Our 100% DIY Hand-Built , Debt-Free, Off-Grid Shelter:

Jessica Byrnes
by Jessica Byrnes
I have been a Hometalk fan for several years and always follow other people's DIY projects. Then I realized I have a massive DIY project of my own, and entered a competition sponsored by a WONDERFUL store in Truckee, CA, called High Camp Home. (www.highcamphome.com). We won the DIY Contest and everything escalated from there. We initially had to find some land, and came across high-elevation farmland in South West Colorado. Starting off in a TENT, we spent the next few years building a shelter from five 40 foot shipping containers, which my husband reinforced with beams and then buried to keep them cool in Summer and warm in Winter. We got a well operating for water as a first action.
The field we started with - Dove Creek, CO
The first shipping container was transformed into a bedroom:
Shipping container Bedroom
The next shipping container was turned into a kitchen and pantry.
We built a small bathroom with a sink area. The materials are salvaged wood, My husband had no building experience whatsoever and did all the work solo. I cooked on this old wood stove I found in an antique store in Cortez, Colorado.
My wood stove
We started off with an outhouse which I mosaiced and called "The Throne"
The Throne: an outhouse.
Our library is in a long hallway that was built between 2 shipping containers, all of which are buried under 18 inches of earth.
The long passageway
We then decided we needed a space that was open to the sunlight, so built a post and beam great-room with a kitchen. It is a work in progress. All the furniture was found at junk stores, off Craigslist and from Habitat from Humanity. We could not spend thousands of dollars on windows and doors, so all those, too, are off Craigslist, yard sales and Habitiat
The Great-Room furnished from junk shops
My beautiful coffee table cost me $4 - a pallet salvaged from Ace Hardware and 4 wheels from a salvage depot. The hassock was a give-away and I covered it with coffee sacks.
The $4.00 coffee table and no-cost hassock.
We also built a rock garden from field stones and grow our own vegetables. Our power comes from the sun via a solar panel.
The House at Night - building in progress
This entire project is proof that anyone's dream can come true. My husband is 74 - I am 65. We just decided one day to leave the city and start over. We wanted a self-sufficient life and a great place for our 2 Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
DIY front walkway with bricks: Singita RR
You can see more at our Pinterest Boards https://www.pinterest.com/freeeaglesllc/free-eagles-ranch/ We also have a website: http://www.freeeaglesranch.com and a Blog blog.freeeaglesranch.com We would love to help Hometalk readers and will answer any questions you have about self-sufficient living
Larry and Jessica Byrnes
Frequently asked questions
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  • Jane R. Jane R. on Jul 17, 2016
    Sorry but I just thought of a few more questions. Where do you get your electricity from and didn't you need an inspection? How do you get television, phone, computer service etc.? Also most plumbing requires an inspection also. Where do you wash your clothes? How do you vent the heat from a dryer out of the house? I love what you've done but I'm curious to know all the details. I'd gladly trade my home in the city for yours.
  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Jun 15, 2018

    So 3 years later...how’s it going? Very nicely done! How far are you from a town and how often do you go for groceries?

  • Lane Lane on Jul 03, 2018

    Hey lady. This is Lane. We met at Eagle View. Just wondering how you and your husband and family and dogs are doing. Wondering if you will be back though someday. We did get to travel 5 months last year and 2 this year. Let me know how you all are. Have a great day.

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  • Shannonjoe81 Shannonjoe81 on Feb 09, 2020

    Oh how I wish I could do this. As I'm approaching 39, I have this feeling of being pulled to the simple life. I tell my wife all the time how I just want to run away, to wake up and see nature instead of buildings and all the mess this world hs become

  • Jessica Byrnes Jessica Byrnes on Feb 09, 2020

    Oh, no! Don't sound so despondent! Arrange with me to visit my place sometime this year - and you can see if it's something you would like. You certainly see nature instead of buildings: mice under the bed; kyotes howling outside - beautiful Golden Eagles above - deer and prairie dogs. Sometimes a rattlesnake but I seemed to get rid of those. Your wife would have to like gardening and a much more primitive way of life. GREAT neighbors. Farms and views for hundreds of miles.

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