Your video is so true but you should always have a backup to the backup you just never know what's coming down the highway today or tomorrow God bless 🙏!
Yeah I'm with you. Life is challenging enough without unnecessarily making it harder lol. I really like my EGO battery powered yard tools. Have a chainsaw, string trimmer, leaf blower, and walk behind mower. A little solar power to charge them and we are good to go! Thanks for sharing - it is good stuff! 🤠
Thnx. So true, those "Off Grid" programs use the grid to produce & post their shows. They must connect to modern elements like the internet & that uses electricity & computers. Some shoshinsa they live in a cabin not hooked to the grid, heat & cook off cut wood. Bathrooms have hauled in water & composts pottys. But where did their materials come from? Dishes, silver, clothing etc? Don't see cobbler skills or looms often enough for them to have made items.
Great video Eric ! We planted “No Mow” grass. In June when it starts to shoot up plumes to reseed, that’s the only time to mow. But you’re not recommended to mow it down lower than 4”. The roots grow several inches deep, which is why we chose it, to hold our Mtn side. The other areas of brush and undergrowth, we borrow a couple of goats from a neighbor. I’m with you about using modern equipment as much as possible. It seems that my better days are behind me now, as arthritis is quickly making itself known 🫤 Enjoy your day and Be Blessed, Brother
You're 1000% right! It's vital to know how to do things manually & old school BUT modern day tools can allow us to make better use of our time & get things done more timely.
Yep, take advantage of what's available, while it's still available. Make your life easier while you can, but have the skills to do the opposite when/if needed. Thanks for the video....... Jeff
I use a scythe to cut my yard. I have several gas mowers, a gas weed eater, and a battery weed eater. I use the weed eaters against the fence. Haven't even fired up a mower this year, or last year. The ground gets better after using a scythe. I dont have to put up with the noise. I am less tired after using the scythe than pushing a mower around. The scythe is actually soothing to use, and you can hear the birds sing.
In my case, doing things the old ways is a preference. I absolutely love the 1800’s and any time I can do my ‘chores’ or gardening that way I’m a happy camper! I don’t however do some things that way… like laundry , canning, etc. My sister asks me why I want to do things the hard way. Lol. Idk. I just do! Love it!!!
Thanks for all the time that you put into these videos… I know that it takes a lot of effort. In this case, it’s really good for folks to keep in mind that they should always try to do something even if they cannot afford to go “all the way”. Essential skills.
Very sensible, and IMO, a great approach to things. I have a crosscut saw, mostly because I volunteer on the hiking trails to clear blowdown trees out in Wilderness where chainsaws (and all power tools) are prohibited. But, when it comes time to cut firewood, it's chainsaw all the way.
Eric I love this video ! Like so many have said, it's a question of balance. We are blessed to have choices these days, and your point of view that it's good to know primitive skills "JIC" is well - taken.. Personally I love my hand tools and experience great satisfaction while using them. I have learned a lot from your tutorials and value your knowledge and experience. For those who don't agree with you, live and let live. God bless you, Eric.
100% agree! One thing I would add is the idea of stewardship. I am doing a drainage project right now and it's not a super high priority. It's not causing damage or holding us up from doing other things, but it needs to get done. Now, I could spend treasure resources on the modern way of doing it and get it done quickly and efficiently and without the backbreaking aspect of doing by hand (very rocky soil where we live), but would that be a wise use of our resources? Sometimes doing it "the hard way" or "old way" simply a better stewardship of your resources. Not always, certainly, and I'd say probably not even often, but sometimes. Love the channel!
I find that some people cannot live without sacrifice. It's like some people who will not build enough solar to take care of their needs. Because they value walking around their house in perpetual twilight all day to "save energy" as if the sunshine is not free.
