Professional mini documentary on our family went live yesterday, RDP has been a big part of it.

[Taboma]

Sent it off to my family members.


I am in the same boat with similar land near by. In fact our land looks much like Joey and Amy’s in the video. One discussion that I had with the wife over the weekend was to start looking into putting in a well on our property. That was one of the things that really kept us from considering living on the land. The way things are going in society is making me like the idea a little more each year.

If I were a crow and flew southeast about 24 miles, I could be perched on Joel's fence.
Bought our 40 acres in 04', well, power, graded pad, entry road, gated, only needed septic and either a stick built or manufactured home to complete the whole "Dream" scenario.
With Havasu for our R&R, big garage there to store the toys and ranch house 90 miles from the lake to clear the mind and escape the hoards. What else could a Baby Boomer Want.
Well almost, so close, damn near, woulda, coulda, shoulda ---- Well, got two of the three accomplished, and we've enjoyed the ranch for day tripping, SxS exploration and rides and chats with our very interesting extremely independent ranch neighbors, but no Casa.

Seems we were having so much fun on the water playing, so much fun planning and dreaming, we kinda got old(er) while those 18 years slipped into the rear view mirror.
Of course as Baby Boomers, part of the reason for the ranch was as you alluded to, "Things" that create the desire to have your "Safe Place" to escape the crazy zombie's.
Now, at 74, I realize there's always been these "Things" and there always will be, they just might look different but feel no less threatening. At this stage of my adult development, I don't find bathing in worldly negativity, simply for the sake of feeling guilty if I don't, either healthy or how I want to spend my remaining time on this rock.
If my kids and or their kids want to change "Things", good luck, you have my blessing.

One "Thing" we hadn't given enough consideration to was "Things" within ourselves, the kind of "Things" that can and will kill you.
As I know you are well aware, some of these realities can seriously fuck-up an awesome dream.
In that regard, I don't envision the ranch situation changing much for my wife and I. I think we'll just stick with being satisfied with the two out of the three, consider ourselves blessed and pass the ranch on to the kids.

 

[HNL2LHC]

If I were a crow and flew southeast about 24 miles, I could be perched on Joel's fence.
Bought our 40 acres in 04', well, power, graded pad, entry road, gated, only needed septic and either a stick built or manufactured home to complete the whole "Dream" scenario.
With Havasu for our R&R, big garage there to store the toys and ranch house 90 miles from the lake to clear the mind and escape the hoards. What else could a Baby Boomer Want.
Well almost, so close, damn near, woulda, coulda, shoulda ---- Well, got two of the three accomplished, and we've enjoyed the ranch for day tripping, SxS exploration and rides and chats with our very interesting extremely independent ranch neighbors, but no Casa.

Seems we were having so much fun on the water playing, so much fun planning and dreaming, we kinda got old(er) while those 18 years slipped into the rear view mirror.
Of course as Baby Boomers, part of the reason for the ranch was as you alluded to, "Things" that create the desire to have your "Safe Place" to escape the crazy zombie's.
Now, at 74, I realize there's always been these "Things" and there always will be, they just might look different but feel no less threatening. At this stage of my adult development, I don't find bathing in worldly negativity, simply for the sake of feeling guilty if I don't, either healthy or how I want to spend my remaining time on this rock.
If my kids and or their kids want to change "Things", good luck, you have my blessing.

One "Thing" we hadn't given enough consideration to was "Things" within ourselves, the kind of "Things" that can and will kill you.
As I know you are well aware, some of these realities can seriously fuck-up an awesome dream.
In that regard, I don't envision the ranch situation changing much for my wife and I. I think we'll just stick with being satisfied with the two out of the three, consider ourselves blessed and pass the ranch on to the kids.

Yeah, I am right at that point of questioning my ability to pull it off at my age. I am thinking about using the land like you as a place to escape various things in the world. The extreme summer heat of Havasu, Day trips in the winter exploring or when the zombies start roaming closer to where we live.

 

[Taboma]

Yeah, I am right at that point of questioning my ability to pull it off at my age. I am thinking about using the land like you as a place to escape various things in the world. The extreme summer heat of Havasu, Day trips in the winter exploring or when the zombies start roaming closer to where we live.

