I FINISHED AN EXCITING PROJECT (With the Much-Needed Help of a Friend)

Building with friends is way more fun and it might be the only way I'll actually complete my projects! Sinead came to the rescue and we finally got the outdoor compost loo on my off grid homestead finished and had a lot of fun in the process. 😀
I also take you on a long overdo tour of my garden where things have gone a bit nuts due to the recent rains. I've already harvested so much and there's loads more on the way and I'm excited to show you!
This video is a fun one, I hope you like it! If you do, please give it a like! Thanks!
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I'm Kirsty and I'm novice builder attempting an off grid stone barn renovation here in Central Portugal. I love going slowly, learning along the way, and trying new things as I attempt to build a beautiful tiny house using natural materials.
If you like my stuff and want to help support the channel, please like my videos and share them around! 😀 Or if you'd like to help financially, my Paypal is below. Any amount goes a long way and is much appreciated!
Paypal: paypal.me/travoholic
Instagram: / portugalfromscratch
Facebook: / portugal-from-scratch-...
Horribly Neglected Website: www.portugalfromscratch.com

[@jancarnes6868]

When I was a kid my mom showed me how to get rid of ants . Take a pint canning jar and fill it halfway up with with sugar water . Mix it in another vessel and pour into jar without getting it on the rim and sides of the jar . Dig a hole the same depth as the jar , now bury the jar up to the top without getting dirt inside the jar . Make sure the syrup is only half way up the jar. The ants will crawl into the jar to get the sugar water but can't get out because the sides inside are too slick to climb out . When the jar is halfway full of dead ants por them out and start over. Put several jars around your place . Good luck !😊

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks for the tip!

[@JudySnyder-dv5ld]

And...Put a few drops of dawn dish soap so ants will sink.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Good tip, thanks!

[@mbd6054]

That also works for slugs, if you use beer instead of sugar water.

[@ShirleyFoshee]

Your wood working skills would be better than the old blue tarp❣❣❣

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yep but then I need wood and more time… I just wanted to get this done, the permanent structure will be more wood and less blue. 😁

[@lesley-annecarle]

Dear Kirsty so happy you and your friend finished the compast toilet enclosure. Hoping you can get rid of the ants, maybe go to a Bunnings kind of store like in Aus. They will have something suitable there, to get rid of ants

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks, me too! It's nice to be done with that and to be able to move on. Yep I need to find something for the ants, for sure!

[@jannetomlinson1831]

You won’t get many strawberries if you have birds around unless you can net them. Remember passion fruit are gross feeders but will then give you a great harvest. LIME TREE,nothing like Whiskey and lime marmalade as a reward and great gift. Enjoyed as always Kirsty and so enjoy hearing the lilting Irish brogue.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Good idea! Yes it’s great having her here!

[@deborahlee8135]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRSTY 🎉 🎂 🍻

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@JudySnyder-dv5ld]

Funny but necessary.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Definitely! Open air pooping is not for the feint of heart! 😁

[@portugal1969]

The girls are back in town

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yep!😀

[@user-wv8st1cb2k]

That little garden in front of the door that your mum and her friend is looking very pretty.

[@7TerriPod]

Yes, me too, it’s beginning to look so much neat and tidy❤.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

It is! I love the flowers!

[@7TerriPod]

@@PortugalfromScratch you just gave me an idea, you could build an outdoor oven, I know you have a million things to do,now you have 1,000,001 😂

[@PortugalfromScratch]

That's definitely happening at some point!

[@shehazi695]

It was fun watching your teamwork on the ‘thunder box’ construction, i cant wait to see Sinead’s yurt construction video 🛖

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Haha good name! I’m hoping to have that video out before the end of July. 😀

[@TaroSaito-f6z]

save the dill seeds for the pickles.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Ooh nice idea, thanks!

[@gabrielebehr563]

Nice blue Birthday present💙. Your garden looks delicious 😋🍾

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks! It’s just what I always wanted! 😀

[@claudia_ese8788]

delicious garden 🪴! And a finished project: congrats 😉

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thank you!!

