YEAR 1 - Transforming Raw Land into a Thriving Off Grid Homestead!

Come see everything we did to progress our Sunny Mt Off Grid Homestead, and learn a bit about why things have not progressed as much as we thought they would...
GET THE PLANS FOR THE PORTABLE SHELTER with RAINWATER CATCHMENT - www.thisishome...

[@tjgamerwolf3336]

Crazy cool how just a second swale improved the water levels so drastically! So exciting to be adding fish to the pond! I only want to mention for future reference that it's usually best to let fish acclimate before putting them into a new environment! Let the bag sit in the pond for at least 20 min, then every 5min add a bit of the pond water until the bag is full and then dump them into the pond! It helps prevent Ph shock in the fish and other things that can make them prone to illness. Always best to give you fish the best start they can have!

[@whoblowsthere002]

Just stumbled upon this channel, very inspiring! It seems like you guys have alot of expensive equipment, as well as pay for a lot of materials that many are forced to create themselves from scratch. Do you have any videos yet on how the common person with little money can comprehend taking a dive like this without financial assistance? I feel like the less daunting parts are the endurance and life shift, and the harder parts would be having no money and equipment to even be able to make it work off the gate. The part that is stunting my GF and I is leaving our businesses behind, with no business plan to move forward. We have the entry money, but even to afford a 10k Case tractor and a decent saw mill would mean running out of money before even breaking ground. We know that part of the challenge is to just believe that it will work out when numbers on paper prove its not even possible. But I feel like what people need to hear is the affordance of entry from each person that has succeeded doing this, what exactly has to be done to say "we are now ready to make the move" vs "we made the move and ran out of money before we even could begin"

[@Homesteadyshow]

Hey! Can I ask you what your business is? I am thinking of doing a video based off this question, it's a great one, and I would love a bit more info, thanks!

[@whoblowsthere002]

@@Homesteadyshow Woodworking and jewelry etsy based!

[@gmar4454]

I'm thinking the exact same thing about the expensive equipment. I'm watching him drive this fancy $20,000 machine over a barren hilltop to go get a bucket of water. My heart fell. I felt sick.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Awesome! If you get me the links to your stuff in time I will plug em in the video if you like ;)

[@KendraBaslee]

Hmmmm, I will go back and stepped out of outhouse. I think maybe you are already back or going back to stay. :)

[@TheEmbrio]

For the pond, just 1 shovel of plant life from the banks of a healthy pond or even ditch should bring in the right plants, seeds, even beneficial algea

[@kingglizzer]

I had wondered if your daughter would cut the three sides of the Norway spruce ball 60 degrees apart, and she did. Home schooling for the win! Love that you get your whole family involved. 🥰Great job on the movable skid shelter.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Mr Tim taught us well!

[@jenniferr2057]

Don't you mean 120°?

[@kingglizzer]

@@jenniferr2057 Yeah. I was thinking 60 degree equilateral triangle and not 120 degree arcs.

[@cindyhebberd7352]

Just an FYI... crappie is pronounced "crawpee". Different than what it looks like

[@austinmartin6409]

All depends where you’re from!

[@Alpha1Farms]

Not in our neck of the woods.

[@jenniferw1138]

Slow and HomeSteady is the way to go, everything seems like a far more quality effort than a rush 365 job, slowly building the ecosystem up and turning your bald mountain into something that will last generations, it seems like y’all are really enjoying the journey! I’m definitely learning a lot, be blessed!!

[@taktakoriginal]

It is so awesome to see how professional your videos have gotten over the years. So exciting to see what's next.

[@grannybesshomestead938]

I can't believe you're having another baby! Congratulations! I think it's great you have a big family.

[@inthelaughter1939]

Congrats on your new baby 🎉

[@faithbooks7906]

You guys are the best! I really enjoy homesteading vicariously through your videos.

[@alicelabranche193]

You guys are just amazing! You have beautiful children, and you’re teaching them how to live off the land. No it’s not easy by any means, but just look at what you have accomplished. Eagerly waiting for your next video.

[@albrightfs]

Beautiful property Beautiful family... I am so looking forward to your next projects and adventures!

[@AngelaJonesFilmsStuff]

Horrible the way the soil was destroyed, but glad you can get it back to working conditions.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Nature reclaims!

