#92 Q&A about homesteading in the Italian Alps
I was away this week, so I'm doing a questionnaire.
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SOCIAL
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Music in this video: Spaces by Max LL
0:00 Intro
4:31 Start
6:12 Are there any plans for additional animals?
9:25 Do you get many fans that show up unanounced?
11:16 How many times a week do you have to make a trip to the village?
13:03 How different do you think the project would be without your KZhead channel?
14:40 How do you prevent yourself from being overwhelmed by large projects or when you make mistakes?
16:50 What part of the restoration process were you the least prepared for?
19:33 Best and worst day so far?
22:17 Renovation costs and income
27:43 What’s the next big project after you finished the first cabin?
30:14 How has your body changed?
32:12 Are you buying a chapel?
34:10 Will you live here for the rest of your life?
36:07 Where is the crane?
The stove and staircase in the cabin look like they have been there decades, done by an ancient craftsman. Also, I was really surprised how quickly the mountainside has descended into its winter slumber, Brilliant Martijn. Thanks
Geschaffen von einem Menschen mit der Liebe zum Detail, und einem visionären Weitblick. Ohne unnötige zeitliche Hetze und Stress.
I love you, Martijn. And the chickens. And the Italian Alps.
The oven, the staircase, the whole project from the planning and design, then the making and now the finished project is a fantastic result. Absolutely brilliant Martjin. I can't wait to see the next project whatever that is and also to see you enjoying your cosy fireplace on the big day of moving in the cabin.
I’ve watched all of your videos and love seeing your progress. The video showing how your are going to furnish it gave me and idea I would like to share. In the kitchen living area you could put a small sofa/sectional. On the wall where you were thinking of putting the video screen you could put a counter height table that you could use as a desk as well as work space in the kitchen. (With a enclosed bookshelf built into it - facing the living room side).
❤ .. glad to hear about the possibility of maybe a cat ..independent like yourself.. and good company..once again thankyou sir we’ll done
There's a quote, author unknown, "a good book makes you want to live in the story. A great book gives you no choice". This is how I see this story lived by Martijn. Martijn, we are your scattered family across the globe and feeling blessed. All here, have a great week.
So true
Your work ethic, patience, creativity and problem-solving abilities are what set you apart (and far ahead) of most everyday people. Thank you for sharing it all with us!
@FinkworldTravels 👏👏 I totally agree with your comment! I don’t know if you are male or female, but coming from my female prospective I also see a true, quiet spoken gentleman, which is lacking in everyday men these days. Martijn is Martijn. He doesn’t speak loud and have a need to tell of his accomplishments, he quietly just is. Very easy personality! 💚 from Texas
We all have a crane in our lives.
What a great insight! We do, for sure, but those rabbit holes that initially seem to not be worth much have a way of becoming VERY useful later on.
I really enjoyed this “… from the heart” Q&A. You’re a rare pioneer living life that others dream of.
I'm so glad that you do not have sponsor messages in your channel. It is so in line with your overall personality and maintains a humanistic atmosphere in this internet community. Thank you so much!
May I laugh? ;)
I think he can have sponsors, it wouldn't bother me.
Couldn't agree more
@@MariaDiazskni think no one asked for your opinion
Hmm...
Thank you, Martijn. Your videos brought my Mother much joy & happiness’s before her passing! Thank you
Your stove installation & stairs are magnificent. Well done !
I agree. It's all so stunning!!
Beautiful!
A fascinating video this Sunday morning! Many questions I have thought about myself, but never put down in the form of a question to you! So, thank you to all the people who did, and thank you, Martijn for the detailed and thoughtful answers. On a very personal note, I have watched all of the videos of the bike rides, and the videos of your mountain top from the first to the last. I feel very invested in your life and find you an awesome young man! I will be 80 years old in June of 2024, and my goal for the future is to live long enough to see Cabin #1 and Cabin #2 completed! And now, I want to see your log cabin work shop completed as well! Thank you, Martijn, for letting me live my life vicariously through you! Keep up the good work, live in peace and stay safe! Until next week . . .
Hi Martijn. Great chat. We enjoy your channel very much. The person you are makes the world a better place somehow. Sending you good wishes from New Zealand.
