Our Pipes ERUPT! THIS Is What You Want To See When Living Off-Grid On Rainwater

THIS Is What You Want To See When Living Off-Grid On Rainwater
This monsoon season has been a blessing. It's more than we could have hoped for. Our poly tanks are filled to overflowing. It's not going to waste however. We're collecting it into our off-grid earthbag cistern.
…………………………..Subscribe to our channel…………………………….
tinyurl.com/y7...
…………………………….See more of us online………………………………..
Website: greendreamproje...
Facebook: / greendreamproject1
Instagram: / greendreamproject
TikTok: / greendreamproject
Twitter: / gdproject1
…………………………………..Contact us…………………………………………...
Mail:
Green Dream Project
PO Box 203
McNeal, AZ 85617
Message: greendreamproj...
……………………………………..Questions…………………………………………
• Join us Thursdays on KZbin to chat with us and ask your questions live!
• Take a look at frequently asked questions about us and what we do:
greendreamproj...
………………………………..Ways to help………………………………………
Helps our daily off-the-grid expenses, video making, and future projects
• Remember to like and share videos, and subscribe if you haven’t
• Become a Green Dream Project channel member: / @ourselfreliantlife
• Jessica and her mom have a shop with hand-made art and jewelry:
gdp.storenvy.com
• Shirts, merchandise, and digital products (with original designs by us!)
teespring.com/...
• Our Amazon wish list:
www.amazon.com...
• Paypal:
paypal.me/Gree...
……………………………Help Support our Non-profit……………………
Helps with business expenses and future programs that support our mission of educating and helping others to live sustainably
• Make a donation (click the donate button on our home page):
greendreamproj...
• Set your Amazon Smile account to support Green Dream Project:
smile.amazon.c...
We are Jim and Jessica, a husband and wife team who made the leap from city life to an off-grid homestead in Southern Arizona. We've started this lifestyle equipped only with two Permaculture Design Certificates and a whole lot of determination.
We’d like to share our journey of starting a sustainable homestead from scratch with all its ups, downs, and lessons learned. Watch us take on the challenge of modern homesteading, off-grid life, and turning this barren piece of land into a desert oasis.
#greendreamproject #rainwaterharvesting #offgrid

[@SpringRiverHollar]

Congratulations on catching all that water . Have a great day everyone

[@JessiFayS]

I live near swamps, so water has never been an issue. You two have impressed and educated me with your diligence collecting water. I don't understand why other homesteaders don't have a similar long porch. It makes so much sense!

[@urmomsahoe1]

Its illegal in a lot of places in the desert. Water collecting in general and sometimes they have laws preventing you from building a structure just to collect the water off it. Its really backwards and an old school law system that unsurprisingly favors the rich.

[@amorstyletarot4866]

Here's an idea, build the stairs that you'll need inside and simply walk the dirt upstairs. At that point, you've got a deck to stage things on. Or, .... scaffolding....

[@marymccowan6629]

Lumber cost

[@LauraConrod]

Just use dirt and cob - they seem to have lots of the ingredients for that.

[@Bible.Thumper]

If he isn’t ready to do that, there are surely ideas he can get from this roofer. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJzLo5xugpmYr68 I saw another roof shingles lifter guy except instead of pulling the weight up from on top of the roof, he set a system to grab two ropes and run away from the house causing the heavy packs to go up, a type of Lilly system. I like your idea better, but they may not be ready to do the stairs yet.

[@andree_nakita]

A poullie system

[@gayleenm]

@@marymccowan6629 lc

[@kenlane9402]

Watching your courage in trying out thing's in your public forum, is brave of you for sure. I'm sure you get mocking comments. Don't ever let anyone discourage you from being authentic. So many fake people, not willing to fail at anything. It's so refreshing to see you test yourselves in front of us all. Good work. You are so awesome. 😁

[@anastashiawick4328]

Yes! It's absolutely beautiful and so inspiring.

[@kenlane9402]

The dessert is getting so green with all the rain this year. It's wonderful to have.