[@BethS55]

Happy Belated Birthday 🎂 🥳

[@raquelfernandez463]

Kirsty.I am Happy you got your bathroom finished with your friend Sinead thank you Sinead for helping your best friend Kirsty.Love you both and all your other friends.Ladies Kick Butt and got that bathroom done.Great Job again Ladies keep Kicking Butt Crack on.And Kristy your Garden is Looking great good Job.Happy Brithday 💐🎂🎁🎉.Love 💕 you.Raquel.And hello Sinead Can't wait to see your Land Looking great I know it is Coming around Soon.Love Raquel ❤.See you Ladies Soon Thank you.🌺.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

We'll keep kicking butt! 😀 Thanks for your encouragement!

[@christinemcginnis5280]

Happy Birthday! 🎉🎉🎉. Well done on all projects!

[@shehazi695]

Hi Kirsty, just a quick suggestion to add to the list. A sprinkle in strategic areas of diatomaceous earth will help with the ants 🐜

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yes I keep meaning to look for that but always seem to forget. Thanks!

[@private15]

@@PortugalfromScratch try a horse or livestock store and ask for stall dry

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@barbarakloise6790]

I just read a mixture of baking soda and baby powder or talc.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Ok thanks!!

[@elenaparetti261]

Happy Birthday!💐🎂🎊🥳👏

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thank you!!

[@user-yq4rv9ox1s]

Happy Birthday 🎊🎂🎈!! I’m so happy you had Shanea (I don’t know how to spell it 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️) to celebrate it!! She’s such a fun good friend!! Love everything!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Me too! It’s spelled ‘Sinéad’, it’s an Irish name. 🙂

[@here2peer]

Wow. The garden's looking amazing! Well done. And great job on the loo! One of my favourite things when I was a kid was my dad's homemade plum jam. I loved it. And of course, Happy birthday.. A day late but I hope you enjoyed your day 🎉

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks very much! I’m happy with the garden and I made a green plum jam that was tasty!

[@user-yq4rv9ox1s]

I love the new cat walk on top of the toilet 😂🤣😂 My goodness look at all the yummy grapes 🍇 for your next wine adventure!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@PortugalfromScratch]

There are loads!!

[@anniemac3075]

If you pull up grass & weeds as you go round filming you'd get rid of a fair bit of the problem then there'd be less to pull up all in one go. I can't see your Mum walking past a tuft of grass or weed without removing them straight away. Whenever I go in my garden to hang washing out, feed the birds etc I yank things up as soon as I spot them before they get a chance to spread themselves. Your weather is amazing for growth of greenery, you can't afford to be slow dealing with it, think you may need a gardener to come & just control the weeds & grass for you!

[@PortugalfromScratch]

I was trying to do a bit of that as I filmed the garden and wandered around, more than I usually do. Some are quite stubborn but I got through a lot. 🙂

[@anniemac3075]

@@PortugalfromScratch Well done that woman! 💐

[@thebermudaangle9958]

😢noooooo no more squatter tarps!!!😅 Some branches would look so good...🎉

[@PortugalfromScratch]

They would but I really just wanted a sheltered place to poo and this will do the job for now. Once I get my toolshed up (working on it now), I'll be able to build the permanent structure and take that down. 🙂

[@cazicature]

“Are you excited to have a poop?” 🤣🤣 Hilarious Well done both of you 💪🏻👍🏻

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Haha, thanks!

[@mariacristinamocellin2748]

What a beautiful fig tree! You can make several new fig trees with the cuttings of that branch. I have a tiny fig tree in a NYC apartment and have been making new cuttings every year. Best wishes! I love to see your work!

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Lovely! That’s cool you have them growing there! I love fig trees!

[@100Noddy]

So many projects. Go you.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@attract1234]

Great screwing action with the pole Sinead, the indendos made me laugh.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

😁

[@lenneam3745]

Have you thought about putting the sawdust on the jalapeño plants? It may stop or at least slow down the weeds. Also, pickled carrots are very delicious

[@PortugalfromScratch]

I move pickled carrots but I’ve never tried to make them myself… I’ll give it a go. I need to get straw onto the jalapeños, I’m not sure about sawdust though.

[@user-ns5pi3qb5p]

use the comfrey as a mulch..just cut the leaves and lay them around the plants...

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Definitely! I wanted to make tea first but next time I'll chop and drop. It's such a great plant!

[@Tmp130]

I am a sunflower fan as well (no kidding). After they die in the fall you can use the stalks as kindling.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Nice idea, thanks!

[@pagecericola7342]

Happy birthday 🎉❤

[@zmaxer01]

Happy birthday 😊

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thank you!

