Laying Our Handmade Bricks, Finally!

Brick Playlist • Bricks, Making, Firing...
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[@angellewis1815]

Way to go in the music Caleb❤️ it’s beautiful ..

[@jtjjbannie]

What is a Caleb?

[@angellewis1815]

@@jtjjbannie Caleb made the music for the video ~ he’s part of the video team

[@jtjjbannie]

@@angellewis1815 AHHH! Thanks for responding....

[@James-en1ob]

You read my mind 🤯

[@jonnysizzle9846]

Change ur chords more quietly... Less squeeking

[@g3heathen209]

The quality of your videos are outstanding. I can see from the earliest ones how much you have improved over the years. In this one you tell a complete story with no words and still teach us.

[@AeonSaint]

These videos are a soothing balm for the soul. Whenever I watch one I dare to dream again.

[@James-en1ob]

Indeed

[@Lumbeelegend]

I didn't even notice that there were no words... lol.

[@ashleighlecount]

The cinematography level of this channel is through the roof

[@BubuH-cq6km]

or down the chimney

[@JagerLange]

I see what you did there.

[@chumlee8844]

Had to turn the audio off, but great otherwise.

[@BubuH-cq6km]

@Hunter be careful when you say "most" because there are hundreds of thousands of creators out there

[@danielkohli1542]

That might make the inside of the cabin wet.

[@OptimusWombat]

I can only imagine how satisfying it must be to get a good night's sleep beside a fire and inside a house you built with your own hands.

[@MayorMcheese12]

I'm sure it's very cold bit aye if you got the fire and a lot of blankets you're probably set

[@warbossgrotsmasha23]

@@MayorMcheese12 at least they don't have to worry about the local natives getting rowdy and deciding to come a pillaging like them early pioneers had to contend with when they settled on the frontier

[@MayorMcheese12]

@@warbossgrotsmasha23 lol I suppose

[@tylerhall66]

Was it the natives who were on the Alfonso or were they just defending their land that was made and treated by the worst enemy possible

[@Bluemilk92]

@@MayorMcheese12 He's said the cabin is impressively well insulated. Even a small fire can keep it warm.

[@RyanHannaProductions]

John this channel has gone from being a commercial for your store to Emmy Award winning material. Great cinematography and story telling. I'd love to see a Townsend's movie

[@DecodingDoom]

As long as Disney doesn't buy them I'm fine with this future

[@oceanbytez847]

@@DecodingDoom * Disney has entered the chat *

[@SirNilzey]

The editing is wicked good.

[@evanlabrant5448]

I remember when the vids were mostly "Here's an old-timey recipe, you can buy the ingredients from our online store". Now it's full on historical documentarianism.

[@rogeliomuniz9146]

He has a store?!

[@Mariana-gb2dz]

This channel is like a breath of fresh air in a hectic world

[@FriedrichBarb]

*Self-sustainability ASMR*

[@sonofeloah]

Amin.

[@jonschmitz7189]

Yes it is

[@scooterdosh777]

Couldn’t agree more

[@Evan-gz3cf]

Amen

[@ConnorBlackwood]

Sleep tight little Townsend, may your dreams be warm and full of nutmeg.

[@baddie1shoe]

Lol

[@wendycarr133]

Aw-wwwww.

[@falsenames]

All dreams with nutmeg are warm and cozy.

[@JingleJoe]

a comment worth itis weight in panned golden nuggets

[@BillyBobBeauBenson]

The spirit of the channel is captured in this episode and not one word was ever spoken. Perfection.

[@dbmail545]

I'm VERY impressed with John's fire starting skills.

[@pineappleparty1624]

I grew up watching Bear Grylls. I would make the same fire. :P

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

Charcloth is a severely underrated fire starter. Easy to make, lasts forever, and made from trash

[@natmorse-noland9133]

What a lovely, soothing video for a gloomy winter day like today.

[@grendelum]

80° and sunny in south florida, dunno what y’all are complaining about.

[@s1ider]

Omaha is getting really snowy right now.

[@cletushatfield8817]

@@grendelum Subfreezing here in the midwest. Glad I'm not in FL!

