I haven't seen My Self Reliance but if he is putting logs on the bare ground he is, as y'all have said, inviting disaster. Rot will begin within 2 years and progress quickly.
We need a foundation of concrete or rock and we need those logs to be at least 18 inches above the ground.
I have built 4 custom log cabins turn key by myself and have worked on a half dozen more. I consider myself another Jeremiah Johnson when it comes to going to the wilderness and building a log cabin. Jeremiah Johnson with a Stihl chain saw and a DeWalt circular saw.
But I have watched the Dick Proenneke show on PBS and I also have the book. Now, this guy is a real bad ass!
Alone in the Alaska wilderness, and he built the cabin by himself using only hand tools. Good God!
And, he made the hinges for his door from trees! Good God I bought my hinges at Home Depot.
This guy is a real warrior and a log artist, my hat is off to Dick Proenneke.
ps Most log cabins that I see here in the Blue Ridge mountains are kits and I despise them. Not custom made. Mr. Proenneke is a real artist.
Or, he was.