How to Live Off the Grid: 4 ESSENTIALS.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
- After living off grid for 18 months we wanted to put together a list of what we feel are the best things to start building a more comfortable life.
1. Shelter.
- This varies greatly and there are many options. We were really inspired by Robert Klemensberger's build: • HOUSE TOUR of 8000 $ s...
- One thing we are planning to buy in the next few months is this shed: amzn.to/3QDx52z
2. Electricity.
- A decent generator. Ours is the NuTool 2900W petrol generator.
- Powerbank. We love our EB70 with 200w Solar Panels from Bluetti: bit.ly/3OYkmqh
- The chargeable blender: blendjet.com
3. Water.
- Our shower: amzn.to/3QJkR8m
- Black camping shower bags for heating water: amzn.to/3QnNwjP
- An IBC tank. You can pick these up in many hardware stores, and also keep an eye out on Facebook Marketplace.
4. Cooking.
- Gas stove. Again this can vary greatly.
FTC disclaimer: This video contains gifted products from Bluetti. Some of the links we share are affiliates.
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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...
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Beijinos e abraços,
Carissa, Iwan, Frankie & Albi
Carissa, Iwan & Frankie decided one night over a bottle of wine that moving from North Wales to Portugal would be a good idea. Within a month they were on the road to Portugal to find the perfect piece of land to call their new home. We picked up Albi the cat along the way. Subscribe to follow our journey 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.
#offgrid #offgridliving #offgridpower #selfbuild #tinyhouse #bluetti #offgridportugal #offgridlife
MY GOODNESS, THAT POP-UP DOG IN BEHIND YOU, SURE LOOKED LIKE DIOGO...VERY FUNNY...ALL THE BEST, CARISSA & IWAN...🙏;)
Thanks guys - The Bluetti looks like an awesome piece of kit - almost a must have even if not off grid as a back up. It is lovely to see big companies helping TH-camrs - well done Bluetti!!
Yes, Thanks Bluetti for supporting two of the nicest people on the tubes.
So informative. Seems like a LOT of people from the U.K. have moved to Portugal and are loving it.
Very useful, thank you very much. You guys started from scratch with no experience. You keep things simple and you learn from your mistakes, and often the hard way. Thanks for sharing. What I really like is that you are not builders or permaculture experts or electronic geeks who know how to rig a massive solar system. Everything you do is simple. You’ve not got vast experience in renovating properties or loaded with money to buy expensive equipment. I feel if you two can do this then most people could too. Thanks again.
Just love when you revisit the early days on the land and we are reminded of all the “struggles” you’ve conquered. Again your videos are so calming and enjoyable to watch, no matter that weeks challenge.
Thanks Karen!
That Bluetti is an incredible addition to your homestead. You have come such a long way, and can be so proud of your accomplishments.
It’s a very handy piece of kit! Thanks Mona ❤️
For outdoor showering I saw an installation of aluminium beer barrel painted Matt black mounted on the roof , fed by a
Hose , the back down to the shower stall
My council tax is £2109.00/year in Cornwall. You are up living off grid in Portugal from the get go, It will only get better for you.
Thank you for sharing. It's been really helpful as I'm hoping to move to mainland Portugal and start my homestead. Hugs from Madeira
Love being a Patreon and... having moved to Thailand 7 years ago it's interesting the things you think you need to take with you and what you really actually needed. Experience is just so valuable. Thanks for sharing yours!
So true! It’s a steep learning curve 😅
Aleesha have you tried using the icon, I am loving it 🤩
@@nickytanton107 🦓 the closest emoji I have is a zebra LOL
Only just found your Channel and very happy l did xx- we can’t move to Portugal as we look after our small grandchildren and would miss our family to much. But self sufficiency has been my dream even before l was married 38yrs ago- we built our home out of reclaimed materials and have now changed a lot of our garden to grow veg etc we have have chickens too-
so l pretend it is our homestead😂
But seeing your video today makes me think we could use things you recommend and go off grid far more than l thought possible x
So many many many thanks x you have another addicted follower now in England. Thank you and take care 🤗 Granma Jane X
❤️
That sounds amazing Jane! Technology really has changed it in recent years, ours friends have a house that you would never know was off grid. Thank you so much for watching! ❤️
Thank you for sharing your experiences and I am so glad Bluetti reached out to you and it was super kind of the company to send another panel out to you when the dog had chewed the cord.
