Impressive Homestead Produces Tons of Food & Uses Solar Power, Rainwater & Bio Gas

Family homesteading for 15 years on the edge of the Australian bush. This family grows and raises an incredible amount of food with their fruit trees, vegetable gardens, laying hens and sheep. They preserve their harvests with canning, dehydrating, freezing, smoking and fermenting. They also try to reduce their impact by collecting rainwater for their home and gardens (except the kitchen sink), offsetting their electricity usage with solar power, cooking with their woodstove, solar ovens and home bio gas system.
You can follow and find out more about Bush Edge Homesteading Australia here:
/ @bush_edge_homesteadin...
profile.php?...
Rachel and Russell and their two boys have done a ton of research and experimentation on their homestead and they have a lot of knowledge to share! We're grateful to share their story here, and hope you'll give them a follow over at @Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus :)
Thanks for watching!
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Website: www.exploringalternatives.ca
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COMMENTS
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We want our channel and comments section to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to watch and contribute. For this reason, inappropriate or hateful comments will be reported and/or deleted.
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CREDITS
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Music Credit: Exploring Alternatives
Editing Credit: Exploring Alternatives
Filming Credit: Bush Edge Homesteading Australia
/ @bush_edge_homesteadin...
#homestead #homesteading #hobbyfarm

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for watching! You can follow Bush Edge Homesteading Australia here: www.youtube.com/@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086762832391

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We are so incredibly humbled that Exploring Alternatives has shared our lives with such a beautiful video. I could see our kids one day sharing this with their kids ❤ Thank you Exploring Alternatives for this gorgeous video.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thank you for sharing your story with us! It was such a pleasure to collaborate with you all!!

[@mosimosi630]

I want this life it’s so beautiful

[@sofiaondemand]

Do you have a channel

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

@@sofiaondemand we sure do youtube.com/@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus?si=3ctD_K_Ex2LuPPOo

[@countrymousesfarmhouse497]

​@@sofiaondemandthey do. Go to the description of this video and there's a link. Hit subscribe while you're there , it's beautiful content ❤❤

[@WTFwuzdat]

Did you say you both also work full time jobs? Holy crap. Unbelievable. What an accomplishment this homestead is! ❤

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We sure do. It's taken many years for us to be at this point though. We definitely couldn't do all that we do now, back when we moved (we were also working then and pre-kids). Early years, it was a lot of time, hands-on to build and set up the things that would make it manageable for us later.

[@jenniferjennifer2257]

The boys look very happy and capable. That’s the dream within the dream 💕

[@carolewarner101]

What an amazing place to raise your boys...great childhood for the boys and 2nd childhood for mom and dad!

[@Siennanewway]

Genuinely impressive

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Agreed! Thank you for watching :)

[@akachucknasty]

I know it's hard work, but it looks so peaceful and relaxing living there.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

It does! Thanks so much for watching ☺️

[@MissAngela007]

Looks can be deceiving unfortunately it’s constant work for the first 10+ years but it’s so rewarding, satisfying, and above all….WORTH IT!

[@WillowsGreenPermaculture]

It is alot of work, however it is very rewarding work. For the family and also for the surrounding region. Increasing native biodiversity, supporting native wildlife has so many upsides to it. There are ways to help the wildlife find other things to eat on the land, by devoting space on the land to planting native fruiting shrubs, etc., that the animals are more likely to prefer to the other plants we grow, that they take out of necessity, because there is so little space left for them, and so little space devoted to the native wild food they eat. They will eat less of what you work so hard to grow if you do this.@@MissAngela007

[@arabellakarrington8211]

Amazing video. I loved watching your children, how happy and proud they are to show us the vegetables and eggs. You two are wonderful parents to have such beautiful children who take part in in your lives. Just lovely.

[@WillowsGreenPermaculture]

A wonderful way of life! 15 years in - that’s fantastic! Great to see the kids involved - the best education! Cheers from homesteaders in Canada! ❤

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for watching y'all

[@AREDEE365]

What a childhood those boys are getting!

