Can you even imagine a guy with very limited carpentry skills building a log cabin like this?
Well that is exactly what happened!
I actually convinced my wife to sell our 2800 sq ft home and everything in it. I showed her a simple drawing, basically a couple of boxes, in which we could easily build a log cabin like the pioneers did. I explained that most of these pioneers couldn’t even read or write and many came from the city like me. So why couldn’t I build one?
I was very surprised when she said, “let’s go for it!” It turned out when we were both younger (and didn’t know each other at all) we had similar ideas. I had worn a cowboy hat so much at summer camp they actually dubbed me “cowboy” and I would draw farm houses and trees wishing I lived in the country. Stacy would always carry this thought of animal husbandry, living in a log cabin and raising lots of animals with a garden. It was kind of strange to discover this about one another as we were starting this journey from 100% city kids to a pioneer life in the 21st century.
I began to devour books on log cabin building focusing on the pioneer style. I did my homework by visiting several log cabins in and around the St. Charles County area of Missouri. They have several log cabins that have been standing well over 100-200 years. One place that I really enjoyed was the Daniel Boone Home in Defiance, Missouri. They have a great collection of 1800 early 1900 style homes on the property made with logs. That place was inspirational!
With my newfound inspiration, I was off to find the logs to build our cabin. With the help from a friend, we harvested the white oak logs from his property. White oak was my first choice because of its rot and bug resistance. This type of hardwood is the most sought after to build log homes for longevity.
Next, my focus was finding a way to join the logs as I stacked them. There are several ways you can achieve this. I chose the “saddle notch” method using a “V” knotch because of its simplicity that I felt confident with right away.
I put the cabin together as I notched out the logs. Below is a pic from the back and front of the cabin after I stained the logs, cut out the doors and windows, and braced the logs with 2x4s.
I felt comfortable building the cabin, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing the footings and concrete work. So I hired the work out.
We opted for a crawl space because we were building with no debt. We paid cash for the build and a full basement would of added another $5000. Our new motto was “No more bills.” So we did the best with what we had.
We had an old Allis- Chalmers tractor that we purchased for the homestead. I was able to utilize the bucket to lift the heavy white oak logs in place on the foundation all by myself. It really came in handy when I was five to seven logs high!
One thing to note is that the white oak logs are very dense and heavy, getting that tractor was a great move for this solo project.
When I disassembled the cabin to place it on the foundation, I numbered all the logs. This was very beneficial in the rebuild process so everything went right back in its place.
The next step after stacking the logs was the roof, I planned on building the rafters on site. I built the roof by myself on the record-breaking hottest day of the year. I knew that when I accomplished that nothing would get in the way of our dream.
Here is a picture of the balancing act I had to perform while working solo on the day of the rafter build. The ratchet straps and scrap 2x4s were my best friend. When I was actually on the ground and looking up at what I had just accomplished, it really started to sink in. We were now captains of our own ship. This place we were building would be so much more than just a house or status symbol, it would be a place that we would grow as a couple and individuals. A place to push all our former boundaries, to learn new skills and to work together as a team.
The roof was up and it was time to make the whole struture a little stronger. By adding the roofing plywood to the rafters, it strengthened the whole structure. This was exciting because we were one step closer to shingles.
The pink stuff between the logs is pink panther insulation. This was a little trick I picked up. This way I get R value BETWEEN the logs and use less chinking. Chinking is the material that fills the gaps between the logs. The insulation is the pink panther insulation foam boards you get from the lumber yard or big box stores.
Now we are ready for some “chinking”. I did some research and I was not really into using grass and mud so I went a little modern and used a product called log jam. It comes in a caulk tube and is supposed to expand and contract very well with the logs. Remember, we are living the pioneer life in the 21st century, so we get to indulge a little.
This was an interesting process. I had never done anything like this before but felt I was up to the challenge. I needed some foam brushes and a spray bottle of water. I learned I needed different size brushes for the install because log homes always have some variations in the space between the logs.
Just like caulk, you squeeze it on then use the foam brush to smooth it out. You will squirt the water (on mist) directly onto the chinking, not to much, just enough to keep it from setting up. Just do one row at a time.
