Slow Living on 1.5 Acres

Check out Eiot Club: www.eiotclub.com/?ref=1Dkgbom...
- Bizglobelink sim card covers 200+ countries signal with no roaming fee: bit.ly/3IeGyem
- European sim card on Amazon UK: noxl.ink/A3e-Rn
Use our code "Z9MIFTC8" to get a 10% discount :)
Thank you to Eiot Club for sponsoring this video.
#EIOTCLUB #simcard#Bizglobelink
Like our music? Here's a playlist with all the music we use:
share.epidemicsound.com/w4x0i...
And, if you sign up to Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you'll get 1 month for free!
If you'd like to support our project:
- You can join us on Patreon from £1 per month and get some extra perks: www.patreon.com/frankieoffgrid
- Buy us a 'Kofi" (which will go towards our latest project, whether building the house or working the land): ko-fi.com/frankieontheroad
- Shop at our tea shop: www.seibiantcoffi.co.uk
Use code: FOTR10 for 10% off ☺️
- Shop our merchandise: frankieoffgrid.teemill.com
- Follow us on Instagram: / frankieoffgrid
We have put together a helpful list for you of all the things that have helped make living off grid easier for us: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/frankie...
The linked items are affiliate, which means we get a small commission per sale (at no extra cost to you)!
Beijinos e abraços,
Carissa, Iwan, Frankie & Albi
Our Story:
We are Carissa, Iwan & Frankie the sausage dog, and in 2020 decided one night over a bottle of wine that moving from North Wales to Portugal would be a good idea. Within a month we were on the road to Portugal to find the perfect piece of land to call home. We picked up Albi, Joao and Simao the cats along the way, as well as Diogo the podengo and a flock of chickens.
Subscribe to follow our project as we turn an old stone barn into our home, and learn the ropes of looking after a piece of land to make an abundant garden and one day, our very own winery.

[@dianerayburn1728]

The other day I heard a tip for making a strong structure. The more triangles you can include in a frame, the stronger it becomes...

[@JohnFoxphotography]

great job on the well wall, the only thing i will say is you should be wetting the wall and the rocks your placing in, the mortar bonds a lot better when everything's wet, the dryness of the rocks acts like a sponge and dries the mortar to quick, its the same when your rendering a wall it needs to be wet otherwise the wall sucks all the moisture out of the mortar and it doesn't adhere properly. keep up the great work

[@projectportugal]

Granite, doesn't readily absorb moisture, too wet a surface makes them hard to consolidate in the right place

[@1dkappe]

@@projectportugalits been a while, Uncle Nick, but I recall working with Portland cement a while back, and the chemical bond formed with the granite required a little bit of water, though not a ton. The moisture in the mortar may already be enough and the humidity may also affect things.

[@aliceskewthorpe8991]

Yes, I've observed that those building walls on an abandoned chateau do it that way... and their walls are made of granite... But the weather is different in Portugal... I guess! Blessings to all ❤

[@projectportugal]

@@1dkappe exactly

[@tlmiam1]

I love how Diogo hops after the ball and Frankie just lays there while you step over him. The wall is beautiful, I am always impressed by how well you do all these things. Uncle Nick has taught you well lol !

[@OutNAboutWithBrad]

A quick tip. You're going to need some cross bracing for your solar structure to stop it "racking". If you look at some traditional timber framing buildings you'll see what they've done to stabilise the boxy shapes.

[@ourvan.ourway]

Your solar shade structure is looking great. For the uprights, I’d like to suggest putting some corner bracing pieces in at 45° angles. It’ll give it a bit more rigidity during windy days & will keep it solid. Is it possible to add guttering to this to harvest the rainwater too? I’m guessing you can never have enough water in the later spring & summer months. Have a great rest of the week guys

[@davewilliams6172]

You need to corner brace the solar structure if you want it to last through the first storm. Nice job on the wall and the garden is coming along very nicely, it is good to see some citrus trees being planted.

