How Big is My Off-grid Log Cabin? What's Next? Venison Jerky Soup and Waxing My Hand Saw 

I want to thank you Mr. James. I watch both of your channels. After watching your videos you gave me the courage and strength to build something. I have always wanted to do what your doing. I have started to build things. Plus I want to thank you for your wisdom on life, and finances. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sounds like a lot more room in the new build. More space when the family and friends are up. Also storage. Livin the dream, can't wait for what's to come 😎👍🏻

Great progress, you’re making the cabin quite secure for all the elements. I can’t wait to see the rest of it! The spot you chose to build is beautiful! I’m also always interested in what you’re cooking 🍳 Thank you 😊

Shawn; thanks for taking the time from your work to explain what you are doing and planning for the future of your new cabin. Think of snug winter evenings when you can relax in a comfy chair and enjoy a good read.

Exciting! Can’t wait to watch your cabin take shape! ☺️☺️

It was good, I just can't wait to see the walls and roof being installed...Thanks Shawn!

Thanks for another great video🥰 Love watching the progress of the cabin, especially the greenhouse garden 🌱

Just don't know how 1 person can have so much knowledge, skill, wisdom and determination .You really are an incredible man xxx

God if I only had your determination and forward thinking I'd be able to construct what so far has eluded me - and by that I mean shelving for my lounge which I am converting to a bedroom come domestic area as it is the warmest come winter months. I'll get there Shawn, just takes time and effort.

Hi Shawn and 🧡 Cali 🧡 Thank you for the excellent update, Shawn. Time is flying by so fast. Have a good weekend.

The cabin is starting to take form. It is so much bigger than the other one. Thanks for sharing all of what you are doing. I can't wait to see cabin walls and the inside. This is so exciting to watch! I love your videos. God bless you, your health and your family. Keep on doing what you do!

Can't wait to see it finished , sounds grand!

Its interesting how very different your 2 channel styles are - both worth watching . Thanks for all the hard work filming & editing as well as building. Fascinating to learn the whys and wherefores as you sort things out. But the silent building videos are too.

Thanks for your videos. Good construction. Greatings from Portugal (two years now) BE WELL

This cabin is so much different than your other one. I'll bet now that time has passed you're grateful to be building one so much bigger, better insulated and more remote. I know there are thousands of us who are happy to get to watch this progress again. Thank you so much for taking the extra time to video it.

The rock wool insulation you use is not compromised with moisture. It’s not like Fiberglas insulation. You could lay the insulation either way, from above is certainly easier

I lay silver paper thermal insulation ( we call it sisalation here in Australia) over the joists, letting it form a "saddle" between the joists thus providing support for the bulk insulation prior to laying the flooring. Also keeps out drafts.

The way you share your thought processes and decisions carries such meaning. I love both of your channels. I bet your family and friends are so in awe of everything you do! And you continue to top yourself over and over again. Sending hugs to beautiful Callie 😃

Looks great! Can’t wait to see the log walls going up!

Bravo my friend, good to hear you contemplate critter control around the 7:40 mark. However, you don't have to enclose the entire footprint of the insulated floor portion with "mesh." Just knuckle down and crawl, well backstroke, under there with 1/4" hardware cloth and secure it to the underside of the joists, just below the foam insulation and protecting any areas of intrusion. That will allow you to not only keep out critters but also afford you some storage area. I wouldn't want to crawl under there regularly, but with the underside of the insulation forever protected by galvanized hardware cloth, at least you could stuff long awkward stock/posts/blocks etc. under there without impeding access from three sides. Don't know what hardware cloth costs in your neck of the woods, but my most recent search for a local home improvement store here in Washington State was $91.00 for a roll of 1/4" X 48" X 50'. If you really want to know the secret, here it is. Every year around October, crawl under there(better yet, get kids to crawl under there) and hang cheese cloth satchels of moth balls, laundry soap, and ghost pepper flakes that can be easily zip tied to the previously attached hardware cloth. At the very least hang a satchel at each easily reachable underside corner prior to Fall each year. Keep up the great work!

Hi from New Zealand, I've just started watching the last few weeks and am really inspired by your work and thinking. I've been inspired to ramp up my garden. We are in lockdown just now so it's great to have time for inspiration and thinking time

Wow it seems going to be very big and nice cabin!! thank you for sharing this Shawn, hug from your fan in Thailand.

I prefer bar soap on my handsaw blade as it seems to last a little longer than wax for me. Love your channel's content and watching you build the new cabin and the geodesic dome greenhouse! God speed!

