Building an abundant, self sufficient life.

[@suedale1865]

Such a good watch your fur & feather family get on so well it’s a joy

[@pedropinheiro7320]

Your dogs make the show! Diogo is lovely!

[@jonmillhouse8373]

These videos are like crack, I can't stop watching them! it's also helped the KZbin algorithm and it's showing me loads of others doing the same thing in Portugal and it's cemented my plans to do the same in 3/5 years. This is my new favourite channel

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Haha thank you! You're comment made my day :)

[@notyet2345]

I just love how happy all of your pets and animals are. They are truly living their best lives.

[@ianinglis5354]

That was the sweetest thing Diego using Albi as a pillow.I love Diego.

[@SusanZiegler]

I'm so glad you gave the title and composer of that beautiful music at the end! He writes such gorgeous music.

[@jbyrd2516]

And well suited to that gorgeous sky 🌱

[@rachelfrees1268]

The dog and cat nestling is the best.❤

[@Spudknuckle]

Soooo nice to see Diogo happily leaping around the garden. Thank goodness he found you both 💚

[@andya1976m]

Diogo is exactly like my Loona, full of energy. Loona is all black, but brother with Diogo. Frankie has a beautiful face! So cute, with that big eyes. Lovely. The black cat is also adorable. All of your animals, but they are my favorit ❤

[@AleeshaSattva]

Let's be honest... Diogo was the star of this video!!! First with tricks and bouncing like a Tigger!!! And then... with the baking LOL

[@shannonlynne1558]

So many tender moments in this. Especially you giving Ewan a little kiss while he was frustrated with the Swedish furniture instructions. 🥰

[@sheilakerr-jones4345]

Still 27 degrees here, I am one who is waiting on colder temps, others in family not so much. Garden and animals all healthy and happy. Hugs! Stay warm.

[@heidihughes8806]

😁The animals are so funny, they follow you all around the land wherever you go, The flowers are lovely Carissa, and it's good that you can give the chickens all the fruit & veg leftover from the summer.❤️❤️❤️

[@deborahlee8135]

My tummy just rumbled at the thought of that oregano chopped up through butter, on toast and then topped with slices of those beautiful red tomatoes. 😊

[@codyleeser392]

put a fence across part of the old chicken yard to let it recover for the spring. Then exclude them from the other yard . That way you will always have a green run to put the chickens in .

[@defdaz]

Also you can make wire grid squares (any size - one foot square or hoooge) with one or two inch thick wood and lay them on the ground. They stop the chickens pecking the soil into oblivion and the grass / veggies underneath the wire can grow year round giving them something to eat. Similar idea to ground protection mesh but diy.

[@jpennturner]

Hi, if you run your chickens on the vegetable patch over winter they will manure it and eat any pests and weeds!

[@deborahlee8135]

Having a few chicken yards attached means you can close one off, seed it with greens and when its repaired and grown let them in, then do same to the others. Then you can cycle them through.

[@susannahns]

Beautiful composition to end with. I think Joao might be your angel.

[@gardentours]

Great to see how nicely your pets get on with one another 🐈🐕💛🐕🐈👍

[@deborahthomas3475]

Frankie and Dogio are great siblings as they have such different personalities. You have such lovely visuals and story telling. Thank you for sharing

[@micheledigrazia7863]

Bonjour. Les fleurs de courgettes ne doivent pas être jetées 😉. Faîtes une pate à baignet trempez les dedans et faites les frire. Excellent. Recette que nous faisons en France.

[@monalingan9523]

My favorite homestead couple! ❤ I adore your vlogs.

[@marialemes564]

I love Diogo he is so funny😂

[@TheSunnySaudadeProject]

I like how we are all getting tired of this relentless rain after being so desperate for it in the summer 😅 hopefully it will be a bit drier next week to get on the land a bit more. Great video ❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

I hope so too! Great to see you guys the other day!

[@PensionersinPortugal]

I agree, enough rain for now!! Lovely to meet you today, albeit at the launderette!!! Stay dry ❤

[@Winnie-hq5hs]

Thanks for another great video. I look forward to a new one each saturday. Your channel is my favorite❤❤❤ Don't change anything😊

[@projectportugal]

Diogo is Hilarious ❤

[@Adogslife54]

He is natural born star material! For sure!

