Mom-of-four reveals why she pulled her kids out of school and moved them to an off-grid home WITHOUT running water or electricity

A mom-of-four has shared why she pulled her children out of school and ditched her 'soul-sucking' nine-to-five routine to adopt a nomadic lifestyle and move her family into an off-grid cabin. 

Former teacher and single mom, Ashley, 32, has always had a deep love for 'Mother Earth' – finding herself longing to live at one with nature from a young age.

After divorcing her children's father and feeling stressed by daily life – including managing mortgage payments, chores, school activities and cooking up healthy meals – she realized she needed a change of pace.

Ashley decided to take the plunge and put her house on the market as she and her children Helen, 17, Olivia, 15, Adelaide, 14, and Arabella, 12, moved into a tent for the summer.

Soon after, they found the perfect piece of land to build a home in upstate rural New York – which Ashley considered her dream spot as it was often referred to the 'witches' lair.'

A mom-of-four has shared why she pulled her children out of school and ditched her 'soul-sucking' nine-to-five routine to adopt a nomadic lifestyle and move her family into a cabin

Former teacher and single mom, Ashley, 32, has always had a deep love for 'Mother Earth' – finding herself longing to live at one with nature from a young age (cabin shown)

Now, Ashley and her children are living very far from the norm - with the family even collecting water from a creek and using a composting toilet.  

And, according to the mom, this is the ideal lifestyle for her.

She said: 'Since childhood, I have always wanted to live close to the land. I have a passion for living in a way that is sustainable, environmentally conscious and in alignment and balance with nature.

'I would like to live a life that does no harm to the earth and instead nurtures her back for the gifts she so freely gives us.'

Another reason the family decided to pack up and switch to an off-the grid life in 2022 is because of their food.  

'With commercial food-growing practices so wildly out of balance with nature, destroying our soil health and ecosystems, and crops so heavily laden with toxins, I feel the only way to ensure my food is safe and being grown sustainably is to grow it myself,' she explained. 

Before moving to a cabin, Ashley was working a corporate job and constantly felt exhausted by the time she got home. 

She explained that she felt like she was always struggling to find joy in her life.  

Now, Ashley and her children are living very far from the norm - with the family even carrying water from a creek and using a composting toilet

Another reason the family decided to pack up and switch to an off-the grid life in 2022 is because of their food

Before moving to a cabin, Ashley was working a corporate job and constantly felt exhausted by the time she got home

'Prior to my homesteading venture, I had the average life of rushed mornings doing chores, packing school lunches for my kids and rushing to work where I spent long hours in a square, sterile building before arriving back home tired.

'It was sucking my soul,' she added. 

After finding the best piece of land, Ashley began building her cabin, which she branded their 'witches lair.'  

She said: 'For the cabin, I bought the shell of an Amish-built shed and my children and I insulated and finished the inside.

'We did every drop of construction ourselves and salvaged a lot of materials. I hired an Amish friend to help me build the barn, using cedars from our land.' 

The family is still working on putting the finishing touches on their home and adapting to their new lifestyle. 

'It's still not quite finished, I have solar panels that I plan to install for a more permanent power source and to hopefully provide piped water – I don't have electricity or running water.

'I'm happy carrying water, but my children want it to come from the tap!

'I use a jackets battery that I charge up in my car when driving to power devices and run little lights at night when we choose,' she added.

So far Ashely has spent $25,390 on the cabin, which is still a work in progress.

The family is still working on putting the finishing touches on their home and adapting to their new lifestyle

So far Ashely has spent $25,390 on the cabin, which is still a work in progress

'We worked incredibly hard, and I could never have done it without their help,' she said referring to her children

She explained: 'We insulated the cabin with natural cellulose insulation, put pine board walls up, southern pine flooring down, lofts, counters, sink, stairs, an awesome twisty, stick railing and installed plumbing for the water we hope to have one day.

'We did it all. My girls were so amazing, they worked right by my side every day. They learned to use power tools, measure and problem solve.

'We worked incredibly hard, and I could never have done it without their help.'

Ashely now homeschools her children, as well as others as a way to pay for the home improvements, and she has her own business.

She said: 'Currently I make brooms, baskets and natural body-care products, which I sell locally.

'I started teaching at a homeschool co-op too.'

Ashely now homeschools her children, as well as others as a way to pay for the home improvements, and she has her own business

The family's homestead journey has been quite the adventure and is a lifestyle that requires a lot of physical work, the mom admitted

The family's homestead journey has been quite the adventure and is a lifestyle that requires a lot of physical work, the mom admitted.

She said: 'It pays off in boundless ways. I feel very grateful to be living this experience. Building my own home, and homesteading solo with my girls has taught me so much – most of all that I love this life and the peace and security it gives me.

'I carry my water from my creek in the winter months and pump it by hand from our well during the summer. I wash my clothes by hand in a nearby river or in a wash tub, traditional style.

'We use a wood stove for heat and hot water in the winter and a composting toilet. We usually spend our evenings by candlelight which is magical.'

'It's the life I've always wanted to live. After experiencing the peace and beauty of this life, I could never go back!'