He was a bike nomad. Now revamps derelict Alpine farmstead
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ต.ค. 2021
- After spending years cycling around the world, Martijn Doolaard was ready for a more permanent home and he wanted something with a view. Remembering the rough beauty of the peaks of Val Pellice from a bike trip, Doolaard discovered dozens of “dirt cheap” abandoned homes for sale and bought two at the top of a mountain beyond the electric grid.
Originally built as shelters for farmers and their animals, his cabins are dry stone: stacked stones supported by their own weight without any mortar. The structures were in good shape but filled with holes between the stones letting in cold and wind, so Doolaard set up camp inside one, using his tent and technical sleeping bag from his bikelife days to begin renovating.
He bought second-hand solar panels that he pre-setup so he could simply plug and play to have power from day one. These provided sufficient power for a few power tools, his lighting, and his laptop. He invested in a wood-burning stove for heat and a bottle of propane for cooking. He uses his phone as a hotspot to continue to do his graphic design work remotely.
Bike trip books: www.espiritu-libre.com
Vlogs @ Martjin Doolaard's TH-cam channel: / @martijndoolaard
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/find... - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
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It's fun to see this interview with Kirsten after watching Martijn's progress 2 years later. He's still as humble and hard working as he was at the beginning of his project.
One of the best TH-cam channels, Martijn Doolaard's episodes are rich with visual narrative, staggering views, epic drone shots and a work ethic matched to the demands of these rough Piedmont cabins. Thanks Kirsten for the lovely capture of Martijn's life in the Italian alps.
Those house were called "case d'alpeggio" (mountain pasture houses). They were used in the period between May and September and were temporary homes, where one or more members of a family lived, mainly with cows, because of the adbundance of grass on those highlands. In September they returned to the family house, usually lower on sea level, where it was less difficult to live in winter. It was quite a rite this migration: the cows where embellished with cowbells and there was a competition between shepherds for the best and louder sounding cowbells. I know the area quite well, since I'm growth nearby. No one wants those isolated houses anymore and they are a great opportunity for someone who loves to live in nature, in all its aspects. Great video and great that the house has a new owner who will appreciate it. Thank you for sharing
Ottima spiegazione Stefano, grazie....anch'io ho passato le vacanze estive nella mia infanzia in quelle zone, esattamente in Villar pellice...
😉
Wow !!! Thanks Man for this very interesting information !!! Fascinating historical information !! I hope to visit that area some day !! Truly beautiful !!
When you travel, you face the world; when you settle, you face yourself.
... but, the two are not separated
True as
It’s about inner knowledge and in general knowledge of people cultures and finally shape the who you are today.....
@David I agree.
Such a clever comment my friend!!!
Wow! I've been watching Martjin's episodes for the last two years. Watching this video was a time travel experience seeing Martjin's excitement and initial thoughts about the renovations. The one thing that I heard for the first time was Martjin saying that the number one priority is enjoying his new environment. He's been pretty much living up to that, which is impressive.
I have been watching Martijn since he started the renovations of his buildings. SO very interesting. I just watched video 17 and am always looking forward to the next week. Martijn is amazing.
Me too! He is so self-sufficient self reliance. He could built anything. His video are so photographic . Gorgeous. He all done now after 2 years?? Right. ❤
Martin is fantastic, I admire him for what he do and done so far. He is such grounded, wise and calm soul. his episodes are so relaxing to watch for me. Thank you for sharing kirsten.
When I was a child, one of my favourite books was Heidi. This is just how I imagined the Grandfather’s house!
Please do an update on this guy when he gets the roof done etc😎
You can actually follow his renovation journey. Link in the Video description.
@@kathmediaDeutsch 👍🥰
@@kathmediaDeutsch Thanks I also missed that, this is really interesting!
@@kathmediaDeutsch He said that he will not be renovating soon. He will not spend the winter there. But i hope he will do the renovation soon.
