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 fantasy-loving family decides to build their own underground home in the hills of Virginia; with shipment delays, errors and severe weather, the couple must fight to make their dream world a reality.
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 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.
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 must work together to reach the finish line.
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.
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 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. As things get back on track, he receives devastating news that brings his build to a grinding halt.
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 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.
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 eight sets out to build an underground home in the rolling foothills of Idaho, but Mother Nature has other plans for them; before they even pour concrete, they face a decision that will make or break their build.
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.
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 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 build an eco-friendly, off-the-grid geodesic dome, cooled using geothermal caves, with a view of Tennessee's South Cumberland Mountain Range; uncertain weather; an intricate design; treacherous mountain paths.
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 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 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.
Two renovators purchase land in Colorado to build a new home away from home; they decide to use a rammed-earth process to construct all-natural walls; when winter comes early, they realize this process is more laborious than anticipated.
An overworked gymnastics coach begins working on his dream cabin in Utah's Wasatch Mountain Range; malfunctioning equipment, being far from town, extreme weather, and unpredictable wildlife threaten to turn his dream into a nightmare.
A New York couple with a passion for snowboarding begins building a smart timber frame cabin in remote Vermont; troubles soon begin when the home's instructions lead to confusion.
Jared "Cappie" Capp showcases the luxury of off-grid living by building a modern home in the Black Hills of South Dakota; this stunning all-solar-powered abode has a wood-burning fireplace, a gourmet kitchen and a 400-square-foot loft.
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.
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.
A couple constructs an upcycled off-grid homestead deep in the sprawling South Carolina islands; plans for the catamaran-style home include a luxury yacht aesthetic, but the couple must build during hurricane season to meet their deadline.
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 group of off-grid-living enthusiasts come together to build a 300-square-foot bungalow; with a variety of eco-friendly features, including a solar-powered water pump, this house is a welcome addition to the environmentally friendly community.
Peter and Ashley Jensen build a sustainable straw-bale panel house in New York's Hudson Valley -- the first of its kind in the United States; with only three months to work, they race to finish before winter sets in.
A Montana carpenter has big plans to build a unique pontoon houseboat so he can live on Flathead Lake year-round; as both a builder and artist, he has the skills to turn his vision into a reality but an early winter threatens the whole project.
A mother-and-son team pulls up stakes in Orange County, Calif., to build an off-grid family commune outside Keaau, Hawaii; with the help of a skilled AirCrete instructor, the duo overcomes a learning curve to make their dreams come true.
Bamboo-home architect David Sands seizes the opportunity to build his own getaway in Hawaii that features a luxurious outdoor bath area and detached, starlit master bedroom; however, volcanic eruptions threaten to send the entire project up in smoke.
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.
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 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 unexpected setbacks test their limits at every turn.
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.
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.
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.
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 family builds an ultra-modern farmhouse completely off the grid in the verdant Wisconsin countryside; when the project extends into winter, they're pushed to the breaking point as they face the impact of extreme cold on the build and themselves.
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 young man designs his first home on family land in rural Illinois to be off the grid and on the go; he and his buddy combine their experience as long-distance travelers to improvise their build through a Midwest winter.
Together with a group of volunteers, Laura William builds an earthen three-dome home in the desert outside of Tucson, Ariz.; the team battles a steep learning curve and Mother Nature in a race to finish before the scorching summer arrives.
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 couple build their off-grid dream home on a remote mountaintop overlooking the southwest Montana backcountry; together, they've dreamed up a mountain base camp that is high tech and suits their outdoor lifestyle.
In Tres Piedras, N.M., Beau Dunavant and his girlfriend, Samantha Inman, plan to build a home made of mostly recycled materials and lots of dirt; they contend with blowing dirt, blistering sunshine and freezing temperatures in the desert.
A creative family builds a custom home in a place where the mountains and desert collide in Colorado's last frontier; the dream project quickly turns into a job when the harsh terrain combines with the demanding pace they've set for themselves.