[@MissAnneShirley]

They are living the dream! Looks so good!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Happy you enjoyed the video :) :)

[@danasuz763]

Wow, the children are wonderful! Such a lovely family with a cool lifestyle!

[@bradlafferty]

You treat your livestock to a good life! Nice. Good solution to avoiding flooding your vegetables by using boxes instead of swales! Great homestead!

[@bethhubbs9937]

Fowlcatraz. LOL. Love that! :) (11:12)

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Hehe. I gave that sign to hubby for a birthday gift a few years ago, as we called the area Fowlcatraz given all the predator defences 😀

[@adrianmacfhearraigh4677]

Beautiful! Looks perfect. Well done. Enjoy the fruits of all your work. It proves that if we serve life with care, respect and responsibility, Life will most definitely reciprocate.

[@peterjensen1455]

Extremely impressive. Your boys are learning and helping. Well done.

[@DavidWilliams-ju2ln]

Loved the presentation! Thanks to the family and Exploring Alternatives.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much :)

[@BeeKay4444]

Wow! What an impressive undertaking! I love that the children are involved as well. Teaching them REAL LIFE skills to take on in their lives. So so much laborious work to keep up that homestead particularly both working outside of the home too. Very inspiring and I hope to recreate some ideas that I can here in Canada. I will definitely be subscribing to your YT channel.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Great job!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@deborahcobb9064]

So absolutely wonderful. What a way for a child to grow up!!!

[@Kennedycruise4589]

Hello Deborah 👋 How are you doing today?

[@tabitha-sk5kc]

Very nice. Its obvious the amount of work that you have put into this. Your kids seem so happy.

[@rachelnetti4769]

These kiddos have such a beautiful life

[@samjames6030]

That is so interesting how everything has been worked out for the benefits that are given back. It's really nice that their children help with outside chaos which gives them the incentive to realise all hands on deck works better. It shows you that everything which has been done was to intergrate everything to have a beneficial effect on areas of the garden to keep them under control by their chosen outdoor animals, as well as the contribution of the chickens who eat the grass as well. It is all well thought out and a pleasure to see their hard work unfold.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

It is great what you are doing !!!

[@rentedspace7462]

I’m so excited to see a local channel that o watch on your amazing channel. For those who have not already started to watch Bushedge homestead Australia please do so. Rachel and her family are amazing and down to earth and they make videos so we can all love the amazing life they do. Congratulations guys xx ❤❤❤❤

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Awwww... you are too sweet ❤

[@louisacuriel4651]

Just beautiful!!!.

[@skimusic3773]

Thank you for years of consistently great videography and intelligent commentary!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Wow, thank you so much! We're really happy to hear that you've enjoyed our work through the years! Have a great day :)

[@12acresfarm]

I love this! Such a beautiful setting. Your veggie garden is amazing too. Great to see more Aussies on YT. 😊🌱🌻

[@miss.behave]

So much magic here🪴

[@blbmnm5939]

really enjoyed watching this, thank u and best wishes to these wonderful ppl

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks so much, happy you enjoyed the video :)

[@debireed6128]

Adorable boys.

[@DYoung-vt8pq]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing. ❤

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Glad you enjoyed it :) :)

[@cathylynnpietranton]

Thank you Matt and Danielle. Your channel is unique. You always share interesting stories. ❤

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks so much, hope you're both doing well :) :)

[@cathylynnpietranton]

@@ExploringAlternatives yes we are thank you for asking 🙂❤️

[@lythipua]

These are all things I want to thank my family for showing me

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

That's so beautiful. I hope our kids feel this way in the future too 💖

[@Scotty3146]

I must investigate a drier, as I had dried Persimmon when I visited California - very delicious!!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Oh that sounds yummy! Love persimmons!