Here are some pictures showing you a mistake I made. See that ledge? It shouldn’t be there. Chinking needs to fill the gap so it’s flush with the wood or overlaps a bit so water rides out of the gap to the ground. Otherwise, when the water is allowed to sit in the gap or ledge, it could rot the wood. I will be redoing the whole cabin soon. Look for those videos on our You Tube channel here:
http://bit.ly/offgridwithdougandstacy
One of the reasons we went with a log home was the simplicity of the build. Inside the home there is no drywall or mud or paint which really cuts down on costs and on experience needed. I won’t go into all the details about the inside part of the build on this blog post but stay tuned as we start rolling out the stories of our nine year adventure to become more self-reliant and sustainable while we live an intentional life.
Your #homesteadhomie
Doug
was your house a kit and if so were can we purchase a kit? we are also thinking about an outside kitchen we love yours is did you have a video of the building of it? sorry for all the questions.
scratch my last comment about the cabin as a kit, I read your blog.
Thanks for sharing this!
Just recently found you guys. Wow! I love your videos and can’t wait to try out the recipes in your fermenting and cook books. I feel so inspired just watching what you have accomplished and how one really can live off grid!. Woohoo!!!!
So, was the home a kit home where they sent you all the supplies or did you just get the plans and build off of the plans with your own wood, or did you draw everything up on your own and build? I don’t think you mentioned the specifics of that.
Your story is so inspiring! The “normal” way doing things isn’t always the best way.
Hi, Doug and Stacy! Y’all are living my dream. I binge watch and save your videos. I feel at home when watching them.😊 Very grateful for the nuggets and humor. Good Lord willing, I will use this knowledge to build a farm and off grid lifestyle. Thank you for freely giving the knowledge that you both have obtained to others. You both are doing a wonderful job!#homesteadhomie
Love reading about how the cabin came to be! We are hopeful to live in the country, one step at a time.
My question is about the outdoor kitchen. What do you do for the winter to keep the snow out. I’m fairly new and probably have a zillion videos to catch up on! So excited about the conference in October.
Now this would be a dream totally..so awesome!
love all you do my grammar had 120 acre farm with 15 milk cows and chickens and the best well water I ever tasted miss all that I’m 66 want to do this but I’m afraid of age thing miss the farm for sure
Im a nomad traveler had started in 2015 in a Class A RV then in 2018 I traded and purchased a cargo van traveled across the US actually have friends in Missouri anyway 20221 I decided to homestead in New Mexico and through a realtor I bought 1 acre I chose to buildout a Connex Storage Container as my home I’m interested in your water catch system.
I am interested in what kind of solar panels and solar generator you use. I am researching these to have for backup power to run freezer, refrigerator and maybe a small space heater or window ac unit. I realize I may have to rotate cause it would be too much to power at once with a portable solar system. Thanks.
noted, guess I’ll be checking the blog when time permits
Doug and Stacy, love everything about you guys! Real people. My wife and I just started watching you a couple of weeks ago. Keep the videos coming! Love the log cabin! I have always wanted to live in one.
Love this.
https://oakloghome.com/off-grid-with-doug-and-stacy/
We are looking at cabin kits like your mother’s to build for our daughter and ourselves. However, we are looking to be off the grid with our own water etc. I did make my first batch of ghee today and was impressed how easy it is. We are also looking to buy bulk. We were wanting a root cellar and outdoor kitchen also. We were also the ones who suggested Stacy needed a laundry hut to do laundry in the winter. However, my grandmother also cooked with a wood burning stove, but she also had a screened in porch outback, so what she did was opened the doors during the summer months to the screened in porch and would crack open the living room windows and there was always a breeze to be able to cook in the summer. But, in the winter behind her wood stove she used for warmth ar times she had a line she would hang clothes on beside the stove and would let them dry that way. I remember helping her do laundry, the washing portion of her old wring washer wouldn’t work, so she did the scrubbing board then wring them out on the wring portion of the washer that still worked and we always hung the clothes to line dry. But, I know by experience, in the winter that gets pretty cold!
