Backfilling an Impossible Hillside Trench With Sand (From a Hose!)

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[@randallshular5362]

Mr. Sand Man. Bring me some trucks, we'll pump your sand for a few thousand bucks ! Lol

[@jtbrunton]

Got a feeling there will be a future video on this trench...

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

Hey the hot tub now has a beach to lay out on when summer comes!

[@stanwilson7201]

In the mid 1960's when I worked in construction, we used this method to backfill a 1500 foot long, 12 foot diameter powerhouse penstock on. 45 degree slope. It took a week working 24 hours a day because it was winter in NFL Canada. It's an excellent method requiring no compaction as the water draining out of the sand does the compaction. We had some problems getting the sand to flow with as little water as possible until we added laundry soap to the sand mixture. I'm sure your trench will be fine if you divert hillside water from rain storms to prevent scour of the trench sand. I love your videos. BTW, your Engineer should have cautioned you to schedule your windows much earlier in the build schedule to prevent the delays you are experiencing. That's just part of "best practice" construction. Good luck, Stan...

[@bigmancleverman989]

Been watching a bunch of your vids, I'm a builder and I think you guys are doing fantastic. Plus you have a good woman there. Thanks for all your efforts.

[@kgs2127]

Boy do I feel your "pain"! We began our addition project in Michigan at the beginning of July (early 90's) which is typically warm & dry. We ran into two major problems doing the foundation 1. our frost line is 42" (so where bottom of footing had to be) and we hit water at 18" plus it rained every weekend for the next 13 weekends after we dug the foundation footing so it kept filling with water & caving in before we could get the forms set. We had to pump it out & re dig most of it every stinking week (after work) again & again...thought we'd never get out of that darn "hole"!!!

[@ExperimentalFun]

You should try sprinkling some bags of dry concrete mix along the top of the sand and wet it down, it might help lock the sand in place so that it doesn't all wash out with the rain....

[@armanddd9956]

The Cat is going to love his new cat box, when it is dry!

[@gcpeters1879]

Like your homestead. My question is what are you going to do to keep that sand in place when it rains, and the water starts to run down the hill on the trench?

[@warrenlee1423]

Cistern Tank can be anywhere guys. Use a couple of Solar panels to charge a battery bank and use DC pumps to supply pressure to home. My cabin has been this way since 1998. Pumps last a long time. A couple of 200 watt panels are enough. Go whole hog and get 3-5K watts and enjoy being off grid. elevated water systems are nice though. Remember plastic sheet over the top of your trench will keep rain water from eroding it away. Just secure the edges and overlap it as you come down the hill. Cheap insurance.

[@joellenbroetzmann9053]

The unfrozen puddle reminds me of another man who found some bubblin' crude on his property.

[@jc1982discovery]

Won’t the first heavy rain wash out the sand down the hill or will there be a wall holding it back?

[@TomTalley]

Love your videos...I'm with the others that are concerned about the sand washing out, as easily as it flowed in. You might consider having a bolder pushing/ice cream bar b q day, where you invite friends to march from top to bottom dumping backfill in on top of the sand...The gash you have formed on the hill will be a really good trap for a stream of flow ... think about it, if it is easy for you to walk up...it will be easy to flow down...and high velocity water will cut that sand in a heartbeat...(just my guess anyway...) Bless you both...Thanks for bringing us along.

[@CallmeSam00]

This was refreshing! Would be nice if you guys could find your way back to the cheerful videos you posted a few months ago. Miss seeing the optimistic, plucky couple. This was a bit like the older stuff. Do it some more! :) Also, Jesse should interrupt Alyssa a lot less. We get it, you know a thing or two and you've introduced Alyssa to the DIY skillset. But she has opinions and experiences of her own. Would be nice to see her being allowed to finish her sentences. She usually is more concise than Jesse, too.

[@raynall3593]

It is manufactured sand, looks like sand but it is the dust washed off of gravel when it is crushed. Used to be a waste products at quarries till they found uses for it. Here we call it donafil and we put it under cement slabs. Once the water dries from it, it gets hard as a rock but it is still able to be dug up. It is a good filler and unless it rains hard immediately, it doesn't wash very good. The top will crust over and be hard. He explains this at the start of the first video.

