Family journey to survive 

I think it’s truly great what your doing and how you choose to steward your life, what works for you. Yes it’s true. There’s probably many with lots of opinions but they’re not walking in your shoes and like you said you like the way you feel at the end of the day and that’s what causes you to look forward to the next day, sometimes when we don’t have everything perfect we learn to appreciate more then when we have everything perfect everything seems Monday, and even though we have all the amenities, sometimes it takes the fun and enjoyment out of the labor and we were created to labor. I’m the kind of gal raised by a father with three older brothers that were hands-on, fix everything and they can pretty much do anything, and I learned a lot of skills that I never used until I moved out in the country and remembered all of them, and I absolutely love to salvage and restore, rather than throw away and buy new, but your channel has inspired me to even rest the amenities that I have and do more things hand on which will be a win-win because my conveniences will last longer with less usage, but my body will likely last longer with more usage doing things more hands-on, laboring through, and it makes for such sweet sleep, so thank you for the inspiration you don’t necessarily have to be without to use those practices in your life. It’s good stewardship anyway. :)

i been poor my whole life my family was very poor we had nothing growing up i did have a job but i also had 3 boys so a job did nothing for getting me out of poverty or much above it so i am thankful for it all cause no matter what im prepared for all that may come i know how to survive

Tessie, studies do show that we can became "soft" with all the conveniences at our fingertips. People used to have to work so HARD just to keep food on the table. I think you are reaping the health benefits from an old fashioned life, a life without drive-thru junk food. You look amazing!

Living off grid is hard work, but so rewarding. I just hand laundered clothes & they're hanging around the woodstove. Split a heap of firewood yesterday & made an apple pie. Whatever brings each one happiness is alright with me. Sending you lots of love Tessie. You're such a kind, beautiful Woman. 💐🥰🙏👍☀️☀️☀️🏆

What an encouraging video. I have lived without running water, unless you counted running outside to pump it into a bucket, and making sure there was always a couple of cups left on the side to "prime it." An outhouse, of course, a two-holer (one seat was a little lower for the little kids.) Thanking God for everything, the lovely sunshine and the rain to make things grow. I am heating a cast iron frying pan on the wood stove, and will put it in my bed to warm it up a bit before I go to bed. The kitchen and living room are blocked off from the rest of the house with a heavy curtain and the other rooms have the doors closed. If those rooms get very warm, then the curtain is drawn so the heat goes into the other rooms a bit. I am looking forward to getting into the garden in a couple of months.

I've lived over 12 years with put running water but we get by every day living like you do

Tessie, i think it's important we all learn how to do things with out modern amenities in case of a total grid down situation learning how to wash and cook the way the first pioneers did is key to true survival :-) An important lesson for all of us :-) I have learned a lot from you over the years and I have incorporated much of it in my daily life :-) Love you my sister :-) God Bless You and Ken :-)

You're very right, Tessie. The times we're living in are challenging ones, and what you are teaching about self-sufficiency is so important. Through watching your videos and through your example, my mindset has shifted. I am incredibly grateful for all I have learned, and continue to learn, from you. Your channel is truly a ministry.

Way to go Tessie!! I’ve been where you are and I lived it for a year. We left it behind and to be honest I miss it. We lived without heat and without electricity and sometimes without water. We had to drive to a spring and haul water to our home. To be be honest I miss those days. We heated and cooked with candles and progressed to a propane camp stove. We also had oil lamps. It was a harder life than I live now but I loved it. I also made coffee outside on the grill, weather permitting. I gathered twigs and started a fire in the grill and put the grape back on and put my cowboy coffee pot on. It was awesome. Oh, I forgot to mention in the winter time we would melt snow so we didn’t have to drive to get our water from the spring. I’m at the moment my health is not in the best of shape and I’m not getting around, but I sure would love to be doing that again and I hope to do so again someday but on some land of my own. I hope you’re having a great weekend Tessie. Much love to you and your family. Hugs your friend Denise. 💞💞

I grew up with only water in the kitchen sink. You are right there is always a way to do things. It doesn't bother me to be without either.

