Talk about going back to basics.
A corporate worker has revealed how she ditched her 9-to-5 job to live off grid in a cabin in the woods – with river bathing and foraging for food being among her new daily activities.
In a series of YouTube videos, 25-year-old Ally Marie Brown, from New England, explained how she ditched her old life in order to be more at one with nature.
In one clip, she can be seen wandering down to the river naked to take a wash, and she even takes a dip in the depths of winter after making a hole in the ice.
In a series of YouTube videos, Ally Marie Brown, from New England, reveals how she switched her life around to be more at one with nature
In one clip, the 25-year-old can be seen wandering down to the river naked to take a wash
The former corporate worker even takes a dip in the depths of winter after making a hole in the ice
Other scenes show her getting to grips with gardening, so she can complement foraged foods with her own crops
The nature lover taps birch trees for ‘thirst-quenching, nutrient-infused’ sap
Other scenes show Ally getting to grips with gardening, so she can supplement foraged foods with her own crops and she even taps birch trees for ‘thirst-quenching, nutrient-infused’ sap.
One of Ally’s latest videos shows her putting the finishing touches to her remote home, which took two-and-a-half years to complete with the help of boyfriend Kyle Dempsey.
While they were getting the cabin ready, the couple would live between there and an apartment in town, but now they have everything in order to fully embrace cabin life.
Ally said when the project began she couldn’t even operate a power tool but now she is fully proficient at drilling, hammering, sawing and more.
The duo built lots of things in their home from scratch, including the ladder leading to their lofted bed, their bed frame and the kitchen cabinets.
The local river serves as a fresh water supply and they installed a gas stove for cooking.
To give their home a bit of character, Ally and 31-year-old Kyle finished it off with a red tin roof and shingle sidings.
In another video, Ally describes the cabin project as a ‘fun journey’ with some hardships along the way.
Ally and boyfriend Kyle Dempsey built lots of things in their home from scratch, including the ladder leading to their lofted bed, their bed frame and the kitchen cabinets
Ally said when the project began she couldn’t even operate a power tool but now she is fully proficient at drilling, hammering, sawing and more
She tells viewers: ‘It’s just been such a rush and a learning experience and though it has come with its ups and downs, overall, there’s just nothing like it.
‘I feel so, so grateful to be able to do this and it’s such a beautiful place.’
After quitting her corporate job, Ally learned about making natural beauty products and this is a business she can run from the cabin with ingredients collected from the surrounding woodland.
Some of her products listed on Etsy include a $24 organic cuticle oil infused with rosemary and clove and a $28 chamomile and lavender scented organic anxiety oil.
Kyle, meanwhile, works as a photographer and videographer and he has a coffee bean business called Trout & Coffee.
While they have been living in their cabin, the couple have endured snowy winters and droughts in the summer.
In one of her Instagram posts, Ally touched on some of the challenges they faced during the dry season.
In one video, Ally describes the cabin project as a ‘fun journey’ with some hardships along the way
She reveals in one clip that one of her favorite sounds ‘has to be the rain hitting the metal roof’ of the cabin
She wrote in an accompanying caption: ‘It’s been a rough season. The drought is intense and ruthless, and to water the plants, Kyle and I have to take multiple, exhaustive trips back and forth to the river with buckets.
‘It’s in times like these that I remember the saying about having the serenity to accept what you can’t change, the courage to change what you can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Essentially, don’t stress what’s out of your control.
‘After investing blood, sweat and tears I had hoped this year’s garden would be more abundant and lush, and though it is far from entirely withered, I have been pretty hard on myself about it.
‘But… things are starting to take a little bit of a turn as Kyle and I are able to get to the cabin more and tend to it all!’
During the winter, the couple used snowmobiles to get to their cabin, and during blizzards they remained trapped indoors which Ally said was a little claustrophobic at times.
She reveals in a separate clip that one of her favorite sounds ‘has to be the rain hitting the metal roof’ of the cabin.
For a short period, Ally also lived alone in the cabin while Kyle was away with work.
She said that during this time her days were filled with ‘a lot of maintenance: fetching water from the river, keeping power levels charged up, weeding, gardening, renovations.’
After quitting her corporate job, Ally learned about making natural beauty products and this is a business she can run from the cabin with ingredients collected from the woodland
While they have been living in their cabin, the couple have endured snowy winters and droughts in the summer
For a short period, Ally also lived alone in the cabin while Kyle was away with work
To give their home a bit of character, Ally and Kyle finished it off with a red tin roof and shingle sidings
Asked what one of the hardest aspects of cabin life has been, Ally told DailyMail.com that ‘it is probably living without a toilet.’
She added: ‘To be honest not having a bathroom is not that bad, but I never had to deal with it for extended periods of time in the past.
‘When it’s cold or rainy, it’s especially tricky.’
Since posting about her cabin project online, Ally has built up a loyal fanbase with more than 45,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 10,000 followers on Instagram.
Many commenters have applauded her radical move.
One YouTube viewer wrote: ‘Ally Marie, thank you for sharing the path you have chosen.
‘You are demonstrating for all of us how connecting to the earth is real, and practical, and hard, and so very beautiful.’
Another fan commented: ‘This is so inspiring! It’s always been a dream of mine to live in the wood, just like that.
‘I’m much older now so it’s wonderful to see it through you.’