I once heard someone say, "make sure you get something done everyday" i took that to heart. I learned how to break down projects by how much time I had. Amazingly I made much progress, and enjoyed it so much more.

No mistakes, only experience

"Sharing Knowledge Gained By Experience" seems to be your family's trait!

Another good tip is to look for a Habitat For Humanity Re-Store. They are essentially a thrift store for surplus construction materials. Doors, plumbing, electrical, flooring, cabinets, countertops, all sorts of things, either pulled out of houses under re-model, or miss-ordered for new construction, lots of good deals.

Every time I see you on KZfaq and hear your voice, I think to myself, your voice is fantastic. Have you ever thought of using your voice for an income? Maybe a local radio station with your own show. Tips for young starters building a homestead. You have a treasure trove of sources in your parents. Voice can be great for commercials, too, and radio stations. I have a friend who has a weekly show on the radio. He also opens up for questions. Keep up the good work!

I cannot believe the growth in your maturity since last year. So proud of you.

Hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20….EXPERIENCE is PRICELESS. WISDOM is gleaned from EXPERIENCE, be it yours or others…..and you’re certainly learning on a steep curve. BUT….you’re sticking with it where most young people your age would’ve gave up and ran out. Self-discipline is important as well….that, and the value of a good truck cannot be overstated. Looking forward to seeing you continue your journey…..

Well done Mick, I would add having non-perishible food items on hand in case you can't get to the store.

Suggestion, make a shelter over your wood.

Life 101. You've come a long way in a year. Just living certainly has it's lessons. As long as we learn from our mistakes, the time isn't wasted. Looks like your place is coming together and that is rewarding in and of itself. It's been fun "doing it with you"!

Your commitment to starting your adult life by building your own homestead has been impressive and inspiring! ❤ As a 49 year old father of four with no home to speak of, I have gone through life feeling like I’m always behind the curve. You Sir have proven that you can do anything!

I never owned a pickup truck until my wife bought one when I was 46. Now I can't imagine life without one! Mick, lots of great lessons here for all of us. Tools. I'm glad you brought this one up. The first wedding gift I ever bought for someone out of college was a set of tools. The response I got from both the groom and brides parents was so positive that I continued to give it to all 1st time married couples. 2nd and 3rd marriage you are on your own in the tool department.

Ah…..the things our older self would tell our younger self. Guess that is all part of the learning and growing experience. I applaud you!👏👏👏

"Don't think, just do - unless you think you shouldn't"

100% on the log build! We've been loving stacking logs and not having to dread the drywall! Love the videos. ☺️

Bring back; Toil for your food. I liked that saying. Hats off to you sir, keep going.

Foam board isn't a good wall insulation so don't use that. If you don't liek fiberglass rockwool is better to work with but fiberglass is cheaper. Log cabin building is simple in concept but alot harder than stick building by far. Framing and finishing with pre dried wood is much easier.

Mick, keep it up. You are learning and applying life lessons far faster than many.

Firewood is priority job #1! Currently stacking my hardwood in the wood shed for not this upcoming winter but next. Stacking wood is my absolute LEAST favourite job living in the sticks (northern Ontario near Sault Ste. Marie). Great video Mic. But I cannot agree about the tongue & groove.. I'd rather do T&G all day long and twice on Sunday rather than work with drywall. Keep the videos coming! 🙂

I remember our first cabin was 18 x 20. Bigger than yours, but there were 5 of us. Now, we didn't live there full time, it was a holiday thing, but after a few weeks it got a bit crowded. That's why we got so used to running around the woods as kids, inside was for eating and sleeping only.

Dude. A Sunday video. And yes, I have noticed your improvement in consistency. I think there are probably advantages and disadvantages of logs vs sticks. I wouldn’t settle into “this is my building path” just yet. Do what feels right in the moment. Stay interested. Stick framing can get boring. And people are right. I’ve watched a lot of solo log cabin builds and they all take a ton of time. Maybe your first “tip” should be “don’t build alone.”