[@kaylaaddison3269]

Yay, so exciting to see what all you've done on Sunny Mountain!! And now I'm sooo curious about that cliff hanger ending!!

[@Homesteadyshow]

😉

[@commonabond]

Where in the USA is this looks a lot like my neck of the woods in PA. Although I don't know a lot of places around here you can go to the top of a mountain and not see another house in the distance!

[@krakentoast]

Love this

[@mountaingirlzstuff4314]

So many great ideas, that cow shed is so awesome. Happy cows, happy fish

[@zackbean2149]

Yes we live here since I was 7 years old. In 1972 we got here. To a Place called North Pole, Ak. We have died here working ever since. Not really a life. More like a Misery of living.

[@zackbean2149]

Someone tricked you into the Dream that never existed. Alaska !??

[@Shelleys4Seasons]

We just bought 52 acres of raw land. Similar situation had an on grid 12-acre homestead now just nothing, it's been a journey that is for sure! Our pastureland has some pasture but my goodness the amount of blackberry bushes! I would love to see how yours develops. Do have a question, who is the company you bought the pond starter from? We want to put in a pond.

[@MONICA-r1q]

I love what you’re doing-but NORWAY SPRUCE(??!!) Ugh-!! They are not native, and they take away habitat and co-evolution opportunities from other similar tree species like eastern white pine, red pine, black or white spruce, etc. I see Norway Spruce EVERYWHERE, and I’m so sad by how much evergreen habitat they take up. They aren’t from America and they don’t belong. Please PLANT NATIVE TREES whenever possible!

[@patriotprepper9175]

Great job so far!! Im a new subscriber and just watched all your videos from the last year!! Dont give up because the end results will be very rewarding and that overall feeling you'll get is priceless. I live on a homestead in the shenandoah valley Virginia with my daughter and its truly gods country. Also with the pond you can go to the river and catch fish like bass, catfish, bluegills and minows and put them in the pond. Thats what i did with my small pond and over the years they reproduced very well and the i was able to stock the pond for just the cost of bait... plus me and my daughter had a good time fishing lol. Also if you plan to move animals up on that mountain make sure to put electric on the fence you keep them in. I lost a couple of animals due to predators getting in the fence, and once i put electric on it, I haven't lost one yet.

[@heritagehomesteadofcapecod8173]

Justin Rhodes, Jason, "Sow the Land" & Al, "Lumnah Acres have all built portable shelters. You may get more inspiration from them! Jason has done quite a bit of water catchment!

[@gunslingersymphony5015]

I love everything about this video with the exception of your fish pronunciation (which is absolutely just my personal hangup). Just remember: Crappie doesn't taste crappy. 😂

[@MastiffDane1]

Yall have done a great job transforming this land in such a short time, considering yall spent a big chunk of that time in Alaska makes it even more amazing! I'll be honest, when yall bought it I wasnt a fan. I really liked that other piece of land with the rolling hills and criss crossing creeks all over, it was in such better shape and so lush, it reminded me of the shire haha. But what yall have accomplished so far on this one has opened my eyes to what it can be. Give it several years and this will be a stunning homestead.

[@donnaA1000]

Loved it can't wait for more ❤

[@zackbean2149]

We are wanting to leave and start a small family farm in the deep woods of the South.

[@lynncarter4964]

apparently Norway maples can grow up to 6 feet per year if you fertilize them with lots of animal waste and human waste buried nearby. They aren't much for fall color, but who cares, they are so helpful.

[@brendad2499]

I love your videos and you have butiful family, did your wife K had baby #7 ,,wishing you all the best ❤😊

[@cameronkelly8258]

What an awesome property Sunny Mountain. Looks like a dream come true. Imagine that pond with all those fish full grown a year from now. Cant wait to attempt this when im more financially stable.

[@jimoray3]

Wishing you all the best. Beautiful family and the future is bright

[@CranberryHollow]

I absolutely love what you've done with Sunny Mountain. Can't wait to see what's next!

[@karinnaturestuff]

What a lovely video, Aust! Can't wait for part 2!

[@user-rq8lo2bd2s]

3 Suggested references if you haven't already seen. Planting on swales at Tiny Shiny Home and garden and raised beds AND orchard at Good Simple Living in North Idaho as well as Living Traditions Homestead in Missouri Ozarks.

