We Left the UK & Bought a £20k Farm in Portugal

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Beijinos e abraços,
Carissa, Iwan, Frankie & Albi
Our Story:
We are Carissa, Iwan & Frankie the sausage dog, and in 2020 decided one night over a bottle of wine that moving from North Wales to Portugal would be a good idea. Within a month we were on the road to Portugal to find the perfect piece of land to call home. We picked up Albi, Joao and Simao the cats along the way, as well as Diogo the podengo and a flock of chickens.
Subscribe to follow our project as we turn an old stone barn into our home, and learn the ropes of looking after a piece of land to make an abundant garden and one day, our very own winery.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

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[@eunicehenderson9095]

Tie a weight on to the pipe to keep it sunk to the bottom of the well.

[@kevinnye5132]

Don’t give Euan ideas 😂

[@sheilakerr-jones4345]

Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay happy. Thank you, for lovely content.❤️

[@rachelfrees1268]

Hello everyone. The fruit trees are looking good. Hope your old pump parts can be rethreaded. Then you have a spare. Take care of each other.❤

[@ritafoster4958]

Words to live by, Carissa, “Plumbing is never fun!!” You are both so calm dealing with it- it’s amazing. Cheers! ❤️💐🇨🇦

[@FrankieOffGrid]

I might get it made into a t-shirt 🤣!

[@kimallard225]

Hi love. My hubby is an engineer. He taught me, "Lefty loosie, righty tighty. This always helps me to know which way the taps open and close. So screws or tube conectors are the same. Hope this helps love... fantastic channel. I love watching you guys when im down the allotment having a break. Lots of love kim x

[@yvonnebailey9973]

Thanks, advice for all of us amateurs.

[@suedale1865]

And uk electric plug bLue L for left bRown R for right yellow-green centre for earth ( my Dad taught me when I was 8 or so )

[@KovietUnionDefector]

Lefty loosely- righty tighty is my mantra now too.....the boys know all the cool things ;)

[@margicross6196]

You should try tying a weight to the well end of the hose. A brick tied with a good piece of rope should do the trick😊.

[@notme35]

I also say Lucys not 😁 for the hot water tap 😀

[@pennyblack5377]

Hi guys, the citrus trees have feeder roots just under the surface so if the ground heats and dries these fine roots will die off. Would help to keep a wide area damp and shaded with mulch. Once they have a wider diameter the leaves themselves help moderate the environment under the tree. The first few years are tough on citrus in a very dry climate but a layer of mulch that can retain moisture will make all the difference. Thanks for the videos! from NZ..

[@johanvanderwesthuizen9834]

Make beds around your citrus trees, start with 500mm radius on those trees. Cover with mulch and water well. The roots will spread under ground and you will have healthy trees next season. Best wishes.

[@JTTW1455]

Nice shot of the moon. I can’t wait to see your progress with the pallet cabin. Glad you got your water issues sorted out. Thanks for the video!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you :) the night sky and moon here are always amazing, glad we could capture it! We're hoping to get back to the pallet cabin soon, its super hot here at the moment so we're going to try get a few bits done in the early mornings!

[@MsHapless]

Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey - easy to remember! A lovely Saturday morning catch up at your beautiful homestead.

[@AleeshaSattva]

That moon shot at the end... wow...

[@FrankieOffGrid]

:) xxxx

[@AnnemarieWillcox]

My weekly Frankie off grid fix. Thankyou. Love You

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much for watching :)

[@mandyb6088]

Your Citrus trees will benefit greatly from surface mulching from trunk to drip zone with a fine woody mulch that will encourage fungal development. Mandy from New Zealand

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks Mandy :) we'll have a look into adding some mulch to them, they're definitely struggling a little with the heat we're having x

[@lindagage7315]

Can't wait to see your next step on your new cabin/shower! Well done

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Us too! Hopefully we'll be able to move forward a bit with it this week even though it's so hot! We want to get it water tight before the first rains arrive x

[@neutonrenda2303]

I can almost smell your garden with the sprinkler going, it's looking so nice.❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

I wish we could add smells to our videos! The scent when the sprinkler is going is so lush x

[@deborahbasel184]

A beautiful image of the Moon.

[@stellafabing3773]

The homestead is coming on nicely. I’m so excited, can’t wait to see the end result of the pallet home. ❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you! Hopefully we can make some progress on the cabin over the next few weeks as we'd like to make it water tight before the first rains arrive!