Glad you’re learning!! My son is in Montana right now living out of his truck working for the Montana conservation corp. Glad your doing it while your young:)

All these negative comments are ridiculous, if these people would look back on there youth you didn’t know everything either, life is all about learning, your doing great, great advice

"...it's all uphill from there..." LOL! 2023 Mic has evolved to 2024 Mic - and the evolution has brought you so much experience and knowledge. You have gained far more than a year's experience - maturity and perspective - Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing what you accomplish in the coming year!

That is why I watch your channel,is because I am watching you catch on, you make me smile all day.

Holy cow Mick, you learned more and grew up more in one year (or so) than I did in 20. That was eloquent, poignant, relevant and well crafted. I really look forward to your videos. Thank you.

#7 Budget your time. Using a ⌛ timer as a tool, pausing it at breaks, and keeping up with the days time goals. Gonna use this for my own projects. ✔️ Thanks, Mick!

Life is our most excellent teacher and it's obvious you have gained an abundant amount of knowledge in just a year! Just imagine how much you will accomplish and how happy you will be with yourself and your life with all this experience under your belt for the coming year! I continue to be completely vested in your adventure and your story ... I'm looking forward to seeing how your homestead grows and what projects, adventures, and learning curves lie ahead for you and your loyal followers!

Kudos to you Mick for having the sheer grit and determination to build your own homestead which you can be proud of. You're right that the only people who don't make mistakes are the ones who do nothing. Fear of succeeding is as bad as fear of failure. Making mistakes is how you grow by learning not to repeat the painful ones (in time, cost and injury). I believe the hardest thing for people setting goals is procrastination. I had a client and friend tell me over 40 years ago to do the things you least want to do first so when you finish, the rest of the tasks are much easier by comparison. It sounds like you are well on your way to learning life's lessons at a much earlier age than most! Budget your time but also take time out for the things which bring you joy. Once people lose their joy, it is difficult to recapture it. 😊😁👍

Excellent presentation ... really good advice. Well done young man! Very impressive job on your property Mick!

Mick, thank you for that stellar advice. You're a very intelligent young man. Never stop learning new skills. We wish you well; on your journey through Alaska!

While “building with logs” might have saved you “some” funds in the short term, it also requires a LOT more skill and a whole lot more time unless you’re using pre hewn (or machined) logs and there goes your cost savings!

Making mistakes is the best way to learn. Knowing what not to do is such an important part of the process

So interesting to see life's journey through the eyes of a young man who values a good work ethic and the grand idea of Alaska. Good lessons learned. Keep up the good work!

When estimating the amount of time to finish a building project, I quickly learned that it always took me at least twice as long as I figured. Experience sure is a great teacher. Hope you have a wonderful summer, now get yourself some firewood.🙂

IMAGINE the misadventures of Mick trying to wrangle cabin-sized logs by himself thinking it's the "easier" option lol

I have two suggestions. If you have learned it would be much better to build with logs, then change and build with logs. And I believe it's most important to pick your families brains for important ideas . Your dad ,mom, and uncle are absolute pros on this subject . Take advantage of what you have been blessed with. They would be proud to have a visit like that. You have learned a lot this last year. I'm sure you will continue to. Good luck . You can do this. You have already did a lot. Love from Central Oklahoma and an old lady.

I shared your video on my Facebook. Not only did you have a lot of good tips about building, but I don't think you realized it. You had a lot of good tips on life and I'm 52 years old. Enjoyed your video. I always do. You're doing a great job making something out of nothing. Keep it up

I would say ask your mom and dad they know a lot about building...they would be proud if you asked them for help with anything. ;)

You started this adventure right out of high school. You should be very proud of yourself on how far you have come. We learn by our mistakes. And, what mistakes we do make we figure out how to go on from there. In one year you have grown so much. You are someone to look up to! Well done Mick👍🏻

