OUR OFF-GRID HOMESTEAD | Rethinking A LOT of Things...

Hi, we are Harriet and Mauro and in February 2021 we bought an abandoned smallholding in Castellón, Spain. In these videos we shar e our life as we restore and improve our little stone house, learn to grow and preserve our own food, and bring our 4 acres of farmland back to productivity.
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Music in this video:
Wisteria Blue - Anna Landstrom
All Day In Bed (Instrumental Version) STEMS INSTRUMENTS - Bang Bang
Still Your Girl (Instrumental Version) - Gamma Skies
In the Misty Morning - Many Moons Ago
Down the Garden Path - View Points
Cooper's Island - Martin Klem
From EpidemicSound

[@tdewtx]

Harriet, I have been watching you and Mauro since you moved to Spain and started putting your place together. I really enjoy watching your journey and I wanted to tell you that you two are doing a wonderful job.

[@LittleSpanishFarmstead]

Aw, thank you!

[@PatrickPoet]

It's amazing how strong she is physically and mentally too.

[@deejones6938]

Harriet your can do attitude is to be admired. That raised bed turned out brilliant. Love using what you have around rather than buying new.

[@vivalaleta]

Your work ethic is through the roof! Your dreamy home just gets better and better thanks to your vision and hard work.

[@evolve2learn1010]

I love this channel. It is educational, trial, error and success. And the fact that everything does not have to be perfect the first time around is so reassuring and motivating to continue, try and try again. LOL! Harriett, you and Mauro are amazing, how you both navigate the farm, baby, eye surgery, work and ongoing projects, keeps us coming back. Thank you for sharing. Be well. Hugs to Santiago. 😊

[@jermyayala398]

I can tell you are feeling way better and happier. Wishing you guys the best.

[@petro3441]

Harriet you have way too much energy😂😂😂 super proud of what you have accomplished so far🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@davidmiller-br4bu]

Looks amazing Harriet…Santi is cuteness overload 😊

[@GS-mo2zj]

Too true😮😊

[@serenagomez3864]

Just one thing at a time, and don't forget that Santi is a very accomplished "project " and so beautiful!!!

[@kathyprice1771]

Great idea with the stone walls for the garden bed. Easily accessible right outside. You should build more of them.

[@LittleSpanishFarmstead]

I definitely will, it was fun too!

[@kerrypennings4294]

You're amazing! Cut yourself some slack. Your project is evolving organically and you're learning as you go. There's only so much time in the day, but every day you're creating something of a magical home that is intentional, that is in keeping with the natural world. Love from the USA

[@akindofmagick1]

Those beetle grubs are pure chicken protein bombs!! That dead tree, tho, is an accident waiting to happen; it’s rotten down in the roots. There’s a lovely view behind it; take it out for safety, and enjoy the view! The new raised bed garden is outstanding!!

[@jeanettefrancis6473]

It actually looks like you could push it over with a few people, or tie a rope to it and pull! Ha Ha.

[@isabelherrera8647]

The rotten tree is a danger for the babies!!!!! Cut it pls

[@danyoutube7491]

​@@jeanettefrancis6473 Tying with a rope might be the best way, I can imagine that it might fall in a slightly unpredictable way depending on which side the roots are hanging on most to the earth. Then you can pull it from a safe distance.

[@kdclothes]

Santi is so gorgeous. Thank you for sharing him with us. The raised garden with stones is lovely. It will be beautiful to see plants inside the walls. Bravo.

[@karenhenderson2624]

What a fabulous kitchen garden! You did a fantastic job constructing the stone walls, it looks fantastic.

[@marlenebezuidenhout]

Those bugs look like cutworm and your chicks would enjoy them. Pest in the garden. Santi cute, everyone looking good and happy! Good luck with your garden.

[@darrena2625]

They look too small. I think they are more likely to be stag beetle larvae or similar large species.

[@Lancaster331]

Love watching you -such a great couple! - love how Harriet is so talented and tries everything and how she explains everything-her voice is so soothing 😊

[@deehalpern8988]

Scoop up those grubs and give them to the chickens. They love them! Your stone raised bed turned out lovely. I think Santi looks so much like his daddy. ❤

[@LittleSpanishFarmstead]

I wanted to but I felt bad for them! haha

[@waldemarsikorski4759]

@@LittleSpanishFarmstead They could be Lucanus cervus, known as the European stag beetle.