[@petercarbutt3706]

very important

[@abigailgerlach5443]

I'd say Spring isn't trying to arrive, it's here! You have blooms I won't see for another two months if we don't have late Spring snows. I didn't know pansies were edible! Good to know! Ingenuity is the mother of invention...not having an unlimited budget is my father's contribution. He jury rigged more items around our house than you can imagine! Somehow, no matter how wonky looking, it worked just fine. I'm half convinced my father had a hand in designing the Leaning Tower of Pisa (in a previous life, of course). How exactly do you "accidentally" buy trees? Is that like me accidentally buying books on Amazon? (which I do a lot btw!) Can a kindle get heavy when you buy too many books? Have a good week! Blessed Be!

[@Liz-cy6gc]

Your choice of music is one of the best ones out there!!! Love all your animals and all that you do to inspire us!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

So glad you enjoy it, we love finding good music 💛

[@yvonnebailey9973]

Lunch looked delicious. I think you need to put up something between the main leg structure to give your framework more support. Loved seeing your cat curled up in the frying pan. Take care and stay safe. ATB.

[@TriciaBrandt-ql6fr]

The salad was the most gorgeous one I have seen! Nice to be able to walk out in the garden and pick your meals. Love all your fur babies! Your videos make me feel happy and calm, kudos you two 😊

[@deborahthomas3475]

When I was your age I built several walled flower beds to divert water in my yard. We don’t have stones in north Florida so I accumulated chunks of busted up pavement. That took a lot of gathering in my car from construction debris wherever I could find it around town. I got mortar mix and mixed it with a hoe in a wooden trough. That was a rewarding project. I hated to leave it when we moved. At my age now I do good to move a few. pavers stones. Your doing good 👍

[@ronelsmith6906]

Quick tip from experience, when you hang your washing out to dry, hang it inside out, that way the colours don't fade as fast. that's what we do here in South Africa.

[@yamloveswine]

Lunch looked delicious and healthy❤ The well wall is looking GREAT!! 👍😊👍🌟

[@Uriahheep1975]

Im mason mate, the same preparation like tiles setting, for a more stronger structure, you should also wet the stone slabs you are setting, if not it will react like a sponge and you'll ended up with a hairline crackd finish. When the weather is hot you must wet either thru tiny sprinkling when the mortar was not yet settled. Pardon my english i cant speak well. Gday.

[@martinjames3950]

He,a been taught how to do it by uncle nick😊

[@LifebyBertie]

How wonderful, Spring arriving is always something so magical. Excellent opportunity to shoot some B-roll. The wall looks great, that is proper labour of love. No minding that the structure is looking a bit wonky as long as it's strong, the solar-panels are not that heavy to begin with. The connecting parts should be solid. Have a good week you guys! Cheers Bert 🙏🏻❤

[@LPay-jy8mx]

Hello you two. Nice progress as always, and admiration for your repurposing and for your off-grid life! A quick tip. When using "wonky" (bowed) planks to support something (or even if plank is straight), installing the plank on edge (rather than lying flat) will yield greater structural strength. For even greater strength, take two similarly wonky planks and create one straighter and stronger plank out of them -- by first, prepping them on the ground by placing them so they look like a mirror image of each other with their ends touching and middles bowed apart. Then screw them together tight and the screws will pull the planks together, straightening them both, and using the opposite force of their wonkiness to increase the new, thicker plank's strength. Good luck! 👍Lee

[@deborahthomas3475]

You are so patient and precise on that wall.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Definitely getting the hang of it now!

[@katykay6537]

Wonderful job on the rock wall, Iwan! Carissa, your salads are so lovely!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you!!

[@michelebushnik2874]

Lovely peaceful video! Carissa your salad was so pretty! Ewan your are getting skilled with the rock wall, well done! Have a lovely week you two! Many blessings!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you! You too!

[@piaostgren9844]

Can't wait until it's spring here in Sweden too, there's a month or so left until then, we still have some snow here. So lovely to be able to put together a salad on your own farm. How lovely you have it. ❤❤

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Carissa and Iwan. I love each of your videos. I think that the music and the filming are beautifully synched. See you next week❤❤❤❤

[@rosemaryjasper1121]

Lovely quiet relaxing video! No sense of urgency just slowly working through the jobs. Your colourful salad looked beautiful, nearly too pretty to eat! Evan seems to have found his mojo on stonewall building, he seems more relaxed about it now. Nice to see he remembered his face mask, we’re only looking out for your healthy when we all comment on your ppe. Can’t believe just how dry your soil is already this year. Fingers crossed your citrus grove are all happy and grow well. Really loved the calm feel of this video❤

[@yolieslife1111]

I love your channel !! So relaxing to watch ❤

[@janmccann8081]

Huzzah, as they say in these parts. A new video! What a beautiful meal you made! It was also lovely to see your flourishing garden. Have fun!