[@sgrvtl7183]

Your animals have a great life! The cats & dogs all sleeping together is adorable!!

[@terpentine]

So so cute, Dodo and Albi cuddling 😍🥰

[@kattygabby3519]

Hello FOGies!! Diogo has a spring in his legs I swear!!! The animals are so curious and attentive ... great co-stars!!❣️

[@brykmann]

There are techniques to get rid of the mimosas. I remember reading a doctorate thesis from the «Universidade da Beira Interior» where they conducted an experiment testing several methods: pulling from the roots (when they are smaller), peeling the bark, etc... If you research on the web you may find something.

[@junco477]

Never tire of seeing Diogo dance and leap and romp.

[@christinedrumm973]

Tha k goodness for pictures!

[@danieldeoliveira608]

You guys should consider using an old tire to cut wood. To protect from bouncing and hurting your legs... position the wood inside the laid-down tire and break the wood as you usually do...

[@Bannimann2]

I just discovered your channel the day before yesterday, and I've been binge watching ever since! 😅 I really like when people put themselves in an unfamiliar situation, and then slowly acquire new skills to adapt to their new life - that's what we humans do better than almost any other species on earth, adapt. Many scientists say it is one of the most important reasons for our success as a species, and some say it is the most important reason, even more important than our large brains. We can quickly adjust and adapt to almost any situation and almost any environment - We live and thrive on all continents, which no other large mammal does, well at least not without help from us humans. ;)

[@shirleyrice7093]

The first time I read directions I think they are impossible. Give it a day or two and read them again and they are very clear. I find it a miracle.

[@isnoo1]

Truly LOVE watching all your family members being out in the garden with you. Diogo reminds me sooo much of our Mia - a TOTAL nutcase!!! HUGS to you all!

[@1dkappe]

Frankie!!

[@viviennebradshaw5465]

Hi FOG'S. Greeting from Australia. We enjoy your vid. And love the project so much. Especially love the Franky. All our best wishes

[@CourtneyMathieson-i1m]

You are both very patient people .well done. !! Keep it up .

[@ivydickson7596]

Hiya from Sunday morning here in New Zealand. Rugby 🏉 world cup final.

[@annettafick2100]

Your videos are so calm, I enjoy watching them. Love from South Africa❤❤

[@barbarakloise6790]

All your pets are so cute and friendly. Your male dog is like a spring I never saw a dog that could jump like that and is so wiry! Very cute. Is your dog a basenji?

[@jeanrichardson2044]

Here in New Zealand we are in the first days of our short harvest of strawberries. We will have a glut where we eat all we can and the season is over soon after Xmas. There you are coming into winter and still eating them..enjoyed the episode, i envy you your zinnias, and love Diego's devotion to you both.

[@flowersflowers473]

Do you make jam or preserves, or dry them with the dehydrator?

[@jeanrichardson2044]

@@flowersflowers473 i don't personally, but many make jam. At our local strawberry farm, they make delicious strawberry ice cream, jams and chutneys for sale. Because it is summer here on Christmas day, strawberries are a popular dessert, and I have been known to queue at the farm on Christmas Eve morning to buy a few kilos for the next day.

[@ednahawkesworth7551]

I always think your garden looks it’s best at this time of year. It’s beautiful and now so productive. 🤩

[@projectportugal]

Another great video guys ❤

[@LPay-jy8mx]

Diogo is a leaping exclamation point of curiosity and glee.

[@beverlyhendricks9456]

If u layer card board & / or paper in your garden. It will help keep weeds down. Also if there is a saw mill around, they usually have tree bark mulch for free or very low coast. You can put that over the cardboard to keep it in place plus hold onto moisture. Mulching with hay or straw has tons of weed seeds in it. You’ll have more weeds instead of less.

[@jamiesmith1343]

Check out Chicken tractors, them move to new grass when needed, and have wheels to make them easy to move. Might cut down on the trimming also, and keep them out of the garden. It's still free ranging , just safer for the chooks.