[@karlasommer5341]

It seems like they are way too close together. Is there a reason.? Just trying to learn.😊

[@terriwhite6273]

You’re going to cover some of your beautiful view

[@ericjohnson1008]

Looking awesome y'all.

[@smea87]

Where did you get your fish package?

[@Djamieson713]

feel like you guys proved a lot of people wrong, good on ya

[@YukonHomestead]

❤ you guys rock. Love your storytelling ability and your wonderful, growing family. Curious what your next steps are. I barely watch yt channels regularly, but yours is a must. Thanks for sharing this journey 😊 For sure, you're hooked to the wilderness, just like us. 😅

[@Homesteadyshow]

Yukon! Such beautiful country... the Land of Beyond!

[@PRDreams]

Yes! Congrats on the pond filled with life! 🎉

[@naomigolden4406]

Curious how the fish survive in the pond without much active plant life. It seems to me that you would want to establish some aquatic plants before you add fish.

[@Homesteadyshow]

In the beginning you add the structure, stuff for them to hide and feed off. But yeah, plants are needed too!

[@mediumfast]

The bottom of the food chain in a pond is mostly insects and amphibians that eat on land and lay eggs in water. So many fish species can thrive in a bare pond simply feeding on eggs, larva and adult bugs and frogs. Plants obviously increase the diversity of life and provide necessary oxygen and shelter for a long living pond. But mud holes are shockingly biodiverse. Additionally the fish waste provides essential nutrients for aquatic plants. Similar to hay fed cows on a barren field will eventually create rich green pasture.

[@grannybesshomestead938]

Call that structure a cow shed. I know the song, but I never before saw a cow shed. You know the song? "KKK Katy, beautiful Katy, you're the only ggg girl that I adore. When the mmm moon shines over the COW SHED, I'll be waiting at the kkk kitchen door."

[@sgrvtl7183]

Wonderful what you are doing with this land. I love giving the pond 'new life'! Very excited for ALL of Your Family~~💚

[@OrganicMommaGA]

I think what y'all have done is BEAUTIFUL! Having the flexibility to live elsewhere while making your off-grid homestead ready for your family is wonderful and smart! I think many potential homesteaders under-rate having a water source (at least one) on their property and letting nature build back some of the topsoil so you have a foundation to grow something desirable in. Personally, I would name the cow house/mobile thing as "The Bovine Bungalow" or "Cow Camper". LOL

[@Katiedid1975]

Great seeing you all work together to plant those trees.😊 If you're looking for a tree for shade that grows very quickly try the tulip poplar. My daughter planted one in our back yard when she was 8 and by the time she graduated high school it was almost 30 feet tall. She is now 38 and her little tulip tree seedling is 60 feet tall and glorious.

[@CK-solutions]

Crap-in-a-bucket scene (1) 37:33 and (2) 38:20...I think I know where this is going? 😉

[@seezuceo]

native trees and plants will enrich your property if you put them in--better than non-natives. it'll create major biodiversity and restore some balance. just a thought.

[@LittleKi1]

You might enjoy the Low-tech erosion control course by Regenerative Living. One-rock dam kinds of things might help the swale, which really looks like an erosion head-cut from getting worse and prevent more sediment from moving into the pond.

[@theresahansell3507]

Speaking of fruit trees why didn't you put some out? And how about putting some raspberry bushes, choke cherries. Currents in grapes. Also I was thinking you could get some cattails and some native pond grasses to put around your pond. Just some suggestions.

[@SJ-fj5jz]

You guys are so inspirational. Love your channel, thanks for sharing. Cant wait to see more.

[@1965gracebug]

Love you all! So excited for each video and the progress of your adventure! Many blessings to you all!

[@nowistime8070]

you should have acclimated the aquatic life first :)

[@justinburch]

Norwegian pines planted like that will all die at once in future. I suggest every year add another new tree of a different slower type and when the Norwegian pines end of their lifespan comes there will be other trees to take their place.

[@matthewm3912]

What state/area is this new property in?

[@MamaKari5857]

Is that a gypsy moth catapiller?