[@charlesrichardson4839]

Thank you ray nall Finally someone else that actually pays attention to what was said in this a the previous videos when they talked about pumping fill into the trench.

[@Sqeptick]

Thanks for the explanation, Ray. I was wondering about that the whole time.

[@jamesgrimwood1285]

Are there any UK subscribers in here who remember the TV show "Grand Designs"? This channel is like that, except instead of Kevin McCloud narrating over the top and giving a sense of perspective, we've got KZbin comments.

[@kernowgirl53]

James Grimwood I'm in the UK, love Grand designs! Just watching the Newest series 😊

[@dynorat12]

beleave it or not you and Alyssa are doing a great job you guys are getting closer and closer to your goal... great job

[@allenbishop9154]

You are going to need to get some cover on that sand (top soil, foliage, rocks) to keep it in place. Some good heavy rains will start washing it right down to the bottom. While graity is your friend with the water system, it is also your enemy now with the sand and water.

[@fredyearian4968]

If those roots are live, they will expand and crush the conduit tied to them...

[@marty0715yt]

We are all at the mercy of vendors. Be it sand, concrete, lumber, whatever. You've got a great support group with yours'. Go with the flow!! Great job!! Now you've got to put something over it so the hard rains won't cause it to run down that hill. Where's the 4wheeler???

[@Aaron-qr3tg]

why do these people get so much hate? like they are city people wanting to live the country life, let them experience it on their own without the hate. they never claimed to be expert home builders/many of the sub projects that come with building a home.

[@greenspotconstruction5003]

First things first, I have been watching your channel and have enjoyed your videos. It is cool to see someone take on a project like this. BUT you need to higher engineers to design what you are building. The cost of there input will offset the cost of mistakes AND they will help you plan better and save you money. This trench is the perfect example. The list of issues is a large one but the correct person(s) input would have saved you major problems down the road. 1. Most of the roots didnt look detrimental to the surrounding trees, which using trenching equipment would have saved you days and you would have had a cleaner path. And yes the proper trencher would roll the rocks right out of the way. 2. When tieing off the pvc, you tied towards the top of the trench, and pvc full of air likes to float, i am sure there are plenty of spots close to 6 inches or less in the sand and it will continue to float when the sand gets wet. 3. The tree roots, if they are not damaged enough to die off (we know you were trying to save them but often exposing them does enough damage to kill many of them), whats left will grow putting pressure on your pipes till they break. 4. Sand always moves where ever water goes. The future issues are not all addressable such as the roots etc. BUT you can do some things to reduce the risk of a winter time mud slide or a mud slide when a pipe breaks. Once the area is pretty dry, get portland cement and mix it really thin, water like, poor it over the sand so it drains into the sand. Do a sample area first to make sure it is mixed right, it gets absorbed well into the sand and you can still break it up with a shovel. Next cover it with additional soil to create a monund so it sheds water AWAY from it. You can add a layer of yard fabric to shed water and plant over it. Just dont plan anything with strong roots or thorns as when you need to repair the lines in a few years, you wont regret working in it. FYI. A few of the people on here are speaking from experience as many of us have experienced or seen these problems first hand and others are just speaking out there rears. Fyi. Good job on sourcing BOTH material and labor, dont go out buying a pump, you will waste more time learning to pump then you will save.

[@anthonygumino6641]

Until it rains all your sand will be at the bottom unless you backfill with the real soil type. advise you to put some preventive dams or water diversions at the top of the hill? to not allow erosion to take place??

[@k.cashman427]

Although I know this vid is about something that took place 6 weeks ago, you should use some stones at several places up the sandy trail and make cuts to avoid heavy rains pushing all that sand downhill.

[@squirrelbong]

that's a great idea. just like they do hiking trails so they don't turn into rivers when it rains.

[@kslinthesand]

Great video guys, thanks for bringing us along on the journey.

[@jaicolorado1842]

I thumb-upped a couple of other comments related to what happens when the rain comes in torrents and that ditch becomes a funnel and a flume for the sand into your driveway. Need to think about that.

