When Jesse and I embarked on this off grid property development adventure, we knew from day one that it would be wise to design things in a way that either one of us could run the day-to-day operations on our own, especially myself as a woman. It turns out, it’s good we did, because I’ve ran the homestead completely alone for the past month… with ease.
For most people, being alone for a period of time is a matter of when, not if, and we knew we were no different.
Although Jesse and I spend 99.9% of our time together, and wish to be together for the most part, we knew there would be times in the not-too-distant future that could drive one of us away from the property for a period of time.
Such things could be family emergencies, simple family visits, or unfinished business in another state which can happen when trying to transiting to living full time on an off grid property.
In our case, this time around, Jesse decided to put his rental property in Oregon on the market and to encourage a quick sale, we thought it would be best to give the rental a little TLC.
It turns out Jesse was gone for an entire month… that was the length of time he needed to take care of things, and he had the freedom to do so because we designed out property in a way that I could manage it alone.
In this post, we want to share some of the things that we purposefully did to make for smooth sailing for one person whether it was myself or even Jesse.
Taking Care of Basic Needs
The #1 most important thing is that we can each take care of our basic needs solo. For me, this means keeping myself fed, watered and powered up.
Water
Living off grid, there are endless opportunities to make getting water a hassle.
When we first moved to the property, our off grid water system consisted of bringing water to the property in 6-gallon jugs. We could have brought the water in larger quantities, but this was a weight we were both comfortable lifting without risking injury.
Even those jugs were heavy when full, but we designed a simple system where I could easily lift them up to a shelf where they would drain into the RV.
Now that our water system is upgraded, we get our water 200 gallons at a time and transfer the water to a cistern at the top of the hill using a pump. This is easy for me to do alone, requires very little strength, and I can even move the empty IBC container in and out of the trailer when necessary.
Ideally, a permanent water solution is more hands off, but you need to get creative when just starting out! Keep ergonomics in mind when designing your system!

Power
Now that we’ve upgraded to solar power, maintaining power is pretty simple, but it sill requires a little bit of knowledge about the system to keep it going.
This isn’t hard strength-wise, but even though Jesse designed the system, it’s really important for me to know roughly how it works and what to keep an eye out for.
When we get sun, all is well! But since we’re heading into winter, daylight is diminishing and clouds are out in full force. This means we’re relying heavily on our generator to keep our battery bank topped off.
We picked a generator that met our power needs yet also paid more for one that was lightweight (70lbs or so instead of maybe 120+) and had a built-in wheel kit. Whether Jesse is home or away, I can easily lift the generator if I need to or drag it around the property.
If we had one that was heavier, moving it around solo wouldn’t be a good option for either one of us, increasing our dependency on one another.
Transportation
This is somewhat of a no-brainer but worth noting anyways.
If you’re alone, it’s a great idea to be able to get around! This didn’t even cross our minds when we had the Forester PLUS a brand-new Subaru Legacy that I drove, but since we sold it to start this homestead and upgraded (or downgraded) to a 1990 pickup truck with personality, transportation is always at the front of our minds!
If one of us leaves the property for an extended period of time, it will likely be with the Subaru since it’s better for driving long distances, and in my case, I’m not very good at driving the truck. So, I try to drive it whenever I get the chance and we try to address problems when they arise so the vehicle is always ready to hit the road.
We also have a four wheeler that I can drive at least to the neighbor’s house if I have any issues when Jesse is gone. Between the truck and the four wheeler, one of them should get me where I need to go, in theory.
In a perfect world, we’d have two brand-new cars that are 99.9% reliable, but since we’re bootstrapping an off grid property, we don’t have two new cars when we really only drive one day-to-day!

Making Progress on the Property Solo
Since it’s pretty easy to tackle my basic needs, the next thing I focus on when Jesse is gone is continuing to make progress on the property.
There is a lot I’m not comfortable tackling on my own since I’m still fairly inexperienced with construction and this lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing at all for me to do… there is plenty!
Tasks are always stacking up all around us. We have a daily “to do” list with the most important things, but less significant tasks end up getting pushed further and further down the list, ultimately not getting done at all. These are often menial tasks, so I try to pick away at this list when Jesse is gone.
These are some things I did this time around.
Tend to the Compost Pile
Since we want to have a larger garden next year, and since our soil is so poor, adding compost to the garden is one thing we can do to improve our harvest!
Since it’s fall, I decided to run around gathering leaves at local parks for the compost pile. I gathered bags, and bags, and bags. I also gathered grass clippings from the neighbor’s hillside. This resulted in a massive pile.
While this doesn’t help our house get build, I do hope this small investment in time results in a healthy bounty for us next gardening season.
Work on House Plans
We are getting close to finalizing our house plans, and Jesse wanted me to work on the floor plan a bit. This is right up my alley, so I checked out a few books from the library for inspiration, pulled up Adobe Illustrator, and got to work!
I ended up with a plan that works with Jesse’s proposed frame that we are both extremely happy with.
