WITH the increase of energy prices, one family decided to leave their tiny bungalow behind for a life off grid in a caravan.
Fraser and Rachael, who are parents to children Grace and Albie, opened up on their journey in a clip posted on social media.
“Times are hard,” Rachael explained to viewers. “And recently the hike in energy prices and soaring cost of living has meant more and more people have been asking if it is possible to live off grid in the UK.”
She went on to explain that she and Fraser have been living in a caravan in Lincolnshire for over five years.
But before this, they were paying the mortgage on a small bungalow that they wanted to renovate and extend.
“The bank were refusing to give the funds we needed in order to do that,” she shared.
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Working five days a week, the pair felt tired, frustrated, stressed and worst of all trapped, so they made a tough decision.
Rachael revealed that Fraser had bought a piece of land before they’d even met, which he used for his tree surgery business. Over the years, it had transformed from a field into a woodland with 3,000 trees.
So the couple sold their house and used the money to set up their off-grid life, buying a caravan and getting to work to make the land habitable.
“We moved into a mobile home in the middle of winter with no heating, no running water, no flushing toilets or constant electricity,” she said.
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They used a generator to begin with a wood burner and slept on a mattress on the floor with their two dogs.
Over a few months they added drainage and built a water filtration system to collect rainwater.
They then focused on getting full time power, building a barn with solar panels on top, which took monthly research and installation.
They then turned to food production as they bought and built a polytunnel, which they built raised beds in and planted food.
While it’s still a learning process, Rachael said “growing and eating our own food has brought a sense of enjoyment of off-grid life, which had previously been lacking”.
Now, they’re planning on increasing their water supply and getting chickens to “increase our self-sufficiency”.
While they’ve loved living in the caravan, their next dream is to build a house in the same style as their barn.
People were quick to comment as one person wrote: “A massive well done to you all!
"Your barn looks so well crafted and built. I’m 68 now ,retired and have two allotments
I’m so pleased that You Tube enables people to learn from each other. All the best from north east Scotland.”
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Another shared: “This is my dream lifestyle!!! Amazing video, thanks for sharing. The UK living costs are only going to continue to rise and with all things considered i believe that off grid and sustainable living will be the future for many more people. I cant wait to start my own journey such as yours, its inspired me more.”
While a third added: “Well done guys, brave move but what an amazing one…lucky children to have parents like you guys to guide them into adult life”.
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