[@polgarauk5606]

Love that you have Sinead helping you and I am sure unlike some seem to think you are helping her in return. Yay for having the compost toilet finished outside bet it's nice not having it stuck in the house now 😁 The garden is looking great and so glad you have a variety this year to choose from. Glad you had a lovely birthday 🎈🎂 Have a lovely weekend x

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks so much! Yep it's amazing to finally have the poo box outside. 😁 Yep we help each other, of course!

[@karonbeckstrom3774]

Happy birthday 🎂

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@100Noddy]

Pallet wood cladding for the loo house.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

It's temporary so I just wanted to do tarps... but perhaps for a future building!

[@7TerriPod]

You can make jam out of that fruit and put it in cookies, before you bake the cookie, you put it in the middle and bake it with the jam

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Ah, if only I were a baker! 😁

[@7TerriPod]

@@PortugalfromScratch easy, I’ll send you a recipe.😂

[@jackvanleeuwenkamp4706]

If it’s windy I think your door on your loo might struggle lol garden looks amazing ❤️🇨🇦

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yes it does get a bit breezy in there!

[@Reet64]

WRT the ants, I wonder if the excess rain this year has forced them above ground. I hope they leave you alone so you can poo in peace. 😁 Great things happening in your garden!

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Who knows but this year they're on the move! Thanks!

[@sari4079]

Great to see all the lovely things growing in the garden. You'll be loaded with yummy things! The toilet looks great too.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks! Yes I’ve already harvested loads!

[@JacobusPretorius-p7d]

We like your progress on your property. Good luck

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@WilliamHenderson-gv4wk]

I know from experience that top of the toilet is a little too high, how about a wee step in front of the toilet so your comfy and your legs aren’t dangling ?

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yep a small brick could work!

[@nancibishof6462]

Kirsty, you like spicy food. So, if you let some of your jalapeno peppers go red you could make some Sambal Oelek. Its a beautiful red hot sauce that only uses the peppers sans tomatoes. Here's my recipe: Ingredients: 1 pound red jalapenos 6 oz rice vinegar ½ tablespoon (1.5 teaspoons) kosher salt ½ c Distilled water Instructions: Remove the jalapeños stems and wash them. Place the washed jalapeños in a food processor or blender on low with the salt and rice vinegar. Process till they look like a uniformly thick sauce and then add the distilled water. Simmer for 20 minutes in a nonreactive pot. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks OR transfer into canning jars and process in a hot water bath to store for up to 18 months. Nutritional Content/oz Calories 8.39 Total Fat 0 Saturated Fat 0 Cholesterol 0 Sodium 406.4 mg Total Carbohydrates 1.57 g Dietary Fiber 0.75 g Protein 0.35 g Calcium 3 mg Iron 0.19 mg

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Ooh thanks! Weirdly, I only usually get one or two red peppers per plant and if I try to leave them, they go wrinkly and weird before they turn red. I wonder if it could be a different variety of plant?

[@nancibishof6462]

@@PortugalfromScratch Mine are just plain jalapeños. Maybe put a few of them in a bag after picking to see if they will redden without wrinkling up.

[@jennichristie5264]

Happy birthday Kirstie (y?).

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Kirsty... 😁 Thanks!

[@charlenequinilty7252]

Happy birthday and glad your friend gave you help for your BD

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks so much! It was a fine present!

[@carolchisholm433]

So glad you have your outbuilding now.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Me too, thanks!

[@daffs0]

❤😁

[@PortugalfromScratch]

🙂

[@wafamughrabi8723]

I think chalk is the best ant deterrent

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Good to know, thanks!

[@donnahenderson2676]

You should try and make zucchini relish. It’s delicious. Keep up the weeding. ❤

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Maybe! I have lots more on the way!

[@charlenequinilty7252]

Wood around frame would make the outhouse much stronger and more permanent

[@PortugalfromScratch]

For sure but it's a temporary structure... the more permanent outhouse will be off the side of the toolshed. 🙂

[@doreenzahra1719]

Happy Birthday Kirsty have a great day and many more to come

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks very much!

[@InstrumentalBackTracks]

This was taking A BLUE TION facilities to the next level. I think they must have named that after your creation.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

😁

[@mafish7962]

The garden looks lovely ❤❤❤

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@AmusedPineTrees-wh1ed]

Love all the veggies and fruit in your garden. Yes that looks like Borage, the bees adore it.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yes that's what I've heard!

