Building Off the Grid

A nature-loving architect builds a modern California cabin that rivals the views of nearby Big Sur.

In Ohio, two brothers build a high-end, off-grid vacation home on their family's cattle ranch.

A family of four is building a luxury glamping escape overlooking the Texas Hill Country, but the build process is anything but glamorous; with the rain, challenging terrain and critters, they must work together to get to the finish line.

A Missouri couple who have inherited property are now cleaning it up and building it out, but troubles multiply as hurricane rains flood the buildsite, a gigantic burn pile creates larger flames than expected, and materials arrive broken.

First-time builders Shay and Shae set out to build a home using five shipping containers on a wooded lot in Oklahoma.

A musician college student works to build an off-the-grid treehouse compound in Arkansas, but water and supply issues could disrupt his 30-day deadline, even with his father's help.

A couple plans to build an oceanfront oasis for their family in Maui, Hawaii and, to keep the budget low, they design a Quonset hut which can be built cheaply and quickly, but some setbacks test their limits at every turn.

From the edge of an active volcano in Hawaii and the Appalachian Mountains to the deserts of New Mexico and upstate New York, builders battle harsh conditions to construct innovative, self-sufficient homes in remote areas.

A couple wants to build a country cottage on their remote family farm in southeast Georgia despite the fact that building that kind of structure in four months will be anything but easy.

A couple head to Arkansas with their kids to build a dream mountain getaway; while the views of this location are breathtaking, this build is anything but a breeze; the family has to work together through severe weather to get this job done.

Needing to get out of the city, a Las Vegas couple and their son head to southern Utah to build a modern A-frame; but with strong winds, winter storms and a challenging terrain, they must work together to build their dream getaway.

A couple plans to build their home out of straw bales in the Arizona desert in only six months; using Earthship architecture as their motivation, they hope to make this structure modern, durable and unique.

A young family embarks on their biggest and most challenging build yet -- an in-earth cavern in the mountains of northern Georgia. But building on a mountain will be anything but easy as they deal with a rocky terrain, extreme heat and heavy rain.

A young family embarks on their biggest and most challenging build yet -- an in-earth cavern in the mountains of northern Georgia. But building on a mountain will be anything but easy as they deal with a rocky terrain, extreme heat and heavy rain.

Marine scientists in Florida hire engineers Nicolas Derouin and Arnaud Luguet to create a first-of-its-kind floating home; they have nine months to complete it, but unpredictable weather and building hiccups may sink this project before it can swim.

A Texas couple teams up with two South African canvas tent experts to create their dream glamping experience; but they soon find the build is anything but luxurious; with rain, heat, and critters, they have to work together to reach the finish line.

An outdoor enthusiast works to build his dream retirement home in the Idaho mountains, but weather and material shortages slow his timeline.

An outdoor enthusiast works to build his dream retirement home in the Idaho mountains, but weather and material shortages slow his timeline.

A family of three in the North Georgia mountains is building a geodesic dome home at the top of their property; after endless rainstorms, their build site becomes inaccessible and they question if their home will ever be completed.

A couple plans to build a unique outdoor living space in Colorado by using donkeys to get materials to the top of their steep build site, but their plans go haywire.

A couple looks to bring the shores of Key West to their donkey sanctuary in Missouri; despite having experience with building off-grid properties, they face new challenges as they attempt to construct a double container home deep in the woods.

After experiencing a devastating tornado, a family wants to build an off-grid retreat overlooking Tennessee's Ocoee River; as amateur builders, they must rely on the help of friends and family, and each other, to reach the finish line.

An Indiana farming family combines old with new to create a grain bin retreat on their busy working farm.

An eclectic builder is ready to take on his next challenge of constructing a Greek cottage in the East Tennessee Valley; when turbulent weather turns his build site into a mud pit, he questions whether or not his vision will ever become a reality.

A family of four is building a luxury glamping escape overlooking the Texas Hill Country, but the build process is anything but glamorous; with the rain, challenging terrain and critters, they must work together to get to the finish line.

