Living OFF-GRID in rural Tennessee

[@barnardman]

Try building a ram pump for your spring so you dont have to worry about cutting trails or hauling water up the hill

[@keithramsdell2691]

If you place the cardboard over the grassy area where you want to garden now while it’s still winter, it can kill off a lot of the grass/weeds over the next couple of months. This way, you can plant easier instead of spending a lot of time tilling or otherwise weeding/trying to prepare your beds. Also, we put our organic kitchen scraps under the cardboard so that they naturally break down. We get extra cardboard from the outside racks in Dollar General parking lots. We are in WNC, so not far. Lots o’clay, unfortunately. Just watch for snakes when removing the cardboard. Always find a snake here.

[@tinabugmercer9520]

Wow, Sunday morning 44° in summerville, Ga Good morning

[@AlfredParris]

Get yourself a transparent lenth of flexable hose, fill it with colored water. Fix one end of the hose and move the other end around yo grt your levels easy peasy.

[@val2952]

Information! Information! Wow! One step closer to self reliance

[@OffgridwithJayandJen]

30 Came an went without a blink or a care, But I turn 40 in a couple days.....Let's Just Say....I have blinked and I Care, LOL. Happy belated birthday Matt from Me and Jen.

[@andreapretlow2897]

I can't believe how fast that snow melted! Glad you get to enjoy the pleasant weather! Save your cardboard boxes for your garden, it makes great weed suppression and mulch. You can cover it up with wood chips or leaves so it won't look so funky.

[@ivegottabeme1]

Very smart making little changes at a time. So much to learn and a lifetime to learn it. Love your channel!

[@patrickdeserisy2634]

Forgot to say great job on the trees.looking forward to the coming projects an progress on the homestead. 🤙🤙

[@donovanfoto3263]

You can put a dirt hlanket around the water or BURY THE WATER BANKS. Make sure you have 24 to 36 inches of dirt.

[@jeffer2350]

Its a lot better when we go from 0 degrees to 60 in a week rather than the opposite. Lol I love avocado and it is very healthy. I just wish I could eat them before they go bad. Happy Birthday Matt! Enjoyed the show! Best of luck on your projects!

[@beckypennington79]

Thanks for the video really enjoyed it bet it will be beautiful and spring with all the blossoms

[@jim_ward]

I enjoy y'all's videos.

[@markdecker2724]

Those trees look like their oak. Would make some good firewood in about a year.

[@realdealadventures]

I enjoy watching your channel. Will be looking forward to watching all the changes to your off grid lifestyle.

[@michaelferguson7735]

Great job guys beautifully done Matt real lumber jack

[@NovaBill6264]

Awesome video God Bless you and your family

[@kingglizzer]

I look forward to your videos every week. Cooking has always seemed to me to be a lot of cutting and chopping. Those trees would make some nice milled boards.

[@kassandrawilliams-bey1654]

Amazing video. I love seeing you two. Case still have flexibility from school days, Matt getting his dance on and jokes about that little tree was hilarious 😂. Your guys are amazing!

[@LordJonRay]

For a pump system, you'll likely need to setup a Ram pump for your water at the spring. As for the cardboard boxes, if you remove the tape you can shread it for mulch for the garden.

[@brendadriskill9742]

Hello and happy birthday Matt love watching y'alls videos have great one

[@thomasc.pellicer1879]

Possibly looking into making a ram pump for getting water up from the spring .

[@RunawayMattCass]

Yes this is something that we are looking into for the future!

[@melanieeaton3344]

Loving the videos!!! Blessings for Oregon.

[@freddie1-l6p]

Great relationship.

[@Johnny_Benson]

Use the triangle patch in the middle of the property from the aerial view for your garden, it will make the property pop and it will get the most sunlight.

[@tubularguynine]

You can filter water through a terra cotta flower pot. Just plug the hole with a 1" piece of cypress limb whittled to size, and sit the pot on a water-safe plastic container to catch the water. Works like a ceramic filter.

[@williamshaven8289]

Welcome to Tennessee from Tennessee - How much rise or elevation change from the spring to the house? We use an RV pump from the spring to a holding tank with a float valve shutoff, a second RV pump with a pressure switch to the next tank and a reverse osmosis system for drinking. The waste water from the osmosis system goes to the plants.

[@ronneglia2292]

Awesome guys! Can't wait to see the upgrades and additions to the homestead!

[@KevinChristiansen-i2q]

Great video Matt and Cass

[@RunawayMattCass]

Thank you so much!!!

[@wcraft]

You guys could setup a ram pump system to pump your spring water up the hill to your camp. No electricity required.

