself as your family is doing will likely be the only solution.

[@TheOffGridIrelandDream]

Fantastic what you've achieved! We are at the beginning of our off grid, self sufficient journey and it's great to see how others have made it work. Very inspirational. Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@TheOffGridIrelandDream Thank you for the nice comment. Good luck with it all over there in Ireland! 👍

[@ushiecowling8109]

Oh wow..just discovered your channel..I'm from lincolnshire too ..❤

[@lyndarobinson2853]

Are there no others around you trying to live like you that you could trade eggs for raw milk etc. My understanding of a community would be working together that way. 😊

[@The_OffGridFamily]

I haven’t found any…. The farms are mostly too large. That’s how I would like community to be. If people could afford and have the education to buy only the quality……..All that would be left is farmers selling quality and getting paid for it fairly. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@simonpile4523]

Have you considered offering working holidays, like you I’d be very sceptical about sharing my land with unknowns. We are fortunate we’re rural but always amazes me how many people are willing to give their time and skills for free on a working holiday. I guess it’s different if you live in a built up area. Another option could be offering off grid courses in areas you’ve built knowledge in whether that be building a solar array, processing chickens, preparing/storing of food for winter. The income generated from these may allow you to invest in things that save you time and automate processes where possible..don’t ask me what these are but things that spring to mind are your tracked barrow etc. Although I appreciate delivering these courses is another time constraint, guess it’s just finding that balance and seeing what works for you and the family. Either way keep up the good work, love seeing what you’re doing! 👍

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@simonpile4523 Thank you for the nice comments. I feel guilty about having people help. The first time I had a foreign holiday and someone helped/took my bags it made me feel really uncomfortable. 😂 I’m not qualified at anything I have done except for tree stuff. Not a welder not a solar installer. Not a builder. Have no qualifications in pond building or planning. But haven’t burnt anything down or flooded anything. Nothing I have welded has fallen apart yet. So that’s a plus 👍

[@kroozer5215]

well said Fraze

[@The_OffGridFamily]

Thanks for the support 👍

[@johnmcelroy1146]

Keep doing what you're doing lad. You're spot on about Joel Salatin. Where did you get your polytunnel from?

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@johnmcelroy1146 Thank you for the nice comment. Yeah exciting stuff with Joel and R F kennedy. The Polly tunnel was on Wilco on line. The commercial big one was first tunnels.

[@dianedavies1708]

Not enough people awake we are doomed with starmer he needs to go Davos devils

[@marcobrian1619]

If starma was doing this..... he'd be trying to tax the slugs and chickens to live.

[@marcusglass2175]

Hi Fraze, I have to agree with you about the costs of producing your own food, but as you say the taste is not comparable to supermarket rubbish. We too have a small holding not far from you which we have been on for just over a year full time, this year we decided to get 2 lambs and raised them for our freezer, we also have started growing veg although we grew a lot of our own before moving to Lincolnshire. We have chickens for eggs and will be looking next year for dual purpose birds. On your observations about eggs, we couldn't more, the taste is far superior. Have enjoyed watching your journey with you lovely family.

[@The_OffGridFamily]

Thank you for the nice comment. That’s amazing news about your small holding. I think we are going to hold on getting larger animals until our kids are a bit older and less time consuming. As for dual purpose birds le bress ones we have been laying eggs for 2 weeks and are laying as many as our laying hens at the moment. Too early to say if this will continue or if the meat is as good as they say. I maybe should have just had the dual purpose from the beginning……

[@garrygrant2827]

Frazer your opening shotsof your solar panels look like they need a good soapy clean as this will increase your generation in solar power . I cleaned mine recently and was amazed at how much more they generated . How has the new polly tunnel stood up to the big storm on the 7th/8th December 2024. There is nothing better than growing your own food with natural organic soil . The food out of shops are mass produced and filll ed with not healthy chemicals. I have 25 acres in the highlands of Scotland and grow all my fruit vegetables and i have some highland cattle goats a few pigs hens sheep all organic i work with nature and make butter cheese milk . There is a big organic farm near me and they make hen food so that helps cut costs down its not easy it real hard work that never ends but me an my family love it andwe eat healthy food . I am buying additional 8 acres of land next to me and its well fenced and i am putting highland cattle and sheep on it as it has been fallow for many years . I put my bush shredder to clear some much over growen areas plus the pigs are going to clear a big are that is perfect for them. Frazer never give up i dont see obstacles in life just opertunetes

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@garrygrant2827 Thank you for the comment. The solar panels are on my list. Just serviced the generator ✔️ Your life sounds amazing and very busy. I’m not a farmer and don’t see me farming every animal. I’m busy as a tree surgeon, although give me enough land and I may change jobs 😂. The Polly tunnel is still here with a lot of help from ratchet straps and straw bails. Do you sell your produce?