A Georgia couple is ready to tackle their next off-grid build: the ultimate watchtower guest house in the Blue Ridge Mountains; building 30 feet off the ground presents its challenges.

A musician college student works to build an off-the-grid treehouse compound in Arkansas, but water and supply issues could disrupt his 30-day deadline, even with his father's help.

A young family in Alabama breaks ground on its forever home during peak hurricane season; between the delays from flooding, waiting for their building kit to arrive and falling glass, it will take everything they have to make this dream a reality.

A newly blended family is building an eco-friendly straw bale house for their daughter in the mountains of Southwest Colorado; with winter fast approaching, the family races to finish when the build is threatened by torrential rains and cold nights.

A Missouri couple who have inherited property are now cleaning it up and building it out, but troubles multiply as hurricane rains flood the buildsite, a gigantic burn pile creates larger flames than expected, and materials arrive broken.

A couple sets out to build a tree-house retreat in northern Georgia overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains; although the build calls for a mile-long, uphill trek with all of their materials, the end result is the ultimate childhood dream come true.

A couple sets out to build a tree-house retreat in northern Georgia overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains; although the build calls for a mile-long, uphill trek with all of their materials, the end result is the ultimate childhood dream come true.

A pro builder constructs an off-grid dream home for his family on a remote riverside plot of land in the heart of Canada's east coast.

A father-son duo builds a 720-square foot stick-frame home completely off the grid in Mont.'s Flathead Valley.

An adventurous couple builds a home with self-sustaining features near the Ozark National Forest; they both have renovation experience, but building on the dangerous mountainside terrain in a location plagued by flash floods will be a challenge.

A family of four builds their dream home overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Lubec, ME, while pro snowboarder Sean Busby and his wife build their off-grid home with stunning views of Glacier National Park.

Novice builder Danny Clark attempts to construct a 600-square-foot stone cabin in Vermont's White River Valley; the home is sure to be a true work of art, but his inexperience, the harsh winter and the unusual architecture push him to his limits.

Mark Smith builds an off-grid modular home perched high on a cliff off the coast of Vancouver, Canada; the pressure is on as even the smallest mistake can result in the home tumbling 85 feet down into the ocean.

A family attempts to build a 400-square-foot cabin situated on a small island in Northern Idaho; access to the property is limited, and rough waters make it difficult to bring materials in; it's a race to the finish as winter hits the island early.

Builder Phil Parr heads to the wilderness of northern Colorado to build the ultimate off-grid tent; far beyond simple nylon and poles, this lavish tent has a custom fabricated wooden frame, canvas shell and 650-square-feet of livable elegance.

In Washington State's Cascade Mountains, a couple builds their 2,400-square-foot dream cabin; the location gives them amazing views, but hauling heavy beams up dusty switchbacks on a six-month deadline pushes them to their limits.

Naturalist builder Cat Taylor builds a remote sanctuary in the piney woods of Northwest Texas; she builds the two-story house using a cob mixture and adds touches of comfort to entertain family members.

A couple plans to build an oceanfront oasis for their family in Maui, Hawaii and, to keep the budget low, they design a Quonset hut which can be built cheaply and quickly, but some setbacks test their limits at every turn.

Professional tree-house builder Michael ``Murph`` Murphy wants to build a cottage retreat for his family in Washington; he enlists his friends to create natural siding and a massive fishing net for lounging above the living space.

First-time builders Shay and Shae set out to build a home using five shipping containers on a wooded lot in Oklahoma.

Marine scientists in Florida hire engineers Nicolas Derouin and Arnaud Luguet to create a first-of-its-kind floating home; they have nine months to complete it, but unpredictable weather and building hiccups may sink this project before it can swim.

A family builds thousands of earth blocks while withstanding winter monsoons, freezing temperatures and more to finish their forever home in San Antonio, Texas.

A couple sets out to build a tree-house retreat in northern Georgia overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains; although the build calls for a mile-long, uphill trek with all of their materials, the end result is the ultimate childhood dream come true.

