Building "Lego" Walls for Our Cellar, Our Little House Base is Taking Shape!

The cellar of our little house is starting to take shape!
**********↓ Click Show More For More Info! ↓**********
Join Fy Nyth on social media - mewe.com/i/fynyth ! If you are new to my channel and Fy Nyth (Welsh for "My Nest") in general, welcome! I'm Ariel. Along with my husband Clay, our dogs, cats, bees, and some poultry, we live in a tiny house on wheels in the mountains of western Wyoming and are working on setting into our own new little homestead. I've been living this lifestyle since 2014 and my wonderful partner has joined me more recently. What will you find if you follow the channel and watch the videos?
Real life here. I try to show the good and the bad. The ups and the downs. What works, and what doesn't. The parts I love (most of it!), and the things that suck. Not just the showroom version of a tiny house, but everyday life in a tiny house. Not just the romantic idea of "homesteading" or off grid life, but the everyday details of this lifestyle. We split wood for heat, fill the water tank from a gravity fed spring, and attempt to grow as much of our own food as possible between the weather and wildlife here. I hope to help others learn from mistakes and make life just a little easier for anyone else interested in pursuing a similar lifestyle.
We live in a somewhat harsh and cold climate, but enjoy the stunning scenery and wildlife that we are surrounded by on a daily basis. You'll also see videos of the nature and wildlife around my home. If you are interested in my photography or purchasing a photo, I'd love if you follow that over at mewe.com/join/... or ArielCelestePhotography.zenfolio.com!
New? Check out a few of these videos to catch up on what goes on here!
Frequently Asked Questions - • Frequently Asked Quest...
Looking for any of the items we use regularly and love? You can find them all here - amazon.com/shop.... As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Thank you!
Many thanks to all of you amazing people! If you really value the info you find on my channel, are very comfortable yourself, and really want to give a gift in return, our Paypal account address is [e-mail] . Or better yet, go do something nice or helpful for someone else around you and pass it on!

[@terijohnson3110]

I’m so happy for you Ariel & Clay. How exciting!!! And you do a great job Ariel of narrating the what and why’s of your construction project!👍🏻

[@magamutts5726]

Wow, you’ll be in there next winter for sure! Clay is a magician, so incredibly gifted. You both are, thank you for a great video!

[@melissadimoush8196]

Fascinating. These forms are used in the midwest as well. They say the insulation factor is wonderful.

[@jewelssylva3738]

This is amazing! Our church built our whole new building using the same foam blocks & pouring the concrete ourselves about 20 years ago. It's a lovely building with high ceilings in the sanctuary for great acoustics. This method reduces the need for additional insulation. I pray that you, Ariel & Clay, are as pleased with the results of your home as we are with our church.

[@terisoto8230]

Ariel, you and Clay are so perfect together. Clay is what I call a super human husband. A hard worker, master builder. He seems like he is an expert in all things but, is a very calm personable man. And you got him. I wished my husband did more stuff even like 2% I would be happy. Can't wait to see your beautiful home.

[@cephalopodx7587]

Me too. 80% of the time if I want something done I have to do it myself. And I am getting old...it is not as easy as it used to be when I was young.

[@brianquinn5060]

Love watching the build, and all the helping hands, Thanks from Australia.

[@lisacook7162]

That is a really decent size cellar. A great place to store all of your "canned" things. So exciting. Congratulations 😊

[@katherinekelly5380]

I like how you use the scaffold to make a bridge out to your basement to lower the styrofoam forms down - I would have never thought of that but what a smart way to work - beats climbing up and down a ladder carrying forms or tossing the forms which might crack them

[@maryhart637]

Very interesting!!...Forward this video to the manufacturer of the blocks....

[@sharvo6]

With so much going on, I'm glad you're still taking us along.

[@christineb8148]

Watching Clay cut the forms took me back - my mom is an artist and used an electric turkey carving knife to cut styrofoam for sculpture forms. It was kind of like watching someone use a hedge trimmer on a big hedge!