[@deehalpern8988]

@@LittleSpanishFarmstead 😅😅

[@madhatter909]

Love your raised bed garden!!!! And the full face shots of SANTI! xxxxx you amaze me Harriet with your gardening and building knowledge

[@deborahbasel184]

That's a great place for the new Apple Tree. Plenty of water from the Ducks.

[@brigid6609]

I´m also someone who likes starting projects and then get distracted. You are so right, best to have only 1 project finished in a good way than more than 1 in a bad way or not completely finished.Looking forward to see how things will look when finished, especially the white flower border against the house, it will look so cute with flowers or a flowering climber!

[@vickiecrouch6041]

Happy Easter! Your kitchen garden bed looks fabulous. You are such a hard worker! Santi is soooo cute. Mauro is a great daddy!

[@soniahofmann4969]

Your stone raised bed is just what I expected from someone as creative as you...its perfect and I would love one 😊

[@dvidgonzales8376]

You can extend poles of your wheel barrow to make lifting it up easier of your lower back, etc for many of your garden tools

[@susanowen3714]

Looks like an elephant hawk moth caterpillar.

[@LittleSpanishFarmstead]

We have a lot of those, so it could be! In the stage between caterpillar and moth, I assume!

[@margaritamanresacapo2540]

Gracias Harriet, me encanta ver el esfuerzo que haces para mejorar cada día vuestra casita . Un abrazo 😮

[@PatrickPoet]

the sun eats up shovel and other tool handles. the solution is to periodically wipe the handle with linseed oil. It won't _fix_ one's that are _too_ damaged, but it can help a bit. you soak it in until it won't soak any more and then wipe it off. The linseed oil keeps the wood fibers flexible so they don't break.

[@PatrickPoet]

I love the colorful pants

[@user-vs4lc1gb6p]

Hi from NewZealand Harriet your chickens would love those bugs you uncovered .all the best in your garden.regards Mike

[@ginacrusco234]

Hi Harriet! I am excited for your new-sized ambitions for gardening! You built a beautiful wall and I hope the garden thrives. You and Mauro are to be commended for your ability to adapt to the changing exigencies of life.

[@brigid6609]

the bugs are caterpillars. In Alicante I saw catterpilars that were at least 30cm long. They won´t hurt you but will gratefully eat all your produce.

[@LittleSpanishFarmstead]

But will they turn into massive moths, or butterflies? I wonder!

[@andreajones7023]

​@@LittleSpanishFarmsteadthose are beetle grubs. Perfectly fine to leave where they are.

[@alastairmail8927]

Hello Harriet,Watch the Acanthus as their roots spread widely and are very difficult to get rid off once established.Admire your hard work.Alastair

[@mariafloresvillegas3279]

Tienes razón hay que acabar lo que se empieza y priorizar , ánimo paso a paso ,me alegro de verles bien, saludos ❤

[@rosemaryjasper1121]

You’ve been very busy this week, the raised bed looks great. If you’re a gardener you are always running behind time. Things grow too quickly/ fail, need watering need weeding. It’s the trails and tribulations of being a gardener. Plus life is always going to get in the way when you have a baby or small child. Don’t beat yourself up over it, you are doing a remarkable job! ❤

[@erikafernandez3508]

Me encanta Harried. Hay que hacer cosas cuyo cuidado se pueda asumir. Y el orden es muy importante si. Como va vuestra cocina?. Estoy deseando verla acabada.

[@LittleSpanishFarmstead]

jeje estoy dejando de compartir cosas que hacemos en la cocina hasta que esté terminada y puedo hacer EL ÚLTIMO VIDEO 😂

[@walkinginwatercolourswithmicah]

Happy Belated Birthday Mauro!

[@deeoh3708]

Love your new garden! Great job! Will be very handy to have veg close to the house. Like your idea of a white garden wall around the corner too.

[@yurikakristensen1777]

Good idea with the raised beds. And it takes courage acknowledging that somethings must wait. ❤❤❤

[@deltorres2100]

Also., after the lemons produce finish producing give that lemon tree a good trimming and make it more open so you have more better lighting for your race bed, and it helps the tree 🍋

[@TexasBeliever57]

I love the rock garden beds. So pretty.

[@rominademattei1266]

Bienvenida nuevamente al mundo huertero Harriet!