Novice builder Danny Clark attempts to construct a 600-square-foot stone cabin in Vermont's White River Valley; the home is sure to be a true work of art, but his inexperience, the harsh winter and the unusual architecture push him to his limits.

Kolin Buzerak returns to his family's 100-acre property in Upstate New York to put down some roots; he plans to build an off-grid timber frame cabin with a full kitchen, living space, dining area, and open loft bedroom.

An eco-friendly couple are battling against the harsh winter weather to build a timber and straw-bale cabin in Maine.

A nature-loving architect builds a modern California cabin that rivals the views of nearby Big Sur.

In Ohio, two brothers build a high-end, off-grid vacation home on their family's cattle ranch.

A man surprises his wife with a family vacation home on the edge of a Tennessee rock quarry.

A Colorado couple attempts to build one of the most energy-efficient homesteads in the state; Mother Nature and bleeding-edge technologies give them a run for their money as they race to complete their high-end alpine lodge before winter hits.

A young cabin builder creates a one-of-a-kind cabin in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York during the winter months; because of the new and complicated design, the crew must adapt to the environment.

A family is determined to build an off-the-grid cabin along Idaho's Salmon River; the family members take on Class 5 rapids to portage out materials, and they must race to complete their cabin before low tide hits and they can't return home.

A young couple seeks to build a log cabin and start a new life in Alaska; with the help of family and friends, the couple endures the elements and long northern days to handcraft their new home from the ground up and completely off the grid.

Off-the-grid contractor Gregg Smith battles the elements to build a cliff-side retreat for a family in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; for Gregg and his team, erecting this house in the middle of nowhere comes with its share of challenges.

John Beal is ready to leave the city behind and embrace an off-the-grid life in Isla Mujeres, Mexico; Beal hires Richart Sowa and his son, Eden, to build an eco-friendly private floating island made from recycled plastic bottles.

Off-the-grid contractor Gregg Smith battles the elements to build a cliff-side retreat for a family in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; for Gregg and his team, erecting this house in the middle of nowhere comes with its share of challenges.

Mollie and Sean Busby live off the grid for two years before deciding to take it to the next level, and the couple builds a super efficient tiny house surrounded by stunning views in northwestern Montana.

After getting engaged, Summer and Jack move away from New Jersey to fulfill their life-long dream of living off-grid; they buy a plot of land in Sedro Woolley, Wash., and commission Sunray Kelley to design and build their dream mud home.

A family of three in the North Georgia mountains is building a geodesic dome home at the top of their property; after endless rainstorms, their build site becomes inaccessible and they question if their home will ever be completed.

A couple plans to build a unique outdoor living space in Colorado by using donkeys to get materials to the top of their steep build site, but their plans go haywire.

A Colorado couple attempts to build one of the most energy-efficient homesteads in the state; Mother Nature and bleeding-edge technologies give them a run for their money as they race to complete their high-end alpine lodge before winter hits.

Alaskan adventure guide Don Lee builds a remote survival cabin on top of a glacier, a site plagued with avalanches and unpredictable weather.

John Beal is ready to leave the city behind and embrace an off-the-grid life in Isla Mujeres, Mexico; Beal hires Richart Sowa and his son, Eden, to build an eco-friendly private floating island made from recycled plastic bottles.

A couple looks to bring the shores of Key West to their donkey sanctuary in Missouri; despite having experience with building off-grid properties, they face new challenges as they attempt to construct a double container home deep in the woods.

A father-son duo builds a 720-square foot stick-frame home completely off the grid in Mont.'s Flathead Valley.

A family is determined to build an off-the-grid cabin along Idaho's Salmon River; the family members take on Class 5 rapids to portage out materials, and they must race to complete their cabin before low tide hits and they can't return home.

A couple head to Arkansas with their kids to build a dream mountain getaway; while the views of this location are breathtaking, this build is anything but a breeze; the family has to work together through severe weather to get this job done.

An eco-friendly couple are battling against the harsh winter weather to build a timber and straw-bale cabin in Maine.

An adventurous couple builds a home with self-sustaining features near the Ozark National Forest; they both have renovation experience, but building on the dangerous mountainside terrain in a location plagued by flash floods will be a challenge.