Now I will put my 2 cents in... I agree with everything that makes you happy but I would hate to drag that stainless steel sink in the grass every time I wanted to use it... Now hear me out its not about hooking up plumbing. The sink is perfect with that hose pipe right there. This is about working smarter not harder😏 for less than 20.00 I would buy the pvc under sink pipe kit and screw it under that sink(the instructions are on the bag and it's easy) then just screw a longer pvc that drains the water to the flower bed or yard or even a bucket and then you can stand at the sink in that perfect location with the hose and wash everything you want to. You would still be off grid and it's not hooked to anything it's just draining the water away. Ok that's my idea for tonight. Now if you just love to drag that sink, well I don't want you to stop😉 it's just an idea after all. I'm glad I watched you set that rain barrel up because I hope to have one one day and now I will know how to do it. I'm glad for you that skunk smell went away so fast I thought it took a long time but I'm happy to know if he does not spray it right on you the smell will go away. I like skunks I just don't like their smell. Great video tonight and I THANK YOU.👍💙🤗

It's so satisfying to see the parts of the rain barrel system going together in the spring time, Tessie! I hope your newer subscribers are aware that *you* are the inventor of the watering can part of that collection/filtration system! No, you didn't watch a video about it. And no, no one showed you how to do it! Your very creative mind saw that there was a need for something like that and the adventurous part of you looked around for something that would do the job. A watering can? Yes! Genius. One of the best things about a system like this is that -- to the person(s) who are using it, it is never actually broken! Not in a way that leaves you baffled as to what went wrong and how to fix it , anyway. There are no electrical parts to short out. No pipes that can rust. No remotely controlled valves to turn on and off from a cell phone. You know exactly what every piece of it is and how to fix or replace it. I think some of those impulses to have conventional systems that "work" all the time is the (often innocent) belief that life really should be easy and conventional (or at least not "different" in the slightest way) ALL the time. And if it isn't, that's either a terrible hardship and/or "trashy." Don't you have to wonder who decided that those are the rules? (There have been times when women have been scolded and lectured for other, similar things. I don't want to open up one of "those" subjects, but women (mostly) have tended to try to be The Deciders on other issues too --- such as how infants are fed, whether they're spanked or educated at school or home, on and on.) often with the best of intentions As you mentioned: why does there only have to be one right way? You have said that you're very happy with this outdoor style of life and I believe it! And you look it. To all those sweet, kind potential donors, we're tempted to say: "Thank you so much, but, to use the old phrase: 'If it ain't broke, there's no need to fix it. Not right now, anyway." 🙂 I pray that you and Chevy Man enjoy the rest of your evening.

Hi Tessie, There’s not a thing wrong with collecting water, BUTTTT,,, Having running water inside is nothing wrong with it either, no disrespect plz! That’s HARDDDDDD work, lol I was raised with no running water, it couldn’t be helped at that time, and my mom was happy as can be when she finally was able to have all indoor plumbing too, I don’t wanna ever live like that again. Not that I can’t, I don’t want to, and if it would come to that I can do it. I’m so thankful you plan your pantry for years to come and show us how it’s done. That part alone has helped me tremendous. God Bless sweet friend❤

Hello Tessie❤😊happy weekend to you and your family.

Good Morning Tessie, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends:-) Wish you all a wonderful blessed Sunday filled with Gods Joy and Happiness :-) Remember to pray for one another and for all around the world :-) Also remember to set your clocks ahead one hour Spring ahead :-) God Bless You ! Love you all :-) Keep smiling be safe :-)

It’s wonderful Tessie!! You’ve given me permission to do things differently. I don’t feel like an oddball anymore because of your channel. Thank you!! God’s blessings to you and your family!

Hi, Tessie, I grew up in an old house from 1901 and learned these things, then, as a grown up, I learned more during my holidays: Camping tours with tent are very useful to notice how it can be fun to live 'without'. You really are an early bird…like the birds around you. Glad to hear, that the skunk didn’t settle down and glad, they don’t live here in my area… Love, Monika❣

Who Loves Tessie Time :-)

Hi Tessi, I am interested in learning how to do this. The Lord told us to return to the ancient ways. I was never taught to tend a garden or can preserve my food. I am 56 yrs. old and just now needing to know this. I am sure you have some ideas for me that I can easily try as a beginner. Thank you so much for your videos and time.

Hey Tessie Owen and all my HT family on here tonight... I'M BACK!!😃

I made chili today. A double batch. One for now and one for the freezer. I opened up a #10 can of kidney beans and divided that up between the batches, added black beans ( lots of protein!), and because I didn't have any more ground beef, I used my canned beef cubes...what I had to use. It turned out great! You can't beat a bowl of hot chili over cornbread!

Totally agree with you Tessie! Had hubby install a clothesline for me and I absolutely adore hanging our laundry outside to dry. Am currently working on an off-grid manual laundry system. I’ve got a lovely modern washing machine and dryer which I am thankful for, but I am looking forward to doing some laundry by hand. Probably sounds crazy to most people, but doing things the “old way” is somehow charming and fulfilling to me.