I miss the " toil for your food "

lots of good nuggets- great memories too~! love you

100% spot on Robert is correct Mick. Unless you have more experience with log building then lumber framing don't think it's easier. You have to move cut notches and plan log construction. And trust me getting logs to fit correctly the first time is a beast, and if you are doing it by yourself even more like trying to get and angry bear into a sweater. And spray foam is easier then foam boards. Foam bards can cause mold and mildew in the walls. Trust me there are other options other then fiberglass, on a budget your limited. There are books and videos that you can watch or read that will give you more information. I would say one of the things you didn't do was understand construction principles first. You are going to figure it out man but stick building is going to be easier for you. Master that before going in to log construction please. I want you succeed. You are young look into getting framing experience with a local carpenter. Find some one that will teach you how to do things easier. I have been a carpenter for longer then you have been alive and it may surprise you but I am still learning. The fact that you are looking for better options is a really good thing just don't get ahead of yourself. Understand the easiest ways of doing something before you do it. A "deadman" (a block of wood with a screw in it) would have helped with your ceiling. If your pride dose not allow you to ask for advice you will fail. Reach out to knowledgeable people for advice.

Respect to you young sir. You don't get your dream without the odd mistake. You have worked hard,and I'd say now you are living the life!!! It looks amazing.

1. Have plenty of money before you start. 2.If your going to build in Alaska......Get a good 4x4 long bed truck.... 3. Learn building skills before buying land and building. 4. Have all necessary tools before 2 and 3. 5. refer to no 1 thru 4 again......

Hey Mick, you should be very proud of what you have accomplished in a very short time, and as the saying goes you learn something new everyday. I also agree with other viewers that you really have a great radio voice and you are great at storytelling, take care.X💕🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

traplines and inlines is a good channel, especially for finding success in solo projects

We have learned a lot from your family. BUT, you told me a few things in this video I never thought of. Thank you.

It's great that you're learning what not to do. Keep going, be safe!

Dude I can give you a whole list of things you should have done different and number 1 is listen to good advice.

Thank you so much for sharing the top ten tips; you have taken lessons learned as an opportunity to help the rest of us avoid some pitfalls and that is so appreciated. Have a great week.

I"m 67 years old, and you schooled me. You need to write and get published. You speak the language of wisdom and deep knowledge. Thank you.

Don’t THINK….just DO! Mick your “school of hard knocks” and lessons learned on your year-one have been well documented. Be kind on yourself and treasure the friendships you have up in Alaska.

Every time I see you I see your dad in you . That’s a blessing 🙏💕

Well said, wise words young man. Dave & Brooke are obviously phenomenal parents and it shows in you Mick & in Belle. Much love and outrageous blessing on all 4 of you❣️

Love seeing the summer green now in Alaska…the footage of building the new desk was very satisfying. Great advice here.

Thank you for helping us better understand the how and why for those not so good days and triumphs from your current build. Blessings dear one🌱

Excelentes consejos para la construcción.

All excellent advice! You really learned a lot and are passing on what you learned. Thanks!

I watched your video with my daughter, Shannon. We love your direction and the sharing of your learning process as you take us along on your projects and adventures.

You have really come a long way. Reflecting back is a wonderful strategy because we learn from our mistakes. What you have learned will bring you much more success thus happiness. Time management I have found to be key to life both at work and home. You are on a such an exciting journey carving your way to your perfect homestead. We are cheering you on!!!!

Those were great tips Mick! Thanks for sharing.

Wisdom is learning from mistakes - and we all make them - and going forward.

Howdy Mick from TX! I have a lot of admiration for you young man & I really enjoy your channel! Stay strong Brother!

Great advice young man! Love your videos and keep on trucking. Love from north Idaho!

Great videos, thanks for sharing. Pleased you are finding your way with some of the difficulties.

..been stressing out,,thanks goodness..new vid from you..thank you for making my day

Nice video! And good advice! Thanks for sharing - much of this applies to life in general.