[@RandomAcresHomestead]

Were getting close to pulling the trigger on a piece of property and going off grid. New adventures await while getting back to the basics

[@Ronpost-z2p]

Y’all are just awesome 😊

[@SugarcreekHomestead]

It takes a lot of self “want to” to be self sufficient. Great job you guys. Love how cute the new pup is maturing, and that your garden greens held on! We live in TN too, and recently I was reading about tapping maple trees for maple syrup, and that it can be done in TN late Jan thru Feb. I bought my husband a small set of taps off Amazon and we are going to try it on the few maples we have. Thought of you guys and how many trees you have, and if you have any mature maples. Just a thought if it might be something to add to your list!😊 Have a great week!!

[@wadeprior5203]

Good morning how you guys are your folks doing this morning hope everybody's having a great day and keep up the good work I wish you guys would be able to have your cabin that way it would be a lot easier and you guys but it's taking time I guess but you folks have a great day and have fun out there say hi all the animals❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@Johnny_Benson]

On the side of your chainsaw there is a line on the pull line housing towards the bottom. Thats called a "saw sight" Wherever thats pointing, is where it will fall.

[@maryrobideau6736]

Thank you so much for showing that water filter! I have my IBC tote ready for the spring and thought I would have to spend a lot of money building a water filter system..so happy for you shared that information 😍 thank you!!!

[@crantheman77]

You guys are awesome!! Thanks for the video!!love the fruit trees. Might want to stake out and support the new trees. I’ve had issues in the past. Heart breaking. Just a thought. Keep up the good work.

[@CCRobertsCarpentry]

You look pretty and happy today wish you many more to come see you soon thank you🎉😊😊😊

[@jenniferdavis8088]

Make you a hoop house for your winter garden out of just pvc pipe and clear plastic then you can grow more in the cold months

[@bobbyt3451]

I noticed when watching your videos over the winter that you dont have any skirting around your camper. If you put something around the bottom of your camper even if its a tarp or some straw bales your place will be so much warmer.

[@bubbaredneck75]

you should get a burn barrel....will save a ton of room and trips to the dump. somethin to consider in the garden. i would rent or use a buddys tiller and turn all that under to help it decompose and start adding nutrients to the soil now. it always took me several tillings to start a new spot garden. u could even put raked leaves and such in/on it then when u do plant 1st garden will b super great

[@Blueskathy]

Amazing salad🎉 I suggest chicken wire surrounding the lil garden area.... especially with two doggies 🕊️

[@RunawayMattCass]

Yes that's the plan! It'll be quite the project haha. Still planning out what time of fencing we will do.

[@lahtidaa0]

we have been watching you two for a while!! we are just closing on tn property very soon. picking up our inc water pallets tomorrow!! it’s fun to watch your show!!

[@bobswan6906]

When adding that room to the side of the building make it a bathroom off of the bedroom area

[@matthewkahn3480]

Hello from wv.

[@RunawayMattCass]

Hello! Hope all is well up there! 🙌

[@granydd]

Flatten cardboard boxes on the area you want to garden in and come spring it is breaking down and composted to til in the ground

[@AB-so3jv]

Awesome video!!

[@condeerogers5858]

You guys are too cool. New sub. In Missouri. Not off grid, but it wouldn't be hard now. See you next time,kids. (I'm 75) (So you are kids to me, LOL) LIve it you guys.

[@bandothegambit777]

I love it

[@contentment164]

Just found you and subscribed. Enjoy the journey just as we are.

[@HillBillYK2000]

Have you all looked at building a off grid ram pump

[@BigJim-zh9gr]

What part of Tennessee are you in. I am in Chattanooga. I just found your channel and am looking forward to watching your adventure.

[@adriannicholson8819]

love you back

[@johngoodman7160]

Lewis County hohenwald Tennessee. I'm in process of 5ac.off grid no restrictions they said in contract portable buildings any thing is excepted no restrictions in County state ok with all😊I'm moving up there to get away and live off grid I was off grid here in Texas gulf coast but hurricane destroyed it 4 times in 30 years enough is enough 😂

[@MJY58]

I love what you guys doing. I never followed you until you move to the land. Today's episode I noticed there's a barn down the hill, is that yours. Maybe I just didn't see it before the leaves came down. Anyway I love it.

[@mobiltec]

You've got yourselves a beautiful spot for a Ham Radio station. I talk to people all over the country and all over the world on a daily basis. Getting your Ham Radio licenses should be part of your plan. When the grid goes down, you'll still be in contact with the world. And you don't need a big giant set up to do so. I talked to England, Mexico and Hawaii yesterday on a little mobile 20 watt transceiver and a cheap antenna. So it doesn't require a large output of money. You can study for your licenses on line. Let me know if you want a link to a course that will have you passing your tests in a month or less.