Needing to get out of the city, a Las Vegas couple and their son head to southern Utah to build a modern A-frame; but with strong winds, winter storms and a challenging terrain, they must work together to build their dream getaway.

Kolin Buzerak returns to his family's 100-acre property in Upstate New York to put down some roots; he plans to build an off-grid timber frame cabin with a full kitchen, living space, dining area, and open loft bedroom.

A young couple seeks to build a log cabin and start a new life in Alaska; with the help of family and friends, the couple endures the elements and long northern days to handcraft their new home from the ground up and completely off the grid.

After getting engaged, Summer and Jack move away from New Jersey to fulfill their life-long dream of living off-grid; they buy a plot of land in Sedro-Woolley, Wash., and commission Sunray Kelley to design and build their dream mud home.

Mollie and Sean Busby live off the grid for two years before deciding to take it to the next level, and the couple builds a super efficient tiny house surrounded by stunning views in northwestern Montana.

Alaskan adventure guide Don Lee builds a remote survival cabin on top of a glacier, a site plagued with avalanches and unpredictable weather.

A family builds thousands of earth blocks while withstanding winter monsoons, freezing temperatures and more to finish their forever home in San Antonio, Texas.

A family of four builds their dream home overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Lubec, ME, while pro snowboarder Sean Busby and his wife build their off-grid home with stunning views of Glacier National Park.

A Texas couple teams up with two South African canvas tent experts to create their dream glamping experience; but they soon find the build is anything but luxurious; with rain, heat, and critters, they have to work together to reach the finish line.

A family attempts to build a 400-square-foot cabin situated on a small island in Northern Idaho; access to the property is limited, and rough waters make it difficult to bring materials in; it's a race to the finish as winter hits the island early.

Mark Smith builds an off-grid modular home perched high on a cliff off the coast of Vancouver, Canada; the pressure is on as even the smallest mistake can result in the home tumbling 85 feet down into the ocean.

A man surprises his wife with a family vacation home on the edge of a Tennessee rock quarry.

In Washington State's Cascade Mountains, a couple builds their 2,400-square-foot dream cabin; the location gives them amazing views, but hauling heavy beams up dusty switchbacks on a six-month deadline pushes them to their limits.

A newly blended family is building an eco-friendly straw bale house for their daughter in the mountains of Southwest Colorado; with winter fast approaching, the family races to finish when the build is threatened by torrential rains and cold nights.

A pro builder constructs an off-grid dream home for his family on a remote riverside plot of land in the heart of Canada's east coast.

After experiencing a devastating tornado, a family wants to build an off-grid retreat overlooking Tennessee's Ocoee River; as amateur builders, they must rely on the help of friends and family, and each other, to reach the finish line.

An eclectic builder is ready to take on his next challenge of constructing a Greek cottage in the East Tennessee Valley; when turbulent weather turns his build site into a mud pit, he questions whether his vision will ever become a reality.

Professional tree-house builder Michael "Murph" Murphy wants to build a cottage retreat for his family in Washington; he enlists his friends to create natural siding and a massive fishing net for lounging above the living space.

A couple plans to build their home out of straw bales in the Arizona desert in only six months; using Earthship architecture as their motivation, they hope to make this structure modern, durable and unique.

A young cabin builder creates a one-of-a-kind cabin in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York during the winter months; because of the new and complicated design, the crew must adapt to the environment.

From the edge of an active volcano in Hawaii and the Appalachian Mountains to the deserts of New Mexico and upstate New York, builders battle harsh conditions to construct innovative, self-sufficient homes in remote areas.

A couple wants to build a country cottage on their remote family farm in southeast Georgia despite the fact that building that kind of structure in four months will be anything but easy; the novice builders face material delays, hurricanes and wildlife.

An Indiana farming family combines old with new to create a grain bin retreat on their busy working farm.

Naturalist builder Cat Taylor builds a remote sanctuary in the piney woods of Northwest Texas; she builds the two-story house using a cob mixture and adds touches of comfort to entertain family members.