We Moved Where Nobody Else Would... Rural Bulgaria
When we told people we were moving abroad and starting a new life in rural Bulgaria, most people had the same reaction:
“Don’t move there.”
But we chose not to listen.
What started as a simple dream of escaping the system has slowly turned into something much bigger — rebuilding an abandoned homestead, growing our own food, homeschooling our kids, and creating a slower, more intentional way of life.
In this video, we finally begin major work on our homestead project as we give this lifestyle a second chance.
From planting seeds and redesigning our growing areas to sharing why we chose an alternative way of living, this episode is about freedom, self-sufficiency, family, and reconnecting with nature.
This is why we left the conventional lifestyle behind.
⏱ Chapters
00:00 Intro – Why we’re giving homesteading a second chance
01:38 Why this lifestyle feels healthier and more meaningful
02:15 System vs nature – the life we no longer wanted
03:00 Work finally begins on the homestead project
05:31 Planting season has officially started
09:38 Last-minute changes to our garden layout
11:13 Answering a subscriber question
13:06 Why we chose an alternative lifestyle – flexibility, freedom & homeschooling
14:11 After a hard day working on the homestead, this is all you need
15:26 Outro – The hidden health benefits growing in your garden
#homestead #movingabroad #selfsufficient #offgridliving #rurallife #homesteading #growyourownfood #simpleliving #alternativeLiving #homesteadlife #bulgaria #slowliving #expatlife #homesteadproject #homeschooling
☉ WELCOME TO FRESH START STICKS ☀︎
We’re a family of five who left the UK to start a new life in rural Bulgaria.
After the events of 2020, life in the UK changed dramatically. Attitudes shifted, businesses struggled under constant regulation changes, and with three young children, we began questioning whether the traditional path still offered the future we wanted for them.
We didn’t feel that the school system could provide the structure, freedom, and real-life skills our children need as they grow into young adults — so we chose to homeschool.
After researching several European countries, we chose Bulgaria. It’s still organic, the people are welcoming, and the nature is truly beautiful. After months of searching — and almost giving up — we finally found an old farmhouse in the countryside that had been empty for over a year. We decided to buy it and renovate it, learning as we go.
OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE:
Renovate our Bulgarian farmhouse
More freedom.
More family time.
Growing our own food.
And travelling together as a family in the Balkan countries
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🎥 WHAT WE SHARE HERE
This channel documents real family life after moving abroad — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Real-time relocation & rural living
Honest DIY & renovation (no experts — just learning as we go)
No crew. No big budgets. Just us.
New videos every Sunday.
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🔔 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW THE JOURNEY
👉 Subscribe here:
www.youtube.com/@freshstartsticks
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🌍 Official Website & Project Links:
Homepage → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/
Watch the Journey →
Support the build → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/donate
Property services →
Press & Media →
Blog →
Contact →
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Explore renovation blogs, cost of living guides and sustainable living insights
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📝 FEATURED BLOG GUIDES
Cost of Living in Bulgaria → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post/cost-of-living-in-bulgaria
Rural Living in Bulgaria → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post/rural-living-in-bulgaria-our-honest-experience
Buying Property in Bulgaria
Home Renovation in Bulgaria: What You Should Know
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🤍 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Your support helps us continue renovating and documenting this journey.
https://www.freshstartsticks.com/donate
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📲 FOLLOW US
Instagram: instagram.com/FreshStartSticks
Facebook: facebook.com/FreshStartSticks
TikTok: tiktok.com/FreshStartSticks
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🎵 MUSIC
Song list: Morning Mist
If you enjoyed our music selection and would like access to it, you can find it here:
https://share.epidemicsound.com/rrpbsk
(Affiliate link)
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