Joey Caiafa sets out to build a mountaintop hideout outside of Leadville, Colo.; he enlists the help of his friends and an architectural designer to trick out the solar powered space, but unforeseen issues could bring the build to a halt.
Newlyweds escape the city to build their first home up in New York's Hudson Valley; utilizing timber felled on their property, they craft their tiny house completely off the grid, but unexpected setbacks threaten to derail their honeymoon project.
Innovative designer and builder Graham Hill sets out to transform a steep Maui jungle plot into a 600-square-foot, high-tech dream home with multiple moving walls and other space-maximizing features.
After witnessing the demise of Casco Bay's Halfway Rock Lighthouse, Maine native Ford Reiche has the chance to return this iconic landmark to its former glory; it will take barges full of scaffolding and brave masons to pull it off.
A couple builds their dream home in a remote canyon just north of Yellowstone National Park in Montana; they create an earthen home suited to the climate; they'll navigate the hardships of their remote setting while surrounded by stunning views.
A creative family builds a three-story tiny house full of clever features in Maine; but with limited experience and a three-month deadline, they'll need help from Maine natives to get it done.
The Walker family takes on a multi-generational construction project rebuilding their 100-year-old mining cabin in the Colorado wilderness; they're a family of engineers who are game for any challenges that will face them in the months ahead.
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.
Beth wants a getaway on the white sandy beaches of Ambergris Caye, Belize; Ken Grissom and his crew transport tons of building materials to the remote island to construct an off-the-grid luxury getaway with the warm Caribbean water just steps away.
While specialty builders Jon and Amanda D'Aleo design and build earth-sheltered homes in southern Colorado, they weren't expecting a project this far off the grid; they must work overtime to get the house constructed and buried before winter hits.
Sage Stoneman teams up with world-renowned natural builder SunRay Kelley to experiment with a never-before-used building material -- mushrooms; they not only design a mushroom-shaped house but virtually grow one.
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.
A realtor and his three children set out to build their dream home on a wooded ridge top in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma; while navigating the hardships of their remote setting, they convert three shipping containers into an off-the-grid paradise.
A snowmobile guide and his wife build a cabin in Wyoming; the build includes a cabin, small shop and garage, all constructed with zero fossil fuels; the team faces challenges, but the project will prove to be as grand as the scenery surrounding it.
With help from friends, an outdoorsman takes on the challenge of building a cabin in the remote White Mountains region of Alaska; the crew must work through snow, wind and mud to haul materials and build the perfect cabin in just seven days.
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.
Seeking to escape to a place where their family can unplug and enjoy nature, Jason and Crystal set out to build a 320-square-foot cabin on the Maine coastline in just 12 days with the help of a small group of friends.
Joe Donovan, an avid skier and adventurer, has found the perfect spot on a remote ridge in southwest Montana, and he battles the elements to build his rustic, straw-bale dream cabin with a little help from friends.
In southwestern Montana, the Lighthiser family sets out to build an off-the-grid home overlooking the Yellowstone River; the family battles the elements to construct an efficient house in a windswept valley surrounded by stunning views.
Michael Reynolds and his team of builders face the difficult task of building an Earthship home in just four weeks in Montana; the house must be entirely self-sufficient and sustainable.
In Montana, a young couple breaks ground to build a luxury yurt with a breathtaking view of the mountains; the solar-powered yurt has a modern kitchen, a second-floor loft, a guest room, and its own stream.
Furniture DIY-ers Ana and Jacob White build their dream cabin in the remote Alaskan interior on Paxson Lake, battling extreme elements while putting their carpentry skills to the ultimate test.
In Carbondale, Colo., a mountain biking group builds a mountain retreat; they use their bicycles to haul their building materials across rugged terrain, and they excavate by hand for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Gnome Sweet Home
S1 E7
Builder Matteo Lundgren creates custom cob houses using natural materials such as clay, sand, straw, and water.