[@carolaustin8419]

Hi guys. Looking at you struggling with lifting dirt led me to Google. I looked at Amazon USA and you can get pulleys pretty cheap. Maybe you could use your box in conjunction with your ladder as an a frame,or your outside joists. I injured my back at 15 years old. I am now 64 and still suffer back problems. Please be very careful Jim. Jessica your drawings are absolutely amazing and life-like. You are truly a talented artist and I admire you both. Best wishes from Edinburgh xx

[@Chickentendaz]

Snatch block, pulleys , wooden shoot for box to slide . I drew out a blueprint of it using what they have around. No way to send the pic to them though.

[@JahleeyahKalonji]

@@Chickentendaz check if they an e-mail address

[@TheMacs1]

Always enjoy your videos! Blessing to have water!

[@catgynt9148]

Water is about 8 pounds per gallon. 55 gallons is 440 pounds. Glad to see that you are able to save and store that water. Wishing you and Jessica another blessed week. Peace.

[@williamhuntington1397]

We missed you guys. Thanks for posting!!

[@mynameis_d5844]

Also it would be fun to hold a car rally there, raise some $$$ to buy you a nice f150 and maybe a little grocery runner that gets 40mpg.... have a cookout, do some cob and seed swaps, you have a great homestead and I think, just my opinion, that a lot of people would benefit from seeing it and learning

[@popanollie1]

as a car guy/ gear head interested in off grid living, i love your idea.

[@rupe53]

@@popanollie1 ... go research the latest electric car from China for around $5k. Yeah, might be a throw away car but with solar panels it could be charged off grid enough to drive a 100 miles once a week. It would certainly pay for itself in a few years just due to gas savings.

[@elizabethblane201]

A healthy back is worth much more money than you can imagine; please don't risk injuring yourself!

[@monstirz]

you could build a 45 degree angle ramp and use a motor to haul up the box with dirt cans. Roofers use them to bring up roofing all the time. But the stairway idea is good too!. Happy earthbagging!

[@Dr.Gunsmith]

You get nowhere without failures and not trying 🙏 great video guys

[@marymccowan6629]

Wow missed seeing you on Thursday but worth the wait. All that water you were able to catch. Congratulations! ! !

[@hepone]

build a simple A-frame on skids, so you can move it around the structure, attach your pulley to the top...

[@victorm7274]

0:45 I would give anything to be able to take my dog out to relieve himself in the monsoon rain. Our Great Dane of 9 1/2 years passed away yesterday morning. He was literally our best friend. He was like our kid. We miss him so much. You guys take care of crew pretty good but remember you can show him love until you can’t. We gave our dog a ton of love but I only wish we could give him more.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

So sorry for your loss. 🙏

[@ArizonaHighDesertHomestead]

Love it !!! Up here in NE Arizona we have been getting an incredible monsoon season. Everything is so green and with all the rain there is still another month left in the monsoon season..Have a great day Jim and Jessica!!!

[@kimnenninger7226]

We live just west of you. For us, this monsoon has been a blessing also. I made some swales to help slow the rushing water down. These were built with wood in the center and dirt mounded around the outside. The rain came down so hard that it leveled the swales. Arizona is definitely not for folks who can't deal with failure.

[@JessePacheco]

Always excited to see your new content!

[@PurePondering]

what a blessing for you! The other night, I watched a beautiful lightening show on one of the mountain ranges. Of course it went around us again. lol But we've had 3 rains in the past 3-4 weeks. What a blessing.

[@linacabrera3172]

Woa! How beautiful you look when you hugging each other; Beautiful God bless always 💝

[@alb2571]

It's so nice seeing you 2 cherish each other and have fun doing stuff around! Keep up the love guys! Blessings from Baja Sur

[@ram1brn]

8 pounds per gallon. just put a couple of your platforms back up and load ot the way you did or try your pully system from inside from the loft floor. you could make a tripod and raise your dirt between the floor joists up there

[@theshermano3000]

That 8 lb figure is for water. Not dirt. Just to clarify.

[@susanbell2771]

Its so beautiful to see the surrounding area turning so vibrantly Green

[@misallisonwonderland]

Maybe you could contact the My Little Homestead crew, they know a lot about cars. Just a thought!

[@uktenatsila9168]

Awsome rain collection! When you start thinking of spending, don't spend. You are on to a good thing with the hoist idea. Don't kill your self. Excellent cobb patch job!

[@consaka1]

Man I'd anchor a long post in the ground and then put a long pole on top. Top swivels in every direction. Put the counter weight on the short end with a crank to adjust it's position. The like a fishing pole out your can on the other end. Then just swing it up. Adjust the counter weight with the crank. You'd have to weld up a bracket for the swivel top of the post to hold the long pole.

