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Living off-grid is becoming more and more popular these days, with some people having the creative vision to build their own homes with little to no supplies or budget. And that’s the case here; this couple created their own cabin using salvaged goods for only $5,000…talk about impressive.
As more people turn to the idea of living off-grid, a couple in Ontario, Canada have revealed how they managed to build their home using salvaged materials. It cost them only $5,000 and took 15 years of hard work to get where they are today.
Joel and Stephanie shared their incredible journey with YouTube channel Exploring Alternatives – so let’s take a look at how they turned their dreams into reality.
The first structure that Joel built was an outhouse; something he achieved with minimal tools. This gave them somewhere basic to stay while work began on building the rest of the property.
From there, Joel and Stephanie got creative – lofting a master bedroom in the attic, adding a main floor bedroom, creating an open kitchen/dining/living area, plus fitting out the bathroom. All of these tasks were done with scraps from a local dump and boards taken from an old barn nearby. Even better – all of this was completed without spending too much money.
When it came time for powering up the property, Joel and Stephanie had few options available to them as money was tight. To begin with, they used candles for light before investing in their first solar panel (plus marine deep cycle battery) which provided enough energy for two years.
As time went on they added five 320 watt solar panels connected to four lithium batteries which allowed for excess power storage during winter months when sunlight is limited; at this point they also installed a generator as backup. On top of that each water supply source was carefully thought-out – such as drilling wells for drinking water plus pumping water from reservoirs nearby for washing dishes and bathing purposes – instead opting for composting toilets over flushable ones to save water usage even further.
Gardening plays an important part in surviving off-grid living as it allows you access to fresh produce you would otherwise need to go out and buy from shops or supermarkets – something not always feasible if you don’t have enough cash reserves handy.
The couple have three communal gardens which are filled with corn raspberries potatoes tomatoes peppers cucumbers squash…the list goes on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJZ2wRakOh0