@@CountryLivingExperience Yes it more a two person saw but works really well just not shown on my blog, due no one wants to work that hard lol but have a great day
I do practice old ways as much as I can find it important the way the world us going,but mostly still use new technology to tiring to do the old ways at all times
I was watching an older video and saw in the description info on grow lights and a rack and stuff. Have you done a video where you show a seed starting rack? Is it in the greenhouse? I'm wanting to get seeds started early indoors and was curious how you had yours setup. Thanks!
Some things are just better when done with hand tools. Case in point....hot shot mechanic kid using air powered torque wrench to put in oil pan drain plug. Yeah, he didn't start the plug with his fingers to avoid cross threading....you can guess the result. I remember seeing a YT vid of German forestry workers. They felled a tree using a chainsaw. Then they removed only the few very largest branches with the chainsaw (over 12" diameter, maybe). All the rest of the limbing of branches was done by ax. In contrast I see homesteader/prepper/loggers types in USA using chainsaw to limb a log of little stuff 2"-3" diameter. Wth? The Germans were asked about it and they specifically mentioned fuel use. Mind you this was a vid long before current fuel issue in Europe. Now on an individual tree the fuel savings are miniscule but if you were extrapolate limbing with an ax over hundreds of trees the savings in fuel & especially equipment wear really adds up We Americans are just energy stupid quite honestly. Like using an electric hand blender for 4-5 eggs instead of a hand whisk. I liked your point about oil lamp backup. That's an example of *PACE* - Primary, Auxiliary, Contingency, Emergency redundancy.
I'm semi primitive..I do have utilities hooked up..only thing I use daily is water. I have woodstove for heat & cook in colder weather..outdoor cooking in warmer weather. I do majority of my canning in colder weather, so do use my gas stove. My husband uses electricity around 3 hours a day, watching TV, playing Xbox..otherwise..it's not used. candles..lanterns for lighting. I don't have a dishwasher..washing machine or dryer. Am I crazy..maybe! I have raised beds, only have to use weed wacker..we collect rain water for gardens. Where everyone is spending tons of money on utilities..ours is usually less $200 totally every month. It can be done! And it can be fun!
I can appreciate that. The savings on the utilities is nice. Have you ever done a comparison on how much candles and lantern oil costs vs the electricity for some lights?
i taught myself how to use nothing but hand tools to build furniture. i ruined many many board feet of wood. i built a walnut dinner table with these tools
I don't. So how do farmers make money then? More specifically, how do market gardeners and farmers market sellers make a killing selling veg and fruit?
@@CountryLivingExperience All you can hear in low density areas is chainsaws, lawn mowers and tractors noises, my point is that rural living is not sustainable.
@@CountryLivingExperience I finally installed one of the 4 I bought just before Thanksgiving. And let me tell you if you ever need to replace your current mini split or add another those things are awesome. Easy as pie to install and perform flawlessly. Nothing will make you smile more than looking at the app on your phone and seeing that it is running 100% off of a few solar panels. Awesome vid as always, thanks for sharing all of your knowledge you have gained and on an unrelated topic, I'm very curious to see how your new heat pump water heater performs. Looking forward to that video.
Healthy trees and plants are fairly pest resistant and that starts with soil health. The birds do not enter the greenhouse. They can get fruit on my trees but I have cats that keep them away.
I appreciate people like the Amish and Doug and Stacy. Some choose completely off-grid and some don't. Playing with rocket stoves, and the like, is not a useful skill, in reality. I guess your 'commenters' have no idea who you are, nor do they care. 😆 Perhaps, you should disregard those commenters? This video seems schitzophrenic to me.
One of your best IMO... Why woutld you do that- or- thats not going to happen: these statements always make me laugh. You have great content with a neutral message. I'll still give you my thumbs up
If you want to get a lot of views on youtube, you need a screenshot with a mostly naked girl. I've noticed you can put a fishing video of a guy and it will get 100k views. Put a fishing video of a good looking girl in a skimpy bikini? 5 million views. I agree with you completely. Why would I want to dig a latrine, cook on an open fire, cut hay with a scythe, go to town on a horse, or live without AC when there are better options available. I can make a spear or an atl-atl to hunt but I use a rifle instead. I can make edible flour from acorns. Having the knowledge to do things is important for sure, but living in the 18th century doesn't appeal to me.