4:30 am in British Columbia - just the best way to start my day & my week. Your work takes me back to a time when we just did what we needed to do without complaint; with joyful effort. The world needs more of this.
Hello to my fellow BCer!
I agree. Ontario.
@@1962pjh From BC 🍁also, which has some beautiful and awesome scenery, but Martijn always blows me away with the gorgeous videos of his home and surrounding areas. Love it! ❤
And oh to guard the preciousness of time. So easily life interrupts.
9:59 am in Berlin
❤ All the best for you, Martijn. Thanks for being the way you are.
Martijn Doolaard: Adventurer, Learner, Artist, Stone-wrangler, Chicken-friend...and weekly inspiration. Bravo!
Nice comment. Bravo!
he's thinking of abandoning the chickens for weeks in the middle of winter, that's not very friendly
@@tunic i am sure he will make sure that the chickens will be safe
@@tunic At about 7:56, Martijn states he's looking for someone to host the chickens while he's gone.. or will make other plans. That's not abandonment. Having had chickens myself, I know they are pretty tough.... as he states, keep them out of the wind, make sure they have food and running water.
Beautifully put.
I really enjoy your channel, Martjin. The life you are building in the Alps is one that everyone dreams of, but few have the resiliency to endure. You have shown amazing calmness and been steadfast even when the severe winds destroyed your entire camp - many would have called it quits. I am looking forward to seeing the final version of your home, but very much enjoy taking the journey with you via KZhead. PS - the Hens steal the spotlight. ;)
"Good Morning Martijin" 🚶♂️and girls 🐔 🐔 🐔 .. Absolutely wonderful question & answer session; thankyou for everything.. You and your hens, are well loved. Your "White Hen", will continue to be top bird, especially this coming spring; when the new hens arrive! ha ha
Martijn this Q&A was your best! You expressed the warm feel of the man you are. I don’t know about others, but for me you verbally put into words how I felt you were inside. You are a remarkable human being. If the world was full of people such as you, the worlds troubles would be obsolete. I love your approach to life, you are living a life I have always felt inside my soul. I relate to you so much. Right down to the “always had a bad lower back”. 😊 I still get scared when you sit on the edge of your point! 😄 I’m so thankful I found you on you tube. You’ve added so much to my frame of mind and my life! Thank you Martijn! 🤗 💚 from Texas
Thank you!
We’ll said, and I agree with you, greetings from New Zealand
So,... I'm not the only one who is holding my breath when he walks out to his Happy Rock? !!!! In today's video more than ever,... maybe it was just the angle of the sunlight hitting the boulders,..but I was holding my breath😳
@@sueyancey185 No, you aren’t the only one. 🫣 😊 It scares me so bad! The way he jumped down from the one level to get to his ‘sit down on the edge of the mountain rock with his hands full of sandwich and thermos’ in this weeks video made my heart skip a beat. Just between you and I….I think he’s getting a little too comfortable around of that ledge! 😄
@@Neroli-Daydreaming-of-France Wish you well from Texas, USA 💚
Morning everyone x
G morning
Good afternoon in the UK😊
Good Mississippi morning y’all
@@SteveeCee yer I realised that after I posted :-).
Bom dia!! 😊
I love that you won’t do advertising, reviews for products unless you can be honest. There’s so much false advertising nowadays so that was refreshing to hear Martijn.
It’s a great day in the neighborhood! Coffee on the stove, dog sleeping in my lap, and a new issue of Martijn. Doesn’t get any better than this!
Agreed and I would add www.youtube.com/@SampsonBoatCo - just as addictive, a wonderful rebuild of an old wooden yacht, lovingly, slowly, magnificently
.."oh, won't you be...My Neighbor!"....
Beautiful chapter. Thanks so much for sharing your introspections.
'Finding something interesting in a not so interesting job' . These are words for live by. I love that you mentioned learning through KZhead. Nowadays there is no excuse for anyone to say they cant learn or do something different. I have learned how to paint in watercolor, gardening, make cheeses, breads, fermenting food, and even how to fix a kitchen aid mixer when I lived in Uganda where there were no shops that sold or fixed mixers (it was a big luxury to have one), all of that thanks to You tube. ❤😊 thank you for sharing your experience. Wishing you a blessed thanksgiving!