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Persimmons in the dehydrator are one of our favourites too. Like candy... but it's fruit! 😋

[@pauldodman4371]

Sensational you guys. Great to see the results of your hard work. Fantastic video

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Thanks Pauly 💖

[@honeykat1]

Looks like a lovely place... but an even lovelier family!! Those boys are so engaged (and engaging), informed, invested, interested! I hope (as you said in your message below), that your homestead continues to flourish, and that your kids' kids will be able to share the same pleasure in the future. Kindest greetings (and also to Matt and Danielle), k

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks so much for your comment! We're so happy you enjoyed getting to see Rachel and Russell's beautiful homestead! They've truly created something amazing for them and their kids :)

[@SonyaBayham]

The figs are the size od apples. Yumm.❤

[@ExploringAlternatives]

They look so good eh? Thanks for watching!

[@brummiecraig]

amazing. we all could learn many lessons from this couple. 👍

[@gardentours]

It's a wonderful place and so nice to see how the kids are involved 👍 and they're definitely proud ro be involved 🤗

[@t.j.m3987]

Yes I had several farms an it just fed the wildlife an bugs..I gave up. All the best to you

[@grayisgood]

Fantastic, thanks. :)

[@bethhubbs9937]

What a sweet family. Thanks for sharing their story. Very inspiring. Wishing them all the best from California. :)

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thank you so much!

[@brown-eyedgirl858]

Paradise! 👏🏻🌎🥰

[@AmandaOffGrid]

Amazing!!!!!

[@punjabseth260]

So nice

[@lindaallen2412]

I am amazed at how much you do, how do you find time to both work full time and do everything else you are wonderful and a real inspiration to all

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We actually get this question a bit, so in a few weeks will share a vid on what a day looks like around here. On the weekend is when we usually get stuck in and with all 4 of us doing things it adds up.

[@axesandaprons]

Beautiful homestead. Shows how patience is key 😊

[@ExploringAlternatives]

It sure does! thank you for watching :)

[@andrewmutavi590]

Aint no better way to live😍😍

[@taylorbible]

Beautiful land and lifestyle.

[@simplysimple7628]

Where I live, it’s very humid and wet. Never goes below 60 degrees outside. Extremely hit summers. Tough to grow lots of things. The rain and humidity makes it difficult to grow cucurbits and nightshades. Heavy disease and pest pressure. Stone fruits won’t grow hear. Zero chill hours. Might get some fruit but not of good quality. Sour and bitter fruit. So to watch videos of people biting into apples, pears, peaches, etc. makes me so darn jealous 🤦🏽‍♂️😆

[@mywildholm]

We absolutely love these guys! They've built such an amazing homestead there on the edge of the Bush! So much to learn from them...

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Lots of love right back at you guys and your incredible island journey 💕

[@denisebd1000]

Awesome 😊

[@Kennedycruise4589]

Hello Denise 👋 how are you doing today?

[@SwervinErvins]

This homestead is an absolute dream. And that biogas setup is brilliant! A place to put your kitchen scraps that gives you liquid fertilizer and cooking gas?! Wow. Please share the how-to with us!

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We filmed a video on the HomeBiogas back when we started the channel, so is pretty 'rustic' 🤣 but it gives a bit of an overview of the system.

[@misterincreds5341]

i thoroughly enjoyed this video.

[@IrlamOz]

Living the dream

[@shannonmartinez8036]

You guys are pretty amazing!!

[@CG-hj1cu]

The dream right there ❤

[@Bernie5172]

well done folks

[@christysantos3852]

I have totally respect so many things I want to do, I started fermenting this year it turned out pretty salty but just learning.

[@RPdyke]

Omg I live near there! Would love to meet up with them 💖 I hope to build a tiny house and homestead :)

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We actually got together with other like minded people through the Dandenongs Collective swap group, if this is of interest 😊

[@RPdyke]

​@@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus Oh sweeeet!!! I'll be following along!!! 💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@_SurvivalAce]

Such a beautiful video...