We've truly enjoyed owning it, despite perhaps some tinge of regret not completing the triple play. Funny, in a way we brought the land home here to rural San Diego --- Landscape ROCKS .
For the first bunch of years we had a Polaris Ranger (Or two), each trip we head off to some new canyon and while exploring we'd keep our eyes peeled for cool looking rocks. Large enough to impress, but still manageable for us two, that we could toss in the bed of the Ranger. A few times I wasn't sure if I had any steerage while climbing a steep grade to get back to the truck.
We'd haul them to our SD home, where I've built all kinds of small to large rock wall planting terraces using these various beautiful quartz rocks you won't find locally. Found one canyon with a lot of black flat shale, made really cools path stepping stones, I'm not at liberty to discuss where, big bro might be reading this.
I didn't really steal their rocks, as much as I simply relocated them for their own good.
I dunno, it's a cool feeling pulling up, unlocking the big gates, driving up OUR driveway, and taking in the marvelous views. It's just a nice feeling owning it, and letting nature use it when we're gone. Although once a few years ago July, mommy nature dumped far to much rain to quickly and it cost us about $ 3K in re-grading.
I guess it's become like that 'Barn Find' vintage car, nah, it ain't for sale.

 

[Dirtbag]

I was curious about your youtube deal....I am a huge youtube fan and watch a lot of do it your selfers off the grids and living on a boat content. I have been locked into the "Parlay Revival" where this guy rebuilt a hurricane damaged lagoon 450. He is going to start sailing around the world shortly. I think the show is 3 years in and I havent missed an episode.......I think yours and Amy's story would be just as good if not better....It seems like you guys arent doing it for the money thats for sure, but i cant help but wonder if your little show explodes. The money these people make off youtube is crazy. Hoping you have a clause in the contract where if it gets to a certain point or if you decide to go on your own you guys can....I think YOU are the story teller. I think you could do it even better behind the medium of a camera. We have lived through your still pictures. I would love to watch the videos instead. A weekly show. seeing what you guys are up to. Its a moneymaker. And it would be all yours.....There is a ton of interest for people watching off the grid families. You guys should and would absolutely kill it....Regardless I wish you the best...we will be picking our new pup up in decemeber and we go right by Fort Rock Rd on the way. maybe we will stop by and say hi!

 

[Ziggy]

@wash11
You guys are an inspiration like no other. Wish I was a solid couple decades younger to start such a life.
By odd chance I just ran across a similar story online.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/socal...urce=ref_share&utm_campaign=copy&rs=SHRDGKSBS

 

[wash11]

Amazing Joel & Amy Truly Amazing and yet that even those words seems woefully inadequate.

Owning similar property not all that far from yours, I have a fairly good inkling of at least a fraction of the incredible effort this remarkable transformation required.
It's far more that the "What", it's the "Where" you were able to accomplish it, that makes your story all that much more incredible.

I just shared your website link and this truly entertaining documentary with my fellow SVR ranch owners on our private group FB page and I know, like me, they're going to love it.

Well Done, Bravo and All the Best to you and yours

Thank you for sharing it! Its neat that you understand some of the "extra" challenges we face with this unique terrain.

 

[Drew]

What a great video . It’s the kind of living I would love to do. But I don’t think I would know how after living in New York my whole life. I grew up on Long Island in the sticks and run heavy equipment and had horses growing up. But the need for money is strong in this state

 

[wash11]

Sent it off to my family members.


I am in the same boat with similar land near by. In fact our land looks much like Joey and Amy’s in the video. One discussion that I had with the wife over the weekend was to start looking into putting in a well on our property. That was one of the things that really kept us from considering living on the land. The way things are going in society is making me like the idea a little more each year.

Putting the well on your property is a great place to park your money. Not only will you get every dime back on the well itself, you'll add instant value to the property beyond your investment.

 

[wash11]

I was curious about your youtube deal....I am a huge youtube fan and watch a lot of do it your selfers off the grids and living on a boat content. I have been locked into the "Parlay Revival" where this guy rebuilt a hurricane damaged lagoon 450. He is going to start sailing around the world shortly. I think the show is 3 years in and I havent missed an episode.......I think yours and Amy's story would be just as good if not better....It seems like you guys arent doing it for the money thats for sure, but i cant help but wonder if your little show explodes. The money these people make off youtube is crazy. Hoping you have a clause in the contract where if it gets to a certain point or if you decide to go on your own you guys can....I think YOU are the story teller. I think you could do it even better behind the medium of a camera. We have lived through your still pictures. I would love to watch the videos instead. A weekly show. seeing what you guys are up to. Its a moneymaker. And it would be all yours.....There is a ton of interest for people watching off the grid families. You guys should and would absolutely kill it....Regardless I wish you the best...we will be picking our new pup up in decemeber and we go right by Fort Rock Rd on the way. maybe we will stop by and say hi!

