We FAILED! Surviving Off-Grid Only On Rain Water | Couple Builds Own Earthbag Home

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you so much for watching! We hope you have a fantastic day. Don't forget you can find us on Instagram here: instagram.com/greendreamproject And Facebook here: facebook.com/greendreamproject1 Check out our Facebook group here: facebook.com/groups/greensteaders/

[@user-md3bj5lp3w]

👍

[@sean-or1nc]

Are you gonna use ladders when the bag height starts to get high? Maybe a scaffolding?

[@jeffcook8501]

Vitamin D is so energizing

[@waynet2165]

In Los Angeles, about 700+/- miles west, our wettest month is February.

[@VampireCatLegacy]

Give your wife a hug, tell her you love her, and tell her how much you appreciate how much she does. Even if you know and she knows sometimes people just need to hear it to make their day better. Works here.

[@EricWhiteChooseGod1st]

Sometimes something feels like a failure, but in reality it is just a step that we need to go through to get where we are going.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Very true!

[@adelemartinez8235]

Such wise words. I love it.

[@xyzsame4081]

@@ourselfreliantlife I do not see the "failure", you had extra need for water (once in decades) for the concrete structures - so once the homestead is set up, you are good for normal routines. Of course you might want to grow food and you have excellent condistions for several harvests per year, with a greenhouse or foil tunnel even during the cold season - if the wind does not take down the structure ;) you might find the solutions of Verge Permaculture interesting. Lean to greenhouse, and rocket mass heater. In Canada, so every cold snap that should come your way is coveered. you have enough sun - if you got shade, water and wind ! protection figured out it could be excellent for growing (despite that not being obvious) the pests will not show up, too dry in the surrounding. But you can create more water harvesting surfaces and also make sure your property has no runoff so that groundwater is recharged.

[@xyzsame4081]

@@ourselfreliantlife Verge Permaculture has a video on the old Swales nearby Tuscon (revisiting Bill Mollison, the "founder" of permaculture), they were created by a New deal Work project (likely to reduce erosion or help with cattle in the area), they are not even done correctly - but with no maintainance that intervention 70 years ago resulted in green little islands with better soil etc. The Greening The Desert project initiated by Geoff Lawton could also be helpful: If it works in the dry Jordan Valley it also works in your area. (soil building, pioneer trees to create shade, harvest nitrogen. They are at the top of the hill and had dirt 10 years ago. Now they have a desert oasis and soil good enough to grow a lot of fruit trees).

[@bohemoth1]

AMEN!!!!

[@williamhuntington1397]

Please don't feel like you've "failed" for having a water delivery. You are doing awesome work! In doing so, you often have to overcome adversity the best way you can. You guys clearly show that you grow through what you go through. Keep up the great, and inspiring, work!

[@dave31764]

Great teamwork, I enjoy your upbeat ,humorous style of explaining things. I like Jes’ knowledge of nature, and she’s hard worker even when not feeling well, true trooper.

[@direbearcoat7551]

There is so much romance in your relationship! It's like one of those "Old Timey Settler Family" adventure stories. The only thing missing are the seventeen children helping with the farming and other homestead chores that need to get done...

[@JamesCouch777]

Even though the concrete gutters were a set back, at least nobody got hurt and you still have your health, which is priceless 👍💪😁

[@davidbloch5370]

That is right always look at the positive

[@JamesCouch777]

@@davidbloch5370 when you spend a few months in a cancer treatment center it changes your perspective on life.

[@davidbloch5370]

@@JamesCouch777 I don’t believe my view of life would or even need to change, you don’t even know anything about my health problems let alone you are not the only one on Earth going through bumps in the road. Keep you chin up and again think positive. Now go forward and thrive.

[@JamesCouch777]

@@davidbloch5370 I didn't mean anything like that. I was making a statement about myself. I don't presume to know anything about you.

[@DizzyIzzyMom]

You two are so precious together....loved seeing you hug.

[@TiffanyRiehm]

Dude, y'all survived the hottest, driest summer on record for AZ on rain water, using that water to garden and build and you're only just now looking to get a water delivery. You ain't failed a thing! I have land down in Cochise county and you guys give me hope that I can make it on rain water.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! It's definitely possible. Lowering our water needs has definitely been key.

