While some people love living in a big city, for others, such a lifestyle isn’t what they dream of. And it’s completely normal; we all were raised in different conditions, with different ideals, and our brains are simply wired differently.

Jill and Charles are those people who don’t like the rush of the bigcities. So, they saved up money and moved into rural Vermont, where they now live in nature and among wild animals. What’s even more interesting is that their home is a completely off-grid yurt, which gives them independence others only dream of.

More info:YouTube

RELATED:

While some people love living in a rush of a big city, others prefer the quieter lifestyle

Yurt in a forested area, built by a couple living off-grid.

Image credits:Exploring Alternatives

Jill and Charles are a couple who live off-grid in rural Vermont, where they own land

This list includes more familiar examples like minimalism andveganismto less common ones like ski bum (prioritizing skiing or snowboarding over traditional careers) or occultism (exploring secret or esoteric knowledge like alchemy, divination, spirituality, or supernatural phenomena).

Couple sitting outside their self-built yurt, sharing insights about off-grid living.

Jill and Charles from the YouTube channel@OvertheRiverandThroughtheWoodsare one of these people. This channel was created back in 2021, and ever since, it has gained over 6K followers with 130 videos.

In it, the couple shares the ins and outs of their life off-grid in rural Vermont, where they own land. They arrived there a few years ago in a travel trailer and slowly started setting up their own systems and building their house—a 30-footPacific Yurt, which they bought from a kit.

Interior of a self-built yurt with bed, desk, and bookshelves, showcasing off-grid lifestyle details.

Their house is a DIY Pacific Yurt, which is more fancy than some of the more usual houses

Additionally, since their home is off-grid, it has a solar power and rain collection system, which, as they said, makes them more aware of their consumption and what resources they need to live.

Interior of a self-built off-grid yurt featuring a kitchen, dining area, and bookshelf filled with games and books.

Jill and Charles ending up here wasn’t just a coincidence. As the couple revealed in the video onthe Exploring AlternativesYouTube channel, Charles wanted to build an off-grid home for a long time. He grew up in the countryside, and even living in the city didn’t crush his country spirit; it only became a means to an end to achieving the desired lifestyle.

Jill was also eager to live this way, as she wanted to be near nature, live among bobcats, bears, and other wildanimals, and hear birds instead of city noises—you get the gist.

Bathroom in off-grid yurt with wooden walls, a sink, and a bathtub, showcasing sustainable living space details.

They installed all systems like solar, water collection, and everything else that lets them live off-grid themselves, which took quite a long time

As with everything in life, even the realized dreams have someconsto them. In Jill and Charles’ case, one of them was that building everything wasn’t cheap – purchasing the yurt’s kit, installing all the systems, and similar things ended up costing a pretty penny — the yurt itself cost around $30K. Plus, it took quite a long time to finish everything and move in.

Now, when they live there, in summer, the yurt collects the heat just like the greenhouse, but luckily, Charles was able to find at least a temporary solution for it so their home would be liveable.

Off-grid yurt built by a couple in a snowy forest setting.

Despite all of these disadvantages, someprosmake it all worth it. While it costs much to build everything, now they have minimal expenses, have no debts, and don’t feel pressure to earn money. This not only makes them feel independent but also lets them use their time for activities they’repassionateabout, like documenting life on a YouTube channel, which is a good source of information for those who are thinking about doing something similar.

While currently, the number of subscribers isn’t the highest, their videos still get some attention and praise from interested people, and sometimes being acknowledged is everything you need. You can also go check out their channel, and maybe you’ll be inspired to alter your lifestyle this way, too.

While there are some disadvantages to living this way, the pros are outweighing them and people online couldn’t be happier for them

Comment about life in upstate Vermont and living off-grid on 22 acres in North Carolina.

Comment praising couple’s off-grid yurt lifestyle, suggesting they grow their own food on 30 acres.

Comment praising a couple for building their own off-grid yurt.

User comment praising the couple’s off-grid yurt living and craftsmanship, highlighting intentional lifestyle choices.

Social media comment with a heart emoji praising a man’s efforts in off-grid yurt life.

Screenshot of a comment praising a couple’s off-grid yurt with indoor bathroom and clever design elements.

Comment praising a beautifully designed off-grid yurt.

User comments on off-grid yurt living: “Lots of work, but lots of rewards too,” with 7 likes.

Comment praising a couple sharing their off-grid yurt lifestyle, focusing on financial freedom and teamwork.

Comment praising couple living off-grid in a self-built yurt, highlighting admiration for their lifestyle choice.

YouTube comment praising a couple’s off-grid yurt lifestyle and home-sharing details.

Comment praising a yurt built by a couple living off-grid.

Comment praising a couple for living off-grid in a self-built yurt, highlighting their love and unique lifestyle.

Comment praising couple’s off-grid yurt lifestyle as a magnificent and well-planned investment.

Curiosities