Happy weekend Tessie ❤❤

Thanks for sharing Tessie! I have learned since I was a small child to be content with whatever I had or didn’t have! We raised our children that way! You do whatever you have too! Blessings❣️❣️

We have had a skunk spray our central air unit and it is so awful. Takes a couple of days to clear out. I feel for you!

Thank You for sharing. I admire your adaptability, your kindness, your hard work integrity, your homesteading skills and your willingness to teach all of us here on your channel.

Love your way of living Tessie. Have a blessed day friend

I love your outside sink!! It's in a great spot. I love this way of life too. Knowing how to survive without any amenities is much needed especially the way the world is going. Love this teaching video Tessie ❤❤❤

I love your life and teaching Tessie ❤ thank you so much . Bless you and your ministry to us.

It is smart to live below our means! The stress of what comes if you don't isn't worth the minor challenges faced when we live simply. ❤

IHi Tessie. I have learned new things from you and watching you has brought back a lot of the ways I lived growing up. Remembering things Moma and Daddy did when we didn't have money to fix things and how they always figured it out one way or another. Our homes and lives don't have to be picture book perfect to still have a good life and enjoy it.

When I couldn't do everything I needed to for myself. And had a brief time where I wasn't spending a lot of money to hire anyone to do things for me either. I found your channel. And it worked my way out of a health issue that wasn't like most health issues expected or planned. Really enjoy seeing you and your beautiful life. That you've created. I tell people the same thing I love my life I love what I've created. There are times where I was feeling like I should have had more. And then I realized against-the-odds I have what I have already. I worked really hard for it and watching you and Ken work on projects together. And decide what you want as opposed to what you don't need it this time or can do without. Or can get later. If your physical health should require it. You have so many alternatives to the commercial go to for everything. I appreciate it greatly. I love to see when you do your different projects. That's what I was mostly about. I love watching you do your home projects. Whether it's a project of making vanilla sugar, or rearranging your canning room. Or setting up a an area that you used to feel more sudden to think about filming. Thank you for beautiful Saturday evening.

Good on you Tessie. See you in the morning. Have a great evening everyone.

Your life and the way you live is wonderful!!! People are going to be looking for you and your wisdom before long. I am a little older than you are, but your ways and actions take me back to my childhood which was the best time of my life and your instructions are awakening so much in me. Thank you ❤

Tessie I really think it’s important to know how to do things differently to survive if you have to. It’s great that you show how to manage without all the modern ways. Ty for sharing

Love your attitude. Take care sweet girl. 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷

God Bless you

I love your home, it’s so warm and cozy 😊

The smell of skunks is not fun!! In our area we have to make sure the under flooring for the chicken coop has fine mesh wire construction cloth to keep skunks, raccoons, even opossums from chewing, clawing through the wood floor to get inside. Which they try and do in the cold months. Some folks even dig a three foot trench around the fencing which they then bury construction cloth, to prevent critters from digging under the fencing. Our county gave 4 free rain barrels to every homeowner/renter to collect rain water, since we were in such a bad drought for 5 years. Most of my neighbors have rows of rain barrels that are connected to each other via a spill over tube on the top. Love your explanation on the plumbing. Would you feel the same way if you had a baby in diapers etc? I admit being a widow I have no problem living as I do, but it would be harder if I had a baby in diapers, or a family member who was bedridden.

Ohhhhhhhh noooooooo 🦨🦨🦨 skunk! I wonder if the skunk was trying to get at the chickens or the eggs or the chicken food.🤷. Thank you for sharing your videos Teresa. I love chili 😍

Being disciplined with oneself is a good thing. Not giving into your every whim makes you stronger. Sometimes people need to tell themselves No…. If and when all is taken away Tessie, you will not be in a panic because you have made yourself stronger by giving up the items not essential to your survival but embracing the essentials to your survival.

That chili looks so good 😋

Love your channel!

My slow cooker quit working today.I was cooking beef stew.I will have to buy a new one.

I once lived in a double wide when a skunk went underneath and sprayed. What I didn’t know at the time was that the fumes came up through my dryer vent. Imagine my horror the first time I used the dryer, afterwards. Oh, the smell! The fumes got heated by the dryer and permeated throughout the house. It was HORRIBLE! 🤢

I love your "can do" spirit! It's amazing how we can still accomplish so much without all these modern amenities. Go Tessie! 😀❤️

Thank you for your mission field! I am learning a lot from you. God Bless!