He has his own channel
Bravo pour tout ce travail soigné et respectueux déjà effectué. À bientôt pour la cuisine. Bonnes. Fêtes de fin d'année
This property is in an amazing state now. It's impressive seeing how much Martjin has been able to do in a year. The roof is nearly finished by now, there is an outdoor kitchen, outdoor workshop and cozy tent
Enamored with the beauty and wonder of it all. At 76 I'm obviously not strong enough to do such, but am enthralled by Martijn's strength of spirit and determination. Congrats!
This man is one of my heroes. I have one of his books and he is a big inspiration to me.
I envy courage ... the simplest life is the best
Well Said
I really appreciate this "unboxing" video. Usually we don't get to see this stage of the renovations. Beautiful property. It will be nice to see what Martijn does with it.
I was going to say something along the same line. Glad you put it so perfectly.
He has a beautiful TH-cam channel documenting all of it.
He has his own channel where he posts weekly updates
its come a long way!
I watched this video after watching all 52 of Martjin's videos on his channel. He has a different energy here but man, he has surely done a lot in a relatively short period of time mostly on his own. Can't wait to see what he does in 2023.
Yeah !! Agreed !! Kinda cool to see him act so differently !! Seems a bit more genuine Him !! I love his recent videos but I guess all youtube content creators gotta act a bit !! The silent Mountain Man or such !! But he is a cool guy for sure !!!
Extremely fascinating! I visit his channel to watch his progress. Watching him is like an out of this world type of experience. It's extremely soothing, and the guy is so hardworking and humble!!
I love that Martijn Doolaard has undertaken a project to recover one or two abandoned farms, because it is giving life or a second chance, something that is almost dead, only with "artificial respiration". He buys it so cheap and his ingenuity leads him to recover and in the future give himself a quiet life, in total contact with the silence and beauty of nature. I would like to do something similar, but here there are no abandoned farms. Congratulations to Martijn and Kirsten for this wonderful video. A giant hug from Ecuador, South America !!
Haha..What a coincidence!!
So this is where Martijn ended up.
I was on my bike trip also , just a few months behind him in the Andes a few years ago.We were heading south.He travelled through Patagonia in winter (mad adventure) and finished at the southern tip of Patagonia.
Amazing photographer too.
He kept me going with photos of the route ahead.
Like him my 5 yrs year trip has come to a close and I am also looking for properties just like this.
Something about bike touring the world and living in nature in our tents for years on end that makes us want to stay living in nature.
Any luck finding a place?
There are more cabins near his place and his neighbor Johannes is an awesome guy.
she is very good at what she does as she only interjects when required to keep the flow of information moving along - and he is super cool - hope all works out for him - he is chasing a lot of others' dreams of life detached from the world to some extent
She's pretty awesome. And I think she's parlayed that awesomeness into a nice income on TH-cam.
I love how she has no intro, or explaining what we're about to see, etc. Just gets right to it.
Strange how people refer to what he’s doing as a dream. Seems completely doable just a lot of upfront work.
Love this guy's channel. It's so well done. Been watching it since the beginning. His recent one-year recap video was excellent. Such a peaceful experience.
I have been watching Martijn for some time now, episode 97 and he has done amazing work to the cabins and land!
I have been following Martin since he first started and his work ethic and craft are inspiring. Incredible views and drone footage on his channel
This is incredible. Every aspect of the environment is so foreign to me that this is like a window into an alien world. I have no name for anything I see. I am once again a child, full of imagination and inspiration. Thanks for sharing Kirsten.
I've been watching Martin's channel for a couple of years now...when I had covid. I've really enjoyed watching him every week...I believe the last video was #89 that I watched. It is truly amazing what he has accomplished!
The animals lived below because their body heath warmed the floor above.
Good point!
Above the cows there were the hay that's why the wooden boards are not nailed to the beams
The floor wound up having vertical stones sunk in the dirt as a natural animal septic field. That all got dug out.
What a dreamer! What a place! How refreshing that he sometimes "doesn't know" (YET) how to resolve his challenges. I hope you re-visit him again as he progresses!