[@stellafabing3773]

@@FrankieOffGrid ❤️ All the Best.

[@mandyb6088]

Squash will tell you when they are ready to pick the leaves will go brown and die back the stalks will dry, always cut the squash leaving a T shaped stalk attached to the fruit, this will make them store better through winter. Mandy from New Zealand

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Oh thanks so much for that tip Mandy, I will try and remember to put the T shaped stalk when I harvest it. the stalk is still green and its growing so big!

[@wendyhorn8376]

Use some silicone to seal around the pipe fitting. That end isn't pressurized. A solid bead of silicone around the base of the connector piece AFTER you've screwed it on will prevent the water that's leaking through the cracked threads from getting out and eventually sucking air in as it's pumping.

[@louiseupton3363]

You guys are doing alot on your land and it's looking stunning. Farm life is hard work, but it's a wonderful life 😊

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you, we love it :)

[@SJC49]

Love the sound of a sprinkler!😍🇨🇦

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Me too! We have it automated to go on super early in the morning and can hear it going whilst still in bed, its such a lovely sound to wake up to :)

[@barriegannon3572]

Tie a rock to the end of the pipe to make it sit lower in the well, just a thought.😊 Also, gorilla glue the old tubing onto the old pump, that will never leak, but also never ever come off again 😂

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks for the tips, we don't mind if it never comes off as long as it never leaks again too 🤣!

[@susanyates4233]

Your videos are so peaceful, but you both work so hard to make your home beautiful. My husband and I did our family trees almost twenty years sinc. It is a fascinating subject. Love the colour of your umbrella.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much for watching Susan. I love the yellow umbrella too, so cheerful!

[@neutonrenda2303]

Great tool to help break down and rework those pallets. It's amazing how much you can use them for, love the new gate.👍

[@FrankieOffGrid]

I think we're going to be making everything out of pallets now 🤣! they're so much cheaper than buying wood and its so nice to epicycle something :)

[@sight-emmajean]

The plumbing sounds so frustrating 🫤 but your garden is starting to come together with a bit of structure now. Plus that moon shot at the end was beautiful ❤

[@suedale1865]

You both amaze me at the calm approach to any problems you show no frustration or irritation that you must feel making me enjoy watching your channel for me an oasis of CALMNESS Thank you ❤💙

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you Sue, sometimes it gets a little stressful but we always try our best to be calm (or don't film when it gets too stressful!) but we moved here for a calmer life so we gotta try and live by that :) glad you enjoy our videos, thanks for watching x

[@michelebushnik2874]

Lovely video as always you two! Excited to see your pallet build home come together with your new deliveries! The leaking on the pump connection may be a tiny break in the plastic connector from a freeze that you can't see internally? The land and gardens are looking healthy. Iwans strimming makes a huge impact! Thank you for sharing!❤❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much Michele, I did think about a crack but I think its mostly due to us previously over tightening the fitting and breaking too many of the threads. Hopefully we can fix it and still use it on one of our other wells :)

[@annalinekennedy1027]

Amazing to watch the grass disappearing before the wheat eater. Good luck with the new building. Can't wait for final product

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Carissa and Iwan. I’m glad that you solved the water running again. Your garden looks great. See you next week❤️❤️

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Yes! I always love watching the timelapse's of Iwan cutting the grass :)

[@LorraineinAustralia]

Lovely… as always… Just Lovely❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@racebanning6390]

A Wonderful day on your Humble Homestead , it always makes my Coffeetime more enjoyable on Saturday. The Foggyfarm & a coffee, 1 of lifes simple pleasures. Be blessed ya all💚🧡🙏🙏🙏Happy summer.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much for watching :) we agree, coffee is one of life's best simple pleasures x

[@joeykottnitz4831]

Hi Carissa and Iwan, your farm looks very good. It's clean, calming. Very good for your someone's soul. I love to listen to you two, speak soft and relaxed to each other. Your garden Carissa, also looks good and clean, attracts my eye. And Iwan, your trees and winetrees, tidy and clean. The prunes were perfect. I always enjoy to watch what you done on the farm. God bless you. Love from Walvis Bay Namibia.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much for watching Joey :)

[@jackie4286]

Hi Carissa, I thought this might cheer you up, The Corner House Project. They are a different generation, 50s but have a massive amount to deal with. At least you don't have so much cold and wet in Portugal. A couple of sample videos We sold everything and bought a derelict farmhouse in Ireland and Where there is smoke there is fire, about an old kitchen range. Good luck with your projects.