[@jimon1287]

Really good for the local economy. I pay $4 a yard for screened sand and would never use it there. In the spring all the sand will be in your driveway. Major Fail.

[@bobdaniel4198]

Jesse and Alyssa I rarely if ever comment but wanted to tell you this. In my 55 years this is something I've learned. Life is a state of Controlled Chaos. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes it turns out to be a draw. If you keep that in the back of your mind as you finish your build it'll probably be a little less stressful or perhaps manageable stress. 😊

[@Wydglide]

Bob Daniel ... Bob I'm going over 55 and I agree with you man it's chaos but honestly Alyssa Jesse neither one read these posts if you want to do something that they'll see you have to go to Instagram. 👍🇺🇸

[@bobdaniel4198]

Wyd Glide ahhh...okay...with nearly 1000 comments I shoulda figured that, DOH!! 😊

[@cuban9splat]

Your trench will also make a great path for run-off rain water to flow down the hill. Now plant some native grasses to grow on top of the sand. That won't completely cure the issue but it will slow the erosion way down. Great idea. Pumping sand. Impressive idea. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@2009valleyman]

Hey Jesse & Alyssa, I've been reading the comments made by othere people here and some are not too nice, so, I thought I would just say I think the two of you are doing an amazing job so keep it up, and, as far as I'm concerned I do not expect anyone in your position to be posting daily videos while the work you are undertaking is so difficult physically and also mentally tireing, you need to rest and put the house first, before us mottley crew, who just sit arround watching, so, stop beating yourselves up and lookforward to when you will be sitting in your house, surrounded by your children with an amazing story to tell them...all the best Alvaro

[@OffGridHarvey]

Alvaro Williams check out my Off Grid Tour!

[@richie4540]

Maybe you should get a bag of premix concrete and put one in every 60 feet or so to stop the sand moving later when It rains.

[@mst5632]

If you’ve ever been on a job site where someone doesn’t get hurt and things don’t go as planned...then you’ve never been on a job site. Job sites are about minimizing injury and being able to adapt the plan. Glad the trench is (mostly) filled in. Great job & keep up the hard work.

[@videolabguy]

I discovered your videos where you just started digging the trench with air. It feels good to see closure on this project. Don't fret over the expectations. Only the final reality matters. You folks are doing awesome! My most favorite-ist channel.

[@dballard8660]

Pretty good "mudflow" there. Looks like the sand did the trick of filling the trench. Interesting video, for sure. On to the next project. Good luck Jesse and Alyssa.

[@usageorgepa.3293]

One thing for sure,,these folks have some deep pockets....

[@kriskath7040]

Whats keeping that sand from washing out? Vegetation isn't going to grow on it to hold it together? One good storm and your going to be shoveling out your steps again...

[@chrisking7603]

Ummmm. Professional contractors were employed to fill a trench on a hill, and chose material that would be suitable? Why doubt that? Surely KZbin junkies wouldn't know better. Personally, I would have just chucked all the rocks back in the trench and hidden my sin with a few pine needles.

[@johnwasula5907]

Oddly...a very satisfying video! Love the drone footage 😀

[@jasonminoia]

Yaaaaay! What a great day guys! Awesome job everyone!

[@JEFFTUCKERLrod]

You both should be Proud !!! NEVER FORGET ITS ONLY A MISTAKE IF IT CAN NOT BE FIXED !!!. I Know just by following you two on youtube it has been FIXED !! Right? Gr8 Job !!! Pat yourselves on the Back :)

[@rjbjr]

The first house you build is always the hardest. It will get a lot easier when you start on your second, and then your third. ;)

[@PrecisionPrintworks]

Do you think when it rains it will flow in the rut and wash away the sand?

[@PrecisionPrintworks]

If they are using it as a trail to the top of the hill it might not hold ground cover well

[@lotophagi711]

Thanks, now I know that I need to build a series of dams first:-)

[@billmoran3812]

Right idea, but wrong material. Lean concrete, a mix of sand and Portland cement would flow and set up pretty solid, yet still be able to be dug up if you had to. Poured in sections would prevent the overflows at the bottom. That's a very severe slope, I'm surprised it didn't all run to the bottom.