[@teresaedwards3659]

Thanks for the video!

[@sadjaxx]

The new growing bed near the house is a fantastic idea and it looks so good. You may want to research before putting beds up against the house. The constant watering and earth may not be good for the house render.

[@janetbecker4282]

Harriet, you're such an inspiration to me. I also have raised beds; I started with 2 4x8 2 feet deep. I now have 10. Also, 4 additional 4x8 1 foot deep for my flowers out front. I use a layer of cardboard, then any source of dead wood rabbit manure, then leaves, and finally, a mix of gardening dirt and spagnum moss to hold water. The raised beds have little to no weeds, which makes gardening fun again. I gave many tomatoes away last year and received many compliments. My sisters friend calls it a Gold Mine. I purchased a small handheld chainsaw by worx I saw another woman using it on KZbin. I also bought a reciprocating saw with a 9" inch replacement blade for cutting into the dirt to get roots out. Also, as a present to myself, I 🎁 purchased a long-lasting battery so I could finish a project without my battery going dead. The equipment paid for itself, and the work was completed to my satisfaction; which didn't happen when I paid others to do the work. I hope you're as happy as I am with my raised beds. The next project reclaimed windows and doors into a greenhouse.

[@Smallshotty97]

that raised bed looks FANTASTIC! again, I wish I had the space and freedom to plant and decorate as you do with your land.

[@LittleSpanishFarmstead]

thank you!

[@Pizanlof]

Me ha encantado este video, Harriet! Gracias por mostrar bichitos. A veces se "idealiza" la vida en el campo, ya que en los videos nunca se ven arañas, ni orugas ni nada, pero esta bien verlos también. Sobre el bancal que vas a hacer pegado al muro de la casa, te recomendaría que antes arreglases esa zona del muro, para evitar filtraciones en el futuro o tener que deshacer lo que hagas para arreglarlo mas adelante. Que bonito es verte trabajando en el campo. Estoy deseando ver como os quedará esa cocina exterior, tiene muy buena pinta lo que has enseñado!! 😃

[@Sandras12374]

The raised kitchen garden really does look like it belongs there. It just blends in with it's surroundings beautifully! I remember you used to make kindling out of a prickly bush in the previous year, which looked a lot like wild asparagus. You should look for it during your walks, now is the time to forage it and there's nothing better than a wild asparagus omelette! 💚

[@robynclarke5274]

Your raised garden bed turned out perfectly. The worms are curl grubs turn into scarab beetles. We feed any we uncover to the magpies who are usually waiting for them.

[@ninemoonplanet]

The stone walled bed should keep the moisture levels better. Now you know how you want to have the garden beds made, and with a bit of fun the beds could last and bring a touch of whimsy too. I saw someone paint faces, others, flowers, still others woodland scenes on some of the stone. You are all looking far more contented.

[@joejames8797]

Hi Harriet Raised beds is a good idea to lessen workload and bit easier on your back. I use any broken handles, such as your spade, as "dibbers" for planting.

[@SunraeSkatimunggr]

Yeah, I remember when my daughter-in-law put in a giant garden just before my grandson was born. It is just now as productive as she had envisioned, but my grandson is almost 7. It takes a while to get your life back.

[@paulb1951]

Harriet you’re amazing, a true force of nature ☺️

[@amaiabecerrilestrada7313]

Hola Harriet y Mauro. Vuestro niño, está muy bonito. Os está quedando muy chula la zona de descanso en el exterior. Mucho ánimo con vuestros proyectos. Os está quedando muy bien. Besos desde el Norte de España

[@theresamcinnes8440]

Lovely to see u working together ❤️ that tree, u could hang a hammock from it to the other tree, once cut down so far 😊

[@lisabarajas1654]

Love the new planter! Well done.

[@cindyconnour446]

I looooove the new rock lined flower bed. (Loved your husband’s compliment too)

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Nice little party area next to the concrete table! And then a cool off in the aljibe 👌

[@SunraeSkatimunggr]

You did a great job. I love to watch you putter away.

[@almamartinez-quagliata439]

Harriet you guys are making a lot of progress ❤ everything is coming along!

[@italianlifestyle7911]

Bellissimo posto🌄

[@Celtickok1]

You did a wonderful job on your stone raised bed. I hope you get many years of enjoyment. God bless you and your lovely homestead!