[@John-N797]

That hug almost made Jess melt 💕 you could almost feel her heart pounding! Refreshing to see such pure love in the midst of a world that is full of broken hearts! Thank you for sharing your life with us.

[@David33333able]

I get the opposite .I feel she cant stand him.He is very annoying and u can tell she isn't happy

[@John-N797]

@@David33333able I don't think that's true. You need to study and observe Jess more to know her. She has a unique way of expressing herself which if you don't know you won't understand.

[@mikeyjames]

Jess is going to be the happiest camper when she finally moves into her house.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Me too!😁

[@32braveheart]

@@ourselfreliantlife But what will you do for videos?

[@xyzsame4081]

@@32braveheart the rest of the development. Green / growhouses, more water catchment. Garden, soil building, ....

[@grannysgarden8225]

No way have you failed, you just haven’t had enough rain to fill all your tanks, plus as you say you use a huge amount for building, once your buildings are complete and you’ve had some good storms you be good for the future.

[@LeArtisan]

You used the water you had, hardly a failure if you can top them off from another source if needed atm. Going to get real interesting with the rows soon. Keep pushing fine people.

[@MrBrucester]

Looking good! Don’t be so down on yourself. I think you two are doing a wonderful job! This is going to be a great home to live in and you built it yourselves.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!🙏

[@brianellis4964]

You're doin' a lot better than I could. Well done the pair of you. No failure, just another hard lesson. You need quite a bit more catchment roof, and props under your gutters.

[@SeeTheWholeTruth]

Simple plant shade material, available from numerous sources. MIT apparently found that the doubled, relatively fine mesh yielded the most condensation out of the fog but it varies depending on how heavy/thick the fog is in various areas, and the strength of the prevailing winds. "Search towers made to pull drinking water from the condensation"

[@gwynethpruden3704]

Nothing is ever a failure as long as you learn something from your experience!! Don’t be so hard on yourself, please.

[@fredtheuberdriver]

As the dome goes up not sure how you are planning on raising the filled bags, but you will need to address the issue. Have you thought of building a scaffold with winch? You could build a simple tray for the filled bags and secure a truck winch @ the top. This allows the winch to raise the tray with the filled bag.

[@robertmiller2831]

This isn’t a failure. This is something you knew could happen and started planning to solve in the future. Sometimes things get ahead of you as you work on other projects.

[@richardfromcanada6129]

You two are really doing an excellent job! I am impressed with your motivation. Water in the tank = peace of mind. God bless and THANKS for the video.

[@arthurjacobs9330]

Love the job you are doing Jim and Jess. All the best kids.;)

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!

[@Citystead]

I think everyone works better on sunny days. Good thing Jess cleared up that pooping situation for us 😄

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Lol! I was going to make a joke about it if she hadn't. 😆

[@carolforbes1559]

I would not see it as a fail but now you know and truly water is a big component to construction!! You are doing great!!

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

Bury the pipes underground? You know what that means, more trench digging🙌 Once that cistern is full and in operation you should be sitting high on the hog. Happy Valentine’s Day guys.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Happy Valentine's day to you two. Hopefully we have a better monsoon season.

[@mindwarp5318]

You guys are so awesome. We follow you guys happily knowing that we should be able to do it later too. Have you thought about building some more water catchment? The Handee Man set up a corrugated steel water catchment on the ground that he routes to his tanks. I think it's 2800 square feet or more. The more water you can catch even when you get less rain, the more in your tanks right? :) No failure here, you guys have been rocking!

[@bfox5767]

I love watching your progress. You inspire so many others with your hard work & your caring of the environment. Not everything can go exactly as we want since that's real life, but with your work ethic you will get far.

[@saltygreek3870]

As an outsider looking in and seeing the hard work you both put in, I cant see this project gettin done any time soon, I definitely know I wouldn't try build an earth bag home ! I wiah you luck in your endeavor!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

It goes faster if you have a large group.

[@affordabledesertliving3487]

Guys you work so hard I definitely admire you guys. I am also planning to do all rainwater but had my first water tank filled by a local company. Still planning out how to catch enough rain for what I am doing here. Still chuckling over Jim calling me a KZbin Savant. Really tickles my funnybone. Great video and you keep learning and growing and that's whats most important guys. All the best! - Don

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Don! Keep up the great work.

[@jamescohn4268]

Always enjoy seeing your progress, even with realistic turns and challenges. Y’all are doing great!

