The Outsider - Living off grid for over fifty years

Del Harding lives his life away from most people with his dogs in an Irish rainforest on the shore of Lough Derg. Del wandered into Ireland in the late 1960's one of the hippy traveller types that was seeking space, Del never returned back to England.
This was one of my first documentary films, many challenges came my way, the main one being a lack of mains electricity to charge the camera batteries. Del had many tales to tell, I hope this short film showcases this extraordinary man living off grid for over fifty years.

[woodlandbiker]

My great grandmother live in a cottage with no gas or electricity. The toilet was emptied in a hole in the woods and cooking done on the fire and paraffin stoves in the porch. Lighting was paraffin lamps. She would get up at first light and sleep when it was dark. The woods provided the fuel for the fire. I spent most of my time there as a child watching the nature, catching toads and making camps. Happy memories free of the trappings of society.

[spindelnett]

To those who envy this life, it's a paradigm shift that most couldn't handle. Solitude is great for a while then slowly crushes you. You need a baseline to start from....where and why you're doing what you do....then go back to that if your mind darkens and you curl up into a ball.

I bought 14 acres of rank pasture in Cumbria, after experiencing an NDE. It took everything I had, but slowly over 20 years it's now woodland, orchard and willow. I lost my best friends of decades when I moved; I can only speculate as to why they severed the ties, even though I only moved 3½ hours north.

When people visit, they say how gorgeous my location is and how they'd have my life in an instant if they could. I smile wryly at the naiivity of those who romanticise it all. It's taken a third of my life to get here, and lack of money makes any progress like swimming through molasses. Leaving the land to sell my time for cash, means less time on my dreams. Entropy is a real thing - you have to start with temporary structures with little energy expended upon them, whilst you then work towards something longer lived. But when the environment works against you, resources get used up to patch and repair before you can get back to your tasks. And every year that passes, you get older and ask "are my dreams too big for the time and energy I have left?"

Bottom line - please don't romanticise leaving the rat race. It's 24/7/365 with few real breaks, to keep from going under. But I could never return to my former life, especially now seeing the unfolding dystopia. Make the best of what you have, or make the change. Life's shorter than you think.

[andrewhaines]

Many strive for a less stressful life, few will attain it. Many wouldn't survive as this man and others who choose to live "off grid" have done. Too fond of their trinkets and take aways. That's not what life is solely about, but few discover this. I admire people who manage to live in this fashion. Resilient, hardy, resourceful. I hope he continues to live without being harassed by anyone who seeks to find him and cause problems!

[deenalight]

Solitude brings wisdom enlightenment and inner calm

[Ian-Dixon]

God bless Del, a fine angler and wonderful human.

[inianbharathi]

He has become one with nature! solitude brings enlightenment or madness or both!

[dragontattooee]

I've had the pleasure of meeting Del, and like you said a man of many many stories

[andrewgreen]

Nothing better then being one with nature and living life like this great guy great insight too is life 👍👍👍

[gee]

Great insight into his life. I could easily watch him for hours fishing and just going about his daily life.

[aviationphd]

My cousin has lived off grid in Alaska since 1975, he is now 78 and has never used the internet

[petermarsden]

Excellent film I remember Matt Hayes filming with him I could watch him all night defo needs a part 2 👍

[tonnywildweasel]

It's not often you see anyone in harmony with himself and his surounding.
Thanks for sharing, appreciate it.

[fivetwoeight]

There's no escaping the creation Del.
What a most beautiful part of the world you picked to live..
Was there 15/04/2023 beautiful.

[tomasr]

I've been living simple for almost 6 years. Its all I got at this point, so I don't see myself moving. i've created a really nice place and have put a lot of work into it. I have a big forest. I have tools, a truck, and have been very fortunate. I'm grateful. But I do not share it with much anyone because no one compatible has shown up. I'm really tired of it. Too much solitude.

[chriswild]

What a fantastic film, a man in step with his surroundings

[andrewreynolds]

What a gorgeous film on this man he knows more about how to live than the majority of people, happy with his lot in tune with life and what is going on, Bless Dell and his wonderful enlightening lifestyle.. Amazing film Thanks for sharing. Cheers. Andy .Scotland.

[davidobrien]

You can hear how he really has kept himself to hiself at how his accent has no Irish in it still after 50 years of living in Ireland, that's amazing.

[mattwright]

Glad someone made this film as a piece of history but so important we leave people like this to be themselves. In the future maybe humans will return to nature. A small population of people, as part of nature, add to nature. Humans are not an aberration on the planet, the problem is there are too many with too many expectations. That is where we have gone wrong.

[cherylmoatz]

Great video and I'm envious of his peaceful way of life. God Bless you Sir.

[bushratbeachbum]

Great film.
All my best to Del, i read he lost a dog recently. I know how that feels.
Fascinating insight into a similar but different lifestyle.
Cheers!