I really love this! I wish I could get my kids on-board with this… sent him a couple of your videos to whet his appetite. Hope they come around. I’m a bit old to do this alone, but it’s ideal for me.
The best thing .you wife and I did was to leave our 3000 SF beach home and built a 400 SF cabin in the country and moved in. Got away from city chatter and found Gods peace. Alot of hard work, but it is extremely rewarding. Our only regret is waiting so long to make the move.
Have to wonder…is Doug an Engineer?
Doug & Stacy, I’ve been following you guys for a about it now. I believe I found y’all when you first began your journey on the homestead. Then I lost you again. Anywho. My husband and I love in a 16×80 mobile home. I was raised by a carpenter. So.I believe I.have some of the skills needed to build. My question is where did you find this.design the you wanted.
Great article! Will def share this with my hubby!
Love all the info!!
I have learned so much I love you too thank you
You guys are a great inspiration! Thank you for sharing!
Shalom Brother Doug and Sister Stacey.. We are working to get all our cabin soon to build on our totally off grid, uncharted land we paid for.. We have been subscribed to your YouTube Channel for sometime now. Lol we doubt we will win the drawing for the truck.. But we did sign up for the drawing. I pray you all.. And everyone worldwide wakes up. And knows the mommy daddy government are not for us. Only to fill their rich bellies and pockets..
keep Praying and Just keep your mind on your goals. And most of all KEEP YOUR EYES LOOKING UP, AND YOUR BIBLES OPEN. AND YOUR HELP ONE ANOTHER.AND REMEMBER TO ENDURE THROUGH HARD TIMES COMING.
May the Father bless all,
Great inspiring work! Thanks for
Sharing your insight with us!
I have always admired y’all so much and have learned so much from you. I have enjoyed watching your videos for many years now! <3
Looking forward to more content on the website!
Have loved reading this log cabin story, can’t wait to read the inside story. Have learned a lot from you two, Stacy has gotten me started with fermenting, really appreciate the simplicity of all this.
Love this blog and this site!!! Thank you for the detail in how you built your log cabin!
Nice website!
Thanks Diana, Emily at http://www.whizbangweb.com/ did a great job working with us =)
Just beautiful! So happy to know more about your adventures.
I love the look of the flat logs with the chinking!
Wow that’s really awesome! When you redo your cabin, are you going to start completely over? Or just redo parts of it? I love watching the videos on your mom’s cabin. And now I’m excited to see what you’ll do with yours.
Love your website and y’all! Looking forward to more articles!
Love your youtube channel. I enjoy everything about homesteading, but the current videos about building for your Mom has really got my husbands attention, now he gets mad at me if I watch a video without him. Keep it up!!! We have a little mini farm (3 acres) and I got chickens last year, so I use you for reference all the time, chickens, gardening, fermenting, we have a wood burner for supplemental heat, so I even like videos about cutting and stacking firewood! Thanks!
My husband does too. He asks every day, “Has Doug put up a new video yet?”
You guys are living the dream!
I really enjoy all of the homestead activities.
I’ve learned lots of Stacy’s fermenting tips, too. She is a joy to watch.
Waiting patiently for the completion of your moms new digs! What a labor of love by Doug and crew. Best wishes in all of your endeavors.
I am waiting, to see the food from scratch. I love your log home.
This is great I love this site.
Good stuff!
Hey from Arkansas! Loved reading this! Y’all are SO inspirational!
Thanks Beth!
Such good information. I’ll be back for more 😉
Thank you!
Thank you for your new webpage. I am loving the easy to read steps and information on HOW YOU BUILT YOUR MOM A LOG CABIN. It’s wonderfully easy to use on topics, icons, suggestions on products and how to easily order them. I am still exploring all the free education your teaching on YouTube also. I definitely want to sign up for your newsletter.
I’m so glad you typed this all out with pictures. It’s neat to see how you started the log cabin and what it looks like today. You and Stacy are so inspiring!
Always beautiful work and knowledge. Thank you
I just preordered the cookbook. Can’t wait to get it and try some of the recipes.
Hi from NC!
Always great information. A lot of in-depth details on how to build a log home.
