Our first trips to the island where we set up our basecamp. We build a tent platform out of logs, hot shower and an outhouse so we can stay on the island for longer periods as we build our log cabin
Curated by: Off Grid Island (15 videos)
This week on the island we went fishing, figured out how many logs we are going to need for the sauna cabin and chose what trees we will be cutting down. The first day we ended up rowing around the nearby areas of the lake for a couple hours fishing and exploring, luckily we had amazing weather and ended up taking a sauna after. The island has approximately 800-1000 trees on it with a average height of 24m and diameter of 28cm, this info is from a drone survey. Based on that information, we should have plenty of trees to not only build a log sauna cabin, but also a larger cabin in the future while still having trees left on the island. This trip was less doing more thinking, I calculated how many logs we are going to need and I was surprised how few trees it may be. Before I had just been assuming we were going to have enough trees and it feels much better now knowing this is something that is going to be possible resource wise. When walking around marking the trees it really feels like taking these 25-30 trees is hardly going to be noticeable. I feel as though the hardest thing is going to be moving the logs, thank you for all the comments last video I'm think using an atv winch and maybe some log skates may end up being the best option. Nothing is set in stone yet so if you like our plans for the sauna cabin or have any ideas/changes let us know! It has to be under 25m2 in order to be 10m from the lake, at least 1/3rd of the building has to be a sauna and a covered deck can be up to 15m2. More about us, the island and the process: The island is completely secluded, has no electricity or plumbing and currently has nothing on it but trees. We want to turn this island into a fully functioning summer cottage with a log cabin, sauna and other amenities. Most of the work is gonna be done in the summer months as the lake freezes in the winter and the weather conditions are tough. There's a lot of work to be done as the island is over 2.5 acres (1 hectare) and we have no experience in off-grid living, carpentry or building. So any tips or advice are greatly appreciated, as we are planning on doing everything ourselves and transforming the island into our own little paradise. We’ll document every step of the way, starting from smaller builds to finally - an off-grid log cabin. Our plan for this year is to put up a platform for a glamping tent, build a floating dock and start cutting down trees to begin the process of building our log cabin. The island is located in Finland and we bought it in 2024. We are currently both students and we plan to transform the island alongside our studies. So, subscribe and join us on this adventure. It won’t be fast, it won’t be easy, but it will be fun and challenging. We don’t know what to expect, so be a part of the journey. 📸 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @off.grid.island