I love using my sun oven, it's like magic.
Thanks for summing it up. I only miss the toilet. May be because you are used to camper vans.
Running hot water is the one for us 😅
A great insight when going off grid, we have come a fair way in 8 years I would have loved a bluetti when I went off grid gas bottles for cook and light heating H20 had some exposure when the states main gas plant exploded and no gas for 2 or 3 months . My problem was I had a 7 kva for washing machine and a little geny 2 kva for television as it was quieter in built up area I turned it off at 9pm in fear of complaints your power system would have been Mickey mouse diago looks fine and his besty peaking over the fence too cute tejour Lamour take care 👍❤️❤️❤️🙏
Great video guys. Great to know how best to start off and with the way prices of energy are going, the solar set ups may help us all!
I was thinking that with the bluetti, if you lived on the grid, how much of an impact could it have on electricity bills. I’d does depend on how much sun you get though, I’m not sure how useful it could be back in Wales 🤔 🌧
@@FrankieOffGrid The Bluetti would still be great but you would need several large, fixed solar panels on your roof - ie in a Welsh winter you might need 5 to 8 times the solar panel wattage you need in summer or 6 (5 to 8) times as long to charge a battery. If you need 3 hrs to charge the battery from empty in the summer, will you get 15 hrs of good sun in winter? Definitely not. 8 hrs of gloomy Welsh daylight in December ought to be enough to charge what one hour of Welsh cloudless summer would give you. Personally, I would look at at least 10 times what you need for one hour on an ideal summer's day. I would also look at having a small wind turbine - they have disadvantages but they run all day and night if there is wind ... Ideally you would mount one as high as you possibly could on a mast/tower away from any obstructions like a house or trees! The alternative that many go for is having enough battery storage to last for 3 or 4 days of ordinary use assuming you get little or no usable solar power while a storm blows through ...
It's a fascinating subject (for geeks?) - mounting solar panels on motorised frames so that they always follow the sun horizontally and vertically throughout the year for greatest efficiency, whilst being kept cool, all using nothing more than a Raspberry Pi, a few servos and a battery: almost too exciting!
If you had arrived with a trailer full of everything you might not have learned as much! Good luck.
Really interesting to hear your thoughts on important factors in moving off grid. Thank you.
I really hope the heat, drought and fires are not causing you too much stress, discomfort and fatigue nor increasing your work load too much.
The video started with such a lovely view of your beautifully rustic and honest home .
Wishing you relief and cooler temperatures soon
We use our power bank and solar panels at home in the garden ( we are in England) we originally bought for camping, but we realised that we may as well use them now, trying desperately to keep costs down due to the fuel price rises. They are a fantastic bit of kit, well worth the money, we also use one of those showers when warm enough, every little helps in cutting costs
Great idea Caz, I use to call my daughter Caz, a nice shortened version of Carissa
Great advise for everyone even if they are buying a property abroad and do not have the facilities up and running and have to wait for supplies to connect them and of course being eco too. Always watch your video's as they are so informative and your lovely simply daily life is something that everyone should adapt too. Less is more and living eco and substantially is a great way to live. Thank you, take care and hope it cool down for you soon. x
Awesome ❤️
Thank You for Sharing :)
love and Rainbows
Very informative video ❤️this will help a lot of people I'm sure
Great tips
Such good info! Thank You! 🌀💚🌀
Great vid… informative. Thanks 👍
Love your videos x
Very informative video, thank you.
Such good practical advice!
Very interesting and helpful video! Tfs, take super care in the heat, Laura 🍻🍻
Informative for many, thanks guys. Look forward to your continuing story.
Good advice
Good on you for being so honest
Great video with good information. Thanks guys
very interesting - thanks for sharing a little bit about the struggles of your initial time off grid.