[@wikingagresor]

I thought about something similar, some sort of a crane with a counterweight (you can use water or sand). Using a lever principle you could hoist some hefty weight this way. Jim please look out for your back, destroying your body will definitely take its own revenge on you in the future.

[@DemingChiropractor]

That's what I am experimenting with. Making a jib crane that is portable. For moving the straw bales I am going to use. You could use old pipe basically for free.

[@teaves8251]

As much as the rain comes down in one dump these days I would suggest portland cement in sandbags around your structures to prevent erosion and water logging your adobe and cob.

[@wncmartin]

Jim and Jessica --> You almost have it!!! Combine the backpack and the pulley system. The problem with the previous pulley box was the box stuck out to far. If you use the back pack instead it will work great. Just remove the straps and attach the pulley line to the back pack box.

[@oldmovies963]

We use a conveyer belt to load hay bales into the loft. Maybe that would work for you. They are available to rent and I have seen used ones on Craigslist. Easy to build also.

[@thefrisianviking28]

This.

[@davidnelson3411]

Great job on the water catchment system. Great video.

[@riverflyswatter]

Look at chimney builders videos. We use a pulley system with a rope

[@katnphuket]

So great you're filling your cistern. If possible, could you send some of that rain to Northern California? We desperately need more!

[@kenlane9402]

I think you're pulley system is the right idea. But with wheels on the box, and a track instead of the ladder. And a stronger rope and pulley system. But custom building things is the challenge.

[@concretehousebuildinginph1488]

J&J, I would inventory all lumber new and used on the site with the intention of building a ramp with 1 in 5 or so slope. Or get some lumber needed for the build and use it in full length pieces. Possibly a neighbor has a scrap pile to mine for materials. Then drag your box of dirt up 200 pounds at a time, or find a hand cart laid down with the handle up the ramp and pull the box up on that. We have a 37,870 gallon poured concrete cistern at our build site that is 3/4 full without the gutters connected to it yet. When it rains in the Philippines it really rains. Unfortunately we didn't have time to paint the inside of the cistern before rainy season but we put sahara in the concrete so it is water tight.

[@ernestospadolesto8126]

This is going to be a super cool house to live in.

[@smishsmash8790]

You 2 have quickly become my favorite human beings .

[@loco4017]

You could dump some of those extra buckets into the cistern and get them ready to fill up again. Glad y’all are getting rain

[@crazycloud2]

I love mulch, I even pointed it to Devon Nunez. We now have started using mulch along the freeways because of this.

[@ard8785]

I can perfectly relate on those efforts and pains of on rainwater-gathering of yours. Though I lived for 6 years in an island 🏝 here in the Philippines 🇵🇭, we have no potable water supply of stable water system in the area. We have to subsist on open, deep wells during long droughts and hot 🔥 summers. So, typhoons and storms that usually come during the rainy, stormy months 🌧 🌀🌧🌨🌩 are a welcome events because they give us cool, safe, clean and abundant water 💧 supply for many months ahead. So, an overflowing drums of water 💧 or a bursting pipes are a welcome sights to us.... 👍😄

[@ToddLarsen]

I'm curious to see how much water your cistern collected, all that water is an amazing sight to behold.

[@scottfoster2487]

Man if a person can keep up on the grass and get it growing well enough you will green that desert alot faster. The more terra forming you do the less water you need. Amazing progress.

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Hey when ya got to go ya got to go. Awesome to see all the rain and water systems are working very well. I hear ya on the ride. My old goat is 22 years old and we still rolling strong. Got my fingers crossed with all these daily three hour round trips to the hospital will not take a toll on my old girl. Yep keep it simple and truck on buddy. Stay safe and lets fill up that cestrum up! Hope ya's have a great week!

[@saintracheljarodm.holy-kay2560]

I like build the stairs idea. Take care and God bless amen.

[@leestimis9264]

You 2 are so awesome!! Water is life, and you have from the beginning have known that you needed to insure that you harvest first before anything else. Both of you are great teachers!! Match made in heaven!

[@allonesame6467]

Jim is in his glory when it rains! Yay!