I'm 65 now and only now I feel I'm knowing a bit
Well the good point from it he don't need the kapitalistic hectic fake world and is a free bird .
He has a YT channel on which you can watch his progress.
@@NTRSN-Archive Kapital is the only game in town. If you think Western Europe and the US are cruel capitalists- travel the world, you will see the most ravenous humans imaginable
He's so honest & humble. I hope all his dreams come thru 😘
Honest labor, honest living. Strong building, water available, potential for food gardens and a few animals. Great views!
I think this guy's way of life is beautiful and I admire what he's doing. Another part of me thinks, how nice to be a man and to feel safe living in such a way. I hope they know how lucky they are.
You mean that it wouldn't be safe if it was a single woman living like this? Why?
@@Noukz37 men.
Women are a lot safer than they think they are. I know many women who have travelled all over the world on their own but you definitely have to have a good head on your shoulders.
@@garry8390 of course many women can and do live like this but as Colby stated, how nice it must be to FEEL safe. There is no denying that in general, as a woman, you are at greater risk being alone and definitely don't feel safe all the time like a man would. Most men aren't feeling on edge or having to be extra alert when they're alone and someone of the other sex appears. Most women have been at minimum ogled or harassed by creepy men, so it's natural that women would admire a man's sense of safety.
@@km356 True. Of course men feel unsafe in lots of situations as well but no doubt we have more freedom. No point wishing for something that can never change tho¯\_(ヅ)_/¯
watch Martin every week love his channel
A true cabin, not like the luxury ones people stay in around me. It’s rustic but quite beautiful, you live one with nature.
He seems like a nice guy with simplicity in any kind of circumstances. Love his cabin so much and his journey in renovation.
I hope you follow up with Martijn this year. He's made so much progress.
Very interesting. He has a lot of work ahead of him but he seems ready. Lots of snow coming. He isn't lucky, he has worked very hard traveling.
It reminds me to the Aldeias de Xisto here in Portugal. So lovely to see people renovating old houses and giving them another opportunity to be a home. We are in the same path in Portugal!
Nice self plug:)
Amazing... The views are awe inspiring and he's going to create one of the most unique and beautiful of homes there. With his travel experiences he seems particularly skilled and right for the job. Please update us as he progresses.
He has 2 videos out so far and is documenting his progress on youtube. Slow TV style that is great to watch. See the channel link in the video description above.
Does anyone know if there's a local website to view similar ruins/properties in that area?
@@kathmediaDeutsch Thanks, Johannes! Video 3 coming soon.
@@Tris69 Idealista is a good place to search, for both villas and ruins
@@MartijnDoolaard ah perfect, thank you. I'll have a good look around on there. Currently doing one in Cornwall, U.K. but no harm in looking where the sun shines a little more eh :-)
What a dude! I love his attitude and energy! This kind of minimalist mindset makes everything easier in life.
Stunning! Holy cow. A dream come true. And community water!! Perfect. Homesteaders dream. The icing on this cake? A family. Sharing this with a loved one who also thinks its stunning. Can you imagine growing up in that environment? Thanks for sharing this one.
In ikaria island in Greece there are thousands of houses identical to this one. Lots of them still inhabited. There are traditional ways to insulate roof , walls, etc, using the plants that are all around.
What would be the traditional ways of insulating the roof?
@@UchihaxStudios I’m not pro at that, but I remember they put : dried ferns ( a plant that is abundant all over), mixed with mud, then a layer of stubble plants, and finally slate stone slabs of the area. Now, inside they usually hide the stubble on the roof, putting planks, that they paint and that’s it. Water doesn’t get in because they place the slate stone slabs in a very specific way. Placing of the slabs is the most important part, and needs someone who knows that thing well. No concrete at all.
@@issith7340 Thats interesting, now reading your reply i remember a picture of a roof made with loam mixed with straw, but I don't remember what the cover was. But what you describe sounds similar to what they use to make the walls for cob houses. Do you know if there were traditionally any cobhouses built in greece or the meditarrenean?