[@bunnyslippers191]

@@s1ider You guys are getting what the National Weather Service told us we would be getting. We had a bit of sleet last night and off and on today, but mostly we just have had rain. It's been turning to ice on the back window of my car, but so far not on the driveway, the sidewalk, or the streets. The frozen stuff mostly went north of us. Sorry you're getting hammered.

[@sonofeloah]

Yeah. For us it has been a mix of freezing rain and sleet. ALL day long!

[@kravist518]

Can’t wait to see how the homestead looks when it’s finished (but with a homestead is it ever finished 😁)

[@TheSlavChef]

We slavs have a saying, if you have a house/homestead there is always something to do/repair, but this is the beauty of it!

[@singletona082]

From my experience? Nope,farms are never finished. You just end up leaving a mess of projects for the next person in line.

[@scottklocke891]

😉👍🏾

[@mrdanforth3744]

They are doing very well, in those days it could take 10 or 20 years to build up a farm from scratch, build a bake oven, add barns and outbuildings etc.

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

I think we can call it finished when the two story center chimney post and beam colonial with obligatory pole barn are completed.

[@stefanoramon]

If you are going to cover the whole floor, save the ash from the fire because is the perfect filler for the brick gaps: it's thin and easily go between bricks, and also is an anti-insects and similar animals due to his high alkalinity. Just drop it on the floor and mess around with a broom.do it for multiple days and walk around the floor. When it's done bricks will not move and the floor will seems a unique layer.

[@chouseification]

ash from the fire goes to make soap :D

[@chomama1628]

We must admire our ancestors who endured. They were strong people or we wouldn’t be here. Thank you.🙏🏻

[@MikehMike01]

we are weak

[@romanianguy20]

@@MrBooblo086 yes it is, if you don't have the grocery store people would die of starvation they don't even know where food comes from, so you saying it's good to be weak is very foolish and stupid comment.

[@Apairoffluffysocks]

That was lovely. You said so much without saying a word.

[@playme129]

Yes. Great video. Understood every word. Virginia

[@kfeltenberger]

Every time I see that there's a new homestead video, I wonder if it will be a short movie or film, telling a dramatic story. You have really raised the bar when it comes to content quality and presentation...simply outstanding!

[@davidofengland9557]

I know we've got the music as an accompaniment, but always what strikes me is the silence that such an existence usually had - no radio, tv or internet in the background, and maybe no musical instruments. Unless one had family and children running around of course. The need for personal and community interaction was literally a life saver.

[@DeterminedDIYer]

I sing to myself all the time when I'm doing stuff. I imagine people were the same back then. :)

[@Stettafire]

Musical instruments were more common then you think. Not big pianos and stuff, but little stringed instruments or small woodwind instruments were fairly common. You look after an instrument and it can last multiple generations.

[@HLBear]

Dang, I got a little misty there. The atmosphere of being on the frontier, working and living on the lonely plain in the cold of winter... amazing. I hope you don't abandon the "lesson" style videos entirely, but these are art. It brings a whole different dimension. Well done. (Viewers from 11 years ago must be agog.)

[@ajerarajones2670]

Most of my my ancestors came to America in mid 1600s-early 1700, it's kind of a window into what their life was like.

[@HLBear]

Mine, also, through the northern colonies. I would have been a terrible colonial

[@blainem4788]

Not a word spoken until five minutes in and even then it’s not directed at the viewer. Still makes an amazing Video! Great Job

[@ChrisRand-gf7lz]

Sometimes the best words spoken are the ones not spoken at all.

[@richyoung4051]

this video is pure teamwork and brotherhood. 3 men coming together working hard to create something amazing. absolutly beautiful content

[@batmanspy]

Science

[@holdenmcgroine8945]

6 of the most soothing minutes i have had all day. Rarely now do you just see a few people get together, put in hard work on a passion project and just let the act of service speak for itself. Everything here was perfection, the music, the edit the subject. Thank you for bringing us a calm during a storm.

[@FlameJackstar]

It's unbelievable how relaxing this is.