Thanks you guys. This was very useful & helpful to prioritize things.
Good advice! Thank you, Carissa and Iwan.❤️❤️
Give yourselves a huge 👏👏for all your accomplishments.💕
So impressed with what you've created, and great advice! Making me think about how I can create my own off-grid! Keep up the good work 👏x
Hi guys, this is great advice for those wanting to live off grid.
great video for beginnings thinking of going off grid, thanks for sharing your tips
Thanks for watching Wendy ❤️
Thank you, very helpfull when you are going start a new life in nature or somewhere remotely. It's such a big change. You always will get some challenges . But this video helps a lot!
About the pronounciation of "Bluetti", on an online review (in CNET), there's a pronouncing tip which I suppose came from the manufacturers themselves. According to them, it's not pronounced "blu-e-tti", it's "blue-t". Copy+paste: "Pronounced like the color blue and the letter "t" (instead of rhyming three syllables with spaghetti)"
Great video guys. Great to hear your advice about how much water is needed, IBC's will be a lifesaver for us I reckon P.s Diogo's buddy made us smile 🌻
you both have achieved soso much you are an inspiration keep safe and well
Thanks Gloria! ❤️
We have solar at home (in South Africa ). Eskom is the company that supply the country with energy. They want to penalise every household (with solar) now with €61 per month for having solar. You are really lucky to be in such a nice country.
In Portugal if your solar panels produce more than you need you can get a meter and sell the extra to the supplier.
You are no longer off grid but you are not polluting more and you are helping the country reducing it's carbon emissions.
@@terra7066 brilliant solution but our government does not think so
@@Silly_Goose68 no governments do, money grabbing parasites
I would love to find a property like yours. The size would be perfect for me. You would be smashing to have in the neighborhood as well.
Interesting video. Wish I was younger and I’d join you all !!!
Thanks
You guys are just so generous with helping other's while living on a minimal budget and it's lovely to follow your journey off grid, I too love gardening, cooking and all thing's off grid so I'm grateful to you both for sharing such honest lovely vlogs, sending tonnes of love from Australia ❤
Thanks so much Helen! We’re glad you’re enjoying them ❤️
wow thanks Helen so generous. How is Australia after all your fires, are you very wintery now
Hey guys! We are still living in our van and last year we got a compressor fridge from mestic.. they are so much more affordble than the dometic ones, uses very little electricity and cools super well. With our 200w solar we never have to worry about it. We also got 2 100ah lithium batteries in spain for a Total of 1000 eu which was a good deal compared to NL so also might be worth looking into :)
Ooh will look into those, thanks!
Hi guys, good video, very intresting!
We bought a Bluetti, just in case!
What did you think of it?
@@FrankieOffGrid Don’t know yet, did not arrived yet!
But I am sure we are going to be very pleased with it!