[@egoyiboclementinaonwuegbut7331]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@PortugalfromScratch]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@42apprentice]

Nice job, but I wonder if the tarp will act like a sail in high winds, and keep you awake at night? And quickly degrade with the strong UV? Some bamboo screening that lets the wind pass through might be a good option in the longer term?

[@PortugalfromScratch]

I'd love bamboo screen but it's quite pricey... however this little area is quite sheltered so, so far, so good!

[@42apprentice]

Ah, well I’m sure it’ll do the job then! I grow mine and then split the canes on a fixed blade on the workbench so it’s cheap for me. x

[@PortugalfromScratch]

I would love to grow bamboo here! It’s such a versatile material!

[@ruthbowery8325]

Happy birthday 🎉🎂🍹 xx

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@micaltoy824]

Happy Birthday 🎉🎉

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@avivat3010]

Hi Kirsty! I love to see you & Sinead hanging out together. I bet you're happy to have an outhouse! Could the drill bits be dull? I have no idea. Your garden looks amazing! You must be cooking, canning , etc. a lot of the time. I know the new Poly tunnel will help. I bet you're going to feel good when that and the sawdust arrives. Big changes ahead! Have a great week. So good to see you excited about things. Stay safe in the storm you two. Best, Angela

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Ya it’s been great! Yes I think the boys need to be replaced or sharpened. Lots of fun times ahead!

[@ellentaylor4351]

Powder, any fine powder if you have baby power use that.👀it works on killing ants 🐜🐜🐜🐜

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks for the tip! The cinnamon seemed to work at my front door.

[@ruthnoronha8206]

Make a honey trap all over near your dwelling. In a plastic bottle add borax ( ( grocery store), used for washing clothing, with a teaspoon of icing sugar or honey. Put that in a plastic soda bottle poke a few holes. The ants will take it to their colony

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@SleepySnowman-vd5se]

Try sprinkling some cornmeal on them,,ANTS.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Ok will do, thanks!

[@deborahwhite2339]

Happy 🍔🍺🧻Birthday!

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@deborahwhite2339]

@@PortugalfromScratch I couldn't find a toilet emoji. It will do the job well.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Haha!

[@jennichristie5264]

A yummy side dish is if you slice up the zucchini and cook it in butter in a pan with fresh torn sage leaves then when mostly cooked and browning, u add a little cream and mash roughly and cook on enough so it’s hot to serve. Don’t add too much cream so that it turns runny. You want it vaguely loose mash potato consistency. Season with salt n pepper. Delish!

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Mmm I love sage but I don't actually have any growing here... I need to rectify that soon! Thanks!

[@micaltoy824]

Have you ever done fried green tomatoes?? They are delicious!!! Some folks sprinkle a little sugar on them after you flour and fry! So delicious

[@PortugalfromScratch]

No but I always have loads of green tomatoes at the end of the summer so I’ll give it a try then, thanks!

[@micaltoy824]

@PortugalfromScratch cut into slices flour then hot grease fry them till golden brown. Salt and pepper. Sprinkle some with a little sugar to see if you like with or without. It's a Southern must have with black eyed pees butter beans and cornbread!! Yum yum Let me know when you try them

[@jacquimartell124]

Add Parmesan cheese they are sooo good

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yum!! Thanks, will do!

[@BrendanClark03]

Slice your green tomatoes Add them to sliced onions, grated carrot in a large jar You can add dill seeds or any mustard seeds, garlic, chilli...whatever you like to taste Pour vinegar oven them and seal jars It's amazing !

[@MyPlayHouse]

Your friend is a pool stripper,, made me smile!,, even if the stripping was a bit underwhelming 🙂

[@PortugalfromScratch]

😁

[@fayewhelan7209]

❤

[@PortugalfromScratch]

🙂

[@woomobile]

Hi Kirsty, Great work on the outdoor dunny 👍👍 just need another cubicle on the deck terrace to create a outdoor shower for all the plungers to rinse off lol You could use the same principle for how you've done the toilet roof to make a cover for the plunge pool, then add a rope up to the upper terrace to create a pulley so it can be raised as a temporary cover, i still think a solid cover is the way to go, will be extra seating area when its not plunging weather. The garden is looking very productive, your mum will be happy. Sinead now staying so close seems to have given you a new lease of life and I'm looking forward to all the new projects you do on your own, and together with Sinead. Hope you both have a great weekend 👍❤

[@PortugalfromScratch]

I actually think a solid pool cover on a pulley would be great! I could even attach the shade sail onto it, since I have it already. I think it would be the perfect size if it lived on a frame. Thanks!

