Building Off the Grid

Mark Seen

Off the Grid Dec 6, 2014 What do you do if you don't trust the world around you? You build a new one. That's the motto of Michael Reynolds, Architect and visionary that created the Earthship. Earthships are houses that are completely self-sufficient and totally off the grid with no electricity or water bills - ever. Michael Reynolds and his team of builders along with 50 interns, who have given up their lives to be part of this project, have just four weeks to build a house in Big Sky, Montana for Earthship enthusiast Jeff Saad. Michael and his crew battle nature and time to try and complete this amazing house.

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Alaska Nov 30, 2015 The Perrins brothers are building an extremely remote log hunting cabin in the heart of the Alaskan Range. Steve Perrins II, a native Alaskan, is heading up the build. He will lead his team, which consists of his four younger brothers and his wife, 13 miles on horseback into the deep wilderness of Sheep Lake where they have just two weeks to construct an entire single-story cabin. The build process will include the use of archaic tools, materials, and pioneering techniques throughout. In addition to their tight deadline, unpredictable weather, encroaching wildlife and the daily adventures of building in remote Alaskan will challenge their every will and wit.

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North Pole Dec 7, 2015 Alaskan builder Jeff Ward, has been building houses in remote locations all over Alaska for years. Now his son Bryce, who is also the current mayor of the North Pole, is lending a hand as they combine their talents to create an off-the-grid cabin not too far from Santa's house.

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Yurts So Good Dec 14, 2015 Chris and Catelyn Williams are building the home of their dreams, a 30-foot tall, 700 square-foot, off-grid yurt in Montana, complete with a breathtaking view of the mountains. And with solar power, its own stream, hot running water, a modern kitchen, all-weather insulation, a second floor loft, and even a guest room for friends and family, this definitely isn't your grandfather's yurt. Follow this young couple as they prep their own land and break ground to build their ultimate luxury yurt in the woods.

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Alaska Range Dec 21, 2015 Ana and Jacob White and their two small kids are a modern-day Swiss Family Robinson, building an off-the-grid cabin on the Alaska Range. With all of their materials needing to be transported by snowmobile, this adventurous couple will have their work cut out for them as they create an entire home with no utilities available. And with the unpredictable Alaskan weather, not to mention aggressive wildlife, this family will be racing against the seasonal clock to get the cabin done before the dead of winter.

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Rocky Mountains Jan 18, 2016 A creative mountain biking group from Carbondale, Colorado builds a unique mountain retreat that doubles as their very own bike park feature. Dedicated to building off the grid, the team of entrepreneurs and artists haul in their materials across rugged terrain by bicycles and excavate by hand for a truly one-of-a-kind build experience.

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Mud Men Jan 18, 2016 Matteo Lundgren is taking the art of natural building to a whole new level with his custom-designed Cob houses that blend with the environment surrounding them. Together with his designer, Peaches, they're creating homes built solely from the earth's ingredients, and he wants the whole world to do the same. Follow along as they hand-sculpt houses that are literally grown from the ground up.

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Alaskan Glacier Aug 16, 2016 Alaskan adventure guide Don Lee is building a remote survival cabin on top of a glacier where no man has stepped before. But in an area plagued with avalanches and unpredictable weather, this fearless bushman needs to time his construction perfectly. And when you're building in an untouched area only accessible by air, logistics are just the tip of the iceberg.

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Massive Mud Home Oct 29, 2016 After getting engaged, Summer and Jack move away from New Jersey to fulfill their life-long dream of living off-grid; they buy a plot of land in Sedro Woolley, Wash., and commission Sunray Kelley to design and build their dream mud home.

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Tiny House on a Lake Dec 20, 2016 The Busbys, young entrepreneurs and world travelers, have been living off-the-grid for two years already, but now they're ready to take it to the next level. Follow the adventure as they build a super efficient tiny house in northwestern Montana. Surrounded by stunning views and with a little help from friends, they'll build it all by hand completely off-the-grid.

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Coastal Maine Jan 8, 2017 Jason and Crystal always wanted an escape in the middle of Maine's secluded coastline for their family to unplug and enjoy nature. With the help of a small group of friends, they set their sights on building a 320-square-foot cabin in just 12 days. Between the weather, rough terrain and limited access, it's a challenging and exhausting road to the finish line. Their hard work pays off when they can relax in their dream cabin complete with a loft, solar shower, water catchment system and custom touches.

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Mountain Man Cave Jan 15, 2017 Joe Donovan, an avid skier and adventurer, has found the perfect spot for his permanent base camp on a remote ridge in southwest Montana. Follow the adventure as he battles the elements to build his rustic, straw bale dream cabin. Surrounded by stunning views and with a little help from friends, he'll build it all by hand and completely off the grid.

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Yellowstone River Feb 26, 2017 The Lighthiser family sets out to build their dream home overlooking the Yellowstone River. Follow their journey as the activists and adventurers battle the elements to construct an uber-efficient house in a windswept valley in southwestern Montana. Surrounded by stunning views and with a little help from friends, they'll build it all by hand and completely off the grid.

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Bottle Island Apr 22, 2017 John Beal is ready to leave the city behind and embrace a life off the grid in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. He hires Richart Sowa and his son Eden to build an eco-friendly private floating island made from recycled plastic bottles. Despite facing many challenges, Richart, Eden and the crew work to make John's dream a reality.

