With winter right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to learn through the cold months. Books and hands-on training are great ways to learn. However, YouTube videos are easily accessible and they're entertaining. Many self-reliance YouTube channels show you exactly how to get things done. Plus they 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 seven self-reliance YouTube channels to learn something new.
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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.
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Pure Living For Life
This channel is run by a young couple with a DIY lifestyle in the wilderness of Idaho. The videos on Pure Living for Life 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. 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.
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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. They also share many natural remedies and recipes on their YouTube channel.
Videos get posted to Off Grid With Doug & Stacy daily. So it’s 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.
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Modern Homesteading – Melissa K. Norris
Being a 5th generation homesteader, Melissa Norris knows a lot about every aspect of self-reliant living and homesteading. She also runs a popular podcast and website. Yet 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. So her YouTube channel is a useful resource for learning the old-fashioned tricks and tools for getting things done without a lot of modern conveniences we’re accustomed to.
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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.
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Fouch Family Off Grid
The Fouch family of 5 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.
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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.
Although there’s always something to do around a homestead, winters can be a little slower with chores since the cold and snow make it difficult. With downtime this winter, make sure you check out some of these seven self-reliance YouTube channels. You'll get new ideas on projects for the spring, and new skills you can 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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