A recovered addict has revealed he is building his own DIY off-grid home where he will live with his wife and children – away from the temptation of drugs.
Andy Robert, 33, had always wanted to raise his family in the woods after growing up in a similar environment.
But he struggled so much with alcohol and cannabis addiction that his wife, Carlos, 38, and three children moved from North Carolina to Northern Michigan without him.
Determined to become a “good man,” Andy got sober and moved in with them six months later to repair his marriage.
Andy Robert, 33, is building a DIY off-grid home where he will live with his wife Carlos, 38, and their children
Andy decided that moving to a remote homestead would make him a ‘better’ husband and father.
So, after saving, he bought 20 hectares of land and is now building a self-sufficient shelter with the help of his young children.
He has spent less than $4,000 so far building a four-bedroom house with scraps and lumber from his land.
Andy, who previously served in the US Coast Guard, said: ‘I don’t like the man I was.
“I grew up with the mentality of being a man and a husband, I care and that’s it.
‘I did that, but I realized that wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t there for my wife, I didn’t help with the kids.
‘Now I no longer wake up in the morning with a hangover.
‘I’m around to be present. I’m here to make an intentional point to support my wife and the boys.
After saving, he bought 20 hectares of land and is now building a self-sufficient farm himself and with the help of his young children.
Andy has spent less than $4,000 so far building a four-bedroom house using scraps and wood from his land. He says the move has made him a “better” husband and father
‘I’m around to be present. I’m here to make an intentional point to support my wife and the boys.
‘My relationship is better and stronger.’
Andy struggled with alcohol and drank as soon as he got home from work, which he said meant he wasn’t ‘present’ with his family.
“I developed a pretty serious drinking problem,” he admitted. “I wasn’t a very good husband.”
Andy swapped booze for cannabis before finally getting sober in 2019 after being hospitalized.
But once the damage was done, Carlos and their children moved to Northern Michigan in early 2020 – something they had already planned to do.
“Eventually my wife said she didn’t love me anymore,” he said vulnerably.
“After she left, I committed myself. I thought, ‘I’m going to be a good man, the man I’m supposed to be.’
Andy struggled with alcohol, drinking as soon as he got home from work and saying he wasn’t ‘present’ with his family
Andy did not give up on his marriage and began to rebuild his relationship with his wife and children and saved to buy 20 hectares of land
Carlos (photo) put her ring back on in March 2021 and the family is now all helping to build their ‘vision’
Andy continued to work on himself and moved in September 2020, purchasing five hectares of land near his family.
“A lot of damage has been done,” he admitted.
But Andy did not give up on his marriage and began to rebuild his relationship with his wife and children.
“My marriage was slowly being restored,” he said.
Carlos put her ring back on in March 2021 and the family is now all helping to build their ‘vision’.
The family now has chickens, goats, a horse, a cow and two pigs and grows crops so they can become self-sufficient.
“I’m trying to save as much money as I can on the process,” Andy said. ‘I looked for materials. I traded equipment for metal that goes on the roof.”
Andy and Carlos had always dreamed of raising their family surrounded by nature
‘So many children live buried in a screen. This is not how we raise our children. I grew up in the woods. “I would like them to have that experience,” he said
Andy’s children are also on board to help with the construction.
“They are deeply involved in the process,” he explained. ‘They have certain tasks on the farm: collecting firewood and taking care of the animals.’
Andy and Carlos had always dreamed of raising their family surrounded by nature.
“So many kids live buried in a screen,” he said. ‘WThis is not how we raise our children. I grew up in the woods. I would like them to have that experience.”
Andy believes the farm has improved his own well-being and his relationship with Carlos.
“I believe my wife and I would have worked it out anyway,” he admitted.
‘For my own mental health it was fantastic. I’m present and I’m better.’