This family left the city life to live in an off-grid cabin 🌳🚗💨 | ABC Australia

Lauren and James Archer were living a busy Sydney life when they decided to pack it in and live off-grid in the rainforest at Upper Lansdowne on the NSW Mid North Coast. They had to trek to safety with their young family during severe floods last year, after bridges accessing their property were washed away. Despite that they say the rewards outweigh the risks and are now building new bridges with plans to also build a larger home high on their property. They are now a family of five with another on the way and say they have no desire to return to a city life.
00:00 | This family left the city life to live in an off-grid cabin
00:02 | James Archer, off-grid resident
00:46 | Lauren Archer, off-grid resident
01:51 | March 2021 floods
04:06 | Struggles of moving from the city
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[@HaileyOffGridAus]

We've been off grid for 3 years with 2 kids one born while living here. Its definately worth it!!

[@Amy-jp5ju]

We should all be living like this instead of slaves to the system. How much time do we all spend actually living and enjoying life?

[@bendover-bz4bc]

Shutup and sell your mobile first. What are you even doing on internet? You guys love giving rants about how we are dependent on system and blah blah but same little like you wouldn't last two days without your cellphone or Netflix shows. Just shut up already

[@joycethorn2313]

What a beautiful young couple and gorgeous kids. Pity more young couples didn't share their attitude. They would be so much better off if they did, in so many ways. You don't need to spend $800,000 plus, on a 4 bed 3 living areas home. Many people live with a very heavy burden of debt for most of their lives. You don't need to spend massive amounts of money, to protect yourself from the wind and rain and feed yourself. Well done to this family. They all look very healthy and happy.

[@matthoskin3572]

My wife is 42...I am 51 - we live in Sydney, and have a house here to sell for hopefully 3 million over next few years..... WSe plan on doing THIS EXACT THING. And moving up to the Daintree..... This is to us "perfect' life - totally SELF SUFFICIENT - water/electricity/food - hydro power electricity plus solar, H20 through rain/creek and RO filter etc, and growing veggies/herbs etc/fruit, plus just a few chooks/goats/sheep etc to give us everything.... Yeah it is work EVERY DAY but you are working for yourself, not the CEO of some company......

[@Tinachimneycreekfarm]

We’re transitioning into this lifestyle as well! Exciting days ahead!

[@ColdPotatos]

Monkey see monkey do!

[@ColdPotatos]

I'm doing that, literally just moved the family off grid about 3 months ago! It's been really amazing for us as a family. And the feeling of being safe is wonderful, nothing can touch us out here as we learn, grow, explore and flourish.

[@mrbane2000]

But who is owner of the land your on? It's not legal to be on someone's land without permission

[@privateconfidential779]

Squatters rights?! 😜

[@bradleamon4466]

I have been living of grid for about 20 years now and at the start lots of people thought I had something missing up stairs now all of those people want to know all about it we certainly don't miss out on anything because we don't have the mains on

[@user-oi2yk9yi4y]

​@@mrbane2000 Listen again.. the commentator said they are planning to build a new bigger house on THEIR 200 acre property.

[@nigelmorgan3449]

@@privateconfidential779yep try it out and it would be 303

[@cjt962]

This is the best way to live life.👍

[@coreyforbes3341]

I'm in Taree and there's plenty of beautiful places to live like this around here

[@mellanie1282]

What a georgous family.

[@eagle-qr9di]

Good on you guys It looks great there

[@SaadonAksah]

200 acre? Wow! 👍

[@enterbalak]

The system will try and eventually stop this..

[@MegaAcco]

You lucky people.. I'm envious if I was younger I'd do the same

[@gilvraywilliams7231]

Good on ya guys,simple and Beautiful....

[@salsaniggas8544]

Nice

[@billmago7991]

yeah its great till the batteries go flat, the firewood is wet,you cant get to town cause the creek is up and your mrs has run out of smokes 😁....but i wouldnt have it any other way👍

[@SecondLifer2000]

Certainly not the lifestyle for everyone one , however definitely worth having a go at it. Lot of snakes live off grid as well remember!

[@privateconfidential779]

There are also natural preventions to dramatically decrease the snake activity close to home.

[@chrisgray6988]

Not many people watch ABC stories much any more...a nice story though

[@bossmanlastking5740]

✌️❤️🇦🇺

[@guymandude7855]

How much for the land ?

[@ramthian]

😘

[@Freedomone153]

The government will stop this soon

[@fredom1118]

Why do you say that.? Do you think people living this life style will have to leave that kind of life, and have to live in towns . The reason I'm asking this is because I want to live like that. Thanks

[@leonel1717]

Do they watch KZbin out there?

[@supraaa94rz]

One day...

[@tonybruce]

You can talk about this all you want, but it means nothing unless you talk about income and how they afford it. The story makes it sound like everyone can and should do it.

[@bekabeka71]

It’s not really about being able to afford all this to buy and create such environment! My concern is how are they going to support? Clearly when they run out of money they’re not going to start travelling to work every day from that distance. Somehow they’re going to survive on farm work I guess but it won’t be enough for children

[@tonybruce]

@@bekabeka71 youre assuming they have no money or investments though. If theyre set up for FIRE then theyre fine.

[@MrWackozacko]

My guess as to what happened is they renovated and rented their western sydney house out, used the equity in the house to go buy a rural property and they will be ok, unless rates rise, tennents stop paying etc. rates just rose

[@Bulltardwin]

Get a job that allows you to work remote

[@anthonyburke5656]

Smart man, smart woman, all the best, you know the secret.

[@pdshandy4227]

Im a retired handyman if you got room for me and my wife .Love to join you and help you

[@tom-vx1lp]

why dont you have a microwave or toaster?

[@michaelmcclown5593]

Not enough solar power.