[@MrBrucester]

By living off rain water you won’t be lowering the aquifer level! Are you going to build scaffolding to go higher? I really look forward to your videos.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

We might need some scaffolding.

[@bertboon639]

V.h.

[@terencehawkes3933]

This is not a failure. There are just 3 things that got you. The first is that your gutters failed. The second is that the area you are using to collect rainwater is too small. The third is that you used a lot of water in construction. You will succeed. Don’t give up!

[@paulmartinez7794]

You guys are awsome!

[@DIYSolarandWind]

I don't always comment but I'm still here to watch all of your amazing videos.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

No worries Sir! Thank you very much.

[@redblanket5676]

On our land my the cistern is still there that my great grand father built her him and the other for his parents.I some two small curved peices from their i will use on the one I build . Im.proud of the two of the two of you. Thank you

[@alexanderackermans201]

I must say...you are a real team togheter with a same mindset because oooh my God what a lot of work! Nice video.

[@AlmostHomestead]

We enjoyed the video guys. Hopefully the rain is more frequent and plentiful for you in the future. Peace!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you Jay and Gin!

[@mountainviews5025]

So love what ya'll are doing so proud of ya'll for loving mother earth and the bird feather is it the feather of the beautiful Harris's Hawk and even if it's not check out the bird I'm talking about it's truly a Amazing bird love ya'll and Everyone Thumbs Up My Friends Stay Amazing

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! Actually it's from a roadrunner. 😀

[@mountainviews5025]

So awesome thank you for the little lesson love yall into the ground Thumbs Up My Friends stay amazing

[@katiea.584]

Naa not a failure. Learning curves. Looking good 👍🏼 🖖☮❣🌱🌱🌱

[@SeeTheWholeTruth]

I wish I could give you your own bobcat with a full set of attachments. If I win anything you are in the short list of people to help. God bless you two, and best of His blessing upon you and yours. Dont you forget Valentines Day Mr.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!😁 I won't. 😉

[@diyfferent]

We get those days too, where we just aren't in the mood to work, so we can relate. I guess I'm solar-powered too...I feel much better when the happy sun is shining...doesn't happen for our area this time of year too often :( I have no clue what bird the feather is from, but I will guess roadrunner since that's the only deserty-type bird I think I know of, lol. Yay for a water delivery.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

You're spot on with roadrunner. 😀 I think we're all a bit solar powered. Nice sunny days are perfect for being energized.

[@mimiso2522]

Aww dang it, I was going to guess roadrunner but their feathers are mottles.

[@deadwaters2786]

actually, my wife and I built our own house ourselves, and ,yeah, sometimes neither of us were so enthused at times...but a date out, a little trip really helped out...so happy when we moved in on the 4th of July. endure...it's well worth it!

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

So sorry to hear you had to get water brought in. Wish we could share all the rain we been getting for weeks and weeks here. Keep on trucking with that build. She is coming long real nicely. Stay safe and have a great week!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks CB! We hope you're have a great start to the week. If you figure out how to send the rain, we'll take it.😁

[@carlsmith2826]

Plus you can use the inside as a green house to grow year round

[@iam4iamWe]

You folks are GREAT! I admire your hard work and find your channel so interesting. Thx for sharing your build with all of us. It's valuable info you share.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!

[@mariadolores8468]

Sorry to hear that.

[@SpringRiverHollar]

Hi guys , once again another awesome video .

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you Sherry!

[@alshirley3444]

Those rocks would be amazing for a Gambian wall for Crew to run around in. You can plant desert plants in it for more structure and extra prettiness.

[@nazarmohammad2823]

Very hard-working people I love you guys you are my favorite type of Working

[@wdwerker]

Buzzard/vulture ? Dome is coming along nicely !

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Roadrunner. 😁

[@HalsPals]

@@ourselfreliantlife That was my very strong guess. roadrunner

[@mzimmerman1988]

Thanks for the video.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you Matt!

[@arleensanchez1174]

Ha. not a fail. It happens. In fact I think that you and your wife have been very lucky during this adventure. My husband likes your videos so we've seen almost all of them. In this video. I liked the fast forward of you tamping down the bags. You can really see the great job that you are doing flattening the bags. Lot's of hard work for both of you. You have worked cautiously through all your projects. You have saved tons of money, you should not feel liked you failed because you had to buy water in the desert. We used to farm and ranch for a while and something always went awry. Just take your time for safety reasons and your project will keep progressing. Good luck and God Bless.