[@blackdiamond306]

You are absolutely right it is a waste of time to fight the man you will never win that battle better off finding a place that respect you and your culture it's there's all there's 🌄🦍☮️

[@mattbendzinski4945]

In the USA, but very good to see the folks "down under" doing super well. Even if you don't get all your food via self-sufficiency, you'll be better off than the majority of folks who go with the chemically laden stuff they call food that everyone buys. Best of luck in your future.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Thanks a bunch Matt 😀

[@justme-uw6bz]

This was lovely to watch, well done guys. I used to live in Croydon/Kilsyth area so I know your area very well, we used to go up there on the weekend.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Not too far from our part of the world at all!!! 😀

[@justme-uw6bz]

@@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus I'm now out Healesville direction.

[@etiennelouw9244]

Love what you have done, if I ever get a chance, I will buy a small farm on the edge of Cape Town, South Africa.

[@suezaple4950]

What a wonderful family Id love this type of life very impressive regardless of the amount of work ,( which would not bother me) , It would be well worth it look at all that fresh home grown food. Very epic that their sons are learning the value of growing your own food, , its healthier has no pesticides hasn't been altered . I wish I knew more about growing my own food naturally and how to keep pest away i live in Ontario Canada . Thanks for introducing us these folks are amazing . I have subscribed .

[@Kennedycruise4589]

Hello Sue Please can we be friends?

[@dakotashireman6404]

Silly American here, Kansas City… love your accent

[@edithgreen2168]

Love how you,ll trust in God and love him.

[@Kienlife]

Nice 🎉❤

[@countrymousesfarmhouse497]

If you love this video, youll love Rachels channel . Go to the description of this video for the link and sub too . ❤What a gorgeous video show casing one of my favourite channels. I love how youve captured a little of so many aspects of their lives there. So excited for you ,Rachel .❤ Thankyou for sharing ❤❤

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Awwww... thanks a bunch for your beautiful comment ❤

[@samajier2566]

Great video,,,,,,,

[@potagermalo]

Superbe vidéo À bientôt

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Merci :)

[@potagermalo]

@@ExploringAlternatives de rien

[@rickyenglish1391]

This is a very good idea to set up on hillside, terrace and step terrace for the situation?.

[@inomad1313]

Have you considered using vetiver to help level out parts of your land over time and control water flow/evaporation?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Not something we have heard of as an approach tbh . We do have native rushes in areas, particularly where the groundwater is near the surface.

[@inomad1313]

@@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus vetiver is not a wetland plant like rush. It is more of a drought tolerant (big seasonal rain/drought) plant used to control water flow and build up dirt uphill of where it is planted. I’ve seen it create step farms over time when planted in rows. It is used to control runoff and road erosion. It is used to hold back embankments like a retaining wall. As dirt settles up hill of vetiver it grows taller and holds more dirt behind it. Then grows taller with roots extending into the new dirt. Almost all vetiver is non seed baring so it is not invasive and stays where you put it. It is easily harvested and replanted once it is established. So, one purchase should eventually be sufficient to do any landscaping you want over time.

[@inomad1313]

@@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus vetiver will be the first plant I put on my new property as some as I sign the contract so it can get established and I can separate and replant it where I need it while still leaving the original plant in place.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

@@inomad1313 thanks for sharing the info. I will do some research and look it up.

[@gmantoon]

Can I just come live in the garden will work for food 🤣🤣

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

😂 love it!

[@lifestyleadventures7327]

Awesome vids, would you be happy to share where you purchase your canning jars, steamer, pressure cooker and dehydrator please 🙏

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We actually have a video on the channel that covers our equipment and where we got it. As this is a very common question that people have, with the equipment not being so commonly available in Australia. Ozfarmer, Aussie Mason and Amazon are some. Hope this helps :)

[@user-hh2tq6st8l]

biogas is one of those attractive sounding solutions until you learn about wood gasifiers (and charcoal)(properly running exhaust through water filtration captures all exhausts) and black soldier fly larvae. (plus other forms of composting) wood is very easy to grow. black soldier fly compost and meal have many uses in providing food to chooks/pigs and growing healthy soil. many people try running their own biodigesters to make methane and just one failure to upkeep the system leaves them gasless for weeks/months

[@terrysimpson6761]

Could you give me some more information on the Bio Gas set up and where you got it from? Looks awesome. Love your set up.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

The setup is called a HomeBiogas and comes as a kit. We got it in 2019 and really love it. We have a vid on it on the channel which goes into a bit of detail (but really need to do a more up to date one, as it was one of our 1st vids).