[@sammkinder5858]

Support the center in mult places With all the weight of battery's !!!

[@Alieombaba]

Amazing love yalls energy and work drive! Have you started a little compost yet?

[@BluegrassWoodworking]

I’m looking at land outside of Lexington Tennessee, Henderson County. I’m trying to figure out their policies on off grid living and building my own 600sqft home.

[@bobswan6906]

Dude that's a real nice shed if you want to live in it put a porch on the side of it and enclose a room on it going into the cabin that changes the footprint and it's not manufactured anymore that should get you around the permit thing about not being able to live in a manufactured building just change the footprint

[@rudyfisher7660]

You still need some more post down the center because once you get a lot of the battery weights. And then the board's gonna sag in the center. I would put at least 3 or 4 down the center. And you really only need 2 more on each side of the outside edges like 2 more on each hand one on each end and a couple. In the center of the one that you got, you should have at least 5 on the front and at least write down the middle of the center Joyce. You should have at least one every other joyce

[@patrickdeserisy2634]

Research an see if a ram pump would work for you to pump enough water over a 24 hr period an uses no electricity. Doesn’t pump a lot of water fast but if you can get 3+ gallons an hour. It could be an alternative way to get the water up without having to use electric power.

[@stevenfulton1563]

Research tongue and groove tree falling technique it will help you direct the way the tree will fall.

[@beardedprepper8606]

A ram pump... I don't know if anyone's suggested it or if y'all have thought about it, but a team pump would easily pump your creek water uphill and without needing any type of electricity.

[@RunawayMattCass]

We have had a few suggestions like this so we have started to look into it more! The idea of doing it without electricity is a big win!

[@beardedprepper8606]

@@RunawayMattCass meant to say ram pump not team pump

[@David-ln6jj]

Arcamidias screw, to bring water up hill

[@THEGOODRIDE01]

Search on here or the big G for DIY PVC HYDRAULIC RAM PUMP or WATER PUMP Other off gridders have used this to move water from streams uphill. I'd suggest that black. landscape sprinkler flexible pipe for the long run. Scott Jacksonville, FL.

[@kanenjames8503]

We are almost neighbors!

[@janegoodwin1823]

Last video of yours I watched you had just been told your house was illegal. I told my story there about Clayton Homes and now I am checking your videos to see what you managed to do about your illegal house. It makes me sick that we moved to TN to live free and stories like yours and ours even happen here. Below I will copy what I said earlier. You seem happy so I am guessing you found a way. God bless you. My horror is still ongoing. (If anyone is interested in why we are against Clayton Homes read below) You mentioned Clayton Homes. Be thankful you didn't decide to get a home from them. We bought one in Hixson TN and it was a nightmare from day one. It was not disclosed that it would be up to 6 months before we could move in. Even though we had the land, it was cleared, we didn' t need a loan, we had gotten the septic and home permit and the builder said the house would be done and delivered in a week to ten days, so the first half of the 6 monthsshould have been taken care of. But it still took a full 6 months before we could move in. Rain-water stood under the house from before the halves were married. Once we got in the manager walked me through the final inspection and I made a list. Then he said that was all he would be doing. I knew I had 30 days on the cosmetics in the house so I hired a home instpctor who found dozens more serious problems and I sent a demand letter to get the list done. I was told nothing more would be done than the list. I raised a stink and they finally fixed most of the more serious problems. We still have several months on our pad and exterior warranty, and we discovered that the pad was red clay less than a foot over topsoil. The Clayton Construction Manual and HUD both say that cannot be done. Our house is sinking. So we asked the manager to honor the warranty. He said he would only fix it if he was told to do it by the Manufactured Home Authority. So we are leaving negative feedback and launching compaints, etc. FYI our local BBB gives CH repair section an F-. because of all the complaints, And nationally they get a 1.34 Stars out of 5. Run, don't walk to the nearest exit. Just ve warned. If you set up a Go Fund Me, let me know. I will chip in.

[@mikeduda3173]

Have you thought about getting a Berky?

[@TheWoodsOnline]

Have you thought of getting a Berkey?

[@htsingh13]

Hello, I love your videos. I sent you an email. The subject is water. Please read it. Keep them videos coming. Welcome to Tennessee my home state. 😊

[@rudyfisher7660]

I would've put it closer to the solar panels because the simple fact. Though it was or is, you could have put it closer to the solar panels. And then that way less warn and list piping and list everything to get to worrying, and everything to it. 'll be a little closer to your trailer, so it would be less wearing to send to your trailer

[@franfeint7894]

I enjoy watching your videos! I was wondering if you have any neighbors?❤

[@MelodyDawnrichards]

Neat

[@roytaylor4578]

How do you filter your rain water?