[@TheSlavChef]

Neat! In my country people used to make bricks out of "mud" they are called "kirpich", people used to build whole houses out of them due to lack of other material.

[@mrdanforth3744]

Did you see the videos of making the bricks from clay dug on site, and baked with a wood fire? He tells how in the old days they made them on site by the thousands to build houses.

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

But what I want to know is did they used to build them while squatting and wearing Adidas tracksuits?

[@hiimryan2388]

@@dimesonhiseyes9134 and drinking vodka

[@TheSlavChef]

@@mrdanforth3744 I may have missed this, but will search, because now im interested!

[@TheSlavChef]

@@dimesonhiseyes9134 Hehehe, you are a man of culture as well!

[@ninjaxpenguin4]

Can't believe the music is in-house. Incredible job. Creative chimney shot too!

[@irvingbraxiatel9836]

My best friend died today. Thank you for posting this video. Watching it gave me a few moments of peace.

[@billmiller4972]

Fun fact: I like the sound od those old fashioned bricks scraping along each other.

[@brucebellinger9783]

Seeing you lay down by fire and going to sleep brought back forgotten memories from my childhood. A Kalamazoo stove heated the kitchen and the fireplace heated the rest of the house. I thank you for dusting off those long forgotten and now pleasant memories.

[@mikeskelly2356]

Mom was glad to be rid of the big Kalamazoo and get a Monkey-Ward gas range, but I missed the way that old monster would heat the whole kitchen and dining area, even if I had to split and feed it...Had a water heater on the side and a warming box on top, she was a black beauty! One 9"ring was in three circular sections w/lift eyes in each. You could pull the 3" center and get the coffee going right quick open to the flames. Guess it was a lot more work for Mom, but it made some amazing corn bread...

[@krazeekalvin]

I remember sleeping in front of the fire as a kid with my cousin at our grandmother's house

[@kayspence7044]

@@mikeskelly2356 .

[@aaronburdon221]

If you mix wood ash with lime you can create a VERY strong mortar to lay bricks and make them more solid. You have to find a tool to work the mortar though because it will eat the skin off your hands if you handle it too long. There's also an ancient roman method for obtaining lime (if you live near the ocean). You can fire sea shells if you make a permanent kiln from the already fired bricks you burn the seashells until all the impurities are burnt off. Then crumble them to powder, mix it with water and your wood ash (romans used volcanic ash from Mt. Etna and Vesuvius alongside volcanic rock for aggregate).

[@davestelling]

They even sound like "Real" bricks, "Clinking" together. Am enjoying anything that happens there at the cabin, thank you...

[@flightlesschicken7769]

I can't imagine how cold that mud must have been

[@lynnie57]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@bunnyslippers191]

Yep, pretty brutal, all right. My arthritic fingers hurt in sympathy.

[@mokaplittle6543]

Woulda dried the hands out and made them all rough too

[@FrikInCasualMode]

@@mokaplittle6543 There should be a piece of lard or suet in the pantry for that :)

[@michaelkrull3331]

I live in South Dakota, and have done similar work. Your fingers are icicles when it's over.

[@cw2071]

I was having a pretty awful day then I sat by the fire with you all and feel so much better now. Thank you🤗

[@tw3035]

glad you're feeling better, Townsends always helps me too

[@rosemcguinn5301]

For some reason, I found myself getting all choked up watching this. It is deeply moving to me. Beautiful.

[@kitramshaw5447]

I am honestly so happy you guys make videos, this was really profoundly beautiful. Thank you

[@mikepez]

That moving shot down the chimney was awesome! Great work!

[@paca_bill4863]

Yep, always wondered what Santa Claus saw when he came down the chimney? Jon laying bricks, of course!

[@ronteal2195]

Aren't you supposed to have a smoke shelf in that chimney?

[@Pygar2]

@@ronteal2195 Great big flat rocks are rare there...

[@tennesseehillbillie8227]

@@ronteal2195 A lot of the old chimneys were built by homesteaders who didn't have the knowledge or skill to incorporate a smoke shelf in the chimney, without one heat loss up the chimney is increased and the possibility of a downdraft blowing embers and ashes out into the room is increased. But it is not absolutely necessary.