@@UchihaxStudios of course there are cobhouses all over Greece, but only in mainland Greece and at places that are flat. At islands, the area usually is rocky with not much mud around. So they would build with the most abundant material around, which is stones. Cob houses in Greece you will find in peloponese , macedonia, epirus, atica, thrace, etc but not at the islands. Also Greece is a place with lots of earthquakes and cobhouses are usually the first to collapse. So gradually they stop making them here.
@@waitaminute2015 they use different stones fir paving the roof. Totally different technique.
Ah, yes! Another video showing old natural cottages in Europe. My favorite! That area is absolutely stunning too!
What heavy roofing stones! My business is landscaping, and sometimes I deal with big stones. They're so heavy.
I just discovered Martijn this week! I've been binge watching his videos. I've always wanted to visit Piemonte. This is a way to do so without actually being there!
It's really beautilful to discover special people like Martijn, that choose to buy a stone cabin in Italy almost totally to renovate. He loves and respects ancient homes, nature and its sounds. Watching his videos make me feel happy, I try to follow his example, of pure and simple life
I love knowing that there are people who are doing this. I didn't have the imagination when I could have done that. But I enjoyed backpacking the wilderness of the high country in California. Then I chose to raise a family, I don't regret that. 😉 But I am very happy to know that there are folks dreaming while doing in the process.
The more of your videos I watch, the more I realize how ordinary I am. I enjoy being able to see the multiple ways in which people achieve warmth and shelter. Thank you Kirsten for sharing your extra-ordinary life with your viewers.
This is another man's life she's showing it's not her own video!!
Hi Kristen, Riverside Homestead Life here, really enjoy your vids! Our Homestead Channel is growing - you are inspiring 😊
Amazing house, and amazing way of life, i'm a real estate agent, in my area of work we have a lot of houses like this one for sale.
The most amazing places in Portugal are Arouca, Serra da Estrela, São Pedro do Sul, and a lot more places where you can live your dream
Martijn's project is incredibly inspiring
I've been watching his progress on his YT. It's interesting to see how he solves the problems of each part of the renovation.
The change of the place is crazy now. Definitely dedicated.
It would be interesting to live up there in a monolithic dome and to have a geodesic dome greenhouse.
Can't wait to see what he does with the cabins. Incredible landscape, scenery and property, so much potential. Wow!
I live much the same, in the mountains of south west Jamaica, enjoy the peace and quiet, and the incredible view
Living life, that's what it's all about, very envious but very happy you shared this, thanks so much.
Wow, just wow - beautifully shot. Wishing Martijn all the best of luck with this amazing project
I follow Martin and wow he has come so far in 1 year
I actually started following him and his progress on his buildings on TH-cam a couple of weeks ago, and now I saw this. How funny. Thank you.
I would build a big wrap around patio and that's where my open concept kitchen, office and all will be. Keep the original because you have to by the law but that amazing view it's a must to see. He got balls, hope to see his big gardens and all soon. Great job 👏
That's a cool idea. If done (partially) in glass it would compensate for the dimm light in the other parts, create new space and keep the original. It would however change the character and people aiming for modernisation of their property have typically not received permission in that zone.
Following Martijn on his journey and his vlog it's such a inspiration...
His channel is fascinating, inspiring and simply beautiful. Thanks for this docu.
seeing this today, after having followed Martijn for two years now and knowing where everything develeoped was fun, thanx
I have a lot of respect for this man and for keeping the beautiful stone buildings intact. I have a renovated home and have built a home from the ground up. Renovating, especially in such a remote location, and with the materials he’s working with is no small task. I would love to see a follow up video in a year or two.❤️
What a gorgeous view from the window! Once the roof is repaired, holes plugged, it will be warm in winter and cool in summer. Idyllic!
Great video. If he was there only 3 weeks, you did great in finding him so quick
without doubt one of the best videographers on the net. always really great and intreasting content, cheers K. MINT"".
