Life "Off the Grid" at The Field Lab (Texas Country Reporter)

Meet a man who turned his entire life into an experiment in self-sustaining, off-the-grid survival. At the Field Lab, John Wells uses new technology and old-fashioned craftsmanship to get by in Big Bend.
Read John's blog - www.thefieldlab.org
From Texas Country Reporter # 1123, 3/7/2009.

[@zygotepeyote]

April 5, 1959 - January 10, 2024, John Niles Wells passed away on January 10, 2024 in Fort Stockton. John was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer and chose not to undergo chemotherapy and went straight into hospice care. He was a one of kind and anyone who followed his KZbin channel or daily blog knew it. I, for one, will surely miss him. Rest in peace John and thanks for letting us along for the ride. The West was the Best.

[@micheldienesch7557]

Very sad news.... RIP..🌠🙏😶🇫🇷

[@JonathanStaples89029]

Thank you for posting that. I noticed that the video was 13yrs ago and was wondering if he was still out there working on something new.

[@mr.roaddogwade7107]

That’s a fact , God bless Texas. 🤠

[@pilgrimhere652]

Texas is a Special state , I love those solitary places , Nature is better than city, Many people enjoy peace and nature.👍🤠

[@bobinmissouri]

yes it was way too short would love to see more of this ty for doing it

[@yafanna3]

that is a wonderful wonderful way of life, I hope more people will take a leap of faith like this for their future survival. I believe it will come to that.

[@zx713]

It won’t

[@WizzRacing]

If you have access to clean water that is half the battle. The rest is easy if you have the skills. Something 80% of the people today lack and one reason they work 50 hrs a week to have someone else make it for them.

[@lauranyc4966]

I know how he feels . Exactly what I'm planing to do 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jmjpowerjoule]

That poem at the end of this episode has this sort of a "Baxter Black" kind of ring to it. Nicely done sir.

[@jamesmesenbrink7788]

Been there done that, got the Tee shirt. You're my hero!!

[@QuietSundayLibrary]

True-to-life version of "Peanuts'" "Spike". Fascinating and awe-inspiring.

[@johnpierce4976]

Awesome cowboy poem!!

[@blackbird5634]

This fella's got the right idea. He's livin the dream if you asked me.

[@mari-of8wz]

Good evening , he is a great modern talent in these times grettings Gretel

[@romulocontreras4813]

ES UN HOMBRE INTELIGENTE, QUE VIVE DE UNA FOTMA ESPARTENA EN UN MEDIO INHOSPITO, USANDO LA TECNOLOGIA PARA ADAPTARSE A ESAS CIRSCUSTANCIAS.

[@JustJimJr]

dream come true, absolutely perfect

[@ferpda4697]

Happy man on earth

[@IamtheKGB]

theres a lot of benefits of desert land, besides being cheap. typically less or no building codes, less people to complain about the noise you make and what you do on your land, privacy. im looking for land right now and if its not desert land, its have to be a really good price and in an isolated area with little to no building codes.

[@ANTHONYWMITCHELL]

I love it out west texas

[@our180]

Great reporting! We're about to do the same thing but with a family of 4! Living in a tiny house, and completely off grid. We're blogging about it if interested.... Cant wait to call John our neighbor!

[@Nomad-yn7pv]

So, how'd it go?

[@colingray2149]

Cool man off the grid is the best... Sun dos wanders...

[@valeriegordon4295]

Hey John!

[@ilovstodance]

away from the hussle and bussel of this fast spaced world

[@AtTheBarn]

IT would be interesting to see an update on this story.

[@grenzhochspannungshindernis]

kzbin.infovideos

[@LegendSexy]

Good stuff!

[@bernadettemclean-ohara9730]

best of luck to you Long may it last oh love the rooster

[@dorothygale5896]

Study Butte and Terlingua, Not that far from the Big Bend visitor's center. Worth a visit. While you're out that way, stop in at the Museum of the Big Bend up at Sul Ross college in Alpine.

[@laven111]

Go John

[@RHJunior]

jim dandy great living on solar power--- if you live in a DESERT with 100% sunshine all the time.

[@RonGyver]

I Commend him and actually I have dreamed of this for most my life. Raising kids and having a family has kept me in the hustle and bustle of the city. When they are all gone, I would dare to follow this lifestyle. How can you say living off the grid is more expensive, Obviously You've never been on extended camping adventures, much less been out of your climate controlled safety net. Time, hard work and effort is what is required to live this way. He actually has internet something I wouldn't worry too much about, but I know she has to check her FB regularly lol.

[@oxcolette]

Was that a heat exchanger?

[@bonnieoppelt2734]

Wow, where in texas... it's so dry compare to my part of texas... must be near el paso...

[@chez-dusa3726]

Haven Oppelt he mentions alpine a really nice town no chemtrails cuz of the McDonald observatory no fly zone

[@roberttaylor6360]

Study Butte is just outside of the Big Bend National Park on the west side.

