Couple Build Off-Grid Dream Homestead and Are Now 'Completely Debt-Free'

As the housing crisis in the U.S. grows, many people are looking for alternative ways to live without having to resort to crippling mortgages or sub-par rentals.

Across the United States a single family home now costs a record 5.3 times more than the median household's income, double what is considered affordable, according to research undertaken by The Guardian.

And while this bleak landscape is getting increasingly worse, it is by no means a new situation, which is what led John Kernohan, 61, and Fin Davies, 45, to give up their fast paced lives in Miami and London respectively 12 years ago, and move to Middle Georgia to start an off-grid 16 acre greenhouse homestead.

While this may sound like an exclusive endeavor only available to the wealthy, the couple were determined to keep the costs as low as possible.

"We dated for two years flying between the U.S. and the U.K.," Davies told Newsweek. "Until I asked him to marry me, but on a few conditions. One was that we pick a country and settle down, either in the U.S., the U.K. or my native Thailand, the second that we don't live in a city, and third that we build our own home. That's exactly what we did, and 12 years later, here we are."

The couple spent their first three years on a hunting lease, paying $1,200 annually for 81 acres, moving on to purchase the first 3.16 of their now 16.2 acres for $5,000 in 2015. They purchased the last of their land in 2019.

"We were able to keep the costs of the land down as firstly we paid cash," said Davies. "And the first few acres of land we bought were 'landlocked,' meaning there was no road access. It was also 'raw land,' with no infrastructure, no power, no sceptic, water or well. We actually lived for months using two generators for electricity until we built our first solar system, and we toted in 5-gallon containers of water twice a week for over a year that we filled at a nearby boat ramp's potable water station.

"We cleared all our land ourselves with chainsaws and renting equipment such as skid-steer, bulldozer, and forestry mulcher."

Do-it-yourself home renovations also made the project more affordable. "John was adopted when he was young by an Amish father, who taught him incredible skills, combined with my design skills we were able to create something truly unique," said Davies.

The couple live off-grid, which means they are self-sufficient and no longer connected to the national source, relying on natural gas and power for energy. They also recycle their sewage using an 18 month process called humanure composting, "which is the technical term taking human waste combined with livestock skat, leaves, straw, and other organic materials, and turning it into a nutrient-rich, safe, non-toxic organic soil," said Davies.

This is aided by the fact that as well as their rentable homestead houses, they also run a no-kill animal rescue, complete with four dogs and 31 cats, six goats, two pigs, 45 chickens, and four ducks.

"In the beginning, we had to adjust to not having the advantage of just running out to the local store and if we wanted something Atlanta is the biggest nearby city and is 1.5 hours away. The nearest small town is a good 30 minutes away," said Davies.

Some users on Instagram asked how the couple weatherproof their home.

"After John living for decades in South Florida, he has experienced so many hurricanes and severe storms, and the monsoons Fin experienced for decades growing up in Thailand, have left us both with a serious respect for Mother Nature's angry side and we recognize that no structures are safe from a direct hurricane or tornado hit," said Davies.

The whole structure is reinforced to weather extreme conditions, "and after living here in Middle-Georgia ?? these past 12 years, we've lived through numerous storms, hail, severe thunderstorms, and near-hit tornadoes... and all our greenhouse roofs are standing strong and remain safe and secure."

Despite the years of hard work to create a safe and comfortable home, the couple don't regret a thing.

"We love everything about our home and life and have done since day one," said Davies. "We are even closer as a couple, we are completely debt-free, and we have complete control over our lives and our future together. Our property taxes are less than $700 this year, we own our home, 16.2 acres, vehicles, all structures, equipment, 2000sqft community house, and everything else free and clear."

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