[@neutonrenda2303]

Great relaxing video, funny to see the animal antics in the background. Your place is looking absolutely wonderful and green, everything is getting a good soaking. ❤

[@floridosilva]

@Frankie On The Road good morning. Get a higher stump to split the firewood, you'll see the difference and it's less dangerous.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Will do! I think I’ve found one! Thanks

[@sandybinbedford5512]

Love watching your videos . Very relaxing . And wonderful choice of music .

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you Sandy!

[@noreenboland1204]

Always wonderful to see your videos..They bring joy ❤❤

[@bobjones-xc9fp]

I can tell the days you filmed by the moon. Pretty cool, nice detail to include.

[@rosaribeiro6336]

Que lindo ver os vossos animais juntos cães com gatos todos muito amáveis gosto de ver os vossos animais.

[@magicwendy210]

Great vlog, l love watching you gardening it is so calming and peaceful ❤Thank you for adding the name of the music at the end x

[@deborahthomas3475]

You could relocate the chicken run to another side of the coop and plant in the fertilized area.

[@elainemcgran8828]

We call them scones, they look delicious 😊. I agree with people saying the videos are very relaxing, car going at a slow pace. Carissa does everything gardening, building etc at such a slow relaxing place

[@FrankieOffGrid]

They were supposed to be different to scones.. but that’s basically how they came out.

[@pamela5568]

Thank you! Good upgrade for cutting firewood with a chainsaw. Did you look at the Doolaard video on bundling wood for chopping? Your chickens were very happy with their new turf. The tea cakes looked quite tasty. I appreciate your music picks, and really liked the Spring Equinox at the end.

[@inekeroos9264]

Love how the chickens are subtitled as 'laughter' 🤗 great vlog as always ♥️

[@CampOutWest]

thank you for another beautiful video ❤ Love Diego sooo much! xxxx

[@cathyturner4064]

How are Simple Life Portugal? I know there are alot of youtubers with homesteads in Portugal, could you collaborate with each other to finish their bedroom so that she has a nice place to come home to? Just a thought. Love your dogs and chickens

[@abigailgerlach5443]

Colorado has 2 seasons... winter/snow fall and construction! You ought to consider adding pigs to your menagerie. They are easy to raise, mature quickly, and bacon is never a bad idea. You can also sell the piglets if you're vegetarians. You just need a friend with a boar that you can trade services for mating.

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Carissa and Iwan. Happy Saturday❤️❤️

[@alexalves4865]

Hi both! Have you considered a mobile electric fence (solar powered) and mobile coop for your hens? They can be moved every so often into fresh greens/grass, drier feet and more stimulated chickens! Also advantageous for the soil. Check Roots and Refuge Farm for the set up. 😘

[@shirleyrice7093]

A family member’s chicken house is on skids and she moves it and the fence as needed.

[@juanitakauffman6336]

The rain makes the weeds easier to pull also easier to pound the chicken fence posts in. In the U.S. we do not get strawberries all year like you seem to. Our season is short.

[@lindagage7315]

Good one ! Well done

[@polgarauk5606]

Wonderful start to a Saturday morning 😊 your music choices to go with your video's are beautiful 😍 Already knew what you got up to with Nick and Ange excellent work both of you. I love the relationship and community you have 😊 It's been pretty much the same weather here in the UK but a pittle less sun 😂 Diogo did make me laugh he has so much energy, as someone said just like Tigger 😂

[@noreenmadden3028]

I love that the menagerie like to help in the garden, I have a working dog who lives to do some Opal mining in my yard ( great big holes) where I don't need them.Noreen Australia ( home of the best black Opal in the world)

[@HeidiPriest]

Good Morning so love that music you use, calm and peaceful

[@deborahthomas3475]

In USA we would call them biscuits. Many people like them savory and eat with gravy or as a side to fried foods like fish or chicken or with eggs for breakfast

[@carold.m.3001]

Carissa if you plant grass seeds in the mimosa spot it will be more dificult for any other plant grow there. And you will have a beautifull green path!

[@johnsonr9]

Good video. Totally agree about those instructions!