[@fallingfloor6924]

5:52 I learned when camping to not sleep head towards a fire. Sleep with feet facing. Your nose and ears are cold but you dont get choked out with smoke or stray embers lighting your hair or clothes on fire. Though, they are inside by a fireplace im sure its fine. There's no gusts

[@LindaCasey]

Falling Floor: Kind of like not turning your back to the ocean I guess...

[@victorialazareva]

I thought the same. I'd rather have cold head but warm and cozy feet

[@SteelyDanzig]

@@LindaCasey what does that mean? I've never heard that before

[@DeathAngelHRA]

@@SteelyDanzig Many people get injured, killed or swept out to sea by turning their backs to the ocean and unsuspecting waves getting them.

[@michaelwoodruff9825]

I'd be more worried about sleeping that close to the fire after eating all those beans....

[@Talkren]

I love how you took a video about using bricks and made it into a really awesome piece of art that tells the story without saying a word.

[@TheGentleCreepers]

As for someone who's been living in a tropical country his whole life, living like this would mean the world to me. Very simple and cozy 🥰

[@sdega315]

This video takes your cinematography to a new level. Marvelous story telling without a word spoken!

[@skeets6060]

Thank you, I and the dog slept in front of the fireplace in camp many times when I was a kid,, you brought back some good memories

[@AssassinofHighgarden]

Thank you, John and crew, for your outstanding work. Thank you for telling an entire story without speaking a word, for all your hard work, and.... Just helping make things seem like it's all going to be okay

[@Chris-yo4ks]

Sometimes, no commentary is the perfect commentary.

[@Volleballogist]

Looking forward to seeing this homestead in the final envisioned state. Looks amazing so far, keep up the great work!

[@chomama1628]

Anyone that has a homestead will say that is the truth.

[@GoodTimesHomestead]

So amazing. I watched you make those bricks! Can’t say enough good things...

[@bryanjason1980]

How are you doing 😊😊😊😊

[@oggyreidmore]

Ten years from now, a 10 bedroom, two story granite chalet with 200 acres of oak pollard grove and apple orchard with a 10,000 square foot pole barn to store the acorn/apple fed pigs and the home distillery for the winter - all to accentuate this new brick fireplace, of course! LOL All kidding aside, this channel has continuously impressed with the cinematography improvements. The down the chimney shot was EPIC! Keep it up lads!

[@thirzapeevey2395]

Really makes you appreciate the work that went into these old houses that are rotting down all over the country.

[@bryanjason1980]

How are you doing 😊😊😊

[@HollyGoLightlyApt2]

Your channel is a balm to everything. Thank you for this.

[@PrinceMagnum]

I have edited tons of videos on my channel and I have to say this was beautifully done. Video and music just flowed so well. I loved it

[@VisualBasic6]

This is one of my favorite video so far. No talking, no messing around. Just hard work, tasteful music and beautiful photography.

[@UnDead483]

I'm not sure why, but a simple, wordless, comforting video like this, of a bunch of people working hard but harmoniously towards a common purpose, was exactly what I needed today. Thanks so much Mr. Townsend.

[@MrClarkisgod]

"Imma get on the thatch roof in the snow so we can get a down the chimney shot" Don't do it! Imma do it.

[@markwritt8541]

Some of the best stories can be told with no words at all. Delightful.

[@odiferousmusky1299]

This is some of the most wonderful content on KZbin, it helps me to appreciate the strength, ingenuity and resourcefulness of our ancestors. Thank you for this.

[@ravenwolf7128]

This is one of my favorite videos of all time. Such elemental human needs being satisfied needs no words. Knowing the work that went into making those bricks made it even more satisfying.

[@juancabrera-ru9jx]

Thank you so much for documenting your journey! So excited for the next season of projects

[@themancalledhondo]

This is remarkably beautiful. The cinematography, the attention to the detail, and especially the music. I am overwhelmed, and inspired.

[@imahoare4742]

"You've come far Pilgrim..." "Feels like far." "Were it worth the trouble?" "What trouble?"

