Staying Warm in the Last Frontier: Heating our Off-Grid Cabin in Willow, Alaska Winter - Part 1

[@angelmiller3224]

Everything coming together looks nice

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you

[@diannajohnson1731]

Love how your family works together to get a project done.

[@lindahays8444]

Any port in the storm right. Whatever works . I love the off grid cabin.girl yall be busy . Your men are so handy. Getting all the things done. Be blessed.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Be bless! Thank you you made me blush! They work so hard!

[@sharonbrown2352]

We have a 300 gallon tank like that for Off Road Diesel for the equipment. It's nice to have on-site! Love how your family works together!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you so much!

[@AlaskaMyHeart]

This is awesome. Bet you’re super happy. ❤

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

It’s going to be super nice!

[@jeanjohnson2402]

So glad the weather cooperated for you to get this done, winter can come early in Alaska so you don’t want to be caught off guard! Caleb is going to have such a cozy little cabin this winter, you all did such a great job

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Exactly you are so right thank you so much

[@WillowsGarden]

Hi Jessica, Aaron and sweet family! Almost done with the to do list at the cabin for the winter. It’s great to have two sources of heat. The Buddy heaters are great. I’ve had them as a backup heat source for about 8 years now and I definitely recommend them. Roberto is checking it out, too cute and listens very good. We where raised with German Shepherds, very easy to train, loyal and protective dogs. My mother and father trained them. I remember taking vacation from Chicago to Tennessee in a Volkswagen, 2 adults, 4 kids and 2 full grown German Shepherd’s. Two of us would take turns riding in the luggage compartment behind the back seats. Know I don’t know how we did it and we have a laugh about it. I hope everyone has a blessed day and stay safe!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

I love it! He is such a good dog. He still is so hyper and learning. Have a super blessed day friend

[@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska]

We are so glad you guys stayed dry down there. Hooray for progress. Nice to see Wyatt back to normal. Bless you friend. ❤❤

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you my beautiful friend! Could you make it stop raining!

[@FlatTireFarmHomesteadingAlaska]

@@modernhomesteadalaska I’ll see if I can call in a favor with the Big Man. 😊 We’ll be outside all day tomorrow. So, the 80% chance of rain is cramping my style. Ha!

[@heathernotzdaniels6350]

They did an amazing job out there with all that earth moving. It looks really good, that rain was definitely a good testament to their work. Very impressive! Poor Kodie's shoes...lol

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Lol poor kodie! Yeah it’s holding up nicely

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

Toyo stoves are super nice to heat with as well but they do need maintenance. 😊

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Yes thank you so much fir saying that. When we first moved here they were all over, we had no experience with them so went s different direction. We are seeing if we like it before we even consider one at our house for hearing when we want to leave the house for a few days in winter

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

That's a great idea!

[@yvettegerry9862]

You are such a talented and hard working couple and teaching your kids all the skills. Very interesting and informative wow ! Thank you for sharing ! 🚜🐕‍🦺🚜

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you so much! You made my day!

[@yvettegerry9862]

@@modernhomesteadalaska your videos make my day ! 🌺⭐️🌺

[@gloriadavidson8599]

So it's confirmed we all need an ARRAN 😊😊😊😊🎉🎉🎉 Love from the UK x

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Lol yes!

[@charlenegrady8781]

Thank you for sharing today. Great video. I love to watch videos that show how things are done. Great job with the oil tank. That is a beautiful piece of property. Thank you again for taking us along. Take care✌️🇺🇸❤️

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you so much beautiful friend!

[@debbiemiller7342]

Will be so nice to have several heat sources! Loved seeing the entire family! Thanks

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you yeah we are trying to think it all through.

[@sarahschlosser1203]

Great team work as always. Everyone should be like Aaron when it comes to completing tasks

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

ThNk you my friend. It’s better all the time (I didn’t know it could be)

[@alinelson2]

Hi sweet one! There certainly must have been a lot of rain! The roads looked like rivers, and the river was so big and swift...yikes!!!!! Your family works so well together. You got a lot accomplished in a relatively short time! Aaron is so knowledgeable and takes the time to teach as well. That was such a great video...loved it! Big hugs and many blessings, my friend!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

It’s been so crazy! The amount of water around is constantly is not something we were prepared for in Alaska. But it makes it all so beautiful.