[@woomobile]

@PortugalfromScratch Told you before Kirsty I'm full of great ideas 🤣

[@PortugalfromScratch]

😁

[@terpentine]

Wauw, ur garden looks amazing! U learnt a lot over the years. Happy birthday! 🎉

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thank you!

[@virginiajorgensen8614]

Good job ladies. Happy birthday. I have tried sunflowers but the deer eat them. I use a garlic spray to deter the deer from eating the tomatoes.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Ah! Actually my friends jus thad deer eat their walnut tree, so they're around these parts as well. I've never seen one, though!

[@JacobusPretorius-p7d]

Hi my naam is Cobus and my Partner is Nico we are from South Africa. We are also looking for a place to buy in Portugal.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Cool! Good luck with your search. 🙂

[@susanaughey9343]

Nice video! Ants don't like peppermint oil. Also spiders are not a fan of it either. 😃🎉

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@bcoppola1001]

my cat's name is Larry too lol

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Haha, cool! His full name is 'Laranja'... 'orange' in Portuguese.

[@paulrogers3385]

Saw mill scrap cuttings from logs make good siding, see Project Portugal, Nick Saunders

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yep that would be great but I just want something quick and easy and this will do the job for the short term. 🙂

[@paulrogers3385]

​@@PortugalfromScratch, or just as a resource for future projects, having a pile of it somewhere to pull from. It survives weathering well and the size variety seems to be very versatile.

[@juanitakauffman6336]

Happy birthday

[@juanitakauffman6336]

Where are the veggies you set out to pick?

[@PortugalfromScratch]

In a salad then in my belly. I forgot to film but I got carrots, cucumber, lettuce, green beans, and I had beets from before. Prob some other stuff I forget, too.🙂

[@user-sc6ze1bz7b]

Hi🎉

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Hi!

[@junemeller2441]

I think you should screw wood strips to the up rights, I don't see the staples holding in the winds you have.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Extra bracing is a great idea, thanks!

[@paulrogers3385]

Did I miss what happened to all the lovely banana trees?

[@PortugalfromScratch]

The ones in the ground died but I had others that I sold: I still have another large put with several bananas, too. I'll repot them soon.🙂

[@jacquelinegomez4974]

Hi I saw you built a compost toilet what are you going to do with the open floor you know a snake or a spider can crawl through the open flooring just notice 😁

[@PortugalfromScratch]

I’m not so worried about that… it’s the ants that I’m afraid of at the moment! 😁

[@barbaranielsen2888]

What happened to the "Tool Shed"?

[@PortugalfromScratch]

It’s underway… back at it tomorrow and hoping for a bonus video soon. 😁

[@emmaslow]

I have had luck stopping ants with peppermint essential oil at door thresholds

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Thanks!

[@loissaedder2214]

Ants at my house don't come in via the door.

[@PortugalfromScratch]

At least I can see their path!

[@loissaedder2214]

@@PortugalfromScratch so true. Little footprints in the cinnamon!

[@sarahnd]

That's exactly what I use to keep them off the washing line -- works well!

[@margiemistretta8885]

Don't dally pull your weeds

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Yep, I'm on it! 😀

[@AmusedPineTrees-wh1ed]

What have you been using for a loo up until now 😮

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Same box, but it was inside the house.

[@coby6417]

🍻🥳🌟👏👍🍀💐

[@PortugalfromScratch]

🙂

[@elainekaufman2264]

Is the sound bad for anyone else in this video?

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Ooh it seems ok for me but I wonder... when there are two of us talking and one is in front and one is behind the camera, the mic only points in one direction. Could it be that?

[@wafamughrabi8723]

OMG you'll have ants all over your poop tent&toilet paper

[@PortugalfromScratch]

So far they're just hanging out out front... but I'll think of a solution if they come to close!

[@Cathy-ty3fp]

Do you actually just get friends to do the jobs for you

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Tarping, yep! But we help each other and find our own strengths and things we like. It'll be a team effort on both of out places.

[@avivat3010]

Much better answer than mine!😅

[@PortugalfromScratch]

Haha... internet diplomacy is a strength of mine. 😁