1 YEAR OFF GRID - Everything we build on our abandoned land | TIMELAPSE | Renovating a caravan park

1 year off grid - everything we build on our abandoned land | TIMELAPSE | Renovating an abandoned coal miners caravan park in Wales.

Today’s video feels like such a big milestone for us, after we made the life changing decision to sell our home and all our belongings so we could buy a 3 acre, abandoned caravan park in Wales.

We moved onto the land with only £500 in the bank, limited knowledge or hardly any tools, but we were so excited to get to work. It’s easy to feel demotivated and like we should be further along, but putting this video together has made us so proud of everything we’ve been able to get done. The biggest lesson from living in a small 20 year old caravan has been how little we need to be happy and we can make anywhere a home. We are so grateful to everyone that has watched and supported our journey and picked us up when we have been down. We cannot wait to see where the next 12 months take us and we finally start our tiny house build! All our love, Emilie, Jon & Maggie x

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Follow us:
Instagram: @Camp_Out_West
Emilie: @Lovaine_James
Jon: @JonJamesPhoto

Filmed on:
Canon 5d MK III & GoPro Hero 10

#offgrid #homestead #tinyhouse

[CampOutWest]

FAQ: Question :'No way you only had £500 left after buying this, you guys are lying! Answer: As we mention in the video we work full time/have full time jobs which is how we fund this project. We had £500 left in our banks when we bought the land UNTIL we got paid the following month from our day jobs. We do the work on the land on our days off with the money we save up month by month from our days jobs, which is why this project is slow. No way would anyone be able to do this project, live, eat, pay council tax etc with only £500 😂

Q: 'Why did you renovate and buy that small caravan?': Answer: The first caravan we bought and renovated was while we were waiting for the land sale to go through. It took 9 long months for the sale to complete and for us to become the official owners, so we bought and renovated the little caravan in December 2021, while we were waiting for the sale to complete, so we knew once it had gone through we would have somewhere to live and could move onto site straight away. We renovated the caravan on Jon's parents drive in December 2021 and the land sale finally went through and we become owners in may 2022.

Q:'Why get rid of the old caravans?': Answer: we tried to sell and even give the caravans away for FREE but no one wanted them due to the poor condition - bare in mind they had been left to rot/empty for 12+ years and they all had extensive black mould and rotten floors/ceilings/Walls and were past the point of repair. Originally we thought the old owners were going to scrap the caravans for money, but they ended up leaving them with the sale. Also all the caravan chassis were rotten and some snapped in parts and none of the caravan tow bars worked so they couldn't even be removed from where they were. So as no one wanted to buy them or for free, the next option was to recycle them.


Q: 'Don't you need planning permission for this?' Answer: Yes, the land came with planning permission already in place.

[liznoonan]

My parents bought a 50 acre farm when my twin sister and I were 6 months old. They worked full time jobs and chipped away cleaning and clearing the land and remodeling the house over decades. The hard work takes time but leaves such great memories and a sense of accomplishment and pride. My folks are now retired and still on the farm 50+ years later.

[antonyhemsley]

Came across this by accident. What a delight. You guys and your project are incredible and such compelling viewing

[gallenteTW]

Bloody hell. Talk about taking on a huge project with limited funds, minimal equipment and little help.

There's 100s if not 1000s of videos in a similar vein to yours, but I've never been so captivated. A PROPER joint venture, not bloke works and woman films one-sided crap. The effort you both put in is astounding and while holding down full time jobs.

Bravo to you both. 👏

[sunseeker]

That was the longest 28 mins of my 76 years! OMG you 2 are amazing. Well 😲

[rachelkerry]

Whenever you feel down or unmotivated just look at how far you’ve come! Especially doing it whilst working full time! Excited to see even more progress guys 😊

[Carl-udzs]

Most people want a big fancy house to be happy but me id rather live exactly how you are. Looks amazing. Keep up the good work

[elainepetras]

That first Caravan you tore apart was in better shape than the one you bought

[NoThanxs]

I'm in shock. I can't envision ever working so hard, so methodically, so enthusiastically. Wow, absolutely fantastic work!

[maryjames]

That is an incredible amount of work for two people, limited resources and one year. Bravo.

[jeanhelliwell]

Can't believe how much you've gone in a year. You've worked so hard. Well done. Can't wait to see what you get up to this year

[ernestalopez]

You are one of the hardest working couple I've seen. You have accomplished so much in one year. Hope the next year is just as successful.

[suzie]

I’ve just stumbled across your channel. Wow, you two are amazing, the amount of work you have done in 12 months is astonishing. I’m sure you feel such accomplishment. The next 12 months will bring you closer to your dream of off grid living, I can’t wait to see the progress 💜 Beautiful Wales and a dedicated couple, wonderful.

[audreysutherland]

You guys are amazing and awe inspiring. The transformation in a relatively short time is testimony to your hard work and commitment. Congratulations on how far you have come x

[metube]

Good luck and happiness to you both: 'Fortune favours the bold.'
It's a wonderful thing you're doing. Bury the telly - turn on the radio.👍🏻

[mrsmiggins]

Your are wonderful humans. Full time jobs and clearing your land. You should be so proud of yourselves

[frausmithy]

Not sure how this came up on my feed, but so very happy that it did. What an inspiration you both are! Wasn't intending to watch a 28 min video, but I just couldn't stop.... So much work! I truly hope that at some point you have the opportunity to sit and have a few minutes of self appreciation. And Emilie... not sure how you manage to look so glam whilst doing that back-breaking work! Amazing! Can't wait to see how this turns out.. thank you for sharing.

[sandymclennan]

I live fairly close to where you are and have been watching your progress and videos for some time, this timelapse video shows how hard working and dedicated you both are to achieving your dreams, you have every right to be proud of what you have done and I look forward as usual to your next

[vivalaleta]

Land, going back to nature isn't "overgrown". It's a beautiful thing.

[dominicespengler]

You guys have done so extremely well doing all of that work. Don't tell yourselves that you haven't achieved enough. This is amazing and impressive.