[@brixiex2580]

oh God- i wish

[@benderbender1233]

🖖

[@michellehormgarden]

😍😍

[@CoNeSol]

Love you place guys - it looks amazing - but how do you keep the bush outside the fence line under control given that wildfires is such an issue in Australia? - Can you address this in future episodes?.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We do have an episode on our Bush Edge Channel which goes into a bit more about the fire planning we do and how we prep. With the bush itself there is only a couple of things we do. We largely like to leave this native and for the wildlife. But there are a couple of things we have done and continue to do. We worked with our local cfa when they wanted to put a track through the valley. This is to the very rear of our place and is for the cfa to access multiple properties in the valley if needed. We have a track along fencing to. Hubby slashes all these by hand with a brushcutter and blade to keep access open. (Big job, but it is steep). When we moved the place was covered in pittosphorum, which is highly flammable. We chainsaw and blade this down when they come up. A constant battle.

[@veeveeleo9713]

It looks amazing… one quick question how do you all deal with snakes , maybe some sprays !! What is one animal that gives you a hard time 🙏

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We have only encountered one snake in our time here thankfully. Keeping the grass down and having resident kookaburras and magpies helps 😀

[@drcandor]

Well done. . . :>/

[@marianfrances4959]

👍😎🇨🇦

[@samved8099]

One thing I noticed is that the woman seems highly strung despite supposedly living an idyllic life

[@ForagingYourRoots]

Those are some massive figs! Anyone know what variety those were?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

These are brown Turkey figs from memory.

[@ThuyNguyen-ci3cm]

I’d love to buy a ram lamb off you some time in the future if you’re interested!

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

We aren't set up for selling lambs I'm afraid. We are too small to be able to breed surplus. But the wiltshires are an awesome breed. If you are in Aus there is an association and that was how we found many of ours.

[@iycekold]

Do you remove the apple seeds when making juice?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

No, with the cold press juicer they can go straight in with the seeds. It makes it a much easier job with the processing.

[@vitoscaletta1457]

11:52 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅wnj ❤❤❤nq❤❤

[@andersenxu8474]

how many tex here

[@adamtash2891]

why not terrace more of the slope?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

The open paddock area is where the septic lines run. So we are limited by that. Also with working, there is only so much areas we can manage. At this time of life we are right on that edge of it being the right amount of growing space vs too much.

[@brianenck]

Oh she said Shedding, not self.... never mind.

[@kimcosmos]

Why not eat the possums and tan the skins? The bats are edible too. Traps in your orchard are sustainable. Hunting is less so.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Here in Australia they are protected species being native, so not on the menu despite being so in other parts of the world.

[@r.dinesh5026]

.

[@treesknow]

"This property gives us a bit of a country lifestyle..." Excuse me if this seems rude, but "a bit"? Thousands, or even hundreds, of years ago, you would have been considered incredibly rich, which I think you are.

[@anywaystohighway]

these new kind of videos suck like quality wise they are badly edited and really boring to watch

[@AM-qg6bj]

👎🏻

[@chirovandenbos2339]

People are programmed robot slaves of the system thinking happyness starts with extern factors like status, money, material things that means nothing and its relativ and an illusion create by society. If your happyness depend on extern factors you will never be because extern factors are endless. Happyness starts inside you. The more people around you, the more expectations, talk about others, lying, frustrations, negativity, jealousy, double standards, own benefits, judge, comparing etc...... reflection of their broken souls. Alone or in solitude you have more strength, peace, power, happyness, freedom and time. Be the light in your own life