This doesn’t involve tools or lumber, but finalizing house plans has to happen before we pour concrete.
Learned How to Butcher a Deer
Jesse and I are hoping that we can obtain hunting licenses next year and begin our hunting adventure, so we are looking for opportunities to brush up on our knowledge now.
When Jesse was away, our friends’ daughter shot her first deer and I was invited over to watch them butcher it!
Even though I didn’t participate, I do feel that the first time we butcher a deer, it will be easier because I already have one experience under my belt.
Learned How to Pressure Can
Another thing on the never-ending to-do list was to learn how to use our pressure canner. Since we had a chicken in our freezer from chicken slaughtering day, I decided to cook it up in some water and then continue to make a rich broth with added veggies and even chicken feet.
This is one way I was wanting to increase the quality of our diet and lower our winter grocery bill ever so slightly – consuming copious amounts of homemade broth!
If you’re new to pressure canning, start with the Ball Blue Book – mind and everyone else’s canning bible.
Failure to Plan is Planning to Fail
With everything we do, we plan to succeed. We aren’t pessimists, but realists, so we plan for realistic scenarios and running the property solo is one of those.
This was my second and longest time running the property alone, and I passed with flying colors! Had we not designed things from the start with me running things alone in mind, it could have been much worse resulting in PTSD.
If you’re planning on starting a homestead or living off grid with your spouse, take some of these things into consideration (especially for us ladies) to ensure smooth sailing!
Did you enjoy this post? If so, help us produce more of them! We put a lot of work into bringing you the best content possible. Learn how you can support our blog here, without spending a dime!
Latest posts by Alyssa (see all)
- Ultimate Guide to the Best Portable Sawmill - April 1, 2018
- ICF Construction: Our Homebuild Experience - March 1, 2018
- Creating & Pouring Our Concrete Footings - February 24, 2018
i just found your page. Good for you guys! I hope you will be well settled within the next few years. Also, I wish you the best in getting top dollar on the rental property you will be selling to help with upgrades on your current property. You guys seem nice, so I’m hoping karma will be on your side.
LOVE THIS VIDEO!!! You’re a total superhero, don’t fool yourself! ๐ Awesome job getting it all done in Jesse’s absence, I’m sure he was proud!
LoVeD the video!! Good thinking as I wonder how much stress I would have by going it alone.. We have the small car for getting down the hill but totally limits the quantity of water to bring back up.. We have the RV we use to haul the spring water (55 gal barrels) back up but I hate driving that huge box of a truck.. Looking forward to getting a p/u truck so I don’t have to rely on anyone.. We rotate the propane tanks so there’s always backup and the generator has the electric button to make it easy on me to start … 5 acres of trees, there’s usually wood for cooking and heating on the ground… Soooo satisfying living life the way you want!! With Nature..
lost phone andlost your email email me at fcappello1980@gmail
Some advice on your water system. You should bury your water lines at least 36 inches or better yet 4 ft. under the ground. For climate that is really cold in winter -below zero for a lone time I would advise you to cover your pipes with 2 inch bead board 2ft. X 8ft. sheets.By doing this you will cause the frost that goes down and hits the bead board it will not go on down but out to the sides. This is especially true when you have to drive over your lines. If possible don’t drive over lines or at least as little as possible in winter. Having spent 33 year in Alaska you learn some of these things the hard way. Good luck and don’t stop trying to learn new things. PS ask the old timers for advice. Garmo
Installed water lines for a living in the Dakotas. 6 feet was the minimum for water. Depending on the snow amount and timing, less than 6 feet is risky. Not unusual at all to see frost at 5 feet when digging in the winter.
I just came across your journey on youtube and it sounds like we have similar stories. Im former military and have also worked corporate jobs but I feel more comfortable living off the land like my grandparents. Do you live Oregon? We are planning to move to/outside the Portland area and what you guys are doing is my end goal.
Welcome! There are certainly many of us “returning to our roots”… welcome to the club! We are located in Idaho but moved from Oregon… the Southern part.
You two are one of the best channels on You Tube!!!
Wranglerstar, Cody Crone, got top You Tube award world wide in 2014.
He is one of the top people featured in the awesome documentary, Beyond Off Grid. I am the second person in the trailer. You guys are DOING what we advocate; going off grid and growing as much food, having your own water source, building your own home, etc.
Watch what you can of that documentary. It will help in many areas of your journey.
It is in the directors cut stage and should be released soon.
I meant to say also that you should be contenders for a top You Tube Award!!!
That is, of course, In My Not So Humble Opinion, IMNSHO ๐
Vary decent
I think you Guys are great. Thank you for sharing with us your journeys. I find ya’ll Inspiring,and heart warming funny. I think you two could do anything you put your hearts to. I look forward to seeing more. I love you Guys.
A little word of caution. When gathering grass clippings from others, find out if they use any pesticides or herbicides. You don’t want to accidentally kill off bacteria or earthworms, and definitely don’t want to add something to future compost dirt that would prevent the garden from growing. Also be careful of any walnuts in the leaves. Again, this will inhibit plant growth.