[@allenemery4665]

Put silicon on threads before fitting and lit dry.Should stop leaks

[@peterwhite9261]

Never a slow day on the farm unless it pours rain or is too hot to be outdoors. All of that strumming looks great. Hope your new pump works better.❤

[@jotann6430]

If you wrap pipe protectors around the hose, it will keep it from rubbing. I reckon pool noodles could do the trick. Cheaper too ☺️

[@captpain1]

Enjoy your channel very much. The hose that is chaffing on the rocks needs a piece of hose to cover the section that's getting damaged. We would do that on the boat so as to not have to replace the hose itself, and when the chaffing piece wears out disregard and replace 😊

[@Toomanydogs7]

The the cake came out perfect it looks so nice

[@katiadp2145]

Carrisa and Iwan lot's of regards from 🇬🇷 🇬🇷. Another most enjoyable video see you guys next week. ❤❤❤❤

[@AbigailGerlach-zt1sh]

Good (very early) morning from Colorado! The house has finally cooled off to be comfortable. Summer is only 2/3 over and I'm already thinking about the first snow!!! Obviously, heat is not my default setting. Lol. Sweating is not an attractive look. I hope you're enjoying the Portuguese summer. Better you than me. Right now, the rest of summer in Barrow, Alaska sounds appealing.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Ooh now I'm dreaming of snow whilst the thermometer shows 50 degrees in the sun!

[@arjanvogel6444]

Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys 🙏

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you! Hope all is well!?

[@bronwynlloyd4582]

It will be so much easier when & if you get a ride on mower or a small tractor with a slasher. I am 62 yrs old & it has been soo much easier to maintain my 4acres on my own since I purchased a ride on mower. My "strimmer" or what I call a whipper snipper in Australia is still incredibly useful for where the ride on can't reach. LOVE watching your calm & interesting videos on the creations of your dreams 🙂

[@corky9589]

Well done guys ,it’s looking so good ❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you :)

[@FiuMcFadyen]

Thank you for a wonderful video again …..so wonderful to see adorable playful Joau and Albi and Simao play fighting 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

[@FrankieOffGrid]

The cats are so funny, they bring us such joy with their silly antics! x

[@kellyh8347]

Great job guys! Always so calming watching your videos! I love how you are using the pallets for your projects!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

thanks Kelly, we're loving working with the pallets, I think soon everything will be made from them hehe xx

[@selinab8532]

tie a brick to the end of the pipe so it pull it under the water loving the pallet ideas the gardens are looking great thanx for sharing

[@dominique8233]

The new logo is lovely.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much :)

[@gamingwith-bb7tr]

U need joint paste wipe the joint with the paste screw together and leave to dry goes solid will stop the leak

[@greenphoenix687]

Every week you seem to be making such progress. It all looks functional, efficient and so charming at the same time... especially with your adorable animals. Love watching your vlogs first thing in the morning... makes for a good start to my Saturday :)

[@FrankieOffGrid]

So glad you enjoy them :) slowly we're getting there but still a long way to go too!

[@angiemoore6518]

When your squash are ready to pick the stalk will go woody.

[@petefoti1041]

I finally made it here to my father in-laws in Ponte da Barca. 101 when we arrived on Tuesday. Stay cool guys. Bom Dia

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Oof hope you're managing to keep cool, its scorching here at the moment!

[@1951timbo]

You are a fantastic couple. Away from this madness in the U.K. at least you’re safe.🙏

[@jessicazoppi2004]

It's looking so lovely ❤

[@atronxa]

Olá! Eu também tinha esse problema de perder ferramentas pelo terreno... A minha solução foi pintar os cabos de cores vivas, vermelho, laranja ou amarelo. Ainda perco alguns, mas muito menos, pois vêem-se bem, mesmo no meio da erva! Se atarem uma pedra pesada na ponta do tubo, ele irá para baixo. Espero ter-vos ajudado, bom fim de semana!

[@Dracos661]

They make Teflon paste for plumbing and if the threads are striped on the pump flange try retaping or a small angled file to straighten the threads.