[@ZachCrawfordENL]

Thanks for posting this one! I've been waiting for it since I saw the teaser on Facebook.

[@Incurable1776]

I can’t believe it… for all your hard back braking work and sweat equity that you two put into your dream, you get so many jerks leaving bad mouthing, mean, disrespectful comments unbelievable!!! I hope you can ignore them somehow. I really love your videos, the information you share, the beautiful countryside, the content and how you share your passion for your dream and each other. Although I have retired now, I have had many of the same type of struggles myself (our self), good luck to the both of you and thank you for sharing your dream with us !!!!!! Paul

[@GODLOVETHEM]

Ditto! Having worked on many projects it has become clear there are those who "getter done" & there are those who sit on the sidelines telling producers what they are doing, or have done wrong. Bringing together a myriad of tasks is a lot different than getting each task completed. And, it's okay to have many projects "in process" at the same time. It's pulling them all together that is key. When you prepare a meal you put the roast in before you make the mashed potatoes. If the biscuits don't rise until the last minute it's not a failure unless someone fails to put them in the oven - before everyone sits down for "grace." These ARE their good years. Unless there is something I am not aware (of), there is no reason not to, or shame in taking their time. If there had not been a rush with this task, and if they had not "operated in the dark" they would have adjusted the water, put in appropriate dams, cleared off, maybe put that excess sand (w/ cement) to good use and they would have "cleaned up the sides" as they went. The lesson I am reminded of is when a service provider "flips the schedule" putting you under pressure, opt out and for a later, less stressful and more thoughtfully completed job. Recognize there will be unknowns until you are in the middle of a task. If it had been me, and if there had been a little bit of guidance on what was coming with enough time - I would have stuck wood pieces in the "sand" and made a stairway type path going up the hill. Though, they can still augment the project to do this or a number of things - with that path. Nothing there that cannot be "adjusted" to come out well ahead of the original plan. The great thing about these videos is the real-world process of task accomplishment. The biggest difference between those who DO (and can do anything they put their minds to) and those who CAN'T (and never accomplish a thing) is those who DO know they will have set-backs and do-overs. Those who can't quit with the first failure and say: I can't because.... Again, these two are doing a great job. Their viewership speaks to this fact, not the .000001% who criticize.

[@octoberwatcher3774]

Hey Jesse, Y'all are doing an amazing job! I absolutely understand how flustering it is when things do not work out as well as we wish they would-- no matter how carefully planned and thought out the plans are/were. It seems you're quick to beat yourself up for not always knowing the right answer or for when things not working as it was thought out. Yes, y'all have more work, but you accomplished the goal. If this was your career field, if you had done this your whole life, you'd probably know how to do it flawlessly-- but then-- you wouldn't be the teacher you are to so many of us who are novice, watching you, learning along with you. You might make mistakes along the way, but because you and Alyssa do so opening and straightforwardly, it helps other people -- which -- as one of your subscribers-- I have to assume is part of the very reason you've created your channel. Please keep your chin up. You've got this. What's a little set back in the big picture? Look how far you've come and look how wonderful it is! It's been an absolute pleasure to watch you both as you have used your ingenuity and cleverness in reaching each little hurdle. It's inspiring and it gives me-- and my family-- hope. We're pulling for y'all. You've got this.

[@DavidGarcia-nw3xu]

This has become the most expensive "off grid home build" on KZbin.

[@gnateye]

Yeah🎉🎊 congratulations guys! It’s really coming along

[@samba3403]

The good thing about sand is it will end up at the bottom of the hill so you can cart it back to the top again and again.

[@flinx]

It's likely a certain kind of coarse sand that drains really well and requires a torrent of rain before it slides. It was pumped while utterly saturated with water so it would flow. Now that it's drained the water into the soil, rainfall will drain through the sand instead of carrying it down. I don't know if the plan is to spread gravel on top, but that would disperse the energy of raindrops hitting, and make thousands of micro-dams. Then tree needles will form a layer on top of that.

[@samba3403]

flinx only a torential rain will disloge the top that might ba a god send to pull some of the dirt back ovef it. I would not be bo concerned if the top layer washed of personally you can level it out a bit better anyways.