I love learning from you Tessie ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Tessie, I love the way the Homestead looks first thing in the morning. Sunshine🌞 and blue💙 sky is so pretty. What a nice place to live!😊

Thank you so much for reviewing your rain barrel set up. We are planning to set us rain barrels this summer and this really shows all of the working parts we need.

This is a great video!! Going through something similar & it’s been an eye opening experience!!

I was all stressing about saving for a well! Well no more! I have running water, but I put in 4 big totes and three rain barrels and some gutters, I’m using it for my garden, but I plan on using it for my outdoor kitchen soon. I’m water rich with over 1300 saved gallons of water! Way to go Tessie, now I am working on Tessie ways to keep it clean.

I really appreciate your channel and all that you teach everyone! You aren't pushing your lifestyle, you are showing an alternative! My husband and I have been frugal for years to save money, but have learned even more from watching you! Thank you, Tessie and Ken!

Tessie when I watch you it reminds me of my Mom, all her techniques to save $, hanging out Laundry, canning, big gardens, saving rain water for emergency, always having a well or a Spring well, even though we had city water. She watered the garden with well water. I feel like shes near me when I watch these type of videos. My Moms most important thing was to have a beautiful home, that they had built, 2 story, she grew up very poor, she said they lived in shack houses, so having a large beautiful home was her top priority. She saved & crimped on everything else. Thanks for bring my Moms techniques of saving back to Life!!! Xo

Sadly the current generations will never understand this…..I was lucky enough my great grands were still alive when I was born. They were in their late 80s. We used an outhouse, took baths in a wash tub on the back porch and only had a fireplace for heat. They lived on 10 acres, raised chickens and cows. So if the grid goes down, Im lucky enough to know how to survive…..cooking in a fireplace or cooking outside on an open fire, I was also lucky enough to help her quilt by hand, churn butter, etc. but sadly never got to spend alot of time in the kitchen with her since she passed before my great grand dad. Never had alot growing up and just like living the simple life….Take care Tessie

Here

Loved your video tonight! You enthusiasm is. Contagious!…Deb

Good evening Tessie

I think you are of great and honest character, and I totally understand why you don't want to fix your plumbing. My grandparents weren't quite that poor by the time I came around, BUT they were very resourceful and thrifty like you. And if you can live on nothing, when the economy goes up and down, you don't stress and fret. If you have plumbing, sooner or later you have to pay for maintenance. If you ever moved, you could rent it out as a camping area.

Hi y’all 😊

I need to set up a rain system to water my garden. It is surprising how much rain you can collect off a 10x14 roof. I usually just collect it in garbage cans and put some chlorine in for mosquitoes. The chorine evaporates off.🙂

I love this lifestyle. I love the idea of self-sufficiency. Go for it Tessie! You are the best! don't change anything.

Good Evening Tessie, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends:-) Be sure to hit that like button Tessie will appreciate it Greatly :-)

I say Do what works for you! ❤You have obviously mastered this lifestyle Tessie! Blessings! ❤ My dog was sprayed by a skunk a couple of weeks ago! It was awful!

Hello each and everyone have a wonderful weekend!

Yay Tessie!!!😄

Thank you for sharing the way to set the rain barrel up. I must do the same tomorrow

You go girl ❤ your such a inspiration my sistar Love ya! Tessie ❤

Thank you Tessie.

you are a strong women you let nothing get you down life is hard sometime but watching you give me strength

You are right we need to be Self-sufficient

I for one am very grateful for your channel, your know-how, your cheerful attitude, and your heart to share ❤

Hubs & I live off grid, no electricity or running water -- it wasn't planned. We had/have financial troubles & we're broke & beyond poor. We buy our water from an organic farm 5 minutes away. We bought (before we became severely poor) small portable power banks so we can charge cell phones. We're paying off debt (15K) & this life is hard. We have a composting toilet. We live in a 1978 travel trailer for over 2 years. I'm almost 54 & my hubs is 60. He's trying to find another job to help us get out of this situation. I'm trying to start up a business but it's slow going. We're on a little over an acre of land & using chainsaws to cut trees. I can't even garden until the trees come down. Hubs has heart issue & back & hip problems....yeah....living this life is extremely challenging! If you're poor, it's depressing. We use to own a beautiful 1824 sq ft home that my hubs remodeled (has construction & flooring trade) & our lives changed in a blink of an eye! If you have a bit of money, living off grid is not bad.

Your awesome! Learning so much even if have an balcony can do a small garden and cut back living frugal 😋 yum chili ! Love all of your recipes! We have female skunks who spray to let male skunks know they are ready to mate lasts about a month or so.

