I sold all my belongings to live off-grid inside a shipping container in rural Scotland – but I'm not self-sufficient just yet

  • Reading time:6 min(s) read

  • Robyn Swan, 32, bought just under seven acres of land in Stirling for £185,000
  • She harvests rainwater as her shipping container is not connect to the mains

A woman has flogged all of her belongings to live off the grid in a shipping container in rural Scotland.

Robyn Swan, 32, had always dreamed of living off the land but it was only seven years ago when she began to look into living in the sticks.

After years of saving, Robyn finally made the plunge to go off-grid in December last year, bagging just under seven acres of land near Stirling for £185,000.

So she could fulfil her dreams and pay for the land, the dog-walking business owner sold nearly everything she owned from her furniture, to her TV and even her car.

Robyn also remortgaged her home in Stirling that she now rents out out to cover her mortgage and bills.

Robyn Swan, always dreamt off living off the land but it was only seven years ago when she finally made the plunge (pictured with her animals)

Robyn Swan, always dreamt off living off the land but it was only seven years ago when she finally made the plunge (pictured with her animals)

She sold all of her belongings and even remortgaged her home so she could purchase under seven acres of land as well as a container (pictured)

She sold all of her belongings and even remortgaged her home so she could purchase under seven acres of land as well as a container (pictured) 

‘I discovered pretty early on that it’s near on impossible to buy a farm without a big bundle of cash,’ she said.

‘After I remortgaged my house, I then had the bundle of cash sitting there, making me a cash buyer.

‘I sold basically everything else including my car, TV and furniture and currently rent out the house so I can live on the land without any bills.

‘It just felt like the right decision at the right time in my life. Everything just fell into place.’

Robyn finally completed her life-long aspiration, after purchasing a plot of land which had been on the market for six years. 

She ultimately snatched it up as the only buyer dedicated to the off-grid life.

‘The land had been under offer a few times but people wouldn’t be prepared to live off-grid so the sales would all eventually fall through,’ she added.

‘Most people want a dishwasher or a tumble dryer but I never really worried about that.’

The dog-walking business owner sold absolutely everything including her furniture, TV and even her car

The dog-walking business owner sold absolutely everything including her furniture, TV and even her car

Robyn slept on a mattress on the floor for two months as the container was being built (pictured)

Robyn slept on a mattress on the floor for two months as the container was being built (pictured)

The container during construction
The container after construction

‘In the end, I had to take the mattress out of the van and put it on the floor of the container,’ she said (pictured left to right: the container during construction and after) 

However the challenges did not begin and end when she bought the land, as Robyn was sleeping on a mattress on the floor for two months whilst building the container.

‘I slept on the floor the entire time it was being built,’ she quipped.

‘I had a campervan to stay in while the construction was happening but it ended up breaking down and being stuck in a garage for a month and a half.

‘In the end, I had to take the mattress out of the van and put it on the floor of the container.

‘The container shelter took two months to build using material from the local builder’s merchants.’

The off-grid managed to bag a second-hand kitchen from Facebook marketplace for £5,000 and set up her own bed – but the work is still not done. 

‘I was lucky to have loads of friends chipping in with items or a helping hand. It’s not quite finished yet but I have a bed and kitchen sorted,’ she said.

‘Well, I say that, but I don’t have a fridge yet so whatever I eat I have to buy that day.’

Robyn has big hopes for the future but is well aware she is well away from being entirely self-sufficient

Robyn has big hopes for the future but is well aware she is well away from being entirely self-sufficient

Robyn's cast iron bathtub, which she bought on Facebook Marketplace being heated using an outdoor fire

Robyn’s cast iron bathtub, which she bought on Facebook Marketplace being heated using an outdoor fire 

Robyn’s hopes to one day become totally self-sufficient and live entirely from the land – but she still has some way to go. 

She said: ‘I grow some of my own food including potatoes and certain fruits but I am not nearly where I want to be in terms of self-sufficiency.

‘I also plan to set up a solar system for the living spaces but the process is quite expensive.

‘I would love the site to be 60-70% self-sufficient but I am currently at 10-15%.’

Although she has been living disconnected from the mains, life has been easier than expected as Robyn harvest rainwater and bathes in a cast-iron tub she bagged for free online. 

She said: ‘I harvest rain water to use though I have to be careful about how much water we pour to boil for tea.

‘I use a pink cast-iron tub for my baths which a local interior designer was giving away.

‘To heat it, I have to light a fire underneath and sit on a plank of wood so I don’t burn out my bum.’

‘In terms of electricity, I have a power bank in the van which charges as I drive it.

‘That’s where I usually charge my phone and laptop.

‘I use a gas cooker to make food, which right now I still buy primarily from local shops.’

Over the last seven months, Robyn has set up a fence around the entire perimeter and built shelters for the animals living on her land.

‘I had to out some barn owl boxes up before commencing any work,’ she said.

‘Once that was done, I sorted the fence and then built shelters for the animals.

‘I have eight sheep, six pigs and over 20 chickens on the site so I built a chicken coop and pig shelter.

‘I also have four dogs but they live towards the main container shelter with me.’

Robyn has over 20 chickens (pictured) on her land which she hopes one day will be a fully functioning farm

Robyn has over 20 chickens (pictured) on her land which she hopes one day will be a fully functioning farm

Over the last seven months, Robyn has set up a fence around the entire perimeter and built shelters for the animals living on her land

Over the last seven months, Robyn has set up a fence around the entire perimeter and built shelters for the animals living on her land

She also hopes to begin a market garden in the area the pigs currently reside (pictured)

She also hopes to begin a market garden in the area the pigs currently reside (pictured)

Looking to the future, Robyn has big plans for her new slice of land and hopes to turn it into a functioning farm.

She said: ‘I want to start a market garden in the area the pigs are currently in now.

‘I will grow all the fruit and vegetables. I’m hoping to plant some fruit trees soon.

‘I am also planning to start the self-build on the house as well, using the derelict barn already existing on the property.

‘The planning permission has already been granted but I want to make some changes to make sure it’s properly insulated.’




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