[@rikster66jan]

@Nunya Business mine too

[@jimmyrustler9980]

What movie?

[@pwessie]

Love this film.

[@carlhenryjr]

Best. Channel. Ever. Interesting, educational, great people on and behind the screen, and absolutely completely totally POSITIVE content. No negativity or politics or divisiveness. God bless you all for your work and keep them coming!

[@spugintrntl]

I got unreasonably excited when I saw this in my feed.

[@vickistevens423]

Awesome video! Looks great. You all did an amazing job. Kudos to Aaron for great cinematography.

[@bryanjason1980]

How are you doing 😊😊😊😊

[@thundercat8601]

No politics, no Twitter, no riots, just John and the gang eating beans by their new fireplace. Ahhhh....

[@theelectricant98]

@@paddyotterness BASED

[@frigglebiscuit7484]

these colonials EATIN BEANZ!

[@frigglebiscuit7484]

@@cat-le1hf grill pill is for people who already know all the problems, stopped caring, know the world is going to burn, and are just gonna laugh while it collapses.

[@paulandrews8113]

Back in those days peoples minds were so little stimulated by their simple lives... they saw ghosts often around them. The spirits of the dead found it hard to hide from the bored living

[@jshicke]

I really liked the change in this video. No talking, no commentary, just a slow gentle guitar and scenes of life in the 1700's. It shows the three essentials: Shelter, Warmth, and Food.

[@nicolemarly6202]

Hello brick laying daddy

[@rosemcguinn5301]

There you are! Hi unique Nicole!!!

[@KL005]

NYCHOLE

[@mrdanforth3744]

Good ol' Nicole. We missed you.

[@rosemcguinn5301]

@@mrdanforth3744 Good ol' Mr D. We sure have missed Nicole, haven't we?

[@Michael_______]

💟

[@Curiosity-NZ]

Nothing more needs to said when you sit around an open fire on a cold winters day with friends in a backwoods cabin, eating and sleeping. The music is appropriate to the mood.

[@KnightsWithoutATable]

What I love about this is that the basic technology for creating a homestead and then a village is thousands of years old. Iron tools make it easier, but even those are thousands of years old. Hard work and a little knowledge is all it really takes. These homesteads and villages are the stepping stones for cities and human civilization. Even the clay bricks you have made are a technology that is almost as old as civilization itself.

[@kdavis4910]

Townsends has the awesome ability to make an incredible video without saying a word. None too common.

[@wendycarr133]

Thank you so much for the peaceful, relaxing, cozy imagery. You make everyone's blood pressure lower and their spirits soar.

[@MrSeigem]

On a side note. Really love your content. It's shoot so beautiful and also a great pleace to know abour a period that set the fundations of what USA is today. Thank you for your work.

[@kbdsm7809]

like how he doesn't even need to say a word. so peaceful and the culmination of months of work very cool!

[@sapientia23]

You all seem like the best of friends doing this together. Lots of fun times but also hard and rewarding work. So cool!

[@earlshaner4441]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and adventures brothers while I am in quarantine here in snowy Syracuse NY

[@reinierlatenstein7150]

This is pure tranquility in an insane world... well done! 🙏🌺

[@bryanjason1980]

How are you doing hope you're having a wonderful day?

[@danstankiewicz8222]

I have enjoyed the homestead series more than I thought I would have! Especially, the way you show the changes to the home like adding the bricks to the hearth and repairing the roof. Very inspiring and it really allows viewers to experience some of the challenges people faced while trying to survive!

[@The5thGen]

The level of dedication to the authenticity of this project is absolutely remarkable. Thanks to all of you involved in the making of these outstanding videos!

[@pleasantwalks5833]

"Hey Ryan- we're a couple bricks short. Why don't you make up some more real quick?"

[@hiimryan2388]

Sure comrade do you want some concrete too?

[@stgermain1074]

Are you saying Ryan's a few bricks short of a load?

[@dwaynewladyka577]

I really appreciate how things are progressing. This video is great. Thanks for the excellent quality content. Cheers!