[@junco477]

Nice work. And love all the helpful hints that come your way. So many caring folk invested in your hard work and loving hands.

[@annalinekennedy1027]

Love watching you 2 working.❤

[@jwthrussell8786]

Wow it’s beautiful !! Thanks Carrisa….wow the beach sounds great

[@mavisgillard653]

Great video ❤❤ love the music!!

[@susanmay4082]

Hi guys another beautiful video ❤ thank you 🙏

[@barbarakloise6790]

Love your big old optimism cacti! Now I know you are loving your new washing machine there that will pay for itself for sure! So glad you could get that!!

[@eldrinod]

Lovely stuff, total zen viewing. Your videos and the perfect music selection always make me feel so calm and relaxed ❤️

[@theyellowbootshomestead]

Gorgeous 😍 That saladdddd! Awesome job on all the projects this week:)

[@magicwendy210]

great video as always, l kind of prefer a monday video to the saturdays, starts the week off in a lovely calm way ☺ thank you x

[@SJC49]

Such a beautiful looking salad plate. Very inspiring, Clarissa!😍🇨🇦

[@flyoverurbangarden4315]

The well wall looks so good, the rock placement is very attractive. As usual your video, camera shots and editing are excellent.

[@christine3358]

Doing a great job on your wall around the well!

[@barbarakloise6790]

I imagine at some point you guys with tackle that other well you have and restore that down the road. I love all the stone walls and rock work you do. Always something to keep you busy and working. You guys are doing a fantastic job there and learning more every day too. Love your channel! So fun watching all your animals they are all so cute.

[@HelenRullesteg]

Albi in the frying pan - soo cute. And I love how tolerant you are with your pets - and Diogo always bouncing like a ball :-) -

[@FrankieOffGrid]

They’re very funny animals! So much character!

[@barbarakloise6790]

Frankie is so cute waiting in the care. All your pets are so darn cute. Beautiful beach les there in Portugal. Such a beautiful peaceful place you have there guys!

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

As always, just beautiful. Loved it. ❤️xx

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks Jimmy!!

[@user-fc6mi8zb4w]

Relaxing, inspiring ALWAYS!👍💕

[@blumerlredpilledgirl8958]

I love my home but I love the area around it more. I see all the beauty in the minimal landscaping you have done such an amazing area.

[@melissaeden1219]

Wonderful as always. I love seeing you eat rom your garden and plant citrus trees! Inspiring.

[@sf55514]

It looks like spring comes early where you are. It starts about mid January where I am. Spring is my absolute favorite time of the year. Happy days.

[@user-jm6ml6ik9l]

Have just started watching! Have been waiting for the video since Saturday😅the very first seconds and oh my how much I envy you!! Trees blossoming!!😍🥺with -15 here in Russia and snow all around😣we’ll have grass and flowers and warmth only in May 😩

[@annettetongden7768]

I love watching your videos and I love the music in the background.❤

[@tamarahimmelstrand8985]

That was a beautiful plate of food you made. Loved the colours and flower foods. Radish leaves are very healing foods. You can include them in your sallads.

[@extremaspain]

I am really happy that you understand the concept of 'slow living'. I really appreciate the fact that it's a good thing to do. Thank you and please carry on your excellent KZbin videos as I love them......

[@juanitakauffman6336]

The wall looks great. Great video.

[@meglange3595]

Spring time is so lovely there with all the gorgeous flowers 🥰. May your citrus grove grow strong and mighty!!! A grapefruit tree sounds amazing, and lemon too. I wish I lived in a warmer climate. And I know that would come with it's own issues. It's all a compromise. I'd still choose the warmth over our long, cold winters. Albi finds the very best of spots to have her naps 😄. I do love ginger and white kitties. They have such adorable personalities. Iwan, you're an excellant student of the St Nick Acadamy 😁. Your stone work will just get better and better over time 👍. Have a great week you two. 🥰♥️

[@mariabooboo6753]

Love Frankie and Diogo. You've made yourselves a beautiful life in my home country wich I miss terribly.