[@projectportugal]

Amazeballs❤

[@Neilhuny]

Have you had a natter with them about that water pump? A tip for future issues with any equipment ... ? This seems as good a place as any to say I'm more than a bit shocked that they bought a complete new pump! How do we say that gently? I would always look at the manufacturers website in such a situation (or the local agriculture suppliers etc) to buy *ONLY* the black plastic pump section. Surely that is massively cheaper (and readily available) than the whole pump? A serial number for the whole pump will give you the part number for the black pump part on the manufacturers website

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks Neil, we have previously looked at fixing the pump but the whole casing is attached to the pump. We're still going to try and fix it to use on an alternative well, but as you now know... we we're just about to leave and didn't have time to fix it, and the chickens, cats and garden needed water whilst we were away!

[@Neilhuny]

@@FrankieOffGrid After writing that I spent at least an hour trying to find spare parts and proper maintenance manuals for the pump and drew a blank on both counts. Very disappointing. The manufacturer's website is very poor.

[@Aotruba]

❣️I forgot to mention that the last video shot of the moon is breathtaking!!❣️

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much :)

[@GraceSmith-e3o]

The latest episode of Hotkeys Portugal. Phil does a great job explaining some plumbing. Might be worth a look?

[@jennyjohnson9012]

Those chicken mites are a menace, and they thrive in humid conditions. We have them here! Although it hasn't been too warm a summer here in Scotland, so had a break this year! Glad all the furry friends are doing well. Enjoyed the video as always x

[@Annemarieke58]

Treat your coop with a mix of 1 part turpentine and 2 parts linseed oil. Kills of all mites lices etc

[@micaltoy824]

1.30 a.m. here, and yay, i get to watch you🎉😊❤ Good morning friends

[@escapetoruralwales]

Great video guys. I’m exactly the same right now with finding things I’d lost among the long grass Iwan 😂. You both look great by the way. I’m jealous of the sun ☀️ ❤

[@Aotruba]

12:45am in Colorado, USA and enjoying your video!👍😊👍 Have a great Saturday!❤

[@sclint3156]

Use zip ties for chicken shade cloth, around the vertical poles and horizontal and you won't have to reattach it again❤

[@neutonrenda2303]

I hope that you find a fix for that pump, it seems such a waste if it isn't possible. Maybe Nick might know lol, Jack of all trades.😂👍

[@matthewgordon-clark2392]

add a weight to end pipe to keep it below water

[@sonny19369393]

If affordable? Fill the pallets with loose insulation covered with plastic, I would definately try for as much insulation as I could get in your climate

[@davidbrodie5044]

Thanks for a lovely video.

[@lidanaude8022]

The trees a d garden is looking great already! ❤❤❤

[@uppanadam]

Cool gate!! 🙂!!

[@joyguthrie964]

Great shot of the moon!

[@Fixstuff.123]

For a spare pump: I've never tried this but wonder if you use a soldering iron to " plastic weld " some extra plastic onto the damaged threads of your well pump, then go back to the metal fitting to cut some threads. You can then use Teflon tape again with the plastic fitting. This should grab better and hopefully seal as well. I enjoy your videos, thanks.

[@denniswray470]

Teflon tape should be turned clockwise 5 times to the right if right-hand treads or to the left if left-hand treads. Also if you tie a small rock to the well hose with string it will hold the hose below the surface of the water and with the weight of the rock you could throw it to the deepest part of the well.

[@NoeleenGrima]

Nice video guys! ❤❤

[@Silverbull007]

Great video again , thank you and hope one day you can get a tractor! All that strimming must be pretty tough !

[@RemyGold]

I got a sawzall and that thing is amazing..come trimming trees time. I cut down trees with it just get the right blades. I got the ryobi cordless one.

[@sonny19369393]

Roll the tape into string size, wrap this into the thread depressions, then wrap over that. Better seal.

[@micaltoy824]

Great video!! ❤

[@Toomanydogs7]

Well ✅ done. My only suggestion would be, is the pallet that the pump is sitting on the ground from the angle you were filming the pump look like it was not level causing more strain on that joint. ❤

[@oomwat6101]

For your stripped threads I would be tempted to use the plastic glue that plumbers use for gluing together waste outflow pipe ... but you'll never get it off afterwards - the glue melts the plastic into each other!

[@googleuser2520]

use silicone. I use it instead of teflon as it works well, stands up under pressure and is long lasting. Also, it is easy to remove if you want to disconnect things. There is a very simple little tool available to rethread the connection as well.