[@ConnorFitzD]

'Why are you wasting your money on this?! Do it by hand its much cheaper and easier' 'Why are you wasting your time on this?! Get a professional and pay for it, it's easier and will be done properly' You two literally can't win, KZbin Warriors will always find a flaw in your project!

[@MadnomadM]

Zip tied to roots? Won’t that be a problem when the roots grow? As I expected at the bottom with the sand. Not sure why that wasn’t predicted.

[@kylekaae4986]

Thousands of us construction workers do this every day for a living, in the dark, rain,snow and they are thankful for the work, welcome to the club of hard knocks . Companies have to work with their big pictures to make money. What do you think the ready mix employees families were saying? Probably thank god for some winter work so we can feed our families.

[@TroyJParr]

Keep pushing the reward is doing this with your wife, and the beautiful home you will end up with.

[@markduncan6690]

I sure hope that the surrounding hill is stable! Your timber frame house is so close to the grade!

[@tylersteele1887]

You need to start putting dirt rocks and possibly growing grass or some sort of vegetation on top to hold it there otherwise come spring run off if you think that mess you have down at the bottom by your hot tub is bad right now it's going to get a lot worse

[@flinx]

It's coarse sand that drains well and is heavier and less mobile than fine sand. It takes saturation with water to make it move.

[@sshep86]

Rain storm???? You have seen what water can do to dirt and rock in California. This will just wash away in heavy rain. Sand is incredibly unstable, and naturally seeks level, especially when friction is removed with the help of water. All that sand will be at the bottom soon.

[@Roobah]

That was pretty thrilling! Too bad you couldn't have done it on YOUR schedule. Hope the future weather keeps it stuck where it needs to be. You probably need a good root system on top of the trench to make sure it doesn't all end up at the bottom of the hill some day.

[@kennethrearick2906]

You need to build steps with rocks at the front to act as barriers to erosion. and you can use it as a path to the top of the hill.

[@robmechanic]

Thank you again for taking the time to produce these videos. I enjoy them and will never be negative about their content. Keep up the great work!!

[@Northern_Farmer]

Im left here scratching my head? Sand? I see that being a trench again after spring runoff!!

[@601salsa]

You guys are phenominal! Take heart whilst there might be a bit of clear up at the bottom remember THE TRENCH IS FILLED! You are getting there with the build, its winter the shorter daylight hours affect everyone negatively mentally as well the pressure you put on yourself and by everything else. You guys can do this, you are doing this (enviably well i might add). For now you might have lists mile long but eventually that will get down to nothing

[@wheelairrentals7132]

You'll regret zip tying your conduit to roots.

[@MrBibenio]

Ye, have same thought....what a dumb idea

[@ghraptor30]

I drive a mixer and my though they poured the flow fill to wet... Keep the great videos coming...🙂

[@pawpawshobbyhomestead4081]

This video gives a whole new meaning to the phrase " GO POUND SAND" !!! Great Idea

[@ThatOldBiddy]

The Backhoe needs a name. The day you apologize to your backhoe is the day the backhoe deserves a name.

[@TheCanadianBubba]

great mindset !

[@rudywork]

I think this was awesome. You should think about turning into a walking path or a cool bike trail. And hag in there we are rooting for you.

[@CraigDurbin]

Looks good! the sand over spill at the bottom will look like a big mess but it will move quickly once you start and it does have a place to go which is not far from where it got out of the trench so it will look neat when it is all finished

[@billr2996]

You are almost there. Just an hour or so of shovel and buckets to move the sand from the steps to the trench just above the hot tub. And that project can be checked off. It will be interesting to see how the sand holds during the spring and fall rains. Are you going to seed the trench with a ground cover to help hold it?

[@TheMDGeist66]

Beautiful hill. Now get it covered in blueberries and blackberries so you get lots of food. It will also stop erosion.

[@thestuffz]

that bit of sand at the end is nothing to worry about. few 5 gallon pails shoveled and then clean up with the hose! :D

[@mgfarmer1]

You guys are doing a great job. We can all learn from your experience, what works and what don't work. Stress is only what we make it. roll with the flow, situations will happen, we just work through them as thy come. always be sure to take time out just for the two of you.