Helo plantos! We moved to C Portugal from Conwy Valley nearly 18 months ago and did exactly what you suggested.... bought most things for our basic set up in a trailer. Saved a lot of hassle, we had bought our land in 2018 so we knew what we were coming to. We will have a better shower sorted soon, but I was wondering if you'd be kind enough to share the link to the USB shower please? Loving watching you guys and the animals
Iawn Sue! Ahh that’s great, there’s a few Welshies here! How’re you finding the summer? Here’s a link for the shower, it’s basically the same thing
www.amazon.com/Detachable-Rechargeable-Batteries-Traveling-Emergency/dp/B07RY6J3W1
@@FrankieOffGrid Brill, thanks for that! Summer heat?? It's a trial! 🥴 We don't have a stone building to retreat to unfortunately.; we currently live in a 6.6m yurt and our kitchen is in a tent! 🥵 Wouldn't be anywhere else though 🤗 Keep up the good work guys! 🏴🇵🇹
@@suegriffiths8322 how are you able to live in your yurt? I get so confused as to what you’re allowed to do/ live in on the land over there. We’d love to buy a small piece, but not necessarily live in a house, rather a caravan, but some say you can, some say you can’t! 🤦🏻♀️
I think everyone is confused as to what is and isn’t allowed 😆 there’s lots of different rules and each district is different. For us we have the pre-1951 building with an urban article that allows us to live there. I think if you have a certain size of land that gives your freedom too (I think it’s over 5ha or something). Best thing is just to consult your lawyer and don’t just go on what the estate agent says - because lots of people including the locals don’t follow the rules
Bom dia, acho vocês muito corajosos, pois a vida na sua pequena fazenda é difícil, eu acho. Construir uma casa não é fácil, água, luz, esgoto, etc... São 18 meses de muito trabalho esperança, então pra mim vcs são heróis Parabéns e felicidades💐🌷🐕🐈🍊🍒🥦🥬🥒🍅
Bom Dia Ana! Obrigada ☺️ Não foi fácil, mas o processo é agradável - ajuda a viver em um país tão bonito
I think living off grid is much less difficult in a warm climate. I would look for a liveable building, I would do mains power and water because they are alot cheaper than buying a solar setup. I really would not want to farm. I would look at a property with established fruit trees and space for a kitchen garden. And the country is working on renewable power. Anyway, it depends on age, if you are going it alone, or the lifestyle you want. I hope this draught ends come fall/winter. Kisses for the doggies❤ and kitties❤.🙂👍👍
I believe it is very expensive to bring the mains power down their lane
You’re very right, I can’t imagine doing this in Wales. Adding mains isn’t really an option for us (unless we win the lottery) I’m hoping that one day our neighbours decide to do it and we can all chip in together.
That was an extremely informative video, thanks guys.
I was thinking of bringing a small 2 birth caravan that should have a lot in it, shower, cooker, place to sleep. But am not sure how long the law will allow you to sleep in it while you renovate.
You did answer some great questions there.
Thanks again guys.
I think you can stay in a caravan for the duration of a renovation.
Excellent vlog; just what I was wondering about your water supply and system. What type of water comes through the kitchen faucet for your tea and cooking? Must be the potable village water. Glad the intense heat is finally breaking for you all. Nick's idea about using the Bluetti to pump water in the village is great and much more efficient than filling bottle by bottle. Need some intermediate size containers now.
We have got some bigger containers but they’re heavier so harder to move them up to the kitchen. We currently don’t have any running water on the property, we’re in the design stage with pumps and filters and we’ll get the well water tested and hopefully have some taps then!
Thank you 4 the advice...I'd like to ask what you said regarding your cooker, you said you would've brought something else and its the something else I didn't catch...tfs...
We currently have a simple two hob gas stove, in hindsight we would have bought a simple gas oven/hob combo and then upgraded when we were ready.
@@FrankieOffGrid Got it...thank you again...I'm truly enjoying your channel...
Thank you! ❤️
💜
Love your videos! How hot / cold is the cabin? And how are you getting ready for the grapes/ harvest?
Thanks Jennifer. The cabin is hot in summer and cold in winter 😅 spring and autumn it’s lovely! We warm it up with a heater and use a fan in the summer.
Oh and the grapes are a few weeks off I think, update in the next video!
Thanks guys for a great video. Your neighbour's dog is cute, does she come calling for Diogo everyday?
How do you get rid of your grey water and black water? Do you have an outhouse tucked away so that you can use the toilet?
She does, and he goes running after her 😅 we don’t really have black water - we have a compost toilet. The water from the shower goes into the ground, kitchen water mostly goes in the garden or on the olive trees - we’re careful about what products we use washing etc.
A lovely helpful video. Thanks. I'm just curious have you installed a wood burning stove for heat yet? ( I think Nick gave you one?)
Thanks Sondra, we haven’t installed it yet, once the floor has gone into the kitchen (after summer) then it’ll be going in - ready for winter!
Love this channel! Question: what is the make and model of your electric pump?
Thank you! It’s an Einhell submersible pump, I’m not sure on the model but it was one of their cheaper ones
Thanks for the video, very helpful for anyone considering doing something similar to you.
