THE REALITY OF LIFE OFF GRID (sometimes it is HARD!)

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Beijinos e abraços,
Carissa, Iwan, Frankie & Albi

Carissa, Iwan & Frankie decided one night over a bottle of wine that moving from North Wales to Portugal would be a good idea. Within a month they were on the road to Portugal to find the perfect piece of land to call their new home. We picked up Albi the cat along the way. Subscribe to follow our journey as we turn an old stone barn into our home, and learn the ropes of looking after a piece of land to make an abundant garden and one day, our very own winery.

[karo]

Your videos are always delightful and I am sure none of us would expect them to be froth and light all of the time. You have taken on a massive undertaking and I feel honoured to be able to sort of share it with you because you include us. Despite everything, you manage to produce/create videos which are so beautiful, gentle and true to life. Thank you Carissa.

[sandramcelrea]

This s such a happy family. Plants, animals and humans living so harmoniously together. So beautiful. Thankyou for your marvellous videos.

[robinhall]

I love your slow-editing as it's peaceful and calming and I've begun doing the 'calm lines' today. The music choice for the vlogs is satisfying and calming. Love seeing the many changes in cloud formations, sunsets, and reflected light. Who knewe watching rain dripping off the roof could bring joy?! Your editing is mesmerizing. Thank you for all the work you do to edit.

[monicacruz]

The beginnings of living in the heat are hard, once you start to build soil by mulching, getting more shade from your growing trees, it’ll be easier. Also we are so hard wired to be productive, sometimes you just have to have a siesta, read some Winnie the Poo 😉 Could you soak your soil before digging, or did that coincide with the pump not working?
I think your grapes might ripen if you remove a few leaves, let the sun get on the fruit, you could experiment, some exposed, some not, so you get plenty of sugar for fermentation, but enough acidity too for the balance of flavour…
Keep going, only a few more weeks of this heat, all the best to you all ☺️

[grnwlski]

I love how the way your videos are edited is mirror of your personality. Your videos are very calm and soothing. Thank you for that. :)

[bernardaguiar]

Great to see your pet family getting along together. They are very fortunate to have the two of you to look after them.

[sunfreestar]

It is a pleasure to watch your videos. I love the music and the calming vibes. You are both two beautiful people and are doing so much already. Your furry friends look so happy and free. Wishing you the best for the future! Keep cool!

[vanessagodiin]

Carissa you have a lovely home and all the effort that you and your husband is putting into the property, is grooming the land into a magical paradise. I love it when you are both in the videos and are doing various tasks. Renovating is definitely a task of love and you and your husband emit that ambiance and passion in everything you do. I love your artistic style. Your drawings are so beautiful. Your property is a great source of scenery to inspire what you draw I am sure. Your wine making is very interesting and seeing the process, makes me appreciate wine much more. One thing that surprises me is the variety and size of insects in Portugal. Your bees are quite dark. Will you ever consider making honey? I know I am watching your videos out of order but it does not matter as they are all so wonderful to watch. Little Frankie is a cutie and so very well behave. My miniature, short haired dachsunds were all barkers. I have noticed Frankie is very laid back and calm. What is your secret? :) Enjoy your home as you have a wonderful life together. :)

[bfox]

I empathize with you. We live in arid California so I also garden in a dry climate. Will pumping water up to a raised IBC help? Maybe more than one IBC is needed. Then the gardens can be watered via troughs (gravity fed). The higher the IBC, the more water pressure there will be.
I always miss our apples during the winter season. You might consider slicing & drying some while you have them. Something to do while it's too hot outside & you've already napped.
Our climate is mild enough that I am able to plant more vegetables this time of year. I pick things that have short growing seasons like bush beans, carrots, & lettuce (in shade only), & things that can grow in the cool season. But if you are burnt out of growing things for now then maybe a break from gardening is what you want.
Your property has improved so much in the last year. No one can call either of you lazy.

[davidwilson]

Mmmm jazz nice also when lifting heavy odd shapes try putting a blanket on the floor then, pick up 2corners each and lift your hands will be out of the way no grazed knuckles and the large item will find its own centre of balance

[shirleyrice]

I love to make and can applesauce. It keeps for years and I have made as much as I can get apples. I leave the skins on, use very little sugar if needed, and leave chunks in it. Sometimes I put cinnamon in some of the applesauce. It’s a good way to use imperfect apples. Just cut out the insect holes.

[shirleyrice]

You are a pleasure to watch. You are both so gentle. I appreciate that you, a woman are using tools and building as so many women are afraid to do. I love what you show of Portugal and I love to see how your homestead progresses.

[paulinehicks]

I love seeing your new puppy happy and playfull, you've changed the course of his life. Wonderful..💙💙💙

[gailandrews]

Extreme temperatures are debilitating, don’t be so hard on yourself 😊 your garden is loved and beautiful. I love your salads, they always look so healthy appetizing and delicious 😀

[mezanian]

Wonderful news on your supporters. Map of Australia was a surprise..🇦🇺🌏❤

[ruthconstantino]

Don't feel defeated guys, it's just the heat distorting how well you're doing with the resources you have despite it! Your garden looks terrific ~ i'm sure many wish they could have a garden as productive and carefully tended as yours. 💖

[jamiesmith]

Love the daisy pants, it's my favorite flower as well as my mum. They come up in may here, which is mothers day month. So God sends me daisy's in memory of her. Your farm is wonderful and I love to watch the progress. Thank you so much for sharing your journey, it's so informative and the animals are intertaining. Blessings for the future.

[jennya]

I was stoked when you starting drawing my home state of Western Australia 🇦🇺☺️👍 I love your illustrations 💗💗💗

[ianbahn]

Hi guys. Thanks for another great vid. I have been laid low with heat stroke twice and it ain't fun and it is dangerous so you take care. Plenty of water and salts back in the body! Keep the faith!!!

[denisemeredith]

Hi Carissa and Iwan, I love watching your videos and can appreciate you grumbling about the heat because we have had some really hot days this week with Tuesday being the hottest day at 40C and it hasnt been cool at night either. I hope you get some much needed rain soon. I know how lethargic you feel when it is just too hot. Just do what you can and don't feel disheartened because your neughbours will be feeling the same way.
Diogo is a sweetie but he is still a baby who likes to chew everything. Covering up the solar panel wires is a good idea and maybe getting a toy of his own to chew on would help?
Your salad looked lovely and probably tasted divine because you grew it.
I hope this week cools down for you. I hope the farmer who wanted to sell that strip of land with the scary well, lets you buy it for a sensible price.