The best piece of advice you gave me here is that sometimes you have to work really hard to accept the way things are. As a young farmer, with a small family, livestock and a job on the side frustration over the feeling that there just isn’t enough of me for everything is constant. Your advice resonates hard right now. And it’s a never ending lesson. To work hard to accept the limitations and embrace the possibilities.
Amazing => you can give us the words! Thank you for writing that.
Fantastic point, this is a good one to learn early before your kids get to big. Patience is one of the great lessons that can be life changing!
You might resonate with farmer unorthodox as well. Keep up the good work!
Martijn, You are a private person, and like to do your own work. So, thanks for being open and answering all those questions. A favorite moment in your videos is your daily visit to "Outlook Rock". It seems to be a Spiritual moment for you. Stay strong.
Absolutely love hearing from you. Those were some great questions and answers. I've said it before- the most value I get from watching you is the reminder that whatever you dream- it is possible with the correct heart and mindset. Martjin shows us this every week. I deep bow to you, Martjin, thank you. Namaste. 🙏🏼💖
I liked today’s video very much and we all need time to reflect and reminisce- your pace is your pace and you have worked so hard - so family time refreshes your positivity
Two cats will do the job. And, as you said, they will do their own thing, but provide you with companionship and love as well.
If you are private, live alone remotely with few neighbors, need to travel, visit family in another country, and need to stay independent and flexible, sadly having pets is something you may have to be cautious about. It gets quite complicated, and neighbors are not always able or willing. Pets are used to company and don't do well without it, so just stopping in to feed them is not really adequate. A house sitter is the best way, but the right person in Martijn's circumstances. He is right to be deliberate about all this.
Definitely don't just get one cat! get at least two siblings who will look after each other,
But isn't there a chance of them killing other wildlife as well?
yep, anything small on the ground, especially nesting birds/chicks@@rdb4996
Yes like your chickens or birds
Thanks for your insights Martijn For the first 22 months or so, I was watching from Morocco, then from the UK for a few weeks and now, for the past 4 weeks, back home in Australia. Each environment contrasting to yours in such differing ways; from the Marrakech Medina to the southern English coast and currently subtropical island before heading down to Tasmania. I'm still watching enthusiastically, with so much awe and respect for your diligence, resilience, stoicism, and how you approach everything with the eye of an artist. Your videos are a pure, weekly pleasure! Thank you 🙏
Well said!
I started in California now in Chile on my way to Buenos Aires and Rome First thing I look for on Sunday
I agree wholeheartedly. No matter what I have on my to-do list every week I can't start until I get my uplifting start with Martjin's weekly masterpiece to put me in a great mood for the rest of the week.
Ain't that the truth! @@sundanceks5074
The stove and stairs are stunning. Thanks for sharing your journey. I can so relate to the joy of learning to do new things and getting much joy and energy from that.
I can't think of a time when all your projects are done, because when we stop building we tend to decline and I can't think of you in decline. Thank you for sharing your passion for life!
I had the joy of visiting Granada from Australia back in 2018, such a lovely place. I felt a twinge of envy too, I will never get there again due to age, health and environmental considerations. So glad you were able to travel there with your Dad and brother. Thanks for the Q&A always interesting to learn what you are planning and reflections on the process to date. Many thanks Martijn.
This was a great episode. It is always nice to hear about your life. You are a inspiration to many people. You work ethic is commendable. Hopefully you will be inside for the winter so you can take down the tent then. All the best to you, and thank you for these wonderful episodes for us to have a few minutes of peace in this crazy world.
That beautiful, shimmering outro shot made me cry. Thanks for everything Martijn. Greetings and warmest wishes from London, UK.
Cats are wonderful companions and can clear out all mice very quickly. They still need good food, love and attention.
Cats are very independent, they train you, you don't train them.
@@reladie Hahaha! There is some truth in that,..but it depends on the cat,....over the years I have trained most of my cats to act more like dogs!🙀😸😺
@@sueyancey185 why?