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Bottle Island Apr 22, 2017 John Beal is ready to leave the city behind and embrace a life off the grid in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. He hires Richart Sowa and his son Eden to build an eco-friendly private floating island made from recycled plastic bottles. Despite facing many challenges, Richart, Eden and the crew work to make John's dream a reality.

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Cliff House May 14, 2017 Off-the-grid contractor Gregg Smith battles the elements to build a cliffside retreat for a family wanting to reconnect in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But for Gregg and his team, erecting this functional build in the middle of nowhere comes with its fair share of challenges. Will the harsh weather and terrain push Gregg and his team to the limits?

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Ozark Paradise Aug 8, 2017 A realtor and his three children set out to build their dream home together on a wooded ridge top in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma. But they aren't building a conventional house. They plan to convert three shipping containers into an off-grid paradise. Follow the journey as they navigate the hardships of their remote setting and unorthodox construction project. Surrounded by stunning views and with a little help from friends, they'll build it all by hand completely off the grid.

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Windy Mountain Oct 10, 2017 A snowmobile guide and his wife build an off-the-grid cabin by the rivers and mountain ranges of their beautiful home state of Wyoming. The build includes a 272-square-foot cabin with a small shop and garage that are all constructed with zero fossil fuels, meaning no gas generators or grid power will be used and all of the heavy lifting will have to be done by hand. The team faces many challenges, including snowdrifts and visits from four-legged neighbors, but the five-week project will prove to be just as grand as the scenery that surrounds it.

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Spearfish Canyon Oct 17, 2017 Deep in the backwoods of Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota's premier off-grid builder Jared Capp sets out to turn four shipping containers into a stunning two-story mountain hideaway. The five bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms property will have a well for water, a living roof, solar panels and other high-end amenities. Getting the containers to the remote location will be challenging, however, and will require Jared to cut a road through the forest first.

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White Mountain Oct 31, 2017 With help from a team of friends, an avid outdoorsman takes on the challenge of building a cabin in the remote White Mountains region of Alaska. The crew must work through snow, wind and a whole lot of mud to haul materials and build the perfect cabin in just seven days.

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Maine Lighthouse Nov 7, 2017 After witnessing the demise of Casco Bay's Halfway Rock Lighthouse, history-lover and Maine native Ford Reiche now has the chance to return this American icon to its former glory. It will take barges full of scaffolding, brave masons and the cooperation of Mother Nature to pull it off, but there's nothing worth doing 'halfway' when it comes to Halfway Rock!

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Edge of Maine Jan 9, 2018 A creative family builds a three-story tiny house full of clever features on the easternmost property in the US. But with limited experience and a three-month deadline, they’ll need the help of a few local Mainers to get it done. Follow their journey in the stunning North Atlantic as they handcraft their new off-grid home from the ground up.

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Vail Log Cabin Jan 16, 2018 The Walker family takes on a multi-generational construction project rebuilding their 100-year-old mining cabin in the Colorado wilderness; they're a family of engineers who are game for any challenges that will face them in the months ahead.

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Cabin Of No Return Jan 23, 2018 A family is determined to build an off-the-grid cabin along Idaho's Salmon River; the family members take on Class 5 rapids to portage out materials, and they must race to complete their cabin before low tide hits and they can't return home.

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Island Oasis Jan 30, 2018 Beth wants a beach getaway on the white sandy beaches of Ambergris Caye, Belize. Construction manager Ken Grissom has experience building in the Caribbean and is just the man for the job. Ken and his crew transport tons of building materials to the remote island and attempt the impossible task of constructing an off-the-grid luxury getaway with the warm Caribbean water just steps away.

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Underground Living Feb 6, 2018 Specialty builders Jon and Amanda D’Aleo design and build “earth-sheltered” homes for clients in southern Colorado, but they weren’t expecting a project this far off the grid. They’ll have to work overtime to get a house constructed and buried before the Colorado winter hits.

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Cob Cottage Feb 13, 2018 In the coastal forests of western Oregon, one woman is building her dream home completely out of mud. The results? Something truly one-of-a-kind.

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Mushroom House Feb 20, 2018 Like a house plucked from a fairytale, this off-grid home is unlike anything you've ever seen before.

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Off the Grid: Desert Domes Feb 26, 2018 A woman builds an off-the-grid home in the desert outside of Tucson, AZ.

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Cabin Wanderlust Mar 6, 2018 Young builder Jacob Hamby creates a cabin for a couple in upstate New York.

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Montana Mountaintop Dream Home Oct 15, 2018 A couple builds their off-grid dream home in the Montana backcountry.

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Desert Den Oct 22, 2018 Beau Dunavant battles desert elements to build a home in Tres Piedras, NM.

Mark Seen

Desert Mountain House Oct 29, 2018 A family builds their dream home in the last frontier of Colorado.

Mark Seen

High Altitude Hideout Nov 6, 2018 Joey Caiafa faces brutal weather and injuries to build a Colorado hideout.

Mark Seen

Colorado Mountain Lodge Nov 13, 2018 A young couple attempts to build an energy-efficient homestead in Colorado.