[@dixiemae5042]

30th on Sunday 👊🏻💪🏻

[@marcyfalconer1275]

If you're using your friends water filtration system maybe you could buy them a new filter. Because I'm alot older than you, I can say this, if you dont do it right the first time it makes for extra, unnecessary work.

[@patt30521111]

Look into a water ram

[@donaldcrank4935]

I am looking for a place for living off grid but i am having trouble finding land and a place to do it. Can You give me any details?

[@rogerp5816]

Your battery / charge controller / inverter building is an awful long way from the solar panels. I worked with mountain top solar for several years and we always put all of the equipment as close to the solar panels as possible. That way you keep the DC loses between the solar panels and the charge controller down to a minimum. Once you come out of the inverter with AC you can go long distances with minimal loss. The goal is to always capture as much energy from the sun and get it into the batteries. If you still can I'd move the building either beside the solar array or behind it. The best option would have been to build the shelter for the charge controller / batteries and inverters under the solar panels. I don't know how many batteries you're planning on but the frame for the floor doesn't look strong enough not to sag over time. Wherever the batteries are going in the building I'd place concrete piers under that area not more then three feet on center

[@pamelastansbury1407]

Lol -6 to 60...Welcome to East Tn...you never know what cha gonna get...

[@jeffeus9037]

Hey y don’t you use a ram pump

[@nooncactus]

It’s a shame that you can’t live in the cabin. Do you think you’ll ever be able to live in it? Will county regulations need to change? I enjoy your channel. More on natural medicines, please. ❤

[@rudyfisher7660]

Why didn't you use the underneath the solar panels for your battery area? You could have gone between them post and made your decking and then built walls on the inside underneath and laid metal on top underneath the solar panels. The collective reflective part of the solar or the metal would bounce the sunlight back into the solar panels. You'd still get better results out of your solar panels. Because they'll be getting it from both sides. That's what I would've done. You already got a stroke for there. Save your money and just utilize that stroke

[@getlostinit3D]

Im not sure if you have disclosed where in Tenn. yall live. Maybe in a private message. My 74 yr old mother and I are looking for some property and Tenn. is on the list. Having neighbors with the same skills and attitudes is always nice. I have lots of tools and lots of skills. Im a diy kinda guy and if I don't know I am a youtube video away from being able to.

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

👋👋👋

[@RunawayMattCass]

🙌

[@MelodyDawnrichards]

Like that

[@bonnieplastow7018]

❤

[@jeffdyer2393]

If you won't drink water from your faucet please don't wash your salad with it. Being sick sucks just saying. Love the videos

[@Sandy-u1o]

is that weed on the porch ?

[@joycehagins9900]

You know you break your cardboard down and save it for your garden.

[@RunawayMattCass]

Yup we plan to do this but we get too many packages to hold onto all of the cardboard. We do have a stash in the cabin

[@thenewcamelot8873]

better than working a 9 to 5 hard job though

[@billwoods5406]

How do these people have or get the money to live out in the woods. It's not cheap. Generators, solar, wells, gasoline,food vehicle maintenance,ect,ect. It's fun but its not cheap.

[@hdjohnk]

✌️❤️🍺

[@donnanix3739]

My please check to see if you need an engineer for solar too yea don’t fart need a permit for that now too green climate sh&& 😮‍💨idk for sure The government is bad on this stuff Good luck love your shows

[@bobbybaldeagle702]

The boss lady has decided they we're moving down there to East Tennessee come spring. She looking for a homestead 5 plus acres. She's hoping that the pain I'm in 24/7 will lighten up down there. She's also doing a homestead in hopes that I'll get better being outside in the fresh air and having things that I love doing will help make me feel better. Up here in Wisconsin the air is heavy and hard for us to breath. Back when I could travel she'd take me down there to Dolly Wood for a week and she could see a physical change in me. I've wanted to move down there ever since I retired back in 2009, But she said NO she being younger wanted to keep on working... So if you hear any of anyone wanting to sell there place person to person hopefully for CASH please let us know. TY... Love you kids and enjoy your videos. Be blessed in Jesus name... BBE..

[@traci635]

Prayers you get to live in the Amish Cabin which you bought to be your home until Tennessee decided to burst your bubble with their stupid laws on "moveable" housing....what do they call your "camper" and "van" ? Sounds like bullying by Tennessee lawmakers to me.

[@fiendeng]

tofu 😬

[@CareyTarbox]

I am outside in all weather and it doesn't bother me if it is cold outside or below zero or hot I love being outside doing something

[@dubrd5926]

Don't get too excited about the nice weather. Minus 6 to 60 deg in a few days? Think Geo engineering and ruined fruit due to early blossoming then frozen blossoms.