[@richardfromcanada6129]

Jim, the solution is easy, all you gotta do is get exposed to some high levels of gamma rays, and HULK up!!! The rest of the build will fly by. You got this!

[@bnight.7996]

Excellent job on water collection. I would go back to the pulley system but use a swing arm up top. Simple and strong.

[@direbearcoat7551]

Ideas that looked great on paper: 1) Wooden back pack with cans of dirt up the ladder! It's sure to be a winner! 2) Elbow grease to get the cans up the ladder. A great stand by for when the wooden back pack idea needs to take a spot on the back burner.... Later that day.... Perhaps a pulley system might make the most sense...?

[@codemonkey2k5]

Hey Jim, just a small concern with the Cistern, with the water overflow you are going to quickly start to see erosion of the concrete. I strongly suggest you overflow directly in to the cistern rather than eroding your top. It can probably wait until this monsoon is over but please be mindful of this.

[@BacktoCountry]

Thanks for the inspiration, no matter how difficult y’all always find a way to get it done….God Bless you both!

[@simplelivingaz1887]

Y'all will figure it out, and it's going to be awesome! This monsoon season has been crazy, 4.5 inches of rain in the last 8 days here! ⛈️🏜️🙂

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Nice! This monsoon season has been fantastic

[@brusselsprout5851]

I hope you never change. You two are charming.

[@Citystead]

Crazy to see all that water you guys saved

[@ATJHTRAVELS]

Wow 👌 lots of water sledgehammered that like button stay safe awesome and blessed enjoyed and shared

[@andrewparry1474]

I'd use a rope with a single pulley, straight up and down. But I wouldn't pull it up by hand. I'd climb the ladder, and attach something like a swing seat to sit on, and use my body weight to raise the mud as I decend. You could raise nearly as much as your own body weight. Of course, another static rope & gloves just to control your decent would be a good idea.

[@jmbpinto73]

this is overcomplicating. One pulley, one rope, hung up to some temporary structure. One person from the gorund lifts a bucket of dirt, another person up the wall pours the bucket in the bag and lays the bag. The more you go up and down the ladder, the more wasted energy and time, your worst constraints.

[@mertpars6558]

jim u r great.....we are respecting ur leadership.....

[@GaryD35205]

So happy for you guy's. All that water is indeed a blessing.

[@hubertwebb9869]

I love the basins that you filled, i hope you dig more of them soon.

[@joshuanicholsjr5327]

that is a beautiful dog looks like you take great care of him lucky dog god bless

[@kathrynrodlun8514]

Wow! That looked like time to take a shower weather to me!

[@popperbits]

I have to say I'm so envious! I'm west of Phoenix and actually getting rain during the monsoon season is almost unheard of last year it was referred to as a nonsoon season!

[@jlcouture1990]

Use the pully system inside the building and up to the loft area and perhaps use your center poll and measuring arm to attach the pully to get it to the height you need for Jess to reach it easily.

[@Erica-os2mp]

I like the stairs inside idea. Soo funny when. You took that second step on the ladder. Haha nope!

[@charlotterohde7383]

Try a pulley system. Much safer.

[@Arjuna86004]

You're doing great! Regarding the DDS. One cubic foot of dirt weighs 70 -100 lbs. An A-frame supporting a block and pulley system could save you a lot of climbing.

[@SweetHavok]

I live a few hours east of you, this monsoon season has given us a lot more rain than in previous years.

[@richardpg2704]

great job folks... all your hard work is paying off.. congrats to both of you.. you deserve it.....

[@matc87]

if I could suggest..a ramp and sled with a pulley system. pulley systems are pretty simple and worth taking advantage of that advantage

[@loripeterson2009]

What about just stopping at the dome's current height and installing a roof? Do you really need to go up to 20 feet? I know it isn't the design you hoped for, but it might mean you could finish up a few months earlier than you planned.

[@Boogman123]

I did it I bought 40 acres of raw desert land yall gave me hope! Plenty of shallow water to drill a well but its all way to sulfuric even for livestock and crops so it'll all have to be water catchment, but I got something planned for a lot of catchment on a budget. Less than 11 inches of rain a year here.

[@arunramachandran5012]

Lifting the box like a backpack is significantly easier if you tighten the straps so it rides high on your shoulder and upper back.

[@kmw4359]

Be careful with that weight on your back - you don’t want to compress your spine! Pulley system is good, or maybe an adaptation of an Archimedes Screw?