[@CrankyBubushka]

Thanks for the video! I feel the same way, Jessica. I like the sun shining, it picks me up. That is a good reminder for all of us. you have to use water for your building. I never would have thought of that. Dont worry, live and learn you two. You are both doing a great thing.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! Yes, in the summer we were using about a gallon per bag of earth.

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

That's pretty cool to be a part of that presentation.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

We were honored that they asked.

[@allanstyles]

Sod’s law, it will rain everyday now 😂😂😂😂

[@ourselfreliantlife]

😆

[@charlessebo9990]

Use a marking stick to see how much water you have, we used them to gage refueling the tanks at gas stations and they worked really well.

[@lennieadi]

Hang in there. Doing an amazing job. Maybe once you pay to fill all tanks then give us an update in 3-5 months on your levels, you'll be ok for water🤞🏾

[@beachlife1411]

I have rain barrels on my barns for my animals water right now , just under 100 chickens , they love rain water

[@junnielaine4208]

Such a great video, and so happy you will give that presentation at the university .

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you Junnie! We're very excited to be a part of it.

[@AbidAli-bv2gl]

Excellent , she is great woman

[@mishax67]

Eagle feather... ? Soooo happy with the progress you're making. (Hopefully that one plant makes it!)❣❣❣ Blessings and continued light and love!.. oh..i wish i could send you some of my snow..lol.. had 30 inches last week and this week we may get more, but probably bad ice.. love you guys! Be safe.. ❤❤

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! Yikes! Stay safe over there.

[@BigSmellyRangey]

Glad that Jess looked happier toward the end, she looked like she going to lamp you at the start! Keep on keeping on both. Nice feather; meep meep...

[@kevinauld4367]

Hahaha 🙊 for you that cood be hard not to drive her crazy you go girl . I'm impressed that you to have done so well on water . With all the construction .

[@deanrollins6546]

I always look forward to seeing your progress. I noticed solar panels in the background. Consider using the panels and structure to give you another co

[@Nundy1984]

I'm sure once you have the roof on your house you will have enough rainwater... if not you can always build a holding pond and pump it into your tanks after rain or build a pole barn for extra rainwater catchment as well as storage. I really enjoy your videos, at first you both seemed a little eccentric to me but you're both hilarious and I'm glad your channel is doing well and hope you get even more viewers! Ill be disappointed if you ever give up! Your motivation is inspirational, you just keep going even on your bad days.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! No giving up for us. 😀

[@istepheniadeluca8531]

❤🇺🇸 failure is not an option .. Keep moving forward 😉

[@BESHYSBEES]

Hey green dream an idea as far as needing scaffolding goes if you bury 4in timbers in to the walls, leave them hanging out a couple feet so you can screw planks to them, when you finished the timbers can be cut back flush and they’ll also double as fixing points for other features like cladding.

[@burbankluther9766]

"A perfect storm of no storms." clever!

[@daniellesunley4807]

I have recently been watching Geoff Lawton’s greening the dessert. The have done some amazing things in Jordan.

[@johnlaccohee-joslin4477]

Rocks are good for building with, even to line the insde of the below ground parts of the house , so its always worth keeping them at leaset you wont have to go digging for them when the need comes up When the waste tank gets a little more water in it you can use that for the garden, so all in all the place is coming on well.

[@mybirds2525]

You need a float gage of water. You are about to need a lift for bags or the dirt. I would suggest some sort of conveyor ot lift because filling bags high up is not going to work

[@et5222]

It's time for another Jess-narrated video with her awesome voice !!!

[@jasonwilson7998]

Thank you for the explanation about the water and sistern. Love your channel

[@janetkaylor1131]

Have you considered a well.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!

[@paulaarthur57]

I see inspector Crew is on sight enjoying the new digs. What beautiful blue skies. The build is looking good. Rain water is such great water for you and your garden I will definitely be watching your seminar. What type of gutters are you thinking of installing? I always look forward to seeing what you’re up to. I think I’m solar powered too Jess. Happy Valentine’s Day❣️

[@ourselfreliantlife]

We'll be going back to aluminum.