[@bellab1973]

So good to see you back working at full throttle, Harriet! 👍

[@darrena2625]

You've still got a monumental task of taming the land so the main thing is don't fret. As long as you are comfortable in your surroundings, have enough to eat, family healthy and keep your sanity, you are doing a great job. Ultimately just be happy and the rest will flow. Thank you so much for sharing - I've been watching avidly since the beginning of your journey and I've no doubts that you'll make a success of it. Your work ethic throughout is inspiring. Congrats and best wishes for 2024.....small steps done greatly are better than a mile of xxxx

[@danyoutube7491]

@6:23 "Should I...move away?" *moves closer*, lol

[@veroavileslugo6031]

Te quedó genial el bancal de piedra

[@dorothyallen3614]

Love your new planter and your plan for the others too, great job! Santiago is so cute, thanks for sharing a glance at him, how precious with daddy ❤.

[@rumblef1sh]

Huge congrats to you all for weathering the trials and tribulations, and emerging stronger than ever. Looks like you're gearing up for your best year yet! :)

[@jennyjohnson9012]

I love the new garden bed. Can't wait to see all those plants grow!

[@Lifewith_gardening]

Great job....... I love gardening too,very beautiful garden

[@Jana-wz7dr]

Harriet you are back to working non stop, your energy and determination is amazing. Love the stone raised bed idea. Mauro with Santi is so heartwarming to see.

[@gerryryan1372]

You are doing so well. You both work so hard. Happy Easter ❤❤❤

[@CherrieMcKenzie]

Great idea to back fill by completing projects you've started. A suggestion for some of your dead sticks. Use them as the base for your raised beds (it's called Hugelkultur) and reduces the need for so much soil and later will help the soil retain water while also providing nutrients. That was a lot of work but it went a long way toward getting things organized!! Great Job!!

[@kerlyn3582]

You are such a hard worker. Now you have a little baby that also needs your attention so putting projects on the back-burner or not being able to accomplish things in a time frame you would like is really not a problem.

[@eridulife]

Hello Harriet. I want to congratulate you and Mauro. Been watching you guys for a long time, and the place is turning up better and better every year. I am just on the begging on the journey, moving in to Spain this year and hope to move to the land permanently by christmas. All the best :)

[@juliemcnair5182]

Work never to stop when you own a home stead.

[@equilibriorural]

Que me encanta como te ha quedado la nueva cama para el huerto, quedan chulísimas esas piedras, desde luego ya solo recolectarlas es un trabajazo, no quiero imaginar todo lo demás, mi enhorabuena!

[@cathyholt5215]

Is there anything you can't do?! You're an amazing woman.

[@sharonb7437]

Keep plodding on. Each completed task is easily forgotten when you see all the other jobs to do. You've inspired me to complete my half finished jobs i have plenty 😂😂😂

[@Here_kitty_kitty1-wg9xd]

Thank you for sharing your families journey. Always rooting for you.

[@jeanmeyer8194]

I wish u luck u r one amzing hardworking lady simply amazing❤

[@GS-mo2zj]

Can you grow white sage? You work so much!You are already the most organized.person I have ever seen❤

[@fatimafernandez8957]

❤ Felicidades, estáis trabajando mucho.

[@petro3441]

This is super cool to build a raised bed close to the house. You gonna enjoy this so much more. Well done

[@maryannknox7158]

Loving the new rock garden 🪴 and best of all close to the House 🏡 epic!Santi is full of smiles 💗🥰Blessings

[@dominiquebarbieux2859]

C'est rentré dans l’ordre. La traduction française fonctionne. Je revisionne avec plaisir la vidéo. Bravo pour le travail.

[@gardentours]

That constant playbook where to put what is in my head as well all the time 😉

[@maitegonzalez1261]

Looks fantastic, every thing takes time so don’t worry and keep going lovely family!

