A family that lives in an impressive off-grid self-built ‘clay’ home have paid no bills for over a decade — saving them $70,000 a year.
Misty Murph’Ariens, 36, and her husband Bryce 46, have become homesteaders — self sufficiency experts — since moving into a remote Canadian forest 15 years ago.
Now with their seven-year-old daughter Sage and five-year-old daughter Aurora, the Murph’Ariens is almost entirely self-sufficient, getting their food from a vegetable farm and a collection of animals, their electricity from solar panels, and their water from a well.
Their home: This family lives in an off-grid, self-built “clay” home and has not paid any bills since over a decade. It saves them $70,000 per year.
Unusual life: Misty Murph’Ariens (36), and Bryce Murph’Ariens (46) have been homesteaders ever since they moved into remote Canadian forests 15 years ago.
You don’t need gas. They can travel by bicycle, horse, or on foot.
Farming: Other than their horses, there are many other animals that they keep and produce in a garden.
Not for them: The couple met while working as chefs in Hamilton, Ontario but quickly realized they weren’t suited to living in the big city
After meeting while working in Hamilton as chefs, the couple realized that they didn’t fit in the large city.
Misty stated, “From the moment that we met, we immediately knew we wanted an alternative lifestyle.”
Bryce and Bryce visited Bryce’s grandmother in Durham’s cob cottage 54 times in succession, and fell in love.
Misty said that the cottage of Bryce’s grandmother was peaceful, and she and her husband were disappointed to have to go to work.
The couple moved permanently to this area in 2006 and saw immediate improvements in their well-being.
Misty stated, “I have always had severe migraines. But when I moved to the country they began to get less frequent.”
“Six months after I moved, they stopped entirely. And I believe it was noise from the city that caused my discomfort.
It was possible: They bought 37,000 square feet of farmland in 2009 and spent 10,000 building a home out of straw, clay and sand.
Misty stated, “I have always had severe migraines. But when I moved to the country they began to decrease in frequency.”
“Rural living was an obvious choice for us. The idea of becoming completely independent seemed really appealing to our hearts,” she stated.
After three years of learning the basics of homesteading, they sold their house and bought a piece in the area for $37.500 in 2009.
DIY: The cobhouse was built by the couple over four months using natural materials clay, straw, and sand. It cost them just $10,000
Earn a little money: Misty & Bryce operate a small local catering business to earn some extra cash
“Rural living made perfect sense immediately to us and we found the notion of complete self-sufficiency appealing.”
They spent three years learning how to lead the homestead lifestyle before going out on their own and buying a piece of farmland in the local area for $37,500 in 2009.
The area was covered with trash and old materials that they had to clear for weeks. They then spent four months building a cob house — a natural material made of clay, sand, and straw — for just $10,000.
Since the move they have been able to expand and improve their house every summer.
Misty homeschools their daughters and teaches them a traditional curriculum with key primate skills as well as animal care and building techniques.
Misty & Bryce operate a small, local catering company to make money. However, since they don’t own a vehicle, they can cycle, walk or travel on horses.
Education: Misty homeschools their daughters and teaches them a traditional curriculum with key primate skills and animal care.
No money, no problem! Bryce says that their family’s financial stability is due to their self-sufficient, low-cost lifestyle.
He said, “We calculated that our annual living expenses are approximately $15,000 over the years – this is when we have two kids.”
They live off the grid. Most of their food is from their cows, ducks and chickens.
Giddyup! Bryce can be seen riding on their horse-drawn carriage
Bryce believes that their family is financially secure despite not having consistent income. This is because of their low-cost, self-sufficient lifestyle.
‘We’ve worked out over the years that our annual living costs amount to approximately $15,000 — and that’s with raising two kids,’ he said.
“We aim to be as self-sufficient as possible by growing and harvesting the food we eat.
He stated that he does occasionally receive a shopping delivery from the closest road but only for an extremely limited range of essential products.
Most of their food comes from their own cows, chickens, and ducks, as well as a vegetable patch.
They grow all of the orchard fruit and produce a wide variety of vegetables and nuts, which are harvested on a weekly schedule.
You can eat at home. They use solar panels to generate electricity and draw water from the well.
Savers: They estimate their life costs $15,000 per annum to save.
They are cheap: The lifestyle they choose is $70,000 less expensive than the average family of four in their region
Bryce stated, “I believe the difference in our lifestyle isn’t so much about what we do but how we do it.”
He said, “Of course, we have to make money. But the main focus of our day should be finding the most sustainable, fulfilling, and satisfying way to live.”
Bryce stated that while most people spend their time trying to make ends meet, they are spending their time working hard to get these essentials.
Bryce explained, “Granted, this is not the life that everyone wants, but for us it works and we’ve never felt happier.”
The family cooks their meals using a wood stove and uses solar power to generate electricity. They also collect water from the well.
The pair estimate that their lives cost just $15,000 a year to fund — a whopping $70,000 CAD less than the average four person household in their province.
Bryce stated, “I believe the difference in our lifestyle isn’t so much about what we do but how we do it.”
While we must acquire money, the goal of the day is to find the most satisfying and sustainable way to live.
“Compared to most people who spend the majority of their lives trying to save money for the essentials of life, many of us work to obtain these necessities.
It’s not for everyone. But it works for us. We’ve never been happier.