I hear that. Too many channels have risque pictures of their lady on the thumbnail and wearing revealing clothes while building a house...just for the views.....sad. Thank you for understanding the point of this video.
Your video is so true but you should always have a backup to the backup you just never know what's coming down the highway today or tomorrow God bless 🙏!
Absolutely! God Bless you too!
I agree. The need for doing things easier led to the innovation and the tech we now have.
Yeah I'm with you. Life is challenging enough without unnecessarily making it harder lol. I really like my EGO battery powered yard tools. Have a chainsaw, string trimmer, leaf blower, and walk behind mower. A little solar power to charge them and we are good to go! Thanks for sharing - it is good stuff! 🤠
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thnx. So true, those "Off Grid" programs use the grid to produce & post their shows. They must connect to modern elements like the internet & that uses electricity & computers. Some shoshinsa they live in a cabin not hooked to the grid, heat & cook off cut wood. Bathrooms have hauled in water & composts pottys. But where did their materials come from? Dishes, silver, clothing etc? Don't see cobbler skills or looms often enough for them to have made items.
Great video Eric !
We planted “No Mow” grass. In June when it starts to shoot up plumes to reseed, that’s the only time to mow. But you’re not recommended to mow it down lower than 4”.
The roots grow several inches deep, which is why we chose it, to hold our Mtn side.
The other areas of brush and undergrowth, we borrow a couple of goats from a neighbor.
I’m with you about using modern equipment as much as possible. It seems that my better days are behind me now, as arthritis is quickly making itself known 🫤
Enjoy your day and Be Blessed, Brother
Thank you. Blessings to you as well. Take care of that arthritis.
You're 1000% right! It's vital to know how to do things manually & old school BUT modern day tools can allow us to make better use of our time & get things done more timely.
Well said
Yep, take advantage of what's available, while it's still available. Make your life easier while you can, but have the skills to do the opposite when/if needed. Thanks for the video....... Jeff
Amen to that! Thanks Jeff.
I use a scythe to cut my yard. I have several gas mowers, a gas weed eater, and a battery weed eater. I use the weed eaters against the fence. Haven't even fired up a mower this year, or last year. The ground gets better after using a scythe. I dont have to put up with the noise. I am less tired after using the scythe than pushing a mower around. The scythe is actually soothing to use, and you can hear the birds sing.
Cool
In my case, doing things the old ways is a preference. I absolutely love the 1800’s and any time I can do my ‘chores’ or gardening that way I’m a happy camper! I don’t however do some things that way… like laundry , canning, etc. My sister asks me why I want to do things the hard way. Lol. Idk. I just do! Love it!!!
That is totally awesome. I am happy that you are happy.
Thanks for all the time that you put into these videos… I know that it takes a lot of effort. In this case, it’s really good for folks to keep in mind that they should always try to do something even if they cannot afford to go “all the way”. Essential skills.
You're welcome.
You work with what you have
Yes, for sure. Do you try to acquire more that will make things easier?
"If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less---than---excellent work." ---Thomas J. Watson
Very sensible, and IMO, a great approach to things. I have a crosscut saw, mostly because I volunteer on the hiking trails to clear blowdown trees out in Wilderness where chainsaws (and all power tools) are prohibited. But, when it comes time to cut firewood, it's chainsaw all the way.
Thank you. Having and being able to use both is a huge blessing.
Eric I love this video ! Like so many have said, it's a question of balance. We are blessed to have choices these days, and your point of view that it's good to know primitive skills "JIC" is well - taken..