Breathtaking place for breakfast. A lot of work, but it worth it. Good luck on your goal.
Been watching Martijn videos since the first one and I have to admit to never had seen this one! Its quite fun looking back here and see how the property was 2 years ago! Thank you
He could get ideas from "Do and Be Different". Dievids and Despina, from Latvia, bought a 200 year old house that needed alot of work and he's done an amazing job! Also "The Indie Projects" converted an old stone barn into a home in Portugal.
They have inspired me too!
I have been following Luca for a long time, he is a great person who loves off grid life, nature, cooking, good wine and long days walks to the various refuges that Italy has on the Alps. He rightly likes to have the best equipment to have a certain comfort to face all this. I saw that you also made a video about the great Martijn Doolaard, I've been following him for a long time too. Now I'm also following "My Wild Life - Italy" a new TH-cam channel and I think it will be fun with with this guy too. Another great guy is Mauro Trovatelli "Gli Orti di Mauro".
Just stunning. I bought 8000sqm of land near lake Balaton in Hungary 3 years ago with a small ruin. Only 4500Euros. I am going to build a little summer glamping set up for myself. Thanks for these insights.
wow, very nice, may i ask where exactly ? I went a few times to Balaton.
what a lovely place, I could see myself living there with some sheep and chickens, it's lots of hard work but also a much simpler life
He is a brave and humble man .
Wish i was like him. Keep going
Hopefully you get to revisit this place in a few years to see how the reno is going. What a beautiful spot on this planet, magical.
I used to live in a similar (renovated) place They are cheap but they are not meant for spending winter. Snow get pretty high and what was already difficult to access becomes an insurmountable obstacle. You'd better have a backup solution until snow starts to melt.
And everything is complicated, the postman didn't wanted to go up to deliver my mail, the small train linking all the villages to the rest of the world had interruptions because of a lack of profit, forget about fast internet...
One time I had an electricity cut while working on my PC, I had to walk down 1000 meters to find two guys who just literally cut the line, thinking there wasn't anyone relying on it... The watched me like I was some weird creature coming out of the wood yelling "did you cut those wires?" :D
Please keep us up to date with his progress. What a magnificent view.
Wow! What a sight, absolutely gorgeous view. This man is a genius, he has the best views on top of the world! The property is amazing beyond belief, like a fairy tale that jumped out of the book. I didn't think anything like that existed anymore. Kudos to this man for snagging a marvelous piece of property and I'm in love with the stone cabins. Oh, kudos are in order for his impressive stamina riding a bike around the world. My God man, that's so impressive all on it's own! This man is at the top of my list of heroes! Thank you all so much for sharing.
This is so cool. I was just watching the interview with Johannes and I was like wait Martinjn lives on the other side of the mountain lol. Makes me wonder if they knew each other b4 they were interviewed by the channel.
It s stunning and once insulated from the weather it will be a haven. Stunning Cinematography.
I don’t think the thumbnail with „dirt cheap“ does him justice. This man is an artist. Show some respect.
What a view! And the little cabins have such potential❤️🐝🤗
A fabulous glimpse into what I would consider a dream scenario. My familiy owns a similar property, unfortunately none of us has the right combination of skills, time and willingness to maintain it properly, so the buildings are deteriorating with every year that goes by. I think renovating these rustici is a great project - all the best wishes to Martijn. On a side note, working from a place like that is simply fantastic :)
oh man that gave me goose bumps, I'd love to have a place like that.
You always find the coolest places and people to interview! It’s also neat to see at such an early stage. Thank you for another great video.
Thank you for sharing
A small cozy house with small or modest windows, and spending more time outside is a combination I like, much more than modernist houses with huge windows (uninsulated surface!!!).
Great reaction. Ren and AURORA are my favorite artist - both great singers but first and foremost fantastic storytellers and poets. Brilliant minds and empathetic people. Love them.
another gem......thank you so much..........
Beautiful. Thanks for showing.
*Kirsten Dirksen* Stunning place, lots of work. Thank-you for taking the time to show us. God Bless.
