Build your own damn off grid cabin!

20 years ago now I built my own cabin for just $2000 in 2 weeks completely on my own.

I had been living off grid in a tiny camper with 2 dogs for 3 years before that to save money and design what I wanted to do with my land. I wanted a small cabin with a loft bedroom and office, self contained like an RV with solar power and insulated and sealed well for our cold winters.

I designed probably 50 different cabins before settling on a 14x14 cabin with 12 pitch roof and I salvaged steel doors and good windows and all the appliances, wring, propane tanks, sink, water pump and tank, shelves and lights from the old camper for the cabin.

I got rough sawn lumber cheap at the local lumber mill for my covered porch and also used that for trim on the cabin. I recycled lumber from old projects to reduce costs and I was able to build a decent solid cabin that I have now lived in for 20 years with no house payments and no utility bills.

My power system is 400 watts main solar with two 200 watt recharging stations and that powers my water pump, laptop/tv, lights, fans, swamp cooler, lots of small cooking appliances, microwave and washer/spin dryer. I also recharge my ebikes from solar and that has replaced my gas truck in good weather. Heating, cooking and OD water heater are propane with a wood stove backup.

I grow a garden and raise chickens and dogs and I was able to retire at 49 to make adventure videos and write books to help other people on their off grid journeys.

Life is good and don't listen to people saying it can't be done!



Here is the video of my cabin build and my solar power system for ideas. Oh, and I wrote and sing the songs.