We've gone back and forth on this a bunch. Honestly, the extra income would be nice. I'm afraid it would take over what little time we have remaining each day. One thing I struggle with is being a perfectionist. In the homesteading space there are a ton of folks that do great with, "that'll work", and I admire that. If I do something I better be able to say, "That'll work till the end of time". Shooting videos would be no different.
I would likely be gripped by needing to edit constantly or re-shoot for a number of reasons that my little brain has no control over. I'm in awe of the people that just raise their phones up and shoot and post a 15-minute unedited video that kills it.
If we do start it up, you guys will be the first to know though!

 

[Meaney77]

Great documentary!!

 

[Dirtbag]

We've gone back and forth on this a bunch. Honestly, the extra income would be nice. I'm afraid it would take over what little time we have remaining each day. One thing I struggle with is being a perfectionist. In the homesteading space there are a ton of folks that do great with, "that'll work", and I admire that. If I do something I better be able to say, "That'll work till the end of time". Shooting videos would be no different.
I would likely be gripped by needing to edit constantly or re-shoot for a number of reasons that my little brain has no control over. I'm in awe of the people that just raise their phones up and shoot and post a 15-minute unedited video that kills it.
If we do start it up, you guys will be the first to know though!

your perfectionism is what I want to see haha. I was talking to my pops about you guys. We were watching the new video and I laughed when you said you arent the smartest guy around. You have to be one of the best planning dudes ever. Everything you do is so well thought out and done right. Laughed at your OCD on the batteries but just looking at that closet we were like this dude is a genius. I really hope you and Amy decide to do it. a 15 minute video once a week would be awesome. Showing your granddaughter running your life now would add to the awesomeness. You all have so much to offer us in terms of seeing what is possible. Im greedy. I want more. But your time is the most valuable thing you have. You cant make it and you can never get it back. You guys are an inspiration. And my dad now knows why I keep looking at all these ranches and 1000 acre plus plots haha. Its because of you.

 

[Brian]

Is there going to be more episodes??

 

[2Driver]

Great documentary. I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. You have accomplished a ton and how you figured it all out makes me feel woefully inadequate.

 

[wash11]

It's been 8 months since the video dropped. It really has opened up a new world to us with contacts from across the globe. I now understand how powerful this platform is. In the end, we decided we like our little life just the way it is so no change to our program at this point. I do feel like we have enough content to make a run at this if we decide our bodies just don't care for the physical labor anymore. We could dial way back to small homestead type production and have fun filming/sharing the day to day shit show and probably pull enough income to cover our basic bills. We have been contacted by a few big players that wanted in on helping to produce something long term with favorable offers. It's nice having a backup plan if we want to change things up a bit.
As of today we are at 420000 views- never did go viral but considering the title and content that's a decent showing that we're happy with.

 

[SKIDMARC]

It's been 8 months since the video dropped. It really has opened up a new world to us with contacts from across the globe. I now understand how powerful this platform is. In the end, we decided we like our little life just the way it is so no change to our program at this point. I do feel like we have enough content to make a run at this if we decide our bodies just don't care for the physical labor anymore. We could dial way back to small homestead type production and have fun filming/sharing the day to day shit show and probably pull enough income to cover our basic bills. We have been contacted by a few big players that wanted in on helping to produce something long term with favorable offers. It's nice having a backup plan if we want to change things up a bit.
As of today we are at 420000 views- never did go viral but considering the title and content that's a decent showing that we're happy with.
View attachment 1262785

Should now be 421,703. Great story .

 

[RiverDave]

I just looked. It's the 6th most watched video on their channel which is pretty good! I agree the title didn't help, being the 3rd most popular one had the word "cannibis" in it, and the 2nd had the word "gourmet" those are pretty big trigger words for the SEO etc.. The most watched video was backyard aquaponics.. That's not a term I'm really familiar with, but every now and again things just go viral.. who knows.

The film crew and their editing seem TOP NOTCH. The story on your farm was absolutely amazing.. If you wanted it to go viral or be more popular, I'd make one suggestion.. I would take that same edit, and add to it. I would add in how it has affected the lives of your customers, and community. People other than Joel and Amy.. I think you might be surprised at where that story takes you. .

I know for myself I am starting to deal with some health problems.. Real High sugar levels, neuropathy, high blood pressure.. My solution to the problem is exercise and pretty much eat nothing but what comes off your farm.

RD