21 Years Living Off-Grid on a Remote Island in a Self-Built Cabin & Homestead

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 19:24:42 +0000

Mark Young has been living a self-sufficient lifestyle on a remote off-grid island in British Columbia for the past 21 years. He has built 9 experimental buildings on his 20-acre property using local and natural materials like wood, stone and cob, including: a cabin for himself, utility buildings for his solar power systems, a sauna and dormitory, and most impressively, a stunning 2,000 square foot dance studio with a sprung dance floor that is built on recycled car tires! He runs events and workshops at his Leviathan Studio – so named because the inside of the structure looks like a whale's ribcage!

You can find out more about Mark Young and Leviathan Studio here:
https://leviathan.lasqueti.ca/

Mark's off-grid systems include two solar power setups for electricity (one with lithium batteries, one with lead acid batteries), a micro hydro water wheel, a drilled well, satellite internet, wood stoves with heat exchangers for heat and hot water, rainwater ponds for watering the gardens and for fire protection from wild fires, and outhouses for toilets.

He covers his expenses by teaching dance workshops (primarily contact improv dance), both on an off the island, as well as by selling eggs from his flock of hens, and selling lumber that he mills himself.

His unique building style and experimentation are possible because the island does not have a building inspector to enforce the local building code. But building in this way does present challenges, for example not being able to get different types of insurance.

In addition to building and working, Mark also gardens and grows some fruit and vegetable produce for himself and his guests, he raises chickens for eggs and meat, and then he also orders food from a neighbouring island for the rest of his food needs.

The community on the island is pretty active so Mark is able to play chess and give/provide help to neighbours as needed. He says no matter how self sufficient you want to be, you should always know your neighbours because everybody needs help sometimes.

We hope you enjoyed checking out Mark's inspiring off-grid alternative lifestyle!

Thanks for watching!

-------------------------------------------------------------
STAY IN TOUCH!
-------------------------------------------------------------

Website: www.exploringalternatives.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exploringalternativesblog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exploringalternatives/

-------------------------------------------------------------
COMMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------

We want our channel and comments section to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to watch and contribute. For this reason, inappropriate or hateful comments will be reported and/or deleted.

Please discuss and debate respectfully, and report inappropriate or hateful comments directly to YouTube.

-------------------------------------------------------------
CREDITS
-------------------------------------------------------------

Music Credit: Exploring Alternatives

Editing Credit: Exploring Alternatives

Filming Credit: Lukáš Hyrman