[@debramairs7806]

Love that plant outside the kitchen door, so pretty xxx ❤❤❤❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

We love it! It smells great too, you catch a whiff whenever walking into the kitchen ;) its a petunia x

[@christinedrumm973]

Love the wattle😅

[@lali7839]

love your videos, so soothing to watch and everything looks lovely

[@Anosha116]

For your citrus trees, my ole Spanish neighbour told me make a very small hole about 1 inch up from the bottom of an empty plastic water bottle. Bury the bottle next to the tree so the hole is 3 or 4 inches down in the soil facing the tree. Then fill it with water and put the cap on. This will keep the roots watered for several days or a week so you don’t have to water it every day. Has worked well for me in drought in Spain.

[@Hanlar1]

Please can you do a Q&A soon! Would love to know how self sufficient you are and how much it costs to live like this x

[@Hanlar1]

Also, do you grow organic? Are the slugs/snails as rife as they are in the UK?

[@DanSmith-v4l]

Great video.

[@daisystroud4586]

the easiest way to soften end of hose is to put it into cup of really hot water 🙂

[@susanyates4233]

My husband used very hot water to soften hose ends.

[@Neilhuny]

I'm in Team Hot Water, too. Though, in fairness, I've never used a blow torch - Iwan has skills!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

oooh this is a good tip we didn't think of, and I was a bit scared of Iwan using a blow torch in the summer so will definitely try that one next time!

[@sclint3156]

Don't be scared to wi d lots and lots of Teflon as you have deep grooves in the thread, try atleast 2 or 3 times putting more and more,, I'm confident it will stop leak.❤

[@Neilhuny]

*wind ... I tend to agree as long as you know the direction that threads work and you wrap the PTFE tape in the opposite direction

[@garykuiken6191]

It's called a Backflow Preventior

[@SueBennett-h4w]

My favourite part of the week is making a pot of tea and watching you guys You are achieving great things and your property is so beautiful. Definitely going to investigate the Heritage site and find some relatives Have a great week 🪴

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

Diogo ❤️❤️❤️

[@EastLondonKiwi]

Well done replacing your pump. The fix in my opinion is to upgrade the pump to one with a stainless steel impeller housing. either the entire pump or ask your pump supplier if they can order a replacement hosing in stainless steel. The Einhell brand you appear to be using definitely has pumps with steel housings. The steel housing fixes two issues, 1 your stripped threads, as the steel thread will be strong than any brass or PVC fitting you screw onto it. 2 PVC housings are usually made in a mold that is in two parts, meaning there often is wield/ cast lines through the housing. These joins are a common fault in pressure vessels (watch a Burpeg episode where their PVC pump fails for that reason). I hope that helps D

[@juanitakauffman6336]

I know you like the wild flowers, but your area looks nice trimmed up.

[@richardrynko]

Always turn until tight, and then turn 1/4 turn Xtra, and stop, should be sufficient.

[@oo-hj6fj]

when are u going to fix the stone house? lovely videos thnk u

[@suzanneguthrie284]

What do you do with all of the plastic waste from the packaging on your building materials?

[@FrankieOffGrid]

We recycle almost all of it.. unless it’s useful

[@magicwendy210]

great vlog as usual, can't wait to see more of the bedroom build, l was just wondering though are you going to be putting windows in as well or will it be a bedroom cave? 😁

[@mikecorcoran6834]

When screwing on or off most things, remember "righty tighty - lefty losely"

[@Dracos661]

Little grasshopper you have learned so much from sinsa Nick.

[@junco477]

Obviously, strimming is hot, time consuming and challenging work. The sped up vid makes it look effortless. It would be interesting if you could post the real elapsed time when you do an extended sped up version (like the one at the beginning of this post). Kicks the "empathy level" into higher gear.

[@wendyhorn8376]

You should be able to order a new housing got that end of the pump.

[@EricOnYouTube]

How are you going to prevent all the garlic from rotting?

[@firefluttery]

Perhaps you could fix one part of tube to the well wall on the inside and then use a connector on a bit of it that sticks out of the well. This way the tube will get less movement and less friction

[@FrankieOffGrid]

That’s a good shout!

[@shellydunn9710]

Maybe this can help with the watering of the trees, I used to put a hole in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and place the hole right next to the tree and I knew it was getting 5 gallons of water instead of pooling around the tree and then running off.