Thank you for sharing this blog with us. You’ve been inspiring me through YouTube videos for years!
So cute and homey
Homestead Homey 😉
Live watching all your videos!
Great work….love watching you guys. Thanks for sharing all you do and inspiring so many dreams.
Great new page!! I love reading your story, and watching your videos!
I love watching your videos and reading the Facebook chatter of your fans. Lots of great ideas and inspiration! Congrats on getting your website moving.
Awesome site & info!
Thanks for explaining everything from the begining! Have been following you both for about 5 years. Have been to all 3 of the homesteading life conferences and loved every minute of it! Will be checking out more of your blogs here. Thank you both for all that you share.
Really have enjoyed watching you tube and all the information you and Stacy have shared!
Can’t wait to get my cookbook!
Also enjoying the log cabin build you are doing for Mom!
As my Daddy used to tell his hospice staff, “keep up the good work “!
Inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Doug & Stacy,
I’m late to the thread and new here. Quick question: They aren’t overly strict and intrusive there in Missouri regarding building codes and such?
I’m in Newaygo County, MI in an unincorporated area and it’s almost discouraging how intrusive and demanding they are… Anyhow, you all are very inspiring and lead the life I want. I think everyone should be living like that…. Very inspiring!!!
Hi Stacy and Doug,
You guys are just amazing! Been watching your videos and following you guys for a little while now!
I enjoy every little bits you post.
You are an inspiration for all of us!
Martine
Excited to hear more of your journey.
I’ve enjoyed your many videos and seeing your log cabin. Keep up the good work!
Wow!
Great start to where you are now!
I cannot imagine the trepidation at every glitch and bump along the way! I mean, just knowing that this would be for the rest of your life and you had to make it count as you went along because there was no clue as to what the future would bring. How truly traditional!
As a lurker for years, I’ve been following you both and pushing my family to get with the program of more sustainability. With today’s upheaval, they have finally begun to get interested. Better late than never I guess.
Keep up the great work. Your reach far exceeds your grasp!
Kind regards,
Love the blog and your Youtube channel! Thank you for sharing more via another source. Blessings to Doug and Stacy!
good stuff! well-written, too. Didn’t now you had book-learning, too! haha
*know, not “now.” Maybe I don’t have the book-learning.
lol you so funny =)
Love how you are sharing your cabin build…been watching for a year but always wondered how you first did the cabin!
Cool
THIS WHOLE THING IS FASCINATING!
Thanks for sharing your cabin build. How many square meters is it and would you recommend a couple build a cabin the same size today?
it is 600 sq ft here in USA =) and sure its a fantastic size
but if you had kids you might want a extra room
Great first article, but it’s it more than 9 years? You probably wrote this for some Mother Earth News or something… It’s just the editor in me… Love all the pictures from the good old days.
Oh sure, the editor in me didn’t edit my own comment and you can’t fix stuff here like you can on YouTube…
“isn’t it?”
Anyway, good job.
I love your pictures of your log home build! I’m enjoying watching your videos of the Education Center build and now your moms house build! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
Thanks Chris
Hi , I live in Connecticut and the building codes are REDICULOUS! How are the codes in Mo.? Thinking of selling my house and a property and heading back down south (originally born and raised in Ky,,)..
Just call me Moses! I finally found your off-Grid homepage!!! I love you guys!!! So do my Granddaughters!!! I’ve already got my cookbook, my Chocolate Tea,and the teabagger thingies, A T-Shirt, and getting ready to purchase Stacy’s Fermenting book next paycheck! I have watched a lot of your Video’s, and I must say; “You are living, and built my Daddy’s dream cabin! he even painted a picture of what it would look like, so two years after his death, we moved north in Upper Michigan, to build his dream 35 years ago with four children. Wish we would have known you, we would have moved next to you instead! 🙂
Hi Doug and Stacy!
