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

I have a suggestion if that's ok. Here in Australia we have a product called Wetta Soil. I imagine there'd be something similar in Portugal. I live in Western Australia and most of our soil is sandy. Before i add organic matter/compost/good soil etc I sprinkle wetta soil (it can come in crystal form or liquid) then top with good soil/compost etc.
Wetta soil really helps with dry arid soil.
I also fertilize with blood and bone, which is cheap and works great. I imagine Portugal would have something similar or if anyone has spare animal poop from their goats, chooks etc. That really works well.
You're both doing a fantastic job on your property.

Looking great! What type of soil do you have there?

Top bravo 👍

Carissa i thoroughly enjoyed this. The music beautifully accompanied the video. Thank you for sharing in spite of the heat! The content was gorgeous.

I enjoy watching u cook :-)

I love your videos. Your love for nature. I follow you for a while now and you have improved your editing so much!! This video was amazing. It's a great joy to watch.
The relaxing music, your details for nature, the animals... I love it all!! Because I finished watching tv many years ago✌❤🧡💛💚💙💜😃 Love from the Netherlands, Joyce, Hippie & Ronja😅🐾🚐

😀😀

Your doing a great job sharing your lives. , lovely:-)

Good night Carrissa and Iwan. To work on hard soils, in addition to the "enxada" you could consider purchasing a "picareta". It is very useful in dry or stone-rich soils. Continuation of good work and good projects in Portugal. E obrigada! 😊

Such heat is always tiring whatever age you are and its OK to slow down your pace of life.
I think your garden will grow a lot better with more watering and that in turn will be less stressful to you plus you will get more crops from it. It will only give you food if you feed it with loads of water I'm so pleased you are going to get a water pump it will change things for the better.

Beautiful video I’m in awe of you both living how you want to that’s what’s life is all about xx

Videos are great! Love them all.

The opening shot with the tire looks like bees.. there are some here which look like wasps.. they have dangling back legs and small nests... Normally in roof tile gaps

Take care of yourselves in the heat and most importantly be kind to yourself, you are achieving soo much❤️❤️❤️ Laura 🍻🍻🍻

Is wind power for your water a possibility?

Hmm, given the intermittent nature of solar, if you find enough lumber and a tank, could you make a water tower and during high availability you could pump water up there? This effectively creates a battery of potential energy although really just for irrigation and such on a small scale 😊

As far as I know pumps can be quite efficient and batteries are expensive so this could kind of allow you to get more effective use from your panels if you ever have a full battery and solar to use.

This method is used even in some very very large scale green energy systems. I think buffers like this at least wouldn't hurt!

I like your choice of background music

Good on you guys ! Keep those smiles and positive thinking!

Even the heat stops you!!!!!well done guys!!!!!big Hug from Jaime Rodrigues and i hope seeing you driving the Golf V 1.4 tfi bkg engine soon!!!!!

Maybe you can do rain catchment

you are young and have all the time in the world to start and finish your projects. in this heat you can only work for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time, otherwise the loss of electrolyte is too high in the long run (salt drinking water, drinking water with lemon). but you have to solve your electricity problem - more solar

Such a beautiful vlog, thank you. I feel your pain with the heat - it slows everything right down. Diogo is a smasher & he was blessed to meet you guys - it was obviously meant to be 💕

loving my emoji

Why did Ewin throw the red wine vinegar away. Its great for cooking and salads. Also wind fallen apple's make great ACV

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!

You are doing a good job in the heat wish you both a lot of luck

nice

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. :)

How abt sanitary pads?

Absolutely love your videos! Very much slowing me down and inspiring so much!! Thank you for sharing all these good ideas, I am learning so much for my property! Sending you lots of love from Spain!
- Chrissy

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 ☺️

I love your choice of background music. I’m pretty new to your channel, and really enjoying it. Your personalities are so nice and calming. I do watch Project Portugal which I also enjoy. Cheers 🥂

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

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

Can you replace the wire that the dog chewed on the machine (generator or solar charger etc.?) (What a pain critters can be.) Good thing they are so cute. I discovered you today and have binge watched as much as i could. It is 2am and i cannot do any more till tomorrow or ? Wish i could help financially but i can't. 😞 Keep up the great work. A water pump would be very helpful plus fixing the cord that your pup chewed. See you later.

Maybe I missed it in your videos, but drip irrigation would be your best choice, and taking advantage of the sloped terrain, you could place a raised IBC tank next to the well, and gravity irrigate lower part of the property. IBC would be ideally refilled by a 12v slow pump over the course of the day, powered by your solar generator. Mulching is a must to prevent fast evaporation. Best of luck!

Keep wetting your hair and using spray bottles on hot days, it helps a lot. Also going to a creek and laying or stiing under trees near it, if/when you can, helps tremendously

sitting*

Why not strain grapes through a cotton bag. Seems it would be easier.

Oh dear pod zoomies :) lovely to see him regain his fitness with that leg

It would be nice if you could put a wind mill over your well to pump water at least when the wind blows, or have a great solar system, you guys are very resourceful you got this. Your Alaskan friend

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.

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.

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.

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. :)

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.

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.