[@jdollar5852]

I think you'll regret putting crappie in the pond. They tend to overrun small lakes very quickly because they breed early and are extremely prolific. They're my 2nd favorite fish to eat after bluegill, but I've avoided putting them in small lakes. We have a 17-acre lake that is crowded with small crappie, and I wish we had never added them. A small lake/pond will only support a certain volume of fish. Overcrowding will happen very quickly, so plan on starting to take fish for dinner by next spring. Don't wait for them to get to trophy size, juat eat 'em small.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Thanks for the advice! I had read that about crappie, but the Pond company I worked with included them in the kit and said it be fine, I guess time will tell! 😬

[@ashleyyoungdale3757]

Moving to Alaska🏞?

[@kathyk479]

No no snails at least not that many they'll eat the fish!😊

[@The1Elcil]

Great stuff. Thanks.

[@mel924]

How deep is your pond?

[@Homesteadyshow]

About 10 Feet at the deepest

[@mel924]

@@Homesteadyshow Plenty deep.

[@paulfreeman8857]

I love your videos. I’ve been watching your channel for years. I’m a homesteady pioneer and over the past 2 years have gotten a batch of chickens each year (I built the suscovich chicken tractor) and have started gardening and hunting. This year was my first year canning vegetables and we also got some meat rabbits this year. I want to put in a pond on my own property and eventually an orchard. My question to you is how big is your pond and are you happy with that size? Thank you for all the hard work that you do! I can’t wait for your next video!

[@Homesteadyshow]

Paul so glad to have you in our Homesteady community! And wow you have done a lot in the last few years! Our pond is a 1/4 acre pond. I wouldn’t go any smaller, as I read it gets difficult to manage a fish population under that size, but since our fish population is pretty new I don’t have a whole lot of experience to back that statement up with. That said, I don’t think you ever want a SMALLER pond if you can do a bigger one, just comes down to money and management size in the end. I do wish ours was a bit bigger, but costs in building a bigger pond limited us.

[@joanneganon7157]

Hi guys, Whoo Hoo 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦! Do you have to air rate it? Thank you oldest sister for the planting info🤗. You all brought a little bit of Alaska back with you🎉. Good energyy and healthy work ethics go a long way😊. Aust can build🫢! Could you put a pair of ski's on the bottom of your barn creation? Always love to see you . Can we hunt with this year? JO JO IN VT 💞

[@Homesteadyshow]

Jo Jo, some airration would be great! future work to do! We have skids on the bottom of the barn, skis would be awesome!

[@xrulez83]

👀

[@kimberleyfriesenhahn2515]

It's really awesome to see the work you all have put into your property over the last year. Congratulations! I would love to know what company you got the pond stocking kit from.

[@Homesteadyshow]

Email me Kimberley, I'll send you the details [e-mail]

[@caroleberthier]

Your running board should of made them longer and taller doesn’t get stuck and you won’t damage walls then you can put your chain to pull it after the runners with some C-clamps then the chain won’t get any problems ,the other thing I would do is but a three foot wall at the top of your door opening more coverage from snow and rain and will make your structure stronger can’t wait to see what you have next on the agenda looking good lots of work

[@Homesteadyshow]

Longer skids is an awesome idea to improve it!

[@rcjo2]

Very cool to see the process from scratch. Did you feed the fish? Not much for them to eat in there? Congrats!

[@Homesteadyshow]

The pond kit comes with everything, from the microscopic creatures to the big, so they all can eat each other 😂

[@rcjo2]

@@Homesteadyshow Awesome!

[@jenniferr2057]

Aren't we going to say anything about Kay being pregnant? I thought i saw every video, but didn't see this shared.

[@Homesteadyshow]

We shared that news here Jennifer... towards the end of the video kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4e7g3WIgZmGgaM

[@jenniferr2057]

@@Homesteadyshow thanks! I expected it, so I kind of watched for it. And missed it!

[@deborahmauro8754]

Ducks on a pond help seal it well…and you get eggs and meat. We love the Ancona duck as they lay from March through September in western NY. And they come up to their safety area each evening where we lock them in from predators. There is something peaceful about watching ducks swim on our pond. Our dogs keep away wild ducks and geese keeping our flock safe.

[@TxusLikido]

you’re literally my comfort person i love you kislux !