Just occurred to me & sorry for asking but it's a necessary evil, what's your 🚽 arrangement? I've probably seen & forgotten, or maybe it's a well kept secret.
It's so hot here in South Wales I can't open my back door after around 14.00! It jams because the heat affects the upvc frame & the door itself too presumably.
We currently have a compost toilet setup, we try not to show it too much 😅 the grey water mostly goes into the garden or onto the trees - we’re careful what we use for washing the dishes etc.
@@FrankieOffGrid I thought it must be a composting one, I think they're a brilliant solution, wouldn't mind having one here in the house.
Every drop counts so good that your grey water goes on the garden.
Stay cool if you can. 💦
Really enjoying your channel, thanks for the content. I really hope we can have more of Diogo, I kind of feel in love with him! By the way, was he named after Diogo Jota of Liverpool? :)
He certainly was 😉
Should have waited for "Darwin" to reflect the evolution of your life 😄
Haha that can be the next one 😅
Make a phone list of all required contacts ( vet, ambulance, hospital, doctor, building supplies, location for deliveries, garden outlet, local bus/rail, food stores, friends, all companies for equipment (etc, etc.)
As always, a thoughtful, considered presentation. And visit by neighbouring dog an added bonus.
An added bonus is one way of looking at it! I personally found its constant yapping in the background during the video very annoying, Ruining the tranquility.
We thought it was funny 😅 we didn’t hear any yapping though? Was it a neighbouring dog maybe? Unfortunately there are often dogs barking in the neighbourhood, you get desensitised to them after a few months 😅
Great info! Another question 😅😅😅 how do you get internet and what are the speeds like? If we visited Portugal as Digital nomads we would need internet for working and video conferencing. Likely we would want a van or camper to be in but useful to know what the internet is like in rural areas like yours. Thanks!!!!!!
We have a mobile wifi dongle which works well for uploading etc. we also get 4g on our phones. I can’t speak for other areas though, even our local village has spots where there is no signal
@@FrankieOffGrid thank you!!!!!! God bless!
Thanks for that, I have been living in Tavira Portugal for 3yrs now and thinking about off grid the whole time, I only have one question, what if you don't want to use gas. I live on my own and dont have transport, so how would I get the cylinders.
Well gas is just for cooking and heating so there are alternatives, for example solar could power an oven and a heater, or you could use wood burning for both too.
There are companies that deliver in Albufeira (at least), surely all over Portugal?
Great, helpful video. Could you clarify the generator system...is it a petrol driven generator or is it an electricity storage device powered up by solar panels? Thanks.
We actually have both.. the petrol generator is for emergencies though - the powerbanks we have currently are doing the job - but we definitely need more solar panels!
Why wouldnt you opt for an induction oven instead of a gas one? I love gas but those small containers mean you run out often.
We use the big gas bottles, we change it every 3/4 months. We haven’t looked at induction yet because we don’t have suitable electricity. Maybe one day! 😅
First let me say:i like your videos.
Second i want to ask:where you buy the cabin for 800€?
i intend to live off gride in portugal and any information you will provide will help me.
Thank you
Hi! Thanks. We built the cabin - the materials came from local builders merchants etc. check out a channel called Robert Klemmensberg (or something similar)
I wonder if an induction hob would save you money? They heat quickly and use very little power?
Possibly! I’ll have a look into those. Thanks
@@FrankieOffGrid Make.Do.Grow. just posted a "Summer Cordials" video where they used their new induction hob. It seemed to use very little energy!💕
Great thanks! I’ll give it a watch
Thanks for the information. How is winter in Portugal like in your region compared to the southern region. How did you shower initially in cold weather??
We’ve never visited the south of Portugal so can’t give you a solid answer on that one, winter here is a lot milder than winter in Wales 😅
In the winter we use the stove to heat water, not ideal but you get used to it 😂
@@FrankieOffGrid thanks guys!!!
Winters are much milder in the Algarve region (the southern most part) compared to the north. You always have around 20 degrees in the winter in the Algarve. In the north and central regions it gets much colder in the winter and it can get very cold sometimes (so this is something you need to plan for as well).