I love your video’s! I wish we would have thought about this 2009 ,we bought and retired to Florida! 🙁 the dirt here is not good and on top of that we moved city ,still feels a little country but it’s city! I want to move back to KY so bad now. Our house is small but we do have backyard chickens. I have grown tomato’s. It’s just not same. I’ve looked up food for FL to grow so maybe I’ll try that.ok there’s a lot going on in my pea brain! LOL. But thank you so much for sharing everything with us. Xxoo Helen and Gene
Hi Helen and Gene Holder,
I know what you mean about Florida dirt being weak. It is basically a big old sandbar. I live an hour from the Florida line. I’m just in Georgia. The soil here is white sand. Container farming can be a good choice. QVC and other places have raised garden bed supplies. You can also use kiddy pools to put in bought good soil. You can buy red-wiggler earth worms from fish supply shops or checkout the little green monsters online too. They are microbes that help your garden to grow in abundance! Keep on trying and you will find what works best for you. Hope I was able to help.
Hi Doug and Stacy
I love your cabin and enjoy watching your videos. I wanted to ask you what a natural floor cleaner do you use on your wood and hard wood floors?
Well done on your build! I am glad to have found you guys on YouTube. I am learning a great deal on survival thriving. So grateful to you both!
I did not catch the name of the log cabin company that you use for your mothers house. Would you please tell me their name. And what county do you live in that has no restrictions for homes.
You should make a step by step of how to build this cabin. I love it!! Great job Doug and Stacy!!
I love the detail you gave on building the cabin. I think i can do that. Love your utube videos! I always wanted to homestead. A little old now. But trying to be as self sufficient as possible. Growing food, and trying to prep for disasters. You are both great role models. Thank you.
I love your cute cabin. I wish my family wouldn’t have sold their farms.
I would love that life instead of living in the city. My children love to grow plants. We have a small garden, but I know they would love farm animals especially chickens.
I love the photos from your build. You and Stacy teach us so much. I had been taught since I was small that living off of rain catchment was impossible. Thank you for teaching me otherwise. We currently have well water but living out in the country our electricity is often and unexpectedly taken from us. For us this means no water or lights/gadgets of modern life. Usually they have it back on in a few hours. However I’ve been in the middle of trying to get bathed and dressed for work and other times I’ve been in the middle of trying to get dinner made before 12:00 midnight (which is when our electricity might finally return). A storm such as Hurricane Michael a few years ago has left us without electricity for a couple of weeks! Thank you for helping me find solutions to these many little hiccups life brings. We too are trying to slowly live a more self sustaining life.
Hi Doug and Stacey. I love your pioneering spirit! Haven’t made it to your videos yet but I will.
I’ve recently come across you two and don’t remember how I did it, but I’m glad I’m here.
I would love to live like you do. I was raised in the country, so I know that feeling of freedom.
The biggest challenge I wonder about is how did you adjust from 2800 sq ft to 600???
Look forward to learning more!
Printed this out. Thank you so much for sharing
I WANT TO ADOPT STACY, SO YOU’LL BE OUR SON-IN-LAW, DOUG! OR WE COULD ADOPT YOU, SO STACY CAN BE OUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW!!!! NAH, NEVER MIND… WE’RE NOT WORTHY!!! IT SURE WOULD BE NEAT TO BE ABLE TO MEET YOU TWO IN PERSON THOUGH!!! 🙂 I HAVE A GOOD IDEA! YOU COULD DRIVE THAT TRUCK TO MICHIGAN AND COME SEE US, AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN, BEFORE YOU GIVE IT AWAY!!! AFTER ALL, YOU ARE THEIR FAVORITE MOVIE STARS!!! 🙂
Doug & Stacy,
I watched several of your videos on the offgridwithdougandstacy.com website but there is not a thumbs-up icon anywhere that I can see. Am I missing something, or do I need to check a box somewhere?
Do I need to go back to YouTube and watch the videos to give you all a thumbs-up?
Do you have insulation in the walls? I am not sure what the weather is like where you are but we get fluctuations of about 75C, -40C to +35Cplus. Does the oak log at that dimension hold its temperature in winter and cool in summer?
hi there Rebecca here…just wanted to ask you a question…have you looked into what they are spraying in the skies? it’s in the rain water! can you filter heavy poisonous metal’s out of your rain water collection I heard you say in one of your tour of the house videos
this was quite the build, I am an armature wood worker, this would be a challenge to do something like this but with God in it all things are possible.