[@elizabethkruger3425]

Hi yr place looks beautiful. Ive been watching simple portugal life. Now im here and surprized at how much uve grown. 😮 yr place is looking nice.

[@sewingSue]

Mulch and wood chip around your veggies. This really does help with weed and moisture control.

[@debrashort7621]

Very enjoyable garden looking great

[@robynclarke5274]

Hello, what you call New Zealand spinach (which is the same as Warrigal greens in Australia, an indigenous food) This has a high level of oxalic acid. It requires blanching before eating. If you wish recipes and pages of other information you can google Warrigal Greens. It is an ancient plant which grew when Australia and New Zealand and other continents were joined - called Gondwana land. Its a great ground cover.

[@arjanvogel6444]

Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys, good work guys 👍😁.

[@faithvansanden82]

Hope you enjoyed your welsh cake's or scones, have a lovely weekend both of you ❤

[@denisemeredith2436]

Hi Carissa & Iwan, another fab video today. How are the melons and watermelons doing by the well on the other side where the ground is soggier? The teacakes looked scrumptious. You just can't beat a toasted teacake with lashings of butter. I hope the weather dries up for you.

[@daffs0]

Love your videos Just a thought but if you fence off we’re chickens have been an seed it with clover or grass it will soon grow with the weather your having just an idea 😺 Loved Diogo spinning Thank you for sharing 😁

[@siwwootton6821]

Love love love coming to Portugal and spending some time with you both :) Jealous you're heading into winter although I have to say Australia hasn't turned the summer switch on yet - thankfully. I'm working this weekend so Sunday shift to go then Monday a Clinic day. Looking forward to next week's video - carried mawr attoch chi dau - Siw

[@angiemoore6518]

Inspired by Iwan, I made tea cakes! We had forgotten how much we missed them!😊

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Do you make them differently Angie? This came out closer to scones - less bready. I’ll try a different recipe next time I think

[@angiemoore6518]

@@FrankieOffGrid I used the Hairy Bikers recipe. Lots of spices and proving! Turned out 100% like I remember. Just devoured one with a cuppa.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Sounds brill! I’ll check theirs out! Thanks ❤️

[@marybates2201]

. am very late to your video this week. Apologies but 1 wasn't too good. . Yet again a lovely video. Busy busy as always. Iwan your face when you missed breaking that log. Surprised you left it in, but glad you did as ot it shows how real you are. With the chickens will, you fence part of the scratched area off, so that it can rejuvenate? How was your teacakes? Shame about the melons Carissa. Guess they needed to be bigger, but at least you know that you can grow them, and the hens would have enjoyed them. See you next week xx

[@ernie7065]

SAFETY CHOPPING WOOD Please use pallets or something to raise the height of where you chop wood. Then place a tire on top of the structure and place the wood to be chopped inside the tire. 2 good results: (1) the split wood remains in the tire --- it doesn't come out to hit your leg & (2) the axe gets stopped by the tire and won't hit your feet-- and the swing is shorter. The axe head does the work.

[@sgrvtl7183]

Rain is good!

[@nickytanton107]

unless you live in Wales lol

[@MariaMoreira-wm7tn]

Nunca arranque as plantas ainda a dar fruto, como as melancias. Enquanto estão sãs, continuam a desenvolver-se. Depois destas tempestades, virá o verão de São Martinho e com ele o sol, assim o espero. As flores das abóboras estavam tão lindas e havia mais a chegar. Podia deixar estar a planta na terra, ir colhendo as flores maiores e deixar desenvolver as outras. São comestíveis e muito boas. O 'salta pocinhas' do Diogo é o mais animado da família, parece uma mola. 😁 Todos os ramos das mimosas que estão em cima do muro, corte-os completamente, e arranque sempre as mimosas pela raíz. Tente chegar a um entendimento com o vizinho, pode ser que ele concorde em arrancar a mimosa.

[@Loliolla]

Your larger dog could be a twin to my daughter’s dog. Same size, body type, ears, tail, behavior - same everything! We call them Carolina dogs in the US .