[@jolene2172]

Harriet you are an inspiration! The raised bed looks fantastic and you’ve inspired me to build my own (we also have plenty of rock and not great soil). It instantly made the area look pretty and tidy! We’ve been on our farm for 20 years and we still have a plethora of unfinished projects but that’s what happens when you have a family to also care for and provide for. Keep up the positivity and great work ❤

[@freespiritwithnature4384]

It looks amazing. If you're feeling well ,you may as well get it done if you have the energy. I was doing 86 hrs a week,and making everything from scratch,running the children to soccer ,hockey, ymca, and I burned out ,I wasn't getting the proper rest not taking care of me. Then, one day, 64 neighbor's way above us decided to spray their lawns with insecticides and pesticides. The chemicals landed on my vegetable garden. I woke up one day to use washroom and was paralyzed for 8 days, and then it left, I stopped sweating. I thought back and realized it started after neighbors sprayed and burning my tongue from my garden..i had popped a snap pea into my mouth and it burned my tongue. The chemicals from the pesticides and insecticides were what caused my autoimmune disorder, so its been a journey, but I stopped using all chemicals, deodorants, perfumes and my stopping -bounce sheets were a huge surprise. Within 8 months of my stopping them,my son went off all his allergy shots and no more headaches, puffy eyes. I chose to keep 3 stuffed animals so I could throw into the wash- to kill any dust mites,but I had dropped bounce sheets in our small trailer and realized where I had dropped them ,mice were chewing through the floor prior to that,and afterwards I noticed mice do not like bounce sheets, and so I stopped using them. Animals/ creatures smell things we don't, but what a difference it made in our health. I use washing soda/ vinegar now, and it works great . If it was repelling mice,,what's doing to our bodies. Simple insect netting overtop can save you o much hassel from those insects,larva .It stops them from getting in eating the leaves etc of your vegetables .Chicken's love to eat those grubs lol. If it has a brown head it will actually help break down the manure.( Now Cut worms will do massive damage ,so i am not sure what you have but some people use ( cutworm- collar- lol- i know 😂) and wrap the toilet paper roll cut lengthways around plant stem and tape the cut seam.

[@andreajones7023]

Your big dead wobbly tree really needs to be a priority to come right down.

[@hanspeterfluck4828]

They are called scarabs in englisch. They are eating roots suchen as from potatos and veggis. Gardeners dont like them really. After a transformation they become some kind of butterfly.

[@lesleyharris525]

Hi, one step forward is good and a finished project is great, but enjoying the time and seeing how much you have got done in the short time you have been homesteading, that's amazing. ❤

[@joannadrawe6654]

Great video! I really enjoyed it.

[@thomasandersen1644]

It is such a relaxing pleasure watching your video - thanks - best regards from Denmark

[@heatherfitzgerald329]

You work so hard You are making great progress Love your garden ❤️

[@juliemcnair5182]

You probably need more soil as it seems to flatten. And it is a great place to put a garden just outside the kitchen for all your every day vegetable. It will make life so much easier.❤

[@normahl9086]

Great idea, good luck with your kitchen garden. Much easier to manage, especially if the drought conditions continue. Give grubs to your chickens, extra protein. Or at least leave them uncovered for the wild birds.

[@Indah_D]

I can't wait to see your oven in your homestead 🎉

[@michellepierce6757]

As someone who has had similar challenges with renovation/garden creation , I would strongly suggest, from experience , that you always build bigger than you think you need. Wood stores always end up too small, sheds always get filled up too quickly,,,,, it is SO much better to have extra space and therefore options on where to put things. Trust me, i know to my cost; And its so tiring mentally to keep thinking "Where can I put this ?"

[@DaveReddoch]

Harriet, you should give those grub worms 🐛 to your chickens. We have watched you guys for a couple years now. David and Lillian in Oklahoma

[@LittleSpanishFarmstead]

Hehe I wanted to but I felt bad for them! What if they are gonna be beautiful butterflies?! haha

[@Annemarieke58]

They are a protected insect that is about to die out. Oryctes nasicornus

[@cristinatapia129]

Hi! I’m growing in Catalonia (close to you) and had the exact same big bugs. Those are white beetle larva. They love to eat organic matter (including roots of your plants). They can be considered a plague. I tried giving them to my chickens and one of them got sick. Just sharing my experience in case it is useful!

[@theresalloydevans4862]

Hi there! I watch a lot of homesteading vlogs, and it seems to me that a lot of time is spent moving stuff from one place to another and then on somewhere else, and that many farmers despair about it. Of course this will happen while you're building your infrastructure up around you. I think this means you are a true smallholder

[@normamurray4450]

You are so strong Harriet and have such down to earth, good ideas! You inspire me to do more in my gardens. That little boy of yours is such a cutie and looking so well. You folks are so lovely and a joy to watch as you move around your farm.