@@dancingriver4360 thanks so much!!!!
@@dancingriver4360 It may reach 20deg C (usually 16-18 in my experience) late morning and afternoons but it soon cools off, especially if the wind is coming from the North, down to 8-12 deg C - it has on very rare occasion lightly snowed
I wish I was 40 years younger.
are you allowed to stay all year round or do you have to come back every 3 months
We applied for our Portuguese residency as soon as we arrived here (before breakfast) so we’re all good.
When are you going to start your renos?....Personally it seems money is the key to start living comfortably there.....
I believe in the Autumn when the weather is cooler
Having an income is important, but I guess if you’ve got enough savings you wouldn’t necessarily need one. We’re not in any rush to complete it all (largely because we’re earning as we go) we’re enjoying the process though. We plan on having the kitchen completed by Xmas and then we can get started on the main barn and the area surrounding the buildings
@@FrankieOffGridThankyou for taking the time to answer!
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻🌼
❤️👍
Does anyone know where to find a job that you can do from portugal? at home i am from the netherlands
Hello, we have a small quinta near Tomar.
We are virtually off-grid with electricity, having a solar set up which is good except for extended times of heavy cloud/rain.
I am interested in exchanging ideas, how may we contact you privately please?
Hi Kate, our email address is frankiesausagedog@gmail.com or we have Instagram, whichever you prefer 👍
When u collect drink g water is it free
It is, each town has a fountain that is for the public.
Did you two end up buying the land behind your home?
Not yet
how do you feel mental wise after 18 months ? right decision ?
Yes we think so, summer is challenging for sure but hopefully having a more solid house etc will make that easier.
Hi , but how do your make money to survive each months ?
We both have our own incomes, Iwan works for his family tea business and I have an online illustration business.
@@FrankieOffGrid is the illustration biz hard to do online? I love art, and just got back into doing it, I’m a lot older than you two, so not so good with web stuff! 🤦🏻♀️ I’d love to do this, as I have chronic illness
Logistically I have learned how to make it work quite easily by working with a print studio that can ship my prints and then I also offer digital files. It depends on your business plan, as I also work on a commission basis too. Feel free to drop me an email if you’d like and I’m happy to answer any specific questions if that helps ☺️ the most difficult thing is the ups and downs of income but you learn to adapt. Good luck!!
@@FrankieOffGrid thankyou, that’s very kind of you 😊
👏👍🌟🍀💐
Number one advice. Buy property connected to the electrical grid and save yourself tons of Hassel. Advice number two is water water water. Advice number three buy the smallest land with minimum fruit trees. The last piece of advice is to accept and prepare to handle the financial losses if you decide to walk away from your dream.
I agree that buying on the electrical grid would be a lot less hassle, but as we keep seeing the prices go up I’m glad we are now in the position we are in where we can have a bit more control over things. And it encourages us to think about how much we’re using. Yes to water! Small land is good but it depends what your dream is. For us 1.5 acres is the perfect size and we may expand in the future. Financial loss is a prospect whenever you pursue a dream, but better than staying stagnant and wondering “what if”.
@@FrankieOffGrid 💗
@@FrankieOffGrid spot on
@@FrankieOffGrid Agree on Electricity available to the house for future use/sale but you don't have to sign up or connect to it
I think I would put water first then shelter...
Yes but they had loads of water to begin with as it just constantly rained 😛
Guys!!! Nice videos but very hard to hear your voices
I have to put my volume to the max
Im a subscriber and would like to continue being
Unfortunately if it does not get better im unsubscribing
Love
How strange, i wonder what you have different? Are you watching on a laptop or a phone?
@@FrankieOffGrid phone and TV as well
@@theveganbug2674 they are naturally soft spoken, they have tried to improve with microphones.
I’m going to upgrade our editing software so I can work on the volume better so bear with us! I think this one might have been worse as it’s filmed on our phones (I managed to break my camera 😭) sound is definitely the most challenging aspect of making videos we’ve found. Thanks for the feedback 💛