[@offgridsweden]

Looks great. Finally your trench is gone. Greetings from Andreas on Off Grid Sweden

[@alpinegeordie]

Great video guys, one thought at the top of the chanel it might be wise to build a kerb type structure to divert any possible rain run off from the top of the hill away from the sand ditch, as the rain always finds the path of least resistance, here in the alps they us a a lot of ground level gutters to steer the rain water away from the tracks and roads ....good luck :-)

[@larryconwell4480]

Bill Weir I

[@adamconroy2754]

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems to me that you only have between you two pairs of hands... So that would mean when you start a project you have to have your fingers in many pies which means some of the pies don't always get finished at the same time, because you can't start one Project without beginning another.. It looks to me like it's the end goal. and the the end goal is a house that's warm that's safe for your children, and you and you and your wife are happy with... don't get too despondent it's wonderful to watch How You progress with your projects don't let it stress you out too much all the best Adam from the UK 😀😀

[@isctony]

i'm surprised the bottom of the trench wasn't damned to hold everything in. keep planning ahead and it will make life easier. Get some of the projects competed and keep pushing forward.

[@jakec7103]

A Gabion wall would be a really cool idea to use all those rocks on your property

[@DFGrill]

does not matter if they know what one is, if they like the suggestion or are curious as to what one is they can look it up

[@i.p.freely2501]

I LIKE TURTLES.🐢

[@sdfjsdjfghssfgdsgvfs]

Why did you hide the amount you get on patreon?

[@sshep86]

Well they have 415 patreons. If all of them were paying the minimum of $5. That would be $2075 a month. Ofcourse it would be much more than that because people are daft with money and like to throw more money at people who don't need it, than those who are homeless and struggling. The modern world is bizarre.

[@metallitech]

I think Patreon did that and it became the new default. Really cheesy isn't it.

[@OtherBrotherDaryl]

Bravo. Don't let the KZbin experts highjack the positive progress you have made. Fascinating watching the process. If I have the time this summer, I will head out with my tent and my tools to help in any way I can.

[@corbonzo1]

its pretty common knowledge that this is NOT below frost line. those conduits will be trash after 1 hard freeze. you dont have to be an expert to know basic things

[@dawnbaker9274]

Don't be discouraged by the chaos. It just means things are happening. Think y'all are doing great. 👏👏👏

[@7527blackdog]

You need erosion protection or next time it rains hard you gonna have a BIG mess at the bottom (hay bails staked down, silt fence etc.) believe me on this one

[@skooterfd]

The hard part is having to bucket the excess sand up the hill to fill that gap in the trench & then covering over the whole trench with backfill to protect the trench from erosion! Job well done, seeing they sprung this on you at the last moment!

[@stargatefred]

Hi Jesse & Aliese, you guys did pretty good with so sort notice. Concrete trucks are always early or late but you handled it pretty good. Cudos for getting the lights up there so quickly. Don’t worry about having things not completed you will probably change your mind about how to complete them before you get to that point anyway. I always called that part the flex point. Just keep on plugging away. And don’t worry about what other people think. Have fun. More later. Bill from Seattle

[@audiotechlabs4650]

II guess this "sand lava" has been around for a while, but this is the first time for me to see it used. It is smart to eventually to have two water sources. This whole adventure seems to be a look at what's available for building a home these days. The tools, materials, equipment, new and used are brought to light here. If it was me, I would cover the trench with something that would try to keep the sand in the trench, rocks, pine needles, what ever. We have witnessed so many successes and fails with this project, been quite a ride! Thankz

[@timeyourorder]

I recall a video where they said they could have tapped into the city water line for what I thought was a reasonable cost...but they didn't want to have a monthly water bill. Adding up all they paid in materials and time to create this system I think it is way more expensive than all the monthly water bills they would have to pay for city water. Plus they have to go to town periodically to fetch water. I don't understand why this is better. Will they pay more to be off-grid? Why?

