9 Self-Reliance YouTube Channels to Watch This Winter

With winter here, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to learn through the cold, dark months. Books and hands-on training are great ways to learn. However, YouTube videos are easily accessible and pretty entertaining. Many self-reliance YouTube channels show you exactly how to get things done, with common tools and supplies.

They also often include entertaining tips and stories from off-gridders, preppers, and others interested in self-reliance. When you have some downtime this winter, check out these nine self-reliance YouTube channels to learn something new.

1. My Self-Reliance

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A very popular channel, My Self-Reliance is run by Shawn James, detailing his life and journey living in his hand-built log cabin in the Canadian bush.

Shawn is on the quieter side, not narrating much throughout the videos. And I find that just makes them more intriguing. When he does talk, he explains what he’s doing succinctly. If you’re interested in building off the grid, cooking, hunting, and survival skills, you will certainly like this channel.

Related: Online Homesteading Courses & Resources: 90 To Start Now

2. Pure Living For Life 

Pure Living For Life follows a young couple with a DIY lifestyle in the wilderness of Idaho. The videos on their channel show the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of building your own sustainable house from the ground up.

They teach you a variety of skills. This includes everything from piping and wiring to installing metal roofing and gardening basics. This couple isn’t afraid to show you the successes and failures of their journey. So it's a valuable resource for learning what to do and what NOT to do.

3. Off-Grid With Doug & Stacy

Doug and Stacy live completely off the grid on 11 acres in a log off-grid cabin they built themselves. Former city-folk, the couple left their corporate jobs in 2011 and moved off the grid. They had no prior homesteading experience.

They grow their own vegetables and raise their own meat, while also sharing many natural remedies and recipes on their YouTube channel.

Videos get posted to Off Grid With Doug & Stacy daily, making it a good channel for regular off-grid inspiration. They usually rotate whether it’s Doug or Stacy explaining a specific recipe, skill, or other situation. So there's always something new and interesting.

4. Modern Homesteading – Melissa K. Norris

Being a 5^th generation homesteader, Melissa Norris knows a lot about every aspect of self-reliant living and homesteading. She runs a popular podcast and website, but her YouTube channel has tons of step-by-step videos on homestead gardening, preserving, and cooking.

Norris often opts for the traditional way of doing things. Because of this, her YouTube channel has become a useful resource for learning old-fashioned tricks and tools for getting things done without a lot of modern conveniences.

5. Exploring Alternatives

This channel run by Mat and Danielle explores a variety of different self-reliant lifestyles. Each week they post a new video about people living in different unique ways. Topics include minimalism, zero-waste living, off-grid, or tiny homes.

Each video on the Exploring Alternatives YouTube channel will give you endless new ideas on ways you can improve or add to your self-reliant lifestyle.

6. Fouch Family Off-Grid

The Fouch family of five has lived off the grid since 2014 in the Boise foothills. Nick, Esther, Milo, Stella, and Sadie have been building their dream timber frame house and documenting each step on their Fouch Family Off Grid YouTube channel.

In addition to the carpentry and building skills, the Fouch family does many homesteading activities to create a more self-reliant lifestyle. To start (and for a good laugh), check out their video explaining how they accidentally crushed their wood-shed with a giant tree.

7. Mother Earth News

Mother Earth News is a well known homesteading and natural living website, with an equally impressive YouTube channel. Their videos and content are produced by a variety of personalities, giving us a chance to learn from lots of different perspectives.

The Mother Earth News videos on YouTube give great tips on sustainable and natural living, as well as classic rural living skills. Whether you want to start a farm, make your own soap, or craft a honeybee hotel, this channel has a video for you.

8. Self-Sufficient Me

The Self-Sufficient Me channel covers a wide variety of self-sufficient skills, tips, and other advice for producing your own food. It has a lot of informative videos about organic gardening experiments and tips for natural fertilizers and other organic solutions. But with 526 videos uploaded, you can learn just about anything self-sufficient living related on this channel.

This channel will teach you how to raise chickens or ducks, grow your own food, or give you practical reviews on off-grid equipment.

9. Stoney Ridge Farmer

The Stoney Ridge Farmer teaches viewers how to start their own farm from scratch, raising animals and crops in a homestead setting. The couple is based on a 200-acre farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and many of the videos feature DIY repairs and reviews on farm equipment. The small-engine repair videos are relatable and easy for beginners to understand.

There never seems to be a shortage of equipment and tools around the farm. Fortunately, this means they have repair and maintenance videos on a wide variety of machines. They also demonstrate fence building techniques, teach you about livestock, and how to maintain your land. Out of the 828 videos, you'll certainly learn some new self-reliant skills you can incorporate into your daily life. 

Although there’s always something to do around a homestead, winters tend to be a little slower with chores since the cold and snow make it difficult. With some of your spare time, make sure you check out one of these nine self-reliance YouTube channels. You'll get new ideas on projects for the spring, and new skills to add to your belt.

There are so many great YouTube channels for the self-reliance and homesteading community. What's your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. 

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This post is part of the Homestead Blog Hop #318!