Wild Wonderful Off-Grid

Something I look forward to viewing

Every week I look forward to watching a particularly calming video which I think is good for my mental health. It is Wild Wonderful Off-Grid.

I find Wild Wonderful Off-Grid to be an exceptional YouTube series, not only for the fact that a couple, Josh and Erin, have consistently churned out videos for six years, but the videography is superb. This amazing husband and wife team do it all! When I say, do it all, I’m not exaggerating. They have photographed their process of building an off-grid home while raising three children and overseeing a farm operation. But there’s more.

Josh and Erin live in West Virginia and started their videos while living in a small RV on the property. Apparently the couple met while Josh was a construction worker. Erin was involved in ballet and fitness training. It turns out she is an excellent videographer. Josh subsequently trained as an electrician and for the first few years of their building journey spent two hours commuting to and from work every day until their video revenue was sufficient. They were determined to do the build debt-free. What is so amazing is that they have been so wildly successful videotaping themselves doing what a normal family would do…provide for their family. But what they have succeeded in doing is anything but ordinary.

Josh and Erin have not limited themselves to building an off-grid home, farming and raising a family. They began to build an Airbnb, however, they ran into some difficulty. When the concrete pour for the basement was complete, they had the concrete composition tested and it was not stable. The concrete had looked suspiciously watery when it was poured and they were right. It seemed that the concrete company disappeared. So far the couple has abandoned the project.

What I find charming and engaging is the relationship between Josh and Erin and their three children. There is a wholesomeness in the way they work together as a family. Mutual respect clearly exists between the couple. Erin home schools their children and there are plenty of hands on learning opportunities on the farm.

Of course, we know they can edit out the bad parts, but to have so much good to record and such a long history of working together, shows there is definitely something positive happening here. I’ve watched other videos and this is rare. At the same time, I saw a recent ‘attack video post’ that implied their marriage was not as it appeared. That is the nature of social media. And, sad to say, it would give some people satisfaction to see this couple fail, relationally and otherwise.

Throughout the taping, Erin has remained very consistent and supportive of her husband. What amazes me is watching Josh development in confidence over time. He has the strengths and the gifts for the job. Josh, although strong willed as his wife, has an endearing humility and understands that the two of them are interdependent. He adores his wife, as she adores him. As with every relationship, there is a lot of give and take but they seem to know how to navigate their way through obstacles towards a common goal.

Not only did they build their off-grid home, they successfully took on the project of renovating a run-down home they purchased for a low price and turned into a successful Airbnb. Erin has a gift for decor and pulls it all together in the end.

They also opened a successful restaurant by renovating an old building and creating a welcoming place for people to meet over good food. On this site they sell candles and soaps with scents they created. Both businesses are their effort to employ locals and give back to the community. Their handmade products can be ordered from their website.

What’s not to like? Looks like this couple has scored, big time. I wish them every success. They have admitted they will not always be doing what they are doing now on social media and I will miss them once they are gone. It’s so refreshing to see a home-grown show like this, created with excellence. I know they are young and have energy. My only concern is that they are not taking on too much. We sometimes only discover this mistake when it’s too late.

I would say there is very little extra “for the camera.” For a couple of videos I saw a trace of this, creating relational tension for the camera, but then they stopped. I think they did one thing for the camera was allowing their young daughter to bottle feed and raise a lamb that had a rough start but might actually have successfully been returned to the mother. In the end (spoiler alert) a predator takes out the lamb from the flock and the couple is left navigating this loss with their daughter. That, obviously, was not part of the plan.

My favorite moment is when Erin calls Josh a “rock star” in a December episode and watching his reaction in Moving 10x20 Barn Stall… at about 1:25. This captures their relationship.

Currently Wild Wonderful Off-Grid is sitting at 1.1 million subscribers and 459 videos. Incredible. The focus this couple has maintained is remarkable.

I can scarcely believe I’ve been watching Wild Wonderful Off-Grid for six years, almost from the beginning. Obviously the joy is in following along. But even if you haven’t done that, you may want to check out their site.

They just posted a new video. Video 460 is out. Gotta go.

Time to be reminded again of all that is well in the world, as it should be. What is more important than providing for your family? There are few things that compete with that.