Personally I love my hand tools and experience great satisfaction while using them. I have learned a lot from your tutorials and value your knowledge and experience. For those who don't agree with you, live and let live. God bless you, Eric.
Thank you Judy.
Balance is so important.
God bless.
100% agree! One thing I would add is the idea of stewardship. I am doing a drainage project right now and it's not a super high priority. It's not causing damage or holding us up from doing other things, but it needs to get done. Now, I could spend treasure resources on the modern way of doing it and get it done quickly and efficiently and without the backbreaking aspect of doing by hand (very rocky soil where we live), but would that be a wise use of our resources? Sometimes doing it "the hard way" or "old way" simply a better stewardship of your resources. Not always, certainly, and I'd say probably not even often, but sometimes.
Love the channel!
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Yes, stewardship is important however you approach it.
I find that some people cannot live without sacrifice. It's like some people who will not build enough solar to take care of their needs. Because they value walking around their house in perpetual twilight all day to "save energy" as if the sunshine is not free.
Maybe they are a little masochistic.
I'm off grid the new way like you wiht a/c and stove the only difference my yard tools are battery power
Cool
The older you get the easier things need to be.
True
I would love to see some of your primitive homesteading skills 😊
All I know if it weren't for you we wouldn't have chickens
That are healthy and happy and laying. You are doing a great
And for one am greatful
That's awesome! I am very glad we could help.
I have a few old cross cut saws but don’t want to use it but I have a couple of videos about other older rabbit boxes that’s been around a long time.
Cool. I have a crosscut too. It is still sharp since I don't use it much.
@@CountryLivingExperience Yes it more a two person saw but works really well just not shown on my blog, due no one wants to work that hard lol but have a great day
I do practice old ways as much as I can find it important the way the world us going,but mostly still use new technology to tiring to do the old ways at all times
I absolutely understand. I use my scythe to cut down my cover crops and my axe to chop wood. Too tiring to use the scythe everywhere though. ;-)
@@CountryLivingExperience maybe 20 years ago I could of done ot all the time but not now lol 😂
Well said.
Thank you
I was watching an older video and saw in the description info on grow lights and a rack and stuff. Have you done a video where you show a seed starting rack? Is it in the greenhouse? I'm wanting to get seeds started early indoors and was curious how you had yours setup. Thanks!
Not sure which video you saw. I have several. Here is the one that shows my setup most clearly.....th-cam.com/video/M3Ujupr8wi4/w-d-xo.html
Some things are just better when done with hand tools.
Case in point....hot shot mechanic kid using air powered torque wrench to put in oil pan drain plug. Yeah, he didn't start the plug with his fingers to avoid cross threading....you can guess the result.
I remember seeing a YT vid of German forestry workers. They felled a tree using a chainsaw. Then they removed only the few very largest branches with the chainsaw (over 12" diameter, maybe). All the rest of the limbing of branches was done by ax. In contrast I see homesteader/prepper/loggers types in USA using chainsaw to limb a log of little stuff 2"-3" diameter. Wth?
The Germans were asked about it and they specifically mentioned fuel use. Mind you this was a vid long before current fuel issue in Europe. Now on an individual tree the fuel savings are miniscule but if you were extrapolate limbing with an ax over hundreds of trees the savings in fuel & especially equipment wear really adds up
We Americans are just energy stupid quite honestly. Like using an electric hand blender for 4-5 eggs instead of a hand whisk.
I liked your point about oil lamp backup.
That's an example of *PACE* - Primary, Auxiliary, Contingency, Emergency redundancy.
The woodworker Paul Sellers shows us how to perform and finsih jobs with handtools before the machine can even be set up.
I like that PACE concept a lot.
I'm semi primitive..I do have utilities hooked up..only thing I use daily is water.
I have woodstove for heat & cook in colder weather..outdoor cooking in warmer weather. I do majority of my canning in colder weather, so do use my gas stove. My husband uses electricity around 3 hours a day, watching TV, playing Xbox..otherwise..it's not used. candles..lanterns for lighting. I don't have a dishwasher..washing machine or dryer.