[@SusanZiegler]

What a wonderful, tranquil way to start my morning! Thank you for you artistry!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you for watching!!

[@ingevansand9180]

Please make the wooden structure stronger with 45 degrees corner supports. 😊👍

[@SJC49]

Iwan - your wall is progressing so well. I think you are now fully in your element! Love when the chickens pass by for inspection. Has Uncle Nick seen the wall lately?😍🇨🇦

[@vickimccourt]

Your videos are poetry for the soul.

[@user-dh1rd9gh8d]

Fab video. We find watching them very relaxing in this mad crazy world.

[@projectportugal]

With the slightly wetter mortar mix you are using (clever) its not really necessary to wet the surface, well thought out Iwan❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

😉

[@miriammuskal5402]

Beautiful platter

[@bertieboo]

Loving your music choice ❤

[@PlantMeals]

Always a pleasure watching your videos - thanks for the content. Great music choices as always!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thanks so much!

[@user-nx4pb9ms1x]

어머님이 사시던 시골집 작년에 유실수 몇구루아 알뿌리 심어놨는데 낼은 텃밭나물류와 휴가내서 꽃심으로 가는데 생각만해도 설레내요 한쪽은 텃밭 한쪽은 꽃과 나무 힘든일상을 기운나게 하네요

[@ddenice963]

The lunch looked amazing 🤩

[@Metalian66]

For Foggies you know a lot. I think the sun melted all your fog.😆😁😀😃 But after all, you are doing it all by yourself. Be proud what you are doing is great!

[@kdclothes]

great episode. loved the salad you made. I love those types of tastes together.

[@leannekudahl2432]

It is better to plant bare rooted fruit trees; but not all fruit trees come bare rooted obviously. So, non bare root trees come surrounded in 'compost'. I find it better to safely clear as much of the potting soil from the roots as possible with as little damage. Then plant the tree and water it in. Then I measure out about 30cm (1 foot) away from the outside of the planting hole and place compost/ old manure etc in a ring to try to encourage outward growth of roots. I also water deeply and outward for the same reason. To encourage the plant to step out of its comfort zone so to speak. :)

[@100Noddy]

💜💜 picking salad leaves and radish from the garden in February. It just beggars belief and reinforces my desire to make changes to my life. Here in Cornwall it has rained almost everyday since October. You have chosen wisely and at a relatively young age. Best.

[@blumerlredpilledgirl8958]

It seems your temperatures may be warmer for this time of year our gardening starts in March and our last frost in my area is April 1/ your area is beautiful.

[@projectportugal]

Loving the stone work❤

[@bbm8946]

love your lifestyle thanks for sharing

[@daffs0]

Aww frankly like hurry up bless The first bit of your video absolutely amazing could watch that all day Loved the synchronised ladder placement The well is looking grand Last part of filming awesome love watching your videos Thank you for sharing 😁

[@isabelinhagomes9076]

Carrisa your dish was beautiful, a piece of art!😘😘😘😘🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@jessejames5375]

Fantastic progress. 😊

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you! 😊

[@deborahlee8135]

Cross bracing will help the wonkiness and reduce the movement in your structures. Would hate to see you lose panels in a storm. ❤love the new citrus grove ❤

[@myitaliantherapyginafiore4414]

Love your content with the flowers and clouds often. It's so peaceful to come here on your channel. Glad you got to escape off season to the beach. It was so fun to spend 5 days in Baleal. . . . We will be back. Just put offer on some land near Silvares. Hope to meet you both some day...cheers. Heres to an amazing fall...Gina in Upstate NY USA moving to Portugal

[@jeanyang6735]

I love your place its beautiful

[@AlasBabylon1]

I don't know how you ended up in my KZbin feed, but you did. And I'm so glad. 🧡

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Haha nor are we.. and we are also glad! ☺️

[@waltertenboske8147]

You are creating something very nice out of this well. Enjoyed the end of the video with the images of the cats and the last cords of the music, nicely done. Regarding the solar panels: in case the structure you are creating would not work, you could also consider just mounting them on the ground, landscape, back-to-back, half of them facing east, half of them west. They will then provide less peak power, but will provide power a larger window of the day. Just a thought.