QUESTION: How do you get condensation on the bottom of your Berkey Filter? If the River water was colder than the air, the top would have condensation as well. Love your channels and especially the drone footage with the music!

Hello Mr James, first and foremost great channel and big fan! I've noticed your not using Simpson hangers for your floor joists, is that because your trying to get more height for your basement? Keep up the GREAT work and looking forward to the completion of the cabin and your other projects.

Thanks for explaining your future lans for the build!!

A joy to watch Shawn,can’t wait for next weekends vlogs.

Don't forgetting to build your outdoor sauna, kinda miss seeing that!

Good morning. 👍👍

Got the plan figured out, now for weather to change a bit.

Je reste fidèle à vos vidéos vous êtes le meilleur💪👍👏🤩

Awesome projects you've got going on. Be aware with that bluskin if you put it on a flat surface you should caulk the edges of the seams with Henry's 925 BES caulking. Blueskin is a great product. Expensive too. But it breaks down if exposed to UV light for too long also. (Edit) I hate it when people sound like a know it all in RU-vid comments. That's not my intent. I'm amazed by your channels and the work you've achieved!👍But look into that caulking if you might have concerns

Thank you Shawn. 👌

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme. the preferred cooking spices of Simon & Garfunkel

I think your saw needs the teeth set more so it makes a wider cut. It will stop the binding. I'm a 50 year chippie. A old carpenter told me back then how to set the teeth. Makes cutting easier and quicker.

A Rocket Mass heater has to be the "extra weight". I'm so excited to watch that being built, if so.

I live in Albion, Michigan which is about 25 miles east of Battle Creek, Michigan.

I like these videos as they explain what you are doing. I knew about the wax as my dad was a joiner and he used that trick and I've used it a few times myself. Are you going to floor over the waterproofing or put in more joists then insulate and floor?

Like the plans an video. Have a great week

Thank you for the updates!

Thanks for sharing

Love to visit your country !

I say Shawn will make this a 2 story log house,.

How weather resistant are the foam boards Shawn? And do they have a long life span? Also when you mill wet lumbar do you allow for shrinkage in your measurements if so by how much?

Make deer jerky, I love it.

Can you use a composting toilet in the cabin? Thinking of your wife in winter😁

where is the freezer that you have been storing last falls venison

Much appreciated episode Wondering if your daughters channel has retired? I subscribed, however have missed content

I love venison sausage and pepperetts

Amazing 👍 .

What does Cali eat for lunch ? And how many square feet will the cabin be ? Will it have a stand up loft ? Your work is so interesting 💯 Cali should also have a nice soft comfortable bed to keep warm this winter. She deserves it, she has been a loyal loving companion to you ❤️

Will there be an upper floor? (I've been a subscriber for quite a while and I'm hooked.)

Sure a different lifestyle we lead, lol

How's your dog doing after her heat stroke ?

MORE WINDOWS !!!!

What is that building behind Shawn?

You amaze me!

Always amazed how you have mastered single handedly every project. This 2.0 cabin will give much needed space for you and your family. You can always use 1.0 cabin for guests that stay for a holiday. What might improve your cabin project after completion is installing two commercial sized solar panels system. Lights around the house, plumbing, appliances and profit from excess electricity you generate for a profit. You have a wonderful life Shawn and I am privileged to watch. I must admit Cali has been stealing the show lately. Lol Take care!

You are making me hungry!🦌💌❤️🙏👏👍

This guy keeps me fighting everyday to stay alive long enough to get my kidney and liver transplant and spinal surgury then I am Lord willing going to build me a cabin in the wilderness too.

Are you going to put a loft in also ? That place will be so roomy for you and your lovely wife. My grandmother raised 11 children in a 30x30 cabin in Appalachia, it was pretty amazing how much room she had living basically a pioneer life style, When God called her home in 1984 she was still living there, using wood heat and cooking, had a gravity fed water faucet from the creek up the hill and one electric light. She was an amazing strong old woman. I love your show, pretty amazing what a hard working man on a mission can do.

Always a pleasure to see the cabin progress!

It’s always good to hear your thoughts, Shawn. I’m loving the cabin build. And the occasional cooking videos. I remember those back at the other place. Wow. Keep it up!

The old place was a cabin. This is going to be a solid log home! Looking good, Shawn!

Another day in paradise! Cheers Shawn!!

It’s getting exciting! I love all of the videos, but seeing the cabin take shape is really enjoyable. Thanks, for sharing your world with us!

