Why I'm Leaving

As winter becomes more intense, we've come to the decision to prioritize our future house build, which means Dana and Max are heading off the mountain for a couple months to enjoy some on-grid luxuries like running water, a dishwasher, a warm house and a dishwasher. Depending on how the next couple weeks play out, it could be a massive building winter on the land for our little family, so stay tuned for some exciting updates coming soon hopefully!

Big love,
Lou, Dana, Max & Freja
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[EdnaLuna-ix]

It is challenging to make any necessary improvements or modificstions while living there. Lou mentioned that before. This is a good manuever for them so he can continue on the venture. They understand and are supportive of eachother. No drama here. Just a healthy loving secure family who is setting a wonderful example to young and old alike! Bravo! Blessings to your families! Happy Holdays!

[mgglmm]

Maybe closing in the spaces between the containers and turning them into indoor living space until the house is ready to live in would help in the winter with having that comfort level so you can stay longer into the cold season. You will always make the best decisions for you and your family. Lou is doing a great job.

[Hillary]

I hope Lou gets a bit of hibernation time too, that man never stops. Good luck with the new house build tho!

[louibeans]

I'm commenting just because I was shocked to find really harsh and judgmental comments under this video, which I didn't expect to find. I've been following since you were called Plant-based traveller, been here for 10 years. I just want to say that it reall moved me how Dana spoke about the precious summers and quality time with the family outside. I live in the city and I don't have any of that, so it warms my heart to see you guys get to experience it in the warmer months. Good luck on all your future projects, I'm excited to see what's to come ❤

[MauCox]

Hiya! A lot of comments are talking about you guys “giving up” on different lifestyles (van, boat, hawaii) and I’ve followed you guys through all of it. I think it’s fun you’ve tried so many things! I’m just wondering if maybe a video reflecting and comparing on those different lifestyles will be interesting! Especially as you’ve now settled on an off-grid lifestyle which requires a lot of work but makes the family kind of split up for part of the time. I think people are just sad that we won’t see the family together as much 😢. Keep up the good work! I learn a lot from you guys :) and of course keep doing what feels best for the family ❤

[julied]

I love that you guys have lived so many adventures. Try them on, see if they fit, if they don’t, on to the next! Keep living large! ❤

[TrustYourGovtEverythingIsFine]

Honestly, this isn't uncommon. I moved into a 150-sq. ft. travel trailer with husband, 3 kids, 3 dogs, and 2 cats while we built a house. We had no electricity for over a year. We had 3 feet of snow for months. The only bill we had was gas for the generator. Once the shop was built, we moved the trailer in there to stop the winds coming in through all of the openings. These were the best memories I have. It was extremely difficult. I had to get water out of the hose in negative temps. Often, they froze for days. I home-educated my children once they turned 4-5. Some people told me that they tried this and failed. I can see how easy that would be. Not everyone is strong or even strong enough. We need to remember this. Individuals who had a crazy upbringing have an easier time living simply. I was homeless and putting myself through high school at 16. I didn't have rich parents (or any parents) to lean on. That's when you find out what you're made of. When you remove all security, you see how you can move mountains.

[karenw]

I think it’s great that max gets to know his grandparents too.

[rtyria]

My great grandfather had a farm on the edge of Moline, IL (which is now a highway). Every winter the family would live in town and my great grandpa would trek out to the farm every day to care for the animals. That's how all farmers lived back in those days. There's whole neighborhoods in my town with very large houses, with almost no yard at all where all the farmers' families spent the winter. You're just resurrecting a very old custom.

[gingerhitzke]

I found your channel years ago when I was watching Marie Kondo “tidy” videos and it has been so cool to watch all of the places you have traveled and how many different types of shelter you have created for yourselves. It’s wonderful that you have footage of all of this.

[tralalanick]

Strange that you use this clickbait title.

[janaesluys]

It can be tough doing life unconventionally, but love your videos, the projects, the motherhood, all of it 😊

[Madz-pne]

Please cut out the judging! It is for the couple and parents to decide what is right for their family. It is a privilege that they have chosen to share their lives with us, but, as we all know, there is SO SO MUCH behind the scenes that we do not know. Lou and Dana almost certainly talked this decision out, openly and transparently with one another.

There need not be any more guilt-tripping / judging / name-calling in this world. Dana and Lou have only ever approached this channel with love and open hearts, let us return the favor 💕

FWIW - I'm primarily the person taking care of our kids and my husband is doing all the house renos and income earning. We have talked this out until we were blue in the face. Yes, we both want a more well-rounded split of responsibilities, but neither of is taking advantage of the other and neither of us is just lazing about. The breakdown is what it needs to be for our kids to be parented and our home livable at the moment.

[sophiaw]

When Lou was slogging his guts out creating these containers was it on the understanding that his family would only be living in them for 4/5(?) months of the year?! Maybe a mobile home on the land would've been a simpler idea and cracking straight on with the house build. The containers all seem a bit pointless now if they're not going to be lived in full time while the house is being built. Find a way to live together as a family unit. Lou needs support too!

[rebenaq]

Lou is working hard to make a home and it will come together. Winter is always tough. Look how far you and Lou have come, next year even more Merry Christmas and wishing you all the best for 2025 x

[veritanuda]

Well winter is the hardest time both for obvious heat and comfort reason but also water and food. I am glad you have achieved what you have. However, I do worry that as far as an off-grid lifestyle it is a lot harder than you realise and there is no easy way to retreat to civilisation when you like. If it took you well over a year to build homes out of containers, not needing foundations, drainage or walls, building an actual homestead on your own will take several years.

I love you dream big and have been following you since you were working out the conversion of Ody. So best of luck and good times to come.

Have a Happy New Year. Thanks for sharing.

[michellehardyxo]

A friend of mine once said you only get 18 summers with your children & when you think of it that way, it's not a long time. So do your life the way you want.

[leslieh]

I love and support you guys no matter what you do with your lives. You are so cool and interesting. You are kind and careful and loving. That's why I watch. I'm here for all of it.

[bobbicatton]

Time goes by so quickly raising children. You are wise to capture these precious moments and reflect back on them. Happy hibernation😊

[genagx]

Agree w some of the comments unfortunately