I admire you greatly and am glad you decided to share your progress with the world :)
The crane, aaahh THE crane. That moment when it was first tested out…. Magical! Burnt as image on my eyes! Completely worth it!
Thank you Martijn. I love your intro and outro drone photography - just stunning! It must be magical to exit your tent each morning to see the snow creeping down the mountains
Love your mindset and approach in keeping things simple and straightforward with reviews, advertising and filming. Enjoy the drone and nature cuts over music. You keep a nice balance between commentary and simply recording visuals. Enjoy watching every week, matey, since the beginning when I discovered your early cabin days on Kristen Dirksen’s channel.
This video was everything. It's such a privilege to get to know you as an individual through your artistry, skills, and restoration project. It is wonderful to be able to share in this great adventure. Your perseverance is admirable.Thank you for taking the time to answer questions from your minions.
I am so enjoying seeing that beautiful stove and staircase take form in your skillful hands. It is truly a work of art, and one you can take immense pride in. 💙🌀🌎
Your patience and resiliency are your best tools to get through this amazing project and journey.. And we will all be cheering for you.. Stay motivated! Aja!!
Martijn, I feel like you've figured out what life is about! At least for yourself, haha. I have to say, you and your work is a huge inspiration for me, in many aspects. I'm at a point of my life where I'm trying to find my passion, something meaningful to do in my personal and professional space, and your videos bring me a lot of hope. I see, that through courage, honest work and a decent plan, anybody is able to achieve a fulfilling life. Thank you for reminding me these things every Sunday. Greetings from Slovakia!
I appreciate you taking time to share & answer questions. It’s nice to understand your situation & reality more…. Why have I not followed you on IG until now!!! A quick look and I see I’ll be enjoying your posts there as well. Thank you, Martijn. I was also touched by your plan to take care of the chickens during the coldest weather while your away.
Love it! Music, mountains, chicken! Amazing lifestyle! ❤❤❤
😊😊😊
I have problems with my lower back too when doing manual labor of almost any kind. Lifting belt (made of nylon) solved this problem for me completely. I cant recommend it enough, to wear a classical lifting belt even all day long for a manual labor of any kind really. Try it definitely.
Been watching since week 11 been crazy. I love watching it and seeing how far the progress can be made in 92 weeks. My favorite was when the roof was finally finished.
Loved this week. So many good questions and answers. Your philosophy is so refreshing and inspiring.
Hello, Just wanted to say, Miss Red Chicken loves to follow you around like a little puppy,they all talk to you all the time. All of you are awesome ! Thanks Again
You have created in me a strong desire for a masonry stove and I'm scheming on how I can get one for my very old cold house...thank-you Martijn.
They are amazing. And there is a lot to know about it. His is a Finish version (or ‘Russian Bell stove’) there are also Rocket Mass stoves , slightly different and slightly more efficient too but with other cons. It’s a whole world that will open up when you dive in this topic. Enjoy! It’s worth it!
Loving the beautiful autumn colours on the mountains, especially at low light.
I so enjoy watching your videos, thank you for all the time you take putting them together. From a 64 yr old woman with a broken neck living in the mountains of USA. I had a small farm for 25 years and I so miss that lifestyle. Thank you Martijn, your place is so inspiring. It’s nice to be going along with you in this small way.
I'm sure you are already researching log cabins. There is a channel called The Outsider - a young man in the forests of Canada. I don't think the esthetic of his cabin is what you would aim for, but his techniques and work are impeccable, so you may want to check him out. He is third generation sawmill, forest upkeep, etc. so vast knowledge of the wood as well. He is also calm and hardworking like yourself. Thank you for the videos. I appreciate them.
Great suggestion! The work he and his dad have done is excellent. And the idea of having a sawmill on site is worth exploring, as long you have the correct timber around you.
Grazie Martino per i tuoi filmati ci rallegri i cuori. Ci infondi tanta pace e serenità 🌈
Martjin, your landscape scenes are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing what's on your mind and providing a weekly relaxation moment to the busiest of us!
Thouroughly enjoyable episode. I am sure I speak for others too in appreciation for your open, honest and intelligent, thoughts. Really good.