I love all the great pics. We hope to build one in the near future.
I appreciate you two so much! I use so much out of every video and every blog. . .like living next door (almost!).
Have watched your channel for a long time. Have learned a lot and the cabin is awesome! Especially by yourself! Doing it “younger” is always a plus! Lol I have always wanted a Simple and efficient life as I also have animals and the feed now days is truly ridiculous. Of course it is always necessary to have “the man around the house that is true to the same dreams and be as one! Give God the Glory! I love you “guys!” 💕
Hi, I just received a message on your Eggs/blood clot video to a comment that I sent you and said that I won the giveaway. I believe this is a scam and not from you. Thought you should know!!
what an amazing accomplishment! beautiful home!
Dear Friend, Doug and Stacy, Because of what you two do, Christine and I have planned to take our 401k money and buy land, I will build our own off grid house with all the knowledge you (Y’all) have provided from the goodness of your hearts. We already are planning our first exploratory trip down to N/E Missouri in 5 weeks. We are looking for 5 – 10 acres. I am a retired carpenter/cabinet maker age 65 (yesterday)…My wife Christine is still employed as a coder for UW Madison Medical Center, and works via the internet. We presently live in Round Lake Illinois in the N/E Corner near Lake Michigan where I was born and raised from outstanding parents. I plan to bring my tools, knowledge and equipment down, consisting of a compact tractor w/backhoe with all the attachments, an 8 x 14′ dump trailer and a 2019 F450. I have completed my plans for the home and outbuilding with rain water storage and basic solar. We like the area in the N/E quadrant of Missouri because of its gentile rolling topography and the friendly people (Amish)… We are very excited and stunned by your generosity with the F150 give away and hope it goes to a well deserving winner. God Bless You Two… Paul and Christine Yingling
Hello been watching your videos for a spell now off and on that is.noe that im retired i have more time to do it.question when is the next time time your going to have a live feed?
thanks…paul
Paul, they are on Sundays at 7pm Central standard time (CST).
Great job for a beginner. I always wanted to try building an underground or bermed home. never did get to it as i had a job and 6 kids. Now 81 and still got the bug. I live in the country and have had a garden, but not to the extent of being self sufficient. I do eat organic and as healthy as possible, but have been tied up for the last few years as caregiver for my husband who recently passed away. I am looking forward this season to going full speed ahead on my gardening. I will be watching all of your videos for sure. I now watch a lot of them on utube. You guys are great. Learning so much from you.
I feel so inspired. Thank you Doug for making things so understandable. We are looking for land now which really seems hard. We now live on 3/4 acre and are doing what we can as far as homesteading. We love watching your videos. we were sad the conference is all booked up. Hope to see you next time.
You are right up my ally. Always felt I was born 100 years late. My question is do you have a video that shows the inside of your home? Just interested in how you laid it out. Thanks much. Deniese
Do you have any suggestions for a single woman in her 50’s homesteading alone? I was raised being taught how to do a lot of things so as my dad would say “I don’t ever want you to have to depend on a man to survive”. My mother’s side of my family were very poor they lived off the land and raised chickens and hogs mainly. I am able to grow my own food and can foods as well. I however am not able to build a home or structures, I can build a chicken coop, green house and a small stable possibly. I have the opportunity to purchase around .76 acers of land here in on the Eastern Shore of Maryland or several acers outside of Augusta, GA. Can you help me with with ideas of housing?
I have been following your videos almost since Day 1. I grew up in the St. Louis area and hearing you speak, Doug, reminds me of my Papaw; he would’ve been 93 today if colon cancer hadn’t taken him in 2015. You are so inspiring but, I also feel such an intense yearning inside–maybe even a lick of envy–to live this kind of life. I do not have a partner in all of this. I am not afraid to do it alone, but I’m also hopelessly in debt after fracturing a shoulder several years’ ago. The injury has healed but not my finances. It may be a long time before I can hope to live this life completely. However, I take heart in watching your videos and applying what I can where I am. Thank you for sharing!