Mark Freukes, born in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, was at the height of his career as a golf instructor when he quit his job to go live in the woods.
“I’d rather die like a Native American out in the woods than die out of burnout,” he told Peace, Love, and Om who conducted a video tour of his forest abode.
Freukes was 35-years-old and had been living in the woods of Germany with his dog for six years during the time of the interview.
“I don’t like this word drop out because it is stereotyped thinking and bound to conventions, and that doesn’t suit me,” Freukes said. “And then I experienced bullying and was about to have a burnout and was depressed. I didn’t sleep at night anymore and had diffuse fears and I felt bad.”
The only thing that helped him through that rough period was being out in nature. He ended up deciding that he wanted to spend his life out in nature and teach others how to do the same.
So, he began looking for a piece of property and a teepee.
“I was being guided by God. I quickly found a property and I could be outside and I was suddenly better from then on too. I took the wheel in my hand and had no desire to live on benefits. I didn’t want to go and beg for money.”
Instead, Freukes decided he’d live off the land and make between 7,000 and 11,000 euros a year by selling online and in-person nature courses, as well as books that he’s written.
He’s also done lectures and made TV appearances.
Freukes lives in a wooden framed structure covered with cloth that he built for less than 3,000 euros. The structure sits on top of a raised wooden platform.
Once you walk through the door, there is a kitchen area with a self-made oven with a pipe that goes through the roof, which can be adjusted and opened and closed to let air in and out.
The kitchen also includes a table and cutting board.
Above the kitchen is a ladder that leads to a loft bed.
To the right of the front door is some extra living space. Freukes built just about everything in his home, including the cupboards, couch, table, bed, oven, shelving, door, and the “refrigerator.”
The “refrigerator” is basically the middle of a three-tier lazy Susan that is left in a hole in the ground and needs to be raised by a pully system to access it.
It’s enough to keep his opened, canned, and boiled goods cold so they don’t spoil.
Freukes also has two solar panels on the roof that offer enough power to run a cordless screwdriver, electric chainsaw, hair clippers, a mixer, a smartphone, and a tablet.
His roof is shingled, and though he was warned to line it with plastic, he didn’t and said not a drop of water gets in.
The stove is used to heat his house, but it only lasts two to three hours before the temperature drops again.
“I have to make sure in winter that I am here most of the time and don’t let the fire go out,” Freukes said.
It does get cold at night and requires heavy blankets, though it only goes below zero for two weeks at the most.
“We are at 511 meters, it can get really cold and snowy,” Freukes said.
That’s why sometimes you’ll have to use the outdoor house (which only has a roof and dry composting box toilet) as quickly as you possibly can when it’s cold.
As for hygiene, Freukes washes up using a bowl and water warmed from the stove. Despite the success Freukes has had living off-grid, he says the building department wants to tear his home down.
“They are afraid people will imitate it. I don’t see the problem if everyone is talking about sustainability and I am using 80 percent less resources,” he says.
While he used to use 2,000 kilowatts of electricity a year, now he uses just 50 and only consumes 30 liters of water with his cooking, drinking, and washing.
“I found a solution to deal with my past and live without living on benefits. I think there are other things that should be stopped rather than me with my way of life. And I think that the laws should serve the people and not the people the laws,” says Freukes. “I feel better. I feel better mentally. I have a great job, I can spend my time freely, I earn much less money, but I can save more. And I’m very happy with what I’m doing. I’m very happy with the cabin I love it.”
Learn more about Freukes and his cabin life in the video below!
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