[@redblanket5676]

Im in eastern New Mexico Were planning several places on one property at the lake for the future . So our grandchildren have a place to use when they come with their families and friends. I prefer my tee pee but love my airstream when I'm.on a property here in New Mexico.

[@reddwarf43]

what beautiful sun sets you guys get there wow

[@Pwecko]

Could you make the cistern the centre of things? Build a shelter all the way around it with a roof that sheds water directly onto the cistern. That way, there's no need for elaborate guttering systems and no worries about them failing and losing water. The roof would act like a giant funnel. Of course, you could still harvest water from the roofs of other buildings via gutters as well. Just a thought.

[@chandrasutton4669]

Good job on the water harvesting!!!

[@patscnr]

Looks like that feather is from my favorite bird. Bald Eagle.

[@KandMe1]

My suggestion would be look into catching all the other water that doesn't fall on your roof(s). I think there is a way because I tend to think where you are often is semi floods. so you need to find a way to channel it into a pool to start with, make it form a catchment.

[@KrissBartlett]

Your both doing very good dont worry about water delivery it happens you must get your drain fixed on the roof its very important though ASAP

[@Jay-pc6jx]

Beep Beep! Road runner? I wonder if you put some road runner statues around if it would help ward off rattle snakes? You guys did not fail because you are not set up yet. Your basically living on a construction sight. Keep on this path it is pure. I think some blessing are coming your way. Peace !

[@maryruth4557]

Your sunsets are beautiful!

[@whankerakerill6293]

have you thought of attaching chicken wire to the bobwire to creat a exoskeleton and a place to attach the cobb to

[@ourselfreliantlife]

We shouldn't need that on most walls. Only overhead portions.

[@lcostantino7931]

Like watching the way u two interact... SWEET

[@dustyrusty2572]

If u can get a few large dehumidifier, it will extract lots of moisture from the air n it will provide with water. I had small one in my basement n I stored the water I removed for over 4 months in a bottle. It was very clean.

[@davidepool5884]

I actually thought you were in the dog house in this video. I never thought Jess might not be feeling well. You better keep her happy cause you’re going to have a hard time finishing your house without her. Jess is definitely a workhorse.

[@BrainStormAcres]

Timing is most everything! We just got our rainwater tank filled from the sky - we’ve been debating when and how to expand our water storage. If the future is like last year, there’s no point in us expanding. Oh bother! We get to roll the dice again.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Hopefully we'll see better rains than last year.🤞

[@BrainStormAcres]

@@ourselfreliantlife as of this morning’s check, we already have more rain this year than March of last year. We’re not holding our breath.

[@georgetucker336]

A desert buzzards feather. Nick name is "Energizer Bunny". LOL

[@deldaggett982]

I see no failure at all keep rocken you too

[@sheliacole3301]

Love your build. We have land in AZ and you are giving us great ideas how to move forward with development.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Awesome!

[@kathrynrodlun1624]

Wow! Love the rocks! I love rocks!

[@SaSuEnglish]

Magpie, sometimes called cowbird.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

It's from a roadrunner. 😁

[@SaSuEnglish]

@@ourselfreliantlife interesting! KS, OK, TX, all have brown road runners. I never saw a black one with white tips. Next time im.in AZ hope I see one. 🙂

[@joshuatinkham3703]

A circular roof/ rain catcher around the under ground with a gentle drop ro the cistern i think it wold be hard but fit in with the overall not boxy theme.

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you

[@idablythe4847]

We used to haul water in the 1950-1960 we we were kids. We had a dairy farm and used a lot of water. We would drive tractor with water tank to town 2 miles away. Didn’t cost much then. How much do u half to pay for water and how many gallons did u get?

[@ourselfreliantlife]

It's 95 dollars an hour for delivery. About 240 for 3K gallons.

[@geohiker9196]

rainwater is fantastic.

[@cindyhill5970]

I am so jealous of all your rocks... I have to buy them here in NC... I see all kinds of awesome projects

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Sometimes we get annoyed by them, but we actually do feel like they're a great resource.

[@Roams2NFro]

You didn’t fail!

[@davidepool5884]

That feather looks kinda like a great black hawk tail feather.

[@100bfriend]

I've seen a float and pulley set up that auto shows you fill levels on your tanks....on you tube

[@InsertUsername94]

Great video! Enjoyed the upload ☺️