Great place and great people. Thank you!
I love Martijn and am following his progress. He is awesome.!
Get a ROOF on that sucker, PRONTO! Priority #1. Basic Survival 101: SHELTER. Wow- what an AMAZING site/area.....IDEA/DREAM! And for most of us, a fantasy. Hope to see the progress made on this guy's dream; fascinating history, region, and challenges to come.
I love watching Martin Doolaard’s videos , I think he is very interesting person and love the progress that he has made on his mountain farm from when this video was made
Amazing place Martijn, very inspiring. Trying to find a place to do something similar but in rural Ireland 🇮🇪
Thanks for posting and sharing. Beautiful scenery.
So inspiring to hear these stories. Keep them coming!
This is incredible, really rally excited to see this guy followed up in the future
Martijn you are a true Nomad a beautiful creative soul, “ The Nomadic Creator” , for Souls like you ( not that I know you better than you do, I mean no disrespect, completely the opposite) it’s in your blood, your past lives ( if you believe in things like that) it’s in and around every trace of yourself, everything you touch and create, that you leave in a trail of beautiful stories; you are a muse to many a real Just do it, kind of man, Jetsunama Akong Tulku Rinpoche, once said “Only the Impossible is Worth Doing” you really are a testimony to his words. Who would have known that you would travel alone across the world on your bike, creating as your Nomadic heart went, never holding on, never possessing the people you met or the places you passed through.
Living in the moment, and I noticed along the way, that you had this ability to deeply inquire into yourself, goodbyes never appeared sorrowful, if there is such a thing as goodbye, and I watched you follow your natural instinct for when it was time for you to move on or time to rest a while, always seemingly in touch with the rhythm of the seasons within you.
Two incredible journeys, two incredible books later, and here your nomadic soul has found its way to these two stone dwellings on the side of one of the most beautiful mountains I’ve seen in my life, thanks to your gift at seeing what others miss, and somehow capturing it within the stillness and magic of your cinematography. So much so, it stilled my beating heart at times…
Your creative mountain that dwells inside of you explodes without ego dancing firefly’s around everything you are about to touch, even through some of the most hostile environments known to man, like bad land butts in thunder and lightning storms where the footprints of shamans have tread on their vision quests, and then…… like now ….you have not decided, no plan for what comes next, this in itself is a great and powerful gift, found in great poets like Rumi.
I wish with these words to show my gratitude to you, it’s what I teach my young/ old ones. Only do what brings you great joy and the rest will be taken care of in the arms of patience.
You are a role model for anyone who seeks nothing on purpose but just follows their heart and Joy. Maybe suddenly realising that the unintentional seeker is what he or she seeks already.
You have taught me so much and I am forever grateful Martijn, you were not trying to teach anyone, you are just living; it takes courage to live. I have a feeling that as long as what you are doing brings you Joy, your creativity will flow like an endless well, and what comes next, will just be what comes next, wherever and whatever that is.
Thank you Martijn for sharing your joy with all of us. If your Nomadic Creative soul continues to find joy in sharing with us, so be it, and if not, so be it….. but I and I imagine many will not forget you. We do not possess you Martijn, we are all just so lucky that through your cinematography we have been allowed an amazing invitation into your world, and I hope that all treat that invitation with the reverence it deserves.
I remember you saying that you will auction the mountain home once you are joyous with your creative outcome.
How beautiful is that, there are not enough people like this in the world, instead we human beings hold on tight, we cling to what we have perceived is ours. Indeed you are a mountain of a man, that many could learn from, not to copy you, but to find their own joy and dance with it , until the music stops, kiss it goodbye, as easily as the wind takes the leaves from the tree in autumn, after they have shown their golden glory for any who care to glance their way.
Thank you for every second you endured with acceptance, and Thank You for renewing my own joy, in my own special way.
Old Owl 🦉Alaya.
Fun to see where Martijn started from and to now...
just watched Martijins series! his journey is inspiring