[@mjc3053]

A couple of tanks collecting water from some gutters would of worked also. Then pump to house. That’s how it’s done in Australia off grid

[@timeyourorder]

But one of their goals is to do this inexpensively...yet this effort to be "off grid" when they they have on grid options seems to be much more expensive. Off grid is great where it's needed. But the grid has something to offer too when it's available. I tell that to my neighbors who pay a monthly lease for solar panels that is more than my average monthly power bill to the electric company...but somehow they are seduced by have zero power bill. Money is money whether it's paying for the grid or paying for your crazy efforts to get off of it.

[@tjn5845]

I bet drilling a well originally is looking better and better

[@Roughneck.Country]

Why not just bury the conduit in 6” of sand then fill the rest in with the previously excavated overburden? A trench filled to the top with sand will get eroded for sure on a hill side.

[@ruralridez6165]

lol the guys pumping the sand don't care they wont mind getting paid twice.

[@TheIcyhydra]

just put a little bit of the clay that you have from your land on top of this sand and that'll waterproof it.

[@kirkq2]

Im wondering what keeps that sand from just washing out during a big rain?

[@ryanwaterman3473]

Kirk Quinlivan nothing.

[@kirkq2]

Glenn Martin oh I don’t think it looks like a dump at all. I love these guys I’m just wondering if they have an erosion plan? The place looks like a construction site, it looks like they are working really hard for their dreams. The kitchen is a mess after the worlds best dinner. Building a house the mess comes first. Great Job guys I’m a huge new fan.

[@kirkq2]

Arizona Northstar why are KZbin people so flipping negative??? All I hear when you guys say it looks like a dump is, I’m not strong enough to live that life. Which is fine but cutting them down for working harder than most will ever no will not clean the building site faster or complete projects. If you can’t say anything nice don’t say it at all.

[@pfunkarillo]

You're right Jesse, we do make the best decisions we can at the time with the information available. You guys are doing great, live on! Haters and morning quarterbacks gonna hate and monday morning quarterback....

[@sshep86]

Won't sand just wash out in a rain storm? I mean it's well known to be structurely unsecure? Like if you build a sandcastle and then pour water in the top, it just decays and washes away.

[@KraftyKathi]

Steve Sheppard this is structural fill...used for embankments

[@sshep86]

Kathi Pauling Well, just watch the video. Look how the sand flowed with water. The same thing is gonna happen in a rainstorm.

[@lancehenthorn17]

Oh just give it time.

[@KraftyKathi]

lance henthorn I think they said when digging the trench that they would pull the adjacent top soil over it

[@aikendrum3906]

Jesse, don't be so frustrated. It took a year but now the bulk of the trench is done. You have clean up work yet to do but it's all coming together just like you need it to. You guys are still in the pipe, five by five. Hang on and enjoy!

[@allanmuniz8998]

I cannot believe they backfilled this trench like this. I want to see the video when they pull that wire through the pvc conduit.

[@Brynoize]

going to be funny watching them shovel out the sand to get cables down the conduits.

[@hoss4557]

I wouldn't have roots in that trench. If you attach PVC to them when the root grows that would put pressure on the lines. 10 years from now they could have major problems. It's a wonder Jessy didn't think of that. It would be easy to use vertical PVC pipes for anchor points.

[@KraftyKathi]

Hoss 45 maybe he's going to dig the sand at those points and cut the ties now that the conduit is supported, but those were just for electrical wires anyway

[@nonameaccount5590]

Just got my Mother Earth News...congratulations! Great article.

[@KraftyKathi]

Michelle Ann I wish J&A would say more about that....maybe it would explain to some of the naysayers and people calling them names wondering where they get money from. They work constantly...not just on this homestead. So many commenters are so vicious here.

[@genesnyder2985]

And release all of the experts I really enjoy the videos that are on KZbin I wish I could find the links that would show all of the vids from the for mentioned experts

[@ibelieveintrees]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us! Keep on keepin' on.

[@timhale501]

The truck used TOO much water. When I filled my electrical trench I used my concrete vibrator like when they pumped your Icf walls The vibrator will settle and compact sand about one inch per foot of sand. . also when I had to run 8 inch pipe under a road I ordered a slury mix which has about 1 bag of Portland cement per yard, so it sets up faster. A down hill run can use a lot less water.

[@AM-kc3xg]

I hope one of those trees you zip tied the water / utility lines to doesn't ever get blown over / pulled out by mother nature.