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This week on the island we got solar panels, gathered firewood and build some legs for our sink!
We got two 150w solar panels and I set them up in series based on what my research its the best way to set them up given our battery. It ended up being really overcast and rainy this trip so we never got more than 10w of charge but they did do something.
I started cutting some dead standing trees on the island so we can try and get some firewood for this fall and winter as we want to keep coming to the island to harvest trees for our log cabin. One of the trees ended up getting stuck in some branches and I wasn’t really sure how to get it un stuck but after trying a few things I got it down using a hand puller.
We bought a sink a while ago from a thrift store and it had just been sitting on the island. I build a frame and some legs for the sink so now all we need to do is get a faucet and we will have running water up to the tent!
More about us, the island and the process:
The island is completely secluded, has no electricity or plumbing and currently has nothing on it but trees. We want to turn this island into a fully functioning summer cottage with a log cabin, sauna and other amenities. Most of the work is gonna be done in the summer months as the lake freezes in the winter and the weather conditions are tough.
There’s a lot of work to be done as the island is over 2.5 acres (1 hectare) and we have no experience in off-grid living, carpentry or building. So any tips or advice are greatly appreciated, as we are planning on doing everything ourselves and transforming the island into our own little paradise. We’ll document every step of the way, starting from smaller builds to finally – an off-grid log cabin.
Our plan for this year is to put up a platform for a glamping tent, build a floating dock and start cutting down trees to begin the process of building our log cabin.
The island is located in Finland and we bought it in 2024. We are currently both students and we plan to transform the island alongside our studies.
So, subscribe and join us on this adventure. It won’t be fast, it won’t be easy, but it will be fun and challenging. We don’t know what to expect, so be a part of the journey.
📸 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @off.grid.island
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you should build yourself a little skiff to get stuff to the island.
Just a suggestion but drag tree, after delimbing, back to tent then cut makes less trips
BLESS YOUR HEART YOU SURE DONT HAVE MUCH HELP
DAMN YOU NEED A BIG AX
Keep going king you gonna get big
I tell you what if there was some type of Apocalypse. Where there were zombies or something to that effect that affected humans. You have a perfect little island. That you could live on
UT-0 a paid sponsor you know you made it now. That's awesome
Warch some videos on a radial arm saws
110/220v not battery but usually pretty cheap and I have milled young and dried lumber on mine. I would love to help you mill boards with the beautiful plethora of dried pine you have on the island.
Largest board have milled have been 14" 36cm
Curious, are you from Orange County California – always wearing Anaheim Ducks? And how did you end up in Finland
I’m in pain here watching you struggle with a hatchet. You really need an axe!
You can kill a standing tree by cutting all the way around it.
Run in series up to 80% max voltage your battery bank (in your case) can allow. Higher voltage equals higher efficiency converting sun to actual usable power. Read your solar generator's max inputs. Only 80% max voltage because during ideal conditions the panels can peoduce higher than 12v. That gives a good safety margin to prevent damage to the system as a whole.use only 12 gauge wire, preferably 10 gauge when you get to that point. Places like Amazon sell good connector kits. Invest into decent quality tools. They whole solar system is only as complicated as you make it. A few guidelines to follow, and the system remains easy. Usjing a solar generator eliminates 95% of the hassle. Every subsystem is already built in. As your system grows be sure to add some inline fuses or circuit breakers. Easy-Peasy.
I’m living my life one of your trips at a time. Loving it!
Split your firewood as large as your stove will allow. Big log will produce the same amount of heat as when split into smaller pieces, but instead of quickly burning up it can last a lot longer. The difference can be easily double the burn time or more. Make 3 stacks of wood. Small stuff to start the fire with, medium splits to get a good coal bed in the stove, and the vast majority goes to large pieces used to maintain fire and provide longer lasting heat output. Ideally, around 75% of your wood should be the large pieces.
Here's how I dealt with those smaller hung up trees back when I was young…
Cut the tree completely through. No hinge wood remaining. Get under the tree. Put your shoulder into the tree, then lift slightly and run, holding the tree and pulling out and down from the snag. Works like 99% of the time. When the tops come loose just roll your shoulder out from underneath and take the last 2-3 steps diagonal to the direction you were moving the tree trunk. I'm older now, so i either use a small ATV winch or, normally chain the trunk to a tractor and pull it out that way. I never ever got injured. Either the tree came down, or it was too heavy to move at all. Never had it go somewhere in between. Those standing dead pines should be easy to shoulder. 👍
Never point your chainsaw bar downwards when bucking up firewood. Cut till bar is level, then rock the saw downwards, not the bar. Otherwise you will make unfortunate contact with the ground. Dulling the chain, or causing the saw to want to kick out of your hands. 👍
Great to see the journey you are on. Good stuff.
Remember to clean the chimney often when using spruce and pine. It clogs up easily.
If you get a strong-ish canvas type reusable grocery bag you can cut the two opposite sides down to the bottom. Open it up so the rwo handles are facing away from each other. Now you have a cheap and handy firewood carrier. Even the flimsy fabric ones will last a suprisingly long time. I have heated the house with wood since I was a young teen. A decent grocery type wood hauler can last for several years. Getting a carrier made for, and sold as, a wood carrier costs easily 10x more, and lasts about as long. 👍
A dock is going to be so useful for you! Can't wait to see it. Triangles are strong
When the axe sticks to the log, try turning them around and using the weight of the log to split itself. It sounds funny, but you'll be surprised how easy it is.
Maybe invest into a DIY projects book, that would help you steer to a right direction, when building these most basic of structures. There's plenty out there.
Live that Dream!
you should prioritise getting a wheelbarrow with an airless tire…
Друг, с древесиной наоборот надо поступать – из сосны строить, а из березы дрова заготавливать. сосна ровнее, легче и дольше сохраняется. а береза дает гораздо больше жара при горении. соответственно и дров тебе понадобится меньше. я с детства жил в русской деревне, я знаю) только береза должна быть свежая. то есть первый или второй год, как дерево погибло или было спилено. потому что потом древесина становится рыхлой и начинает превращаться в труху. гореть она уже не будет.
молодцы! продолжайте в том же духе!
You must be a huge Ducks fan, Teemu Selanne? Jeff from Canada
Please buy a sledge hammer. Hate seeing the axe swung around as a hammer.
You'll get more leverage for splitting logs if you cut your tree stump maybe a foot lower.
21:49 strong “my summer car” vibes 😂
Nicely done this trip again!
Full credit for your willingness to tackle these projects! Wanted to highlight that you were putting yourself in dangerous positions with that tree. It can kick back without warning and very dangerous to stand inline with the ratchet strap, particularly when the tree is moving. Best wishes & congrats on the progress to date!
Great story! Nice to follow the progress. I think you should take down som more trees, put them away to dry for a while so that you have timber to build with. Another benefit of doing that is you get more sun for youre solar panel.
Thanks for sharing youre adventure!
Please take more care felling trees man 🙏🏻
have a look at that bit where you were chopping the wood and think where that would land if you missed. Really nice job though, just maybe a bad height to do it at… also usually for bbq you want the coals to be white ie really hot and you only need about a third of the fuel you put on there but up to you really. Good stuff, looks like things are coming along nicely