Great tips - great advice . Keep it going. You have a calm demeanor that is contagious for such a young person . Thank you . I have some projects that are overwhelming and I may adopt some of your strategies!

I'm glad you made this video. It's good to see what you learned. So many video are made by people who have a lot of money and experience. It's good to see one made by someone with not a lot of either. But you do have a goal. Congrats on your 1 year anniversary.

Lots of excellent advice!! Thanks for sharing. It will be interesting to watch and see what all you build this summer.😃Take care and God Bless ya always

Thank you for all the great information Mick! I’ve always loved a log cabin💓

What a nice surprise to see a video of you on Mother’s Day. Thanks Mick

Informative video, Mick! You provided great explanations of what you did vs. what would have been better. I admire how you evaluated your situation and looked for the remedies. That advice can help all of us! Looking forward to seing what adventure you have to share with us next time!

I love this kid!!! The Most Important video you have ever done!❤. I applaud your honesty & helpfulness❤

Mick, this is my favorite video you've done in a while. REALLY useful to those thinking of taking your path. One thing I would add... you seem to struggle with it; I've struggled with it my whole life: FINISH WHAT YOU START.

❤Love watching your progress!!❤

Love seeing your journey and growth in this crazy thing we call life. Keep it up man! You’re very inspiring for folks out here!

Hey Mick, you are learning and growing, that’s all anyone can do! Keep up the great work and don’t give up! Peace and blessings! 👍🏼👍🏼😉

Great list! Thank you

Thank you for the Good Advice Mick...

Well done, sir! Superbly presented and solid advice gleaned from personal experience. Appreciate your sharing your wisdom. :)

you have come a long way and did great thank you for sharing 👍👍👍👍

Great video Mick thank you.

ALL good experience~! You are a good speaker, your voice is strong. Your 10 point advice is awesome!

Yup ... "Overthink" is one of my issues, too. Thanks for sharing your list, Mick. If I get to make cabin #2, it will likely be stick built again, but this time I'll be adding insulation under the floor. I like your foam insulation suggestion! Stay safe and God Bless

Such great advice. Stellar video! Keep on sharing!

I could listen to this guy speak ..... for hours. What a tone! Great videos as well.

Excellent Video! Many people constantly regret previous choices and do not move forward. You have chosen to learn and use your newly gained insight to make better choices in the future. Each step in the right direction brings you closer to your goal. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see where you are in 5 years.

Wise words , thank you for sharing your journey, I real enjoy your content .

Very good advice young man, your learning very quickly. Thanks and take care!

Build a second heated building that is used for living in and you want to keep clean, and you will discover that tongue and groove mean a lot less draft dust and dirt being blown in during cold winter storms. Meaning just a more comftable home.

Great video on your top ten thoughts on do's and don'ts. And I tell people all the time to look like on Facebook market, OfferUp and my favorite is pawn shops . And I'm 100% in agreement with you about log cabin exterior wall and then framing in the interior walls after . Me and my son can't wait to see your new videos for this season. Looking forward to seeing them

Great episode!

Excellent advice. Many thanks. Love you, kid!

well said! been watching you since almost the beginning! u definitely have grown! keep it up!

❤Great advice! Thanks for sharing!! ❤

Great video! We learn or don't learn every day. Mick, you have a great future in front of you. Keep on living , learning every day. It'll be good to see how far you get this year. I'm certain you will be much better prepared for the winter of 2024. P.S. Also have many great Alaskan adventures while you can.

Great adventure you have gone on. Awesome advice, you have grown so much for your age. Be safe and God Bless you.

Hi again MICK What a great vid! Many lessons learned and soo helpful and kind to share to help others especially those just starting out like yourself. An extra challenge for sure living in such an expensive state. Many wisdoms you will have gained along the way that are priceless for learning more about yourself that will help guide you for your lifetime. You have the want to in soo many ways and will grow and live in your happiness... Thx as always for sharing. Will catcha next time.