[@MidlifePrices]

Love to see that water going into the cistern!

[@josephseeber9315]

I'm glad that your getting the extra water

[@richardotoole1811]

Having a great time watching your channel. On your DDS,I was thinking of more of a bucket system like the gold dredges used. Buckets on a chain.

[@BrainStormAcres]

Nice to see the cistern getting some rain! Take care.

[@marjiebuckner2485]

Success, you did it! More than enough water for awhile!

[@GHumpty1965]

You can make or buy some Rollers and mount them to a couple of 16" boards. then you use Rope and your box's to haul the dirt up the rollers to your next level.

[@therasheck]

Now you got me and the wife looking at land in Cochese County.

[@joeystrobel5188]

With so much rain, have you checked the lower level of your house to make sure it didn’t flood?

[@gavinstewart7696]

Hay Guys love what you do the good ideas with the bad Im guessing you must be human !! any one whos never made a misstake has never made anything cheers xx

[@doolin-yu7cl]

ah guys, it's too much, I think I actually hurt myself laughing while you were going up the stairs with DDS 2.0 I love you guys

[@philliperskine4986]

you are being blessed for sure. i would get more mulch always mulch your areas for planting.

[@fredstone4159]

Crew gives a lot of moral support.

[@paulaarthur57]

The rain was such a welcome site for us here in central AZ too. I think your area is definitely getting more than us and I feel your excitement on capturing all that abundance. You two are an inspiration in so many ways. I know it’s tough to loose your truck. But I’m an eternal optimists…..when one door closes another will open and I feel confident it will be even better. Hang in there and stay safe.

[@awesomearizona-dino]

Glad you got needed water. We also had crazy rain Friday in Fountain Hills, many hillsides washed away.

[@juliedavis9945]

Jim and Jessica I think you are doing a fabulous job on your earth bag home. And are very creative in sustaining your lives out in the harsh desert of Arizona...You are both my heroes ..Keep the faith and keep on building...Thank you for your enjoyable vidoes. Thanks Julie Davis from the Uk but reside in California for now ..My partner and I plan on moving to Texas next year and building a dome home. Enjoy your week of collecting rain and look forwatd to your next video.. Just purchased 2 of the hobbit tshirts in that lovely Sage green. Thank You .

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you very much for the support!🙏

[@ceesarensman7080]

So much respect, keep up the good work, we love you guys.

[@ericjohnson1008]

Glad y'all are getting rain, hopefully you can collect enough for the year and more for the build. Stay safe out there.

[@stevenbaugh5016]

Next time you go into town go to a thrift store and just buy an old backpack. It would be more comfortable and you could decide how much volume you could stand. Just a thought

[@robertlemoine3500]

Fine program Thankyou for sharing.

[@richardsolomon8076]

It's a hard one Jim there's still alot of earth to get up there, I like the back pack idea though it looked to me like it was hanging to far down and your hip movements made it swing too much, maybe even smaller with shorter straps. Only 4 cans or so 👍you'll be a mountain climbing athlete by time it's up there 🏋‍♂️💙 So happy to see all that water going in the bank 🏦 I remember last years raindance under the first overflow. 😀 stay safe team 🙏💙

[@stevenrobertson9583]

The higher it sets on your shoulders the easier it will be to go up and down your ladder 🪜. STRENGTHEN THEM THERE LEGS, my man!

[@bondpaz]

That’s a whole lot of 🌧 water. Hopefully you can come up with a good idea for getting those cans of dirt up there. Let us know when you need some hands. 🙌

[@LureThosePixels]

Great to see the plants growing

[@andrewwilson136]

So cool!! Gotta love the monsoons...

[@lennieadi]

Wishing you all the success guys. You're doing the things many of us are just too afraid of going for it. Well done. Keep going I'll continue to watch and learn from you. Sometimes we gotta fill a few times before we get success. It's the desire to succeed and never give up which going to get us to where we want to be. 👊🏾🇬🇧🇯🇲

[@stevenrobertson9583]

Yea I use to live in Paradise Valley, Az. and it doesn’t rain that often. But when it does, the bottom falls out!

[@sanctusletum8522]

I really think pulleys are going to be your best bet. Might be able to scrounge up a cheap snatch block or two at a yard sale or something if need be