Why I like Marijn's Channel is that there are no click bailts, selling stiff, just genuine intent on what he does. Keep up the good work!!
I think the best part of your Q & A is that I have watched from the beginning and can remember all the things that you talked about - like the crane. I was wondering what had become of it and now I know. I so look forward to your weekly episodes and make myself finish my chores before I sit down to watch the current week's event unfold. Thanks so much for sharing your passion with all of us.
Martijin I have watched the entire series on the property from day one and I just want to say you are truly and inspiration. I am sure you are the type to not feel this way but you truly do inspire others. I have not had the luxury of traveling much but am working on it. I, like you have worked office jobs (still do) and feel it is time for a change. You are helping me to think about how I can reset my life to be more about living it rather than just going through it. For all of that I simply want to say thank you. I hope to one day get to meet you, even for just a quick moment, to simply say hello and shake your hand.
Thanks Martjin, I always feel like I’m having a chat with a friend when you talk to camera. Love your work and your ethos . thanks for sharing so beautifully 🙏🏽
I like the idea of creating a workshop or even a covered patio built strong to withstand the winds and able to put supplies in center.
Chaque moment doit être savourez et non regretté, ce que vous faites bien je pense. 👍
Exactly. His whole experience/timeline is majestic af.
Thank You Martijn, hard to say why but watching your postings give peace to my life. All the best to you!
I started rewatching the episodes right from the start. It's unbelievable where martijn started from. The amount of effort he has put in is incredible. He must feel an enormous amount of satisfaction.
Muy buenos días para todos, en especial para nuestro amigo martijn, el que nos brinda un buen momento de paz por los hermosos paisajes que nos muestra en sus videos.
It is dream to have chance like you do
This channel has to be one of the most genuine on KZhead. I love that Martijn doesn't hide his failures or sugar coat stuff. I've seen comments saying that this was a 'vanity project' and that Martijn would sell the cabins as soon as they're done, and I'm like, 'are you even watching the same channel as me?!' Happy that you answered the questions you did-- I've been wondering the answer to all of these for months!
An awesome, beautiful, majestic and downright wonderful experience to have this mornings window into your world❤🙏🏼
Martijn, thank you for the walk to see the daylight rising. Love the girls chattering as they explore. Your fireplace/stair/wall is exquisite, just beautiful. Glad you are considering some more creatures for your homestead. Yes, Amen projects always take longer. Thank you for the lovely interlude you provide Martijn. Take care of you.
The stove and stairs look superbly crafted. I especially enjoyed this Q&A video, showing a bit more of your thoughts and plans. Another wonderful aspect of your videos is the beauty of the land and mountains. Thanks for sharing this piece of your journey - I am a retired nurse and would not experience such things if not for your channel. Tyvm Martijn.
Thank you for sharing such awe inspiring beauty and peace with us every Sunday. 😁👏🌟🙏♥️ Martijn, since you mention you have lower back issues/strain, please, please get and wear a back brace. Especially since you’re moving/lifting large stones. Your body will thank you. ❤
This is my weekly meditation. I thank you.
Wow your stove and stairs are beautiful and you created it all yourself. What an achievement. It looks stunning. Very well done.
Thank you for all that you have given us with answers to Q&A and all of your videos over the years. Please realise how much we appreciate you. Very best wishes from the Isle of Man.
Your cabin stairs and the stone work surrounding the stove looks amazing with a historical appearance. I feel your chickens like your company as much as you do theirs 😊 Wishing you a warm, and cosy life coming winter months. Cheers from Australia.
Hopelijk doe je nu een rugriem aan, van apotheek of boerenbond. Mooi wolkenfestijn weer !
We can only live by example and choose the people we want in our lives. I look forward to seeing you work and deal with daily life on your homestead. The calm energy you exude goes to all of us. Thank you for being there and thank you for making yourself available to us.
Much love from the Oregon cascades. You’re living many a Rangers, dream. 😊 every bit looks awesome. Keep being you martijn
Again, what a beauty, what a piece of heaven, a masterpiece of art!
Each week we learn something from you, and this week was no exception. And the views, as always, are stunning.
