A SAVVY mum has revealed how she created her own a self-sustaining, low-tech “village” in the middle of forest clearing.
Using a mix of innovative construction and off-grid technologies, Marie has created a sustainable homestead for herself and her son at a fraction of the cost of conventional housing.
YouTubeA savvy mum has built a tiny village in the French woodlands[/caption]
YouTubeMarie lives completely self-sustainable with her son[/caption]
YouTubeShe also built two cabins buried underground[/caption]
Marie has her own greenhouse where she grows medicinal plants
Between her fairground caravan, two partially underground cabins, and a tiny house, Marie has created a living environment that’s self-sufficient and inexpensive—cutting down on living costs by thousands of euros each year.
The fairground caravan — her current home — cost her just around £8,300 (€10,000).
For another £2,500, she outfitted it with solar panels, bringing her total setup to just short of £11,000 – a staggering contrast to the high costs of traditional living spaces.
Marie’s journey here was far from simple, but her results show the immense rewards of living on her own terms.
From the ground up
Marie’s path began humbly, motivated by both financial constraints and a deep desire to learn.
She bought her first house with barely any skills in construction, learning by helping friends with their renovations and watching countless videos.
This hands-on experience gave her the know-how to renovate four homes over seven years, all while raising her young son.
This initial push into the world of home-building was the first step toward her journey to a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Recalling the challenges she faced, Marie told YouTube channel Living Big in a Tiny House: “I began to buy a house…to renovate because I couldn’t afford a new house.
“I didn’t have any skills at the start…so I helped friends who were renovating their houses.
“And so I learned by looking at videos and by just doing things.”
YouTubeInside Marie’s main caravan, where she sleeps, eats and spends time playing her guitar[/caption]
YouTubeThe caravan’s kitchen counter with a sink, cabinets and a cooler[/caption]
YouTubeIt also has a fully-equipped bathroom with a bath, shower and toilet[/caption]
YouTubeMarie sleeps on this bed, next to her loyal pup[/caption]
Selling her renovated homes after they were completed, she used the profits to build her first house from scratch — an enormous leap for someone who had just begun learning construction.
Yet, Marie wasn’t content to settle.
After two years, she chose to downsize from her 180-square-metre home to a modest van, embracing a nomadic life with her son.
Despite the challenge of transitioning to a three-square-meter space, Marie found liberation in simplicity.
A tiny village
When a friend offered to sell her a 1.8-hectare plot in Brittany, Marie saw the perfect opportunity to put down roots and construct the village she had dreamed of — a space where her creativity and skills could flourish.
Purchased just before the Covid pandemic, this land became her canvas for a unique homestead, with an array of structures and sustainable systems.
“We had to move a lot because, in France, it’s quite difficult to legally live in a tiny house,” Marie says, recalling the limitations she faced in her previous living arrangements.
The cabins were made with natural resources Marie found in her own land
YouTubeThe tiny home is quite spacious and it’s where Marie spends the summer months[/caption]
YouTubeThe mum built one cabin for her son and one for herself[/caption]
YouTubeShe also has an outdoor kitchen with a handmade clay stove[/caption]
“Each time, I had to move with my horses, two dogs, a cat, and my son…it was quite an adventure each time.”
Now, with a fairground caravan, two semi-buried cabins, a shed, and even a tiny house, she’s created a sanctuary of her own.
More sustainable for less
Marie’s tiny village wasn’t just about living simply; it was a move toward financial independence and low-cost sustainability.
By incorporating solar panels and rainwater collectors, Marie cut her reliance on utilities dramatically, further lowering her living costs.
Her approach to heating water is another lesson in self-sufficiency.
With three different systems for heating, including a homemade wood boiler she fondly calls “R2D2,” she’s able to make the most of natural and low-cost resources without sacrificing comfort.
Marie shared: “I bought solar panels to have electricity…I mostly use rainwater collectors.
YouTubeShe also built a shed for her horses[/caption]
YouTubeMarie is an animal lover and want them living as comfortably as her[/caption]
“If I’m cut off from water, I can be self-sufficient.”
Her wood boiler, crafted from repurposed gas bottles, is another example of Marie’s inventive spirit.
“After 15 minutes of fire, the water is hot enough, then I put it in a bucket and I go inside my bathroom to have my shower,” she explained.
Her kitchen, too, is a testament to her resourceful spirit.
During the summer, she cooks using an outdoor clay rocket stove built with local clay, minimising the need for gas.
When she does use gas, it’s in such small amounts that a single bottle can last two years — a far cry from typical households.
Her food storage is similarly low-tech and effective – a simple cooler serves as her fridge in the summer, while an outdoor cabinet provides cold storage during the winter months.
“For anything, I use wood. So, to cook during the summer, I built a rocket stove with the clay of my land,” Marie explains.
“I just have to put some trash wood, and it’s enough to cook my meals.”
A life of freedom
Marie’s self-sustaining setup is more than just cost-effective – it’s also profoundly freeing.
Her approach to low-tech solutions lets her live with a level of independence that most modern lifestyles don’t permit.
Marie doesn’t need to worry about rising rent, electricity bills, or grocery prices.
Instead, she dedicates her time to cultivating medicinal plants and practicing as a geobiologist and animal therapist, offering her services and sharing her experiences to help others achieve their own self-sufficiency.
YouTubeMarie fondly nicknamed her boiler R2-D2 in an ode to the beloved Star Wars character[/caption]
YouTubeAn aerial view of Marie’s home[/caption]
She said: “My life motive is to tend to live in self-sufficiency in all the ways… with electricity, with water, with food, with medicine, with everything in my life.”
Marie regularly teaches others about everything from medicinal plant cultivation to geobiology, animal therapy, and even low-tech construction methods, believing strongly in the importance of passing on her skills.
“I think it’s important to share our knowledge,” she reflected.
“That’s why part of my activity is to share my knowledge about construction, geobiology, therapy, and music…I transmit, I teach it.”
In a world increasingly defined by consumerism and technology, Marie’s tiny forest village stands as a reminder of what can be achieved through ingenuity, resilience, and a willingness to challenge the norms.
Her home may be unconventional, but it’s a dream come true—a life crafted to her values and one that proves the rewards of building a life around simplicity and sustainability.