[@positivelyhappy.9876]

Wow. Very impressive I love watching you build. You two are amazing.

[@LynneWilliams101]

In the family home where my mom was raised, we currently have the 4th, 5th, & 6th generation living. The basement floor and walls are dirt. It's amazing how it keeps the canning, potatoes & carrots cool and well preserved since the late 1800's.

[@LWYOffGridHomestead]

Love it...Clay is awesome...he really knows what he's doing & exudes confidence...thanks for bringing us along ❤ Bonnie

[@gail2297]

Clay is very talented. He certainly gjves a new meaning to Jack-of-all-trades😊 You both are hardworking and complement each other.

[@peterdement]

Consider installing horizontal conduit inside the block for perimeter electrical outlets.

[@merinzz]

Wow, you are making really good progress! Well done, a lot of hard, hot work!

[@gloriaincalifornia1911]

Lego forms! Who knew? What a good idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@LoriSkees]

This is so exciting!

[@patriciafuchs5970]

Love watching the two of you working on your new build!

[@jamesfleming5875]

I can’t believe how quickly you are getting this done,but I suppose bad weather is not far away.very well done to you both.👍🇬🇧

[@joellenbroetzmann9053]

I love Clays tools. He takes great care of them.

[@roseargetsinger2217]

What an interesting and useful video. I will continue following your progress. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@futurekron]

What a blessing that you're both so good with building these things. So interesting to watch.

[@liddybird3608]

This is fascinating. Thanks for showing us the process! Can't wait to watch the rest.

[@johnmccormick175]

Very interesting and a great job Clay and Ariel .

[@dennismatthews6660]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Guyver09]

What a hardworking couple. 😊

[@beverlymichael5830]

Going to be a fantastic cellar.

[@heatherclayton-callaghan4270]

OH CLAY at 70 I found your remodelling of the top corner blocks very fascinating !!!!! Thankyou for the time spent in sharing the detailed method you've developed that's required to finish the top layer. Have you or any of the builders using this method, spoken with the production/ design company/s as to WHY they do not provide the CORNER PIECES ????? Their explanation would be interesting for sure🇦🇺 🤗🙏💞👍👌✌️👏✝️🇺🇸

[@mark_osborne]

Fantastic ! Your basement will be extremely warm with all that R-value

[@carbar2215]

This is. Very interesting and exciting

[@davidwolfe7777]

That is flipping awesome! 👍

[@carolluther1625]

It's so exciting to see the progress on your foundation. I am glad Clay has the knowledge he does, to build your home. Good job Ariel and Clay!

[@jamesandrew4859]

That foam should also provide some insulation for your basement and home as well.

[@Valerie_Dawn]

That's quite a bit of progress. Good to see your brother pitching in as well. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a gadget similar to a hacksaw shape with a heated wire that could cut those slots without all that Styrofoam mess?

[@cindycampbell807]

Wonder if you could use soldering pen ?

[@alycegallant5406]

Very interesting and informative! Clay you are one clever man. God bless you both.

[@stephenoshaughnessy2279]

That Styrofoam is some miracle material to hold concrete. But it makes pouring a cellar much, much easier. We'll see how far you get before the first snow starts.

[@marianfrances4959]

Awesome!! 👍😎🇨🇦

[@MsRybak1]

You will be very satisfied with your foam blocks. I’ve watched this method before an it turns out very well.

[@littlehomeinthevalley]

Eric and I really enjoyed watching this together! We're doing ICF for our house build as well. It is so exciting to see your process, as ours won't start until next month. Great way to build!

[@juliesutton4551]

That cool looking!!

[@genevievebakkensen86]

So excited for you love the progress reports I know you both are going to make a beautiful home.💞

[@CoddiwomplerDeb]

You must be thrilled Ariel - so happy for you both!! 😘😘

[@sandrawyrick]

Enjoyed it!

[@stellaunger8568]

Very interesting ❤️😁🌹

[@sheilabundren2037]

Looks like a big house. Never seen anything built with Styrofoam forms. Interesting.