Greetings from the Andalucían mountains where Granada is very close by. I appreciate the beauty of your home. I moved to the mountains in search of the natural world and have been delighted by the goat sheperd and his flock, the boisterous birdsong, the sunrises, community and exotic fruits and flowers. The Andalucían mountains are mysterious and never cease to fascinate me. Italy intrigues me but the language is daunting!
Thank you for sharing your projects with us. It is a pleasure watching your videos.
Great Q&A. So nice the hear about the "behind the scenes" stuff. I have always wondered about the crane.
I Love that little chapel ruin, Have a Beautiful week up there in your Heaven
I found that fascinating to hear your thoughts on everything, thank you for answering those questions, and thanks to all who posted some great questions.
Hallo Martin vanuit Zaandam, dank je voor elke week mooie beelden en interessante projecten.
complimenti per i lavori di ristrutturazione con il forno e gradini in pietra hai giocato alla perfezione, bravissimo hai dimostrato a tutti oltre a te stesso che nessuna tempesta ti ferma 💪🙂🍀buona fortuna🍀
The way you talk is the way you work. Calm and easy.
So impressed by the outcome of the stove and staircase Wow, glad to see how excellent it has turned out. Well done Martijn ❤️
The stove is wonderful, wow! Great Q&A 😊thank you, very inspiring conversation.
Hola buenos días las tomas de los paisajes son hermosas y las gallinas lindas como todos los domingos viendo el video saludos cuidese
It's great hearing from you, almost like getting a letter. I've been following since the beginning, and it has never gotten old. Maybe there is a builder hidden inside me that lives a little vicariously through your experiences. While that's a big part of my enjoyment, the artistry in the way you use the camera, and the music, and your cooking. And no, I'm not going to forget your great neighbor Johannes. Definitely not taking this channel for granted. Take care!
Martijn thanks for sharing your journey with the rest of the us. The magnificent, timeless and snowy mountains make me feel so temporal. It's the change of the seasons that are a reflection of our lives. As you are sitting on the boulders looking at the panorama sipping the warm water it energizes the soul.
Martijn que bueno que pudiste tomar un pequeño descansó con tu familia en españa ...es necesario ...que linda la estufa y la escalera ,que maravillas eres capaz de hacer...tus talentos son muchos ,pero transmites ser mejor persona...bendiciones martijn.
Tellement interessant et tant de philosophie derrière vos projets, merci
Beautiful work, just amazing ...The coffee in the mountains, that's my idea of relaxing... 🙏🙏 Blessings.
Thank You, Martjin, for taking us along on this fantastical journey. The masonry work on the oven and staircase couldn't be more beautiful!❤
So many of my questions were answered in this video. I was worried about the winter with the chickens, curious about the crane, and wondered about the cost, how often you went to town and what was the next big project. We all become invested in our KZhead friends and admire their willingness to share their lives.
It seemed so strange to see you with a phone in your hand Martijn. This makes me understand how much each of your videos distances us from our daily reality.
I love this!! I think you should keep the Q&A coming, not every week. But once in awhile. I love your perspective and outlook on life. I'll keep coming back just for that and the views!!!
Thank you also for introducing us to Johannes. What a lovely man and wonderful neighbor you have. I enjoy his videos and commentaries. I just finished watching all 4 videos of your biking journeys. Wow, that was not easy and I admire your tenacity.
Dankjewel Martijn, heb zelf 2 linkerhanden maar geniet elke zondag weer van wat 2 rechterhanden kunnen doen. En dat het soms langzamer gaat dan je zou willen is juist positief, de ervaringen tijdens de reis zijn mooier dan de bestemming.
I've had lower back pain for a while on and off and after getting it diagnosed properly it's not mechanical but just from muscle imbalance or tightness in your buttocks and hips which inflames the sciatic nerve. Some really easy stretching exercises like the corkscrew stretch help no end. Check out any video looking at piriformis stretches. Sorted me out no end. Love the videos!
Stretching - hold for count of 7. First do the stretch lightly with slow repeats then hold for count if 7. Let the muscle fill with blood like a sponge then easier to stretch