[@garrygrant2827]

@The_OffGridFamily hi frazer and family . I never at first started farming it was like you and your wife small scale but in time the neighbour he was to old to keep his croft going and sold me a couple of big sheds and he had 4 highland cattle so it then became 25 acres now its 31 acres so with more land and having a burn that runs year round we put in a 50foot wind turbine then made area up higher up the hill put in a reducing pipe and had small hydro until I could put in 2 solar arrays with victron inverters and 20 batterys . Now we sell locally eggs butter goats milk highland cows milk honey with the extra acres we intend to sell pig meat sheep and cattle in near future. I love this and so does my wife son an daughter but it's hard work you never stop so many things to do but if I don't get it done today there is always tomorrow. As I said to you I don't see problems just opportunities keep at it you to will get there and when your kids are a bit older there will be many hands to help . You should get a cow at least then your wife can make butter cheese ice cream and plenty good healthy milk for the kids some day soon you will be puttout videos of new way to live well hope this answer your questions

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@garrygrant2827 That all sounds amazing. But that would mean full time farming. We buy in raw milk and make ice cream….. but milking a cow is another time consuming job. I don’t think we will ever do it all. More of a case of if needs must. As for “keep at it you will get there” I’m not sure where there is 😂.

[@EmmaMG21]

Would be so nice to be able to trust a few other like-minded people or have small communities.. I keep comparing the situation to America.. I’ve been watching Jess at Roots and Refuge for many years now. And Gold Shaw Farm. They seem to be able to form strong bonds with other farmers and have conferences.. There’s Billy (is that his name?) at One Tree Farm in S-E England.. I’m dreaming of entering this lifestyle someday. Hope this long comment helps the algorithm! (And watching the ads) :)

[@The_OffGridFamily]

Thank you for the comment. It’s not all about trust but the economics of all working together in a farming type scenario. Having a share in the land and also in the time all individuals must spend working in a community to make it fair for everyone. Some people may want to do other jobs and maybe can’t commit as much as others. Are other jobs permitted? What happens if you don’t like some in your community once you have bought in. Own your own farms as a community of organic growers for me would be the way. Even a portion of your own land within a larger community would be great as at least you have say on it. People in communes as in anywhere can have a range of strange……..

[@CaptainProton1]

Guess who forgot to put rocks in his solar ground mounts.....meh. Picking through all the damage of the off grid solar setup. Lesson learned. Greetings from Off Grid Devon

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@CaptainProton1 Sorry to hear this. That’s what happens when you are busy. Has it broken your panels?

[@martinknight510]

Community farms sound the perfect idea not sure how well they will work in reality but 🤞ive wondered whether a small shop selling only local produce as even the butchers and farms shops its from upto 50 mile away 🤦

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@martinknight510 I think they can work if you have your own large enough parcel of land. But all owning the same plot is a big red flag for me. Worse than being on an estate with the unknown neighbours…..you then have a business together and live together….. what could go wrong 😂

[@pdhywrd]

I cannot eat grain fed poultry as I have a serious intolerance to grains and that extends to what my food has eaten but people do not realise that their health is affected, not only by what they eat, but also by what their food source has eaten.

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@pdhywrd wow never thought of that. I think more in terms of feed your animals poor artificial feed and you feed yourself it down the road. That must make eating really difficult. I give my chickens a lot of rotted chip that’s full of worms to cut down the expense. But grain free would be time consuming….

[@humanitylane]

💗 That's the comment

[@The_OffGridFamily]

That’s a nice one 👍

[@HB91LDN]

Where did u find that for so cheap ?! U could make it stronger with abit more work & a little more money and it would still be fantastic value.

[@The_OffGridFamily]

Found it online from Wilco. Yeah a few supports helped. But if you go too far you may as well just wrap polythene around your own frame. The tie downs on it are rubbish they have all torn off. And I now have large ratchet straps right over the whole thing and attached to hay bales. Soo many storms! Thanks for the comment.

[@lucatruscott5990]

Can you do a video on planning permission

[@sammaimas155]

But didn't all the forest that's gone, suck up Co2 and produce O2.

[@JohnJones-e8v]

Can you tell me is there land next too you I could rent or buy that I could start a similar p4oject too you and your family

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@@JohnJones-e8v some land comes up now and then…… Problem is planning.

[@yanworthington7840]

Do you have issues with foxes or other predators?

[@The_OffGridFamily]

We have been lucky. Have seen a fox a few times in the summer. It circled around the electric fence. It probably got a nip and hopefully it’s put it off. We have a stoat and it makes short work of rabbits but hasn’t had a go at any chickens. This wind has been knocking our electric fence over so that’s a worry…….

[@stevebarker6133]

Will unsubscribe because you are NOT really living off grid. She only recently quit a teaching job (now trying to run a home schooling business). He has his own tree surgery business! Definitely not living off grid! A con!

[@The_OffGridFamily]

@stevebarker6133 🙄 brain dead

[@Julesbc1234]

Living off grid does not mean not having a job. It means not being dependent on an electrical grid or water mains grid. Off the Grid, right?