[@rayahomecleaningmotivations]

wow this is so beautiful... i'm inlove with your place, your home

[@myitaliantherapyginafiore4414]

Iwen your cement and rock work makes me want to begin outside projects again here on my restoration in Upstate New York USA but it's not warm enough yet. Looks great

[@karipreston1204]

Lovely beach scenes while I look out into a blizzard!

[@sandrapesticcio3575]

You were brilliant doing that wall you have become very good doing it.And it looks so so good.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you so much 😊

[@lorettataylor9902]

What a beautiful beach ❤

[@andrewmaiden3738]

Guys, you can make the Solar structure more rigid and sturdy very easily and cheaply. Fine some used ply, sheet material and cut triangular brackets of sizes to suit and apply them at every corner, in all planes with screws, it will tighten everything up. If you have no sheet material, use onld timber planks and diagonally brace everywhere.

[@ronroelevink7097]

Haha, for a moment I thought Iwan was talking about buying apples when mentioning the Appleshop. I noticed the containers near the car so it made sense, sort of. Guess I am getting older. Enjoyed the video.

[@racebanning6390]

HAPPY MONDAY, I MISSED YA ALL ON SATURDAY, HAD MY COFFEE ALL READY AND EVERYTHING..LOL. LOOKS LIKE PLENTY OF HOMESTEAD CHORES, AND TREES, SWEET. WE HAVE HIGH STORM WINDS AND RAIN TODAY IN IDAHO AND 37F TEMPS, BRRRRR🌨❄🌨❄🌨🌨☔☔ ENJOY THE EARLY SPRING TEMPS. BE BLESSED🙏🙏👍👍👍

[@petefoti1041]

I was in Nazare lasst year. We only spent a couple hours there for lunch. Small streets creates big traffic.

[@victoriakopp1483]

Wonderful video 😊

[@escapetoruralwales]

Super job on that well wall Iwan. It looks so good 👍

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you!

[@TheIndigoEscape]

Beautiful video! Loved Albie sleeping in the pan haha. I love the lights around the kitchen as well. It looks so cozy in there ❤

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you! Haha she does choose some strange places to sleep! Hope you guys are well?!

[@TheIndigoEscape]

@@FrankieOffGrid better now that is sunny!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Isn’t it?! Almost can’t wait for summer! 😅

[@parushaagovender2927]

Higiys beautiful video love the ocean omg so clean nyc to get away sometimes ❤ glad u guys made a day if . Luv the fruit trees ❤

[@rachelfrees1268]

Iwan, the wall is beautiful.👨‍🎨. Your citrus orchard will thrive with your care Carissa. What fun watching Diego.😂

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Thank you!!

[@user-xv4yp1ii8j]

Pansy flowers are high in vitamin A & C! I couldn't love you all more if I tried. Many , many blessings to your beautiful homestead! Kisses to the fur people. 😂❤

[@bettelovelace4456]

Iwan your wall looks beautiful 👏👏NICK is a good teacher ..everything is looking so good👏. Diogo is like a little grasshopper 🤣.. you both are so hardworking ..Frankie adores you both and the rest of the crew is soooo cute playing together and following you everywhere 🤣🤣…can’t wait to see your blood oranges..👏👏💜💜

[@carolinawren3594]

beautiful couple showing us all the meaning of life

[@tlmiam1]

Amazing how many have viewed this in just an hour. Nice, I hope you make some income to help with expenses. I shared this video on FB to try to direct more views and subscribers your way.

[@hoahappyhome]

It's really impressive with the stone structure you made, but the mortar looks a bit dry. Have a good day!

[@melinda5777]

Enjoyed your video! I love beaches! I think the big stones looked good separated around your water tank, just alone. But maybe the wall has to be so high and I don't know about that. I like what your doing with your solar panels. But I need something different here so I can angle them differently in summer and winter. I have to figure out a way to make them pivot, without blowing away (Hurricane Alley) here. ✝️🙏❤🇺🇸🇵🇹👣🍍🤗

[@sonjajordaan1983]

Your food is a work of art. Njam. Looked delicious. ❤

[@livinginthealgarveportugal3357]

Has uncle Nick surveyed your solar structure 😸 well done on the well wall 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 love from us in the Algarve 🇵🇹🌻

[@arjanvogel6444]

Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys, good work 👍😁.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Our pleasure!