[@FrankieOffGrid]

He’s definitely similar! From what I’m reading the Carolina dog came from the Far East to you, the Portuguese Podengo is a relative of the Pharaoh Hound apparently.

[@angiemoore6518]

We fenced off the veggies and let the chooks free-range, that way you don't end up with a desert!

[@judithtaylormayo]

May I suggest instead of making the shicken coop larger, you fence in your veg gardens to keep the chickens out

[@annar6430]

I was wondering Iwsn ,of you have tried to make Crumpets. I have..Lucious😊

[@mlduong6739]

You can make salad/pickles out of watermelon rinds 😋

[@DavidSmith-tu6jd]

Hi lovin' the videos. Don't know if this is news to you but I believe Mimosa makes excellent goat forage. Mimosa problem solved and a constant supply of dairy products to boot, not to mention the odd Jamaican curry goat night, what's not to like:? I'm not worried about them escaping and eating all your veg. cos I live in England now and they won't eat mine hahahaha. Seriously though I believe the Mimosa thing to be true but if interested please check for yourselves. Good luck.

[@mezanian]

NZ spinach, Warrigal greens in OZ.😊

[@evelyngorfram9306]

As someone who often does understand Swedish-flatpack-furniture instructions, a possibly-helpful hint: before starting, try to match the physical screws & fasteners up with the ones depicted into the instructions. You can see if there are any missing; & it helps a little with the "unexploded the exploded drawing" problem. Also, when working outdoors, if you can spread a tarp or a large piece of cardboard underneath where you're working, dropped screws, etc, become a lot less frustrating. & Joao is amazingly cute (luckily, it's not intended to be a Joao-proof fence 😼) kzbin.info/www/bejne/emPMh2CaZ52ce9Usi=BZvUOEEPSjOZt98d&t=1608 (I know you fixed that with the log later.)

[@asc3184]

Have u considered sowing clover in ur chicken run? Good for the land n the chicken will love it

[@peixotoagostinho8792]

J'adore votre chien é les chats🐕🐶👍👍🇲🇫

[@Winnie-hq5hs]

Me too😊 And they got such different personalities. Frankie the calm and wise senior, Diego obviousy bonkers. And lovely Albi, always where the action is (so funny she tried to get her head into the box😂). Joao is more and more taking his place. The little grey one still a bit shy? Love them all. Diego sleeping with his head on Albi is so sweet❤❤❤

[@terpentine]

Because the axe is half way the stick, u have a shorter swing and its closer to ur body. Its better to find a stick were the axe gets stuck on the top of the stick 🙃

[@nickdammit32]

Really enjoying your video journals. One thing I'd like to ask: How do you deal with the human need for social contact? Do you have people nearby who have become friends? Or are you simply OK with low levels of social contact? It would be great if you could touch on this aspect of your lives sometime.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Hi! Thanks for watching and for your comment. We actually have loads of friends here, both Portuguese and foreign. We visit our local cafe most days and chat with the locals there. Iwan also plays football every Sunday with a big group of guys from all over the place.

[@nickdammit32]

Great to hear that@@FrankieOffGrid Did you have friends before you made the move or are they all newly formed friendships? I'm sure people watching have many questions about this! I don't know if you accept requests, but I'm making a request anyway! Thanks for listening :)

[@heleneschofield3386]

Hey one day can you remind us how you /nick and Andrea met??

[@nickytanton107]

They have mentioned it, it was through their friendship with ok Portugal youtubers

[@ronroelevink7097]

Hi, how are you doing? Nice video again. I read somewhere that some mimosa species can be slightly poisonous. Should you worry about your chickens (and eggs) now the run is closer to those shoots? If not, maybe let them do the battle against mimosa.

[@GS-ef6qe]

I am wondering how cold is your cold. In the UK Midlands before we were waiting on delivery of a new fridge I used a cooler box and left it outside all night. You won’t need power to to keep it running for a good few hours. 😊

[@FrankieOffGrid]

It’s nowhere near as cold as the uk.. even a harsh Portuguese winter is a mild Welsh one. Apparently it snowed about 20 years ago 😅

[@evangelinamunroe6745]

❤❤❤❤❤❤