[@thejean7974]

My appreciation for history only grows with your videos. Thank you for the great videos.

[@TheJwuchef2008]

I have watched this channel off and on for over a year, normally for the historical cooking aspect. I have to say, this was the best video yet!! Keep up the great work! Outstanding!!!!!!!!

[@pnwRC.]

AWESOME video! It's great to finally see them bricks get put to use!

[@Nannaof10]

❤👍 that was very enjoyable. Hard work for y"all but relaxing for us. The strumming from Ryan sets the mood. The videography is superb 👌 👏

[@takirosh]

The brick bottom on the fireplace made it so much more useful when it comes to simple cooking. And it looks good too.

[@DonzeJ]

You can really feel the impact of the improvement. Well done. For a moment, youre transported back to a time when every single one of us had ancestors that struggled like this and persevered. Had they not, we would not be. What joy and elation these tiny blessings must have been. Thanks for continuing to share with all of us.

[@TheTheofrei]

This was shot and edited magnificently, very beautiful and tranquil.

[@vinylhaven]

that was just wonderful. after a long day at work to come to your cabin for a pipe and a well deserved rest. fantastic

[@ventusvindictus]

There's just something sublimely peaceful and wholesome about this entire channel.

[@steveschultz300]

Love it, love it, love it. No voice over; no need for voice over. Just the sound of work and the satisfaction of the work.

[@greggkrumme157]

Awesome, Jon! You guys are really making great progress! I love it that you demonstrate that work in the 18th century never stopped, regardless of the time of year.

[@manicmechanic448]

A barrel full of building bricks is why Paddy's not at work today. The sick note

[@Ultracity6060]

Nothing quite so warm and cozy as mixing sand and ice into mortar with your bare hands during a hailstorm.

[@mraaronhd]

John, I watch your all’s videos for a number of reasons. First one is I feel like I’m connecting more with my ancestors, and seeing how they lived via your guys’ reenactment and interpretation. Second reason being that your videos are just so pure. The lack of modern technology and convenience just seems to help bring us back to a much simpler time when our foods weren’t processed or genetically modified, and relying upon your community was truly a necessity and not something we should take for granted. And thirdly, you guys make it seem possible to do these things that I never really considered being able to do myself. Building a log cabin with both a fireplace and chimney is amazing. You guys are incredible, and you should be proud of yourselves. I love your videos. Keep it up.

[@NativeDaemon]

The best things aren't said at all. This was truly refreshing! Cheers to the new year

[@CaptainFlintthePirate]

This is such a great series of videos. To celebrate, im going to turn on my heater, open a can of soup, and microwave my dinner.

[@wes326]

This channel makes me admire our ancestors. Thanks for all you do.

[@MatthewBester]

That chimney shot was excellent! My dad still has wood burning stove. I've helped clean that out every now and then. It's very cathartic.

[@cormoranuud]

First time I'm among the first to watch a new video of this channel. I was really looking forward for this particular series. I've learned a lot, and can't wait to put it into practice myself. Thanks!

[@realblacksknowthetruth1519]

Beautiful just beautiful! I really do love this channel they help me to understand what my grandmother and great-grandmother were talking about and it's really cool! 👍👍👍👍♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️👌👌

[@Pieces_Of_Eight]

I never thought "meditative" and "bricklaying" would pair together until now. Exquisite music and delightful craftsmanship. This video is an earthen balm for the soul. :)

[@billcarson6954]

This may be my favorite video of yours. It's like a culmination of all the time we've spent together, seeing it fall into place and understanding with having to speak.

[@thejasonbourne]

Do those bricks have nutmeg in them? Asking for a friend.

[@kudzu_]

😂 I like to imagine that would smell so nice everytime you built a fire on them.

[@luciendesar]

2:18 That was an awesome chimney cam! I never have seen anyone actually do it. I suspect it was a Gopro and not your main production cam :) - nice idea!

[@SFforlife]

Ah, there’s something so liberating and humbling about just living back to basics. This video was so comforting. I feel all warm and toasty inside.

[@Hato1992]

Sometimes silence (or ambient in this case) express more than words! Great video.