Building Off the Grid Episode Rating Graph

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 family of three in the North Georgia mountains are building a unique, geodesic dome home at the top of their property. After endless rainstorms, their build site becomes nearly inaccessible and they question if their forever home will ever be completed.

Peter and Ashley Jensen build a sustainable straw bale panel house in the Hudson Valley -- the first of its kind in the States. With only three months to work, the race against nature is as they attempt to finish before the East Coast winter sets in.

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.

Cat Taylor uses her artistic and naturalistic background to construct a remote sanctuary for her and her husband in the woods of Northwest Texas. The two-story home uses a mixture of sand, clay and straw with a touch of comfort to entertain family.

Matteo Lundgren is taking the art of natural building to a whole new level with his custom-designed Cob houses that blend with the environment surrounding them. Together with his designer, Peaches, they're creating homes built solely from the earth's ingredients, and he wants the whole world to do the same. Follow along as they hand-sculpt houses that are literally grown from the ground up.

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.

An eco-friendly couple plans to build a timber frame, straw-bale cabin in a heavily wooded forest of Maine. But when winter comes early, the already difficult build nears impossible as single-digit temperatures threaten to end the dream before it even starts.

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 challenges as they attempt to construct a double container home deep in the woods.

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.

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.

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.

A father-son duo builds an off-grid home in Montana's Flathead Valley. The 720-square-foot stick-frame home takes advantage of the mountain winds using a wind-turbine generator for power and features plenty of upcycled materials from the surrounding area.

A snowmobile guide and his wife build an off-the-grid cabin by the rivers and mountain ranges of their beautiful home state of Wyoming. The build includes a 272-square-foot cabin with a small shop and garage that are all constructed with zero fossil fuels, meaning no gas generators or grid power will be used and all of the heavy lifting will have to be done by hand. The team faces many challenges, including snowdrifts and visits from four-legged neighbors, but the five-week project will prove to be just as grand as the scenery that surrounds it.

After witnessing the demise of Casco Bay's Halfway Rock Lighthouse, history-lover and Maine native Ford Reiche now has the chance to return this American icon to its former glory. It will take barges full of scaffolding, brave masons and the cooperation of Mother Nature to pull it off, but there's nothing worth doing 'halfway' when it comes to Halfway Rock!

Professional treehouse builder Michael "Murph" Murphy wants to build a cottage retreat for his family in Washington. He enlists his friends to create a natural siding and a massive fishing net for lounging above the living space.

An Indiana farming family combines old with new to create a grain bin retreat on their busy working farm. They're up against snow, wind and freezing temperatures as they race to complete their build before farming season begins.

Peter and Ashley Jensen build a sustainable straw bale panel house in the Hudson Valley -- the first of its kind in the States. With only three months to work, the race against nature is as they attempt to finish before the East Coast winter sets in.

A creative family builds a custom home 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.

A young cabin builder creates a one-of-a-kind cabin in upstate New York during the harsh winter months. Because of the new and complicated design, the crew must adapt to the environment, work efficiently and leave no room for mistakes. The end result is the ultimate off-the-grid cathedral in the Catskills.

A father-son duo builds an off-grid home in Montana's Flathead Valley. The 720-square-foot stick-frame home takes advantage of the mountain winds using a wind-turbine generator for power and features plenty of upcycled materials from the surrounding area.

A mother-and-son team pulls up stake from the crowded confines of Orange County to build an off-grid family commune outside Keaau, Hawaii. With the help of skilled aircrete instructor, the duo overcomes a learning curve to make a dream come true.

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 will have a wood-burning fireplace, gourmet kitchen and a 400-square-foot loft.

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.

A Colorado couple attempts to build one of the most energy-efficient homesteads in the state. Mother Nature and bleeding edge technologies give them a run for their money as they race to complete their high-end alpine lodge before winter hits.

John Beal is ready to leave the city behind and embrace a life off the grid in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. He hires Richart Sowa and his son Eden to build an eco-friendly private floating island made from recycled plastic bottles. Despite facing many challenges, Richart, Eden and the crew work to make John's dream a reality.

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.

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 realtor and his three children set out to build their dream home together on a wooded ridge top in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma. But they aren't building a conventional house. They plan to convert three shipping containers into an off-grid paradise. Follow the journey as they navigate the hardships of their remote setting and unorthodox construction project. Surrounded by stunning views and with a little help from friends, they'll build it all by hand completely off the grid.

A creative mountain biking group from Carbondale, Colorado builds a unique mountain retreat that doubles as their very own bike park feature. Dedicated to building off the grid, the team of entrepreneurs and artists haul in their materials across rugged terrain by bicycles and excavate by hand for a truly one-of-a-kind build experience.

An adventurous couple builds a home with self-sustaining features near the Ozark National Forest. And while they both have renovation experience, building on the dangerous mountainside terrain in a location plagued by flash foods will be a challenge.

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.

Alaskan adventure guide Don Lee is building a remote survival cabin on top of a glacier where no man has stepped before. But in an area plagued with avalanches and unpredictable weather, this fearless bushman needs to time his construction perfectly. And when you're building in an untouched area only accessible by air, logistics are just the tip of the iceberg.

The Busbys, young entrepreneurs and world travelers, have been living off-the-grid for two years already, but now they're ready to take it to the next level. Follow the adventure as they build a super efficient tiny house in northwestern Montana. Surrounded by stunning views and with a little help from friends, they'll build it all by hand completely off-the-grid.

Joe Donovan, an avid skier and adventurer, has found the perfect spot for his permanent base camp on a remote ridge in southwest Montana. Follow the adventure as he battles the elements to build his rustic, straw bale dream cabin. Surrounded by stunning views and with a little help from friends, he'll build it all by hand and completely off the grid.

Ana and Jacob White and their two small kids are a modern-day Swiss Family Robinson, building an off-the-grid cabin on the Alaska Range. With all of their materials needing to be transported by snowmobile, this adventurous couple will have their work cut out for them as they create an entire home with no utilities available. And with the unpredictable Alaskan weather, not to mention aggressive wildlife, this family will be racing against the seasonal clock to get the cabin done before the dead of winter.

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.

New York newlyweds escape the city to build their first home upstate in a secluded part of the Hudson Valley. Utilizing timber felled from their own property, they plan to craft their own tiny house completely off the grid, but the persistent weather, demanding pace and unexpected setbacks threaten to derail their honeymoon project.

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.

What do you do if you don't trust the world around you? You build a new one. That's the motto of Michael Reynolds, Architect and visionary that created the Earthship. Earthships are houses that are completely self-sufficient and totally off the grid with no electricity or water bills - ever. Michael Reynolds and his team of builders along with 50 interns, who have given up their lives to be part of this project, have just four weeks to build a house in Big Sky, Montana for Earthship enthusiast Jeff Saad. Michael and his crew battle nature and time to try and complete this amazing house.