[@kevinjoseph517]

west texas

[@jeffyjohn5673]

I lived out in rural texas for seven years in my late twenties and mid thirties. It is not all what it is cracked up to be. After major drought, fires, ( i nearly lost my home twice) and flooding. When it comes to food, (the long commute) gas to get anywhere is a major expense. Also when you need a contractor, repair person (for something you cant handle yourself), it is a major ordeal and long wait. People long for an isolated kind of life (there are some perks) but you had better get used to living, being alone. No social clubs, activities, or just plain stimulation. Crime is a factor too with very little protection..You better be locked and loaded, especially at night because if something happens, the police will not even begin to know where to go. I now live back in the crowded city I grew up in. I can walk right to the store, work is a 20 min commute. I can have anything delivered, something breaks, I know a plumber two doors down. Things aren't perfect in the city, but when I was looking to get away from it all, I definitely got more than I bargained for.

[@mrgoob76]

the way i see it, you gave it an honest try didn't like it.. and thats ok.

[@RedfishInc]

jeffy john I ran screaming from the big city 10 years ago and never looked back. Sometimes I have to go back for one reason or another and I can't wait to get out of there and back to my country home.

[@TheDesertHermit]

It's not for everybody. Some can handle it, others can't.

[@dannytavarez4837]

yea

[@michellegibsonmusic]

I want to know if the storm effected him or not?

[@dannytavarez4837]

i would like todo the same thing thanks in texas

[@jcso119]

His style of living sounds wonderful.

[@molnarriki4876]

This is better life than new york

[@chieftenbets2114]

As they say out West ' for a spot of Cheer just grab a Steer' - lol

[@yardsausage]

i love that video.. i want more more more, simplicity is something i think alot of us want,but are afraid to try because of leaving our comforts, jobs, friends and family behind ,even the financial part of it may not be suitable for all, but given the chance i would like to try it!!

[@twxx2001]

Everyone talks about how great that sort of isolated life is, but have you ever stopped to consider how lonely it must be? Also if he has family how they are cut off from their loved one. Seems like living in a desolate place could eventually drive you crazy.

[@mawmawvee]

It would depend upon what kind of personality you are given. Some people are at peace alone. I can see it, since he came from NYCity.

[@coreyroberts2831]

***** Well said...... myself, I dont like being around a lot of people or big cities, I would much rather be in woods. My brother in law loves living close to everything, I do not. I think for me it was the way I was raised, in the country away from people, where we didn't run to the town at the drop of a hat cause we needed butter or milk. Maybe went to town once a month. We grew and raised our own food. For some people its all they have ever known........ very much looking forward to getting back to it.

[@bonnieoppelt2734]

In texas it really depends. My family has a farm over 300 achers. But we all live in dallas, fifteen feet max from our niehbors. Mine are about eight feet. We can get qway but for the most part are always right there.

[@dusangajdos4672]

he escaped from "mental institution" . seems like you going to turn him in .

[@georgehayduke6717]

Dsl line ? How ?

[@LajitasRain]

DSL comes through the phone line. So, technically if you have a phone (and I saw he did) it should be possible. I believe DSL is about 3-5mbs so no HD.

[@emilyanthony7138]

Non conformist a wise man. That's great.

[@maximusaugustus6823]

I would only go Off the grid in the forest somewhere near a creek or lake

[@camodudemtbh7594]

Is he still there??

[@adam75south]

is that the old dairy queen voice guy?

[@plutoplatters]

oh yeah.... he's certainly crazy !!! lucky sob

[@dobe762]

too short great video...

[@maryshaffer8474]

This is some people s dream that totally opposite of acquiring.

[@decnijfkris3706]

A 1000 usd for a a quarter square mile of land. that sounds interesting. He took over the texas tongue...

[@kevinjoseph517]

food? water? oil???

[@PeakPureAir1]

Yes it is the X DQ Dude. adam75south, He Is Not related to the big balls voice Whataburger Guy. Have you ever been out there? I highly doubt it will ever be very developed. A lot more people than you might realize live off the grid. I am planning on doing it in a few years. Just like anything else, takes a lot of planning, and then taking the plunge.

[@greggardner9287]

he doesn't have the water for that, watch a little closer

[@TheDesertHermit]

Actually he does. There are several more large water storage tanks on his property.

[@survivalgearetc43213]

Gotta have pop tarts 3:11. :)

[@miterbenisdurty3862]

I don't get it, he sold his house from upstate N.Y.. That's as rural as it gets, and you have fresh water.

[@DianaArmstrongZook]

Intriguing, Something/event must've set him off tho ..?

[@josegamez3220]

Do you have any Family?

[@a575981735977018]

wow, someone "truly" living off the grid..

[@zx713]

He’s not truly. He has internet. He’s still plugged in.

[@brosb4does1]

i love u now.

[@a300pilotster]

Dont dial 911.

[@victorioguedea9504]

What can he do without money

[@subash6136]

Why dont you raise ur own farm and grow some vegetables with some green house...would have been much better and u dont have to spend money buying those can foods and eggs and other...live free u know wat I mean homie

[@BigBickBenedict_de_Texas]

.

[@plutoplatters]

jaguar thorn knows !!!! .. nothing.