Keep up the awesome work! Living the dream just like you!
Just sent the name of your site over to Modern Survival Blog as the discussion was whether a camper trailer could be a good bug out item & there was a lot of comments on winter. I figured you are witnessing winter for the 2nd time in your camper & have some excellent proven ideas on coping with winter that others might find interesting. Love your site. Keep up the good work & am looking forward to seeing how your drone works with the photography for your videos.
Great job! Love your offgrid project, and the gear, tool, and product reviews!
Jan.6. Just read that some parts of Idaho have record amounts of snow & heading into very cold after it quits snowing. Praying you guys are OK. Stay warm.
I was looking for tips on wood burning stove efficiency and found Jesse’s video. I really warmed to him and his most efficient and helpful tips . Brilliant stuff. Just wanted to tell you guys that. Am in awe of the way you are living. I’m from Suffolk, England. Now off to stack my stove. Thanks! Lucy
Hello.
I’ve just realized, I haven’t left a comment here. Leaving a comment at this particular post is quite important, since this gives a new perspective on homesteading life.
As you have said (sorry Jesse – but, sir, this comment is for the Lady of the House-RV.. so to say) there are chores in our daily lives that we need to adjust for our own convenience. Living by myself, and running a house, garden (soon chickens, too) has given me proof that division of labor – as genders go – matters only if you haven’t got your mind set on “ignore”. I don’t mind having help, there is no shame in accepting it, however: when help is not around, Lady of the House needs to be able (have the knowledge) to do every task on her own.
Opting for smaller-size objects is a great thing, and that is exactly the same thing I’m doing at my home. For instance (something you guise haven’t dabbled in – YET), a garden shovel comes in MANY sizes! For years I got to get around holding a large variety of them, as I have started digging the dirt when I was a toddler, and Grandpa has made me a special “kid-sized” shovel. The truth is: the only way for me to be able to dig the sewage ditch alongside my dad (yeah, I do accept help) was because I own a small-size shovel – works just fine. ๐
This is an amazing post, I do think the “audience” is able to soak in some of the tips you have given them – there is a lot more space to enhance this subject.
For one, I’d love to see more.
Keep the videos coming, I enjoy them so much (especially now, in the winter, since EVERYthing is dead-frozen and I’m bound to sit back and wait for milder weather – or take long walks in the snow).
My best!
Marija
Hi,
I love the blog which I found via your YT Channel. May I ask a few questions?
How demanding (Physically & Mentally) did you find carrying out all the tasks to keep the place running on your own for a month? How would you feel about doing that for say, six months?
Do you think it is realistic to try and establish a similar property as a single person? You both seem to work so well together as a team, but I am wondering if it is possible for me as a singleton to achieve something similar. (I’m not afraid of hard work!)
Thanks for your time
Alasdair.
Alyssa you and your husband are really worth watching my wife and I are in our 70s we use to go caravanning but it got too much in our later years your not just very informative about the way you go about starting out in the wild and to live and build your own cabin although I have not got to seeing your you do that yet but your also very entertaining ive seen lots of these videos on building your own cabin out in the wild but they get a little bit boring and drab.You also show how to use the tools of the trade in a correct way as it could end up a disaster or even worse “Hospital job” and we wouldn’t want that .Anyway keep up the good informative and enjoyable entertainment you two and have a good life.
I have been plotting all the homesteaders I watch on YT and it seams that most of you live in Idaho. Can you be a little more specific as to where you live, like the nearest town. Love the videos. Thanks, RT
Yes, lot of homesteaders on YouTube in Idaho! It’s a wonderful state! Hopefully knowing our state is enough – we don’t wish to share which town we live in to protect our privacy. But we’re happy to hear that you enjoy our videos!
Wow! Love you two! So adorable. Kudos for realizing your dreams and going for them early on. We are in the process of buying out a flooded mountainside in Colorado that will be off the grid but a second getaway home for us/ maybe one day retirement home. Your information is so useful. Can’t wait to watch it all.
Hello Alyssa and Jessie!
I found you from a YouTube video pop-up of the air trencher/ digger.
I’m really enjoying your story I think that life would really appeal to wife and myself.
I just wanted to comment on your vehicle situation. I believe it could be argued that older vehicles (if well maintained) can be more dependable than a new one-since they are often simpler, and lack so much computerization and sensors, etc…
Thanks for your story.
Hi, you guys are doing really well and your planning is tight.
I thought I’d just mention something regarding compost.
Compost is great and works wonders. I’d like to gently point out that if you can
get worm cast it would more than repay your efforts as well.
For some reason worm cast seems to be an amazing source of food
for your plants and garden. So nutritious it is sometimes hard to believe
how well plants do with cast.
Not tellin’ you how to do your thing but thought I’d pass on this info if
you hadn’t heard about it before now.
blessings, chris