[@riddle8062]

Okay, that is A LOT of road water right there! A family that works together gets a lot more done in a shorter amount of time. Aaron is so good to explain things to your kids as the project goes. I am sure you do that too, Jessica. We grew up on propane heat. It gets the job done! Roberto minds so well. Poor Kodie got her shoes muddy right off the bat. Lol! At least the tank is set, and ready to be filled. God bless you all!

[@ravenlaughs9757]

At 5$ ish a gl that is around 2500$ expensive but works indeed

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you so much! That was so very very kind!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Yes! Expensive! I’m hoping it’s worth it, we looked at putting some in our basement so we can leave the house. But I wanted to first see how it all works out.

[@lorikrafft8197]

I love your videos. I love the cabin. What a beautiful day the sun is shining and Alaska it’s beautiful it’s so awesome that you guys work together as a family to help each other out and make that cabin so awesome for Caleb.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you that’s fo very kind!

[@gillgallon9631]

Great job you guys , thank you for sharing your day

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you friend!

[@MyAlaska12]

Love the 70s Ford! I have a 300 gallon tank at my cabin. I thought I used 99% of it. When I had it filled a couple weeks ago, I was happily surprised to find out i had only used about 50%.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Oh that’s amazing! We are hoping it lasts a year! (If we filled it all the way) but also could potentially heat the addition with a 2nd stove.

[@judyshoemaker9681]

Sometimes i just don't realize how much work all this is. But you guys work great together and get it done. Maybe you can hook that propane wall heater in the shower house to keep it warm in there ir save for your green house. I liked when Roberto gave up and layed on the mound for the septic. He looked fairly safe there and bored.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Oh no one quite realized that just this was 3-5 days of work to this point. It takes forever and tons of work to get each aspect put in. Thank you for the ideas. God bless!

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

We put a propane heater, like the one you are removing, in our greenhouse in Whitehorse, Yukon & vented it outside. It worked great! Also, that seems to be a huge oil tank for a cabin that size. It may not need to be filled for a few years if you use the wood stove as well.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Yeah Aaron wanted a one and done on the tank. You are so right based on the size of the heater. However we did worry with the bedroom and bathroom addition not in yet, trying to think into the future, we might add a 2nd stove into the addition and wanted to make sure we could have a year of fuel for both. I know you understand it, it cost $300 total more on the front end to be completely prepared for a future plans.

[@Chris_at_Home]

Propane is real expensive in Alaska when compared to heating fuel oil.

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

@Neveragain572 we were in the Yukon. It was comparable at the time, but we had to replace our home furnace & went with propane since it was a lot less expensive than an oil furnace with new outside tank.

[@yvettegerry9862]

Hello friend !

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Hello my kind friend!

[@lauragroux4444]

Let there be heat! That river looks wild! How do you find enough hours in a day, you take all these projects on with a hearty giggle and a get ‘er done attitude! Going to continue to catch up with my Alaskan family. One more video and then I wait! Until our next visit keep those boots dry and.away from that river! ❤Momma Glo

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Oh my friend so happy you came to see me today!

[@IngeLyck]

What a cozy cabin Caleb has. Is he living there full time? I would if it was mine 🌺🌺🌺 lots of blessings

[@claire2d268]

❤❤❤

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

❤️🥰

[@shelbiemarsh6430]

❤

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

❤️

[@ZXX984]

That cabin looks great. Your hard work is paying off. Can you do something for me? Monday is Larry’s 60 th birthday. Can you give him a shout out to cheer him up a little. I go back Tuesday home. He’s been really bummed. Thanks for all you do. You can just write back for him. He watches all your videos.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry my videos actually so I can do editing and such a few a few weeks after I record them! But please do tell him to have the happiest of birthdays from us! And I do pray you make it home safely! That’s the best birthday gift having the love of your life gone

[@ZXX984]

@@modernhomesteadalaska thank you

[@elaineparker6986]

Jessica, it's really looking good out there in the remote cabin. Will your Mum see it before winter? Thanks for sharing, btw I love the way you all go to help, Dogs an all.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

I don’t think so. She cares for my grandma and she does not like the cold. But she watches the videos so she sees it like you do

[@elaineparker6986]

@modernhomesteadalaska ah right, bless her. So Mum is a full time carer. Hard work. Did that for my mum.