Watched in playlist

Congratulations on🎉84K subscribers! ! Way to go Tessie ❤

Hi!! Just what I need right now! Tessie! Busy day so nice to sit down with Tessie! 😃❣️💞💝💖💗💓♥️💕

Tessy really appreciate your video thank you for sharing

I just absolutely need to “ correct you”!! ( this is a 1st!! You’re truly amazing, intelligent, an incredible teacher, let alone a beautiful human soul many can thrive/with/from, dig down w/our roots!! Your life style absolutely is “NOT “ poor living”, it is smart living!! If one’s learn how to be frugal, teach kids, grandkids, survival skills, Neighbors help each out, trade, what needs be?! Wouldn’t it be a fabulous goal for families/neighbors to learn together, to raise food resources, & to store it?!! Many need survival skills, from starting a fire, to foods to survive with when times tough! Storing foods, gathering rain water, etc.! I’m grateful for you humbling others on your journey & including us! We can pass it onto our families, I’m grateful for you! Keep shining! Ty so much💫🦋💫

I live in a mobile home park and a few years ago I had a racoon find it's way under my double wide! Hired someone to trap it and found out it was pregnant! We left the traps for about 2 more weeks and trapped 2 more racoons and 2 squirrels( we let the squirrels go) Also, every now and again a skunk will wander through and get threatened by a cat and then the aroma is pretty strong and stinky! Especially in summer when the windows are open at night!

Ok, I already posted once but I hadn't finished watching. You have literally put a smile on my face. The things you said today really touched me! I hope you have a great day today 😊

Love your channel

Tessie, I have long hair like you. How do you wash your long hair? I'd also be interested in how you heat water for showers. TY

Thank you for what you share. "Love in not optional." "The planet is dying and human well-being is being wiped out." "There is not enough love being openly manifest on the planet to maintain life as we thought we knew it, or truly want to know it." Our large and small personal mistakes, justification and righteous position has a laser focus which if not corrected leads to death and further harm. Most of us do not want to give up being seen as rational, reasonable, innocent speakers of the truth as we cooperate or go along to get along or not be ostracized; as we defend our small or or gargantuan status, power, control, position and resources. Love has the power, if we demonstrate the truth of existence and care about this life on this planet right now and into the future.

I live without amenities too so I really appreciate all you have taught me.

Blessings!!!

Pioneer life in the 21st century! Good for you to be able to appreciate the old way of doing things.

Hi Tessie, yes it really makes a difference SEEING someone living what they are saying. Yes it makes folks think and learn especially to do things off grid as there is always the possibility that things get rough and we need to become resourceful for those times. Thank you for showing how you filter your rain barrel and how often you change your cloth that helps filters the water. 😊❤🙏

you do you girl

Amen Tessie Great video 👍💛🕊✨️

Tessie good evening! How do you triple filter the rain water? 1. Cloth on rain barrel. 2.? 3 . Berkey filter. Perhaps the rain going into the metal water can... then sprinkling out spout.... traps debris into the can.... :)

Tessie You are a hard worker and I am sure you have a rewarding life on the homestead. You are amazing and I always learn something from you in your video.

Yes always different ways to do something! I definitely agree!

Hi tessie. I enjoyed watching this video..thank you for sharing with all of us❤️❤️

I love watching your channel and your positivity!

Hey I'm fairly new to your channel. One thing I have tried to do is have long term storage foods that I can eat when things are bad or I'm broke. Do you have some recipes or vids on how to take plain rice and make it edible. Say like rolled I'm flout and deep fried just to change it up anything like that may be a good idea. Or how to used cheap canned ham chicken or tuna with other staples from dry goods. Thank you

Tessie ,Keep doing what you do. I agree 100% I choose to do the same not that I can't pay my bill. I choose to live how I live and to challenge my self and lower my bills by being smarter and learn to live a sustainable cheaper life. Love and prayers.

I am trying to understand the purpose of the watering can on top of the rain barrel. Does that eventually overflow and then that water goes down into the barrel or what? We have been talking about getting a rain barrel for a few years now, we just haven't done it yet. Thanks for sharing.

I just want you to know I love your videos. Everyday I go look for what new thing is on your mind and doing. Thanks for sharing my friend.

Good evening Tessie when ever I watch your channel you remind me so much of how we lived when I was a little girl ,and to date we still hang our cloths out to dry. You have thought me how to store food for tough times ahead. I want to know how to store dry milk powder.