[@deenichols491]

So Kool... Good job

[@LIVINGRETIRED310]

Beautiful scenery, love the mountains

[@Ladythyme]

I love building videos and appreciate seeing the progress in the time lapse format and not having to sit through the bit by bit. I’ve never seen those styrofoam blocks used before….what a great way to build walls quickly. 😊…masons probably are too happy about them I would assume….

[@hanna7644]

Always learn something here! Thanks and good luck.

[@cephalopodx7587]

Looking very good already. Good to see such great progress made so quickly.

[@potpourrioflife]

You are both doing great!! Love the lego's and that they provide an economical means to pour ooncrete on your own vs hiring a crew! Looking great!!

[@denyhaynes31]

👍👏

[@dawnbaker9274]

I'm recovering from a bad bout of sciatica and your video definitely cheered me up. Thank you.❤

[@pamelahansen5928]

Love watching this progress- so excited for you both ♥️

[@bboice08]

Looks fantastic🎉🎉🎉🎉bravo!

[@Sarah-xw2ff]

This is fascinating! Looking forward to it. :)

[@PrimeDirective101]

So fascinating; and to think styrofoam can be forms for concrete!

[@janeth3139]

Cool

[@BrLambert]

This is exciting. I believe I saw some videos in the UK using these Styrofoam blocks and they were from Germany. They looked slightly different though.

[@71suns]

How exciting!

[@naomidonovan-perry2667]

Great build.

[@eugeneblue299]

Neat.

[@jpennturner]

Wonderful

[@lynnemarks8985]

I am really enjoying this in Britain we don’t very often have cellars I think we should such a lot of storage thank you for sharing 🦋

[@wendyweaver8749]

For those wanting more detailed information about ICF blocks and variations, go to the Handeeman channel and go to the "Building a Home" playlist. Videos with playlist numbers 12-16 contain explanations about ICF in general, specifics about ICF options and both normal speed and timelapse videos showing the construction. Handeeman's house used ICF for the entire two stories (no basement).

[@carolynsilvers9999]

This is so informative

[@cindycampbell807]

Too bad they didn’t make those corner tops cause seems to be time consuming to have to modify those i shoot them this video lol also since your air quality has being so bad you might consider getting some N.A.C. It’s great for your lungs You all are living the dream you both do great job at your place God bless you & Clay P.S. that basement or crawl space lol is the right size plenty of head room too think it will work out wonderfully

[@christineb8148]

Really interesting process! I'd be interested in hearing why you are choosing a different material for the walls above grade vs going with the concrete all the way up.

[@cindycampbell807]

I think it’s insulation value plus more cost effective

[@dorisharrison9885]

Looking great, moving forward with great anticipation 🍁🍂🌾🥀🇺🇲

[@Flowergurl2000]

I love those Lego blocks!

[@arjones0819]

Fascinating

[@beckyray8746]

Very interesting!

[@rumichacajoy]

LEGO Star Wars is being advertised on your video. They should be paying you!

[@mircat28]

Hope he isn’t inhaling that styrofoam dust; it is a likely carcinogen !

[@arthurdill4240]

How many square feet is The house

[@denisejones1863]

In searching about a dirt basement or cellar it found it was not recommended due to the moisture they retained and the fact rodents could get into cellar. Why are you not just putting down a cement floor? Even pavers would be better than dirt.

[@LWYOffGridHomestead]

I think it's 32 x 32...if it is you just multiply 32 x 32 to get the square ft

[@1timby]

Are you concerned about animals getting into your basement with a dirt floor?

[@denisejones1863]

I know they are going to cover it come winter. Yikes, it could be a giant litter box.

[@1timby]

@@denisejones1863 Years ago folks used to build their homes with dirt floors and had dirt floors in their basements. Yet, they found that after a while rodents would come because folks stored food in the basement to preserve it. Folks began to build what they called rat floors. They put down a small layer of concrete to keep the pesky critters out. Just saying.

[@ithacacomments4811]

not a fan of Styrofoam....

[@jpmerrick8886]

Are you guys building a house get out