Am I crazy..maybe!
I have raised beds, only have to use weed wacker..we collect rain water for gardens. Where everyone is spending tons of money on utilities..ours is usually less $200 totally every month.
It can be done! And it can be fun!
I can appreciate that.
The savings on the utilities is nice. Have you ever done a comparison on how much candles and lantern oil costs vs the electricity for some lights?
@@CountryLivingExperience not really. I spend less than $100 on both. Our house only 922 sq ft.
$100 per year? Month?
@@CountryLivingExperience a month
i taught myself how to use nothing but hand tools to build furniture. i ruined many many board feet of wood. i built a walnut dinner table with these tools
Cool.
Good video! You do you, I’ll do me. We can all get along. Love your channel.
Awesome! Thanks Ken.
Homesteaders spend a lot of money and energy to grow 1 pound of arugula, the real question is Urban vs. Rural Life, which is best?
I don't.
So how do farmers make money then? More specifically, how do market gardeners and farmers market sellers make a killing selling veg and fruit?
@@CountryLivingExperience All you can hear in low density areas is chainsaws, lawn mowers and tractors noises, my point is that rural living is not sustainable.
Good luck when those riots/natural disaster/etc happen and your grocery store runs out of food in 3 hours.
Did you ever get one of those EG4 solar a/c heat-pumps for your place Mr Country Living?
I did not get one yet.
@@CountryLivingExperience I finally installed one of the 4 I bought just before Thanksgiving. And let me tell you if you ever need to replace your current mini split or add another those things are awesome. Easy as pie to install and perform flawlessly. Nothing will make you smile more than looking at the app on your phone and seeing that it is running 100% off of a few solar panels. Awesome vid as always, thanks for sharing all of your knowledge you have gained and on an unrelated topic, I'm very curious to see how your new heat pump water heater performs. Looking forward to that video.
Very cool. Thanks for the heads up on the performance.
You avid fan from Philippines
Kamusta
@@CountryLivingExperience mabuti here sir Erick
if you are growing fruits, how do you keep the birds and bugs out?
Healthy trees and plants are fairly pest resistant and that starts with soil health.
The birds do not enter the greenhouse. They can get fruit on my trees but I have cats that keep them away.
I appreciate people like the Amish and Doug and Stacy. Some choose completely off-grid and some don't. Playing with rocket stoves, and the like, is not a useful skill, in reality. I guess your 'commenters' have no idea who you are, nor do they care. 😆 Perhaps, you should disregard those commenters? This video seems schitzophrenic to me.
I love them both too. We can learn a lot from them. Those commenters give me an opportunity to talk about important things like this.
Make sense
"Modern homestead would over charge the entire community"
I went to backcountry instead & ditched off the grid
One of your best IMO... Why woutld you do that- or- thats not going to happen: these statements always make me laugh. You have great content with a neutral message. I'll still give you my thumbs up
Thank you
I believe an EMP will happen. Remote Viewers have seen it happen.. #DrEdDames. Never say never.
If it does, the hand tools will come in handy.
If you want to get a lot of views on youtube, you need a screenshot with a mostly naked girl. I've noticed you can put a fishing video of a guy and it will get 100k views. Put a fishing video of a good looking girl in a skimpy bikini? 5 million views.
I agree with you completely. Why would I want to dig a latrine, cook on an open fire, cut hay with a scythe, go to town on a horse, or live without AC when there are better options available.
I can make a spear or an atl-atl to hunt but I use a rifle instead.
I can make edible flour from acorns.
Having the knowledge to do things is important for sure, but living in the 18th century doesn't appeal to me.
I hear that. Too many channels have risque pictures of their lady on the thumbnail and wearing revealing clothes while building a house...just for the views.....sad.
Thank you for understanding the point of this video.