Lol the best way to figure stuff out when building is to talk it through, even to yourself. And with a camera there to speak to, you have a captive audience. Great work, Shawn :) Fist bumps from Rockwood, ON

Wow! 2x as big as the old cabin AND a breezeway AND an addition. This will be a castle when it's done. Hope you can get it up and enclosed before the snow flies!

Love watching you build, what I’m sure is going to be an amazing cabin. Working within the serenity of the forest, with all the sights and sounds of nature, must be wonderful. Thank you for sharing both of your channels.

A larger cabin means one important thing: Your wife will eventually be moving in!

The new homestead sounds amazing I love the idea of a big sliding glass window along one wall It will be fantastic to see and watch all the wildlife around the cabin I saw Cali resting not far from you You and Cali take care and God Bless 🇨🇮

Congrats for 300k subs on your "small channel"! 😉 Smart move doing the insulation from above, you would have been bummed out to crawl that, don't ask how I know! 😂

Such great progress, now it’s starting to take shape. Thank you for sharing your journey. Looking forward to next Friday. Take care sir.

Thank god for Shawn and Cali along a wet and miserable afternoon in UK. Here to cheer us up.

Por favor, legenda pra português. Obrigado

Nature lovers will find this video very interesting and interesting, want to live and experience. and I was able to live the experience of living in the natural forest and growing vegetables, raising fish, raising chickens... thank you for sharing

Shawn you are one hell of a guy, so humble, so hard working, l enjoy watching all your videos, keep them coming, thank you Shawn for sharing your world with all of us.. 💖 🐕 🏠 🤗 xxx

Loved the jerky soup

I like to do the same with venison. I debone and break it down to individual muscles and remove all the silver skin, which is where the "gamey" taste is, especially in mulies. Some gets dehydrated and some I just freeze in 1lb packages. I haven't smoked any of the jerky yet but I'll try that with the next animal I harvest. Yum! Again, thank you for the extended video of the building process. It's coming along beautifully.

Thanks Shawn it’s gonna be awesome! 👏👏👏👍👍👍💯💯Blessings!

Thanks for sharing the Layout Mr. James , I love the way you Plan for future structures ! Kudos on the foundation , going to be Skookum like you and Family . Take care

Insulate from above Shawn. The fibres/dust of the insulation are hazardous to breathe in. If you're below it you're essentially breathing the lot in. I saw you Insulated from above in the Friday myselfreliance video. It's coming along well.

When it comes to insulation , they say "fluff don't stuff " .............Good job

Can't wait for the logs. Thanks for sharing!

The cabin is coming along great Shawn. Your knowledge and experience is sure paying off on this build, and I bet Mrs. Self Reliance can't wait until this beauty is move in ready! Is this one going to have a loft or second floor?

You give us positive energy and have fun with every step of building the new cabin. All the best to you⚘

Things are comming together for your build, I am very happy for you. I do hope you put in a shower in the cabin for those cold winter days. Thank you for sharing your builds.

Another great update video Shawn. It's Damn hot and humid these last two weeks. It slows work progress.

You are still the best Shawn. Could watch you for hours

Enjoy watching ya'lls show love Cali smart,hope covid is not in the area be safe God bless

Thanks for filling us in as to your plans! How exciting! I cannot wait for every Friday video!

Watched both channels, awesome progress!

Hi Shawn, There was a (positive)for sure in the fact that you could this time around .. Building the Cabin, incorporate changes you want to make in the way you build it. The basement will really be nice for you.The cabin being twice as big 20x18 Plus a 10x10 add on will be so incredible ! As always nice work ! Did you say breezeway to outdoor Kitchen ! How cool is that !! Winter Time ! Self Reliance all the way ! I think it was a Blessing for the new move,( WORK) but Blessing 😉 Pam > Bet your wife will love it !

Doggone interesting! I love watching you make this dream come to life.

Good luck with the build up and keep safe!

CONGRATULATIONS SHAWN ON REACHING 300K SUBSCRIBERS!!! You can treat Cali and yourself to a fantastic forest dinner. 😃

Blessings and calmness to you. Love your videos. I like that you keep the other videos as they are and these videos as your explanation.

Going well! It has been miserably hot this summer in Ontario too ! Was 40C today with the humidity where I am .

I used to add sausage to the ground venison and it was moist .. it could be less “gamey”…. Use ground venison in dishes like ground hamburger… I let venison marinate in apple juice overnight…..then slow cook ..

I love watching you progress on the cabin. Also love the tidbits of info you drop re what's coming! Sounds amazing.