[@mariezafonte6473]

It's so nice seeing the whole family work on this project. Does the amount of water on the road concern you for traveling in the winter. And do you know if the river gets much higher. Hope the stove installation goes well and Caleb gets some heat.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

It should freeze up. I know that sounds crazy but we drive only on snow packed frozen roads in the winter. So the river should be froze snd the road too. In fact it might be better driving in the winter.

[@monicaballard8272]

How far is the cabin from yalls house ,Beautiful place there and yall place I just love it, and love love all your videos ❤

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

About 30 min apart

[@beverlygiroux2824]

I really enjoyed this video, and, Oh my goodness, we are not suppose to be envious of things that others have, but, that cabin would be my dream home. My goodness!!! It is awesome. Is Caleb going to move into it permanently? How far is it from your home? This is VERY exciting! Blessings, Bev in Maine

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Soon as soon as we have power abs water worked out he will be full time at the cabin

[@mikalasimpson7789]

I'm so shocked, in the UK, local council/government pay for the instillation of fule.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Oh no you pay everything here, electric, and fuel, phone, internet. Anything like that is on the home owner.

[@sherry1472]

Nice! Just curious does the tank have a gauge on how much is left in the tank? I’m not knowledgeable on these things but I would want to know when I needed to get more 😂

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

It does not. You can add that to it. We will figure out if we need it later

[@kelliepineda9822]

has it been rain up there ,hense the high river

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

So much rain!

[@ravenlaughs9757]

You use the propaine for cooking? Or do you use sometging else?

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Only the stove. We do have a propane fridge in the conex however we have not gotten around to see if it works yet.

[@donnatom4d41]

Whatever happened to your other two dogs? We only see Roberto.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

We lost Daisy a short time back, we have her ashes and will be taking her out of the intro shortly. Tipper is old and she is not a great traveler we still take her along sometimes. But she likes to stay home and sleep.

[@donnatom4d41]

@@modernhomesteadalaska I’m so sorry to hear about sweet Daisy!! Hugs to all of you. 😔

[@jiminalaska]

That is close to the river. How far out on KGB are you without giving away you location, would like to meet your husband sometime. Maybe a dog on the fire.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Nice love it! We are before Knik but not far. Our cabin is right on Willow creek. I’ll have Tony send you my contact info.

[@darcyrobb3692]

Is it a family cabin which Caleb lives in ft or is there two cabins?🤨

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Yes it belongs to my family and mom but Caleb’s full time home.

[@DreamingOfAlaska]

Ok I have a genuine from the heart question, I long to live in Alaska but it's expensive, what do you and your husband do to be able to afford living there? Plus you have 2 beautiful homes. Is it actually realistic for a family of 3 to move there affordable? Like what kind of money can we make there? I truly want to move to Alaska ASAP but it feels impossible. ❤ p. S I mean no offense by asking what you both do for work I'm just genuinely curious

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

It’s honestly like any state. You make more money here no matter what you do for work. Therefore whatever life you have now can be that here in Alaska. Like if you live in a 3 bedroom house. You can move here get the same sort of jobs and have the same sort of life. My husband is a very specialized contractor. But he hires all sorts of guys from the labor field. We have wealthy people and poor homeless population and all the lives in between here in Alaska. If you go back and see we remodeled several homes and built ours with our own hands. It works like if you can afford to pay some todo something you get 1/2 of what you could do yourself. All the flooring my daughter and I built my son and I built the pantry..,…. Our home is misleading only in that it f so isn’t cost us much but physically cost us plenty.

[@clamhomesteadadventures2932]

I tried watching this video but the mom won’t let anyone else talk and she is constantly correcting everyone. Sorry can’t subscribe

[@kodiemilnes2202]

None of us are big talkers except for her, we actually prefer her to tell you guys what’s going on. And mothers correct things it’s just nature she doesn’t want to see her family do things wrong and or fail. She does wonderful if you ask me.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thanks for the comment even the “negative Nancy” ones help our channel to grow. I correct because I’m a mom and well that’s how we teach, also it’s my channel and no one other then myself puts any effort into it. Hope still you have a super blessed life no matter where you go, no hard feelings here. Not everyone is my taste, I’m aware I’m not everyone’s taste either.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@kodiemilnes2202 I guess I could of just let you handle it!