Part 2: Digging a 9ft Well With a Shovel

[@buildingourgoodlifedream4972]

you are a strange guy but i love you.... your videos make me feel so happy!

[@mowlmowl5345]

I just love how you seem so content and happy with doing your work...good attitude to have.

[@oscarmuffin4322]

I wouldn't have put that filter fabric on there. Once that's blocked that's it. It's blocked for good. You be much better relying on the foot valve filter as it can be removed and cleaned.

[@sandrabarksdale4616]

Glad your children get to experience this. Don't *ever* listen to any discouragements as you go along.

[@scottcarl3086]

Nice to see someone who knows how to use knot's!!!

[@cyoteone]

I would have drilled a lot more holes much smaller in a precise pattern. Don't know if I would trust that filter material for the long term without clogging up either. Also, really think at 10 ft you could have dug one with a water hose and pvc. even big enough to fit your submersible pump in. beat the pvc into the water table and flush it as you go. could have gone much deeper. at 3 ft on a wet year, how much water will you have on a much dryer year?

[@dananelson3534]

That is a lot of hauling. I couple in Idaho had a spring where they covered the end of the pipe with screen and buried it in the ground. They get enough for the two of them. Thanks for sharing.

[@Achiyugo]

Very cool. I learned a lot! While also learning that there is a lot more to learn.

[@greenspiraldragon]

FYI if you run out of bentonite clay, clay cat litter is the same thing. Just use new not used clay cat litter, because used would be gross. Look it up it's the same thing different label.

[@treeclimbing7798]

I know lots of ppl-that only by fruit 🍎 trees-this way. Everything they have on sale! Great for private orchards.

[@HoodsHomestead]

I bought all of our trees from Lowes seasonal mark down section, except for once heirloom apple tree.

[@easymac79]

4:45 It looks like your string skills are more advanced than mine. I'd just end up with a tangled mess falling off and getting irritated. Cheers, enjoying watching the well build.

[@herbgreen3599]

Looking Good

[@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax]

In most parts of the world, once you dug the well to bellow the water level, people would use bricks or stone, or concrete blocks on the inside walls of the well all the way up to the top. So you can lower a bucket on a rope to draw water if there is no electricity or the pump breaks down. You would only put a few bags of gravel at the bottom of the well to filter the water. No need for bentonite clay. In Czhek republic they use cylindric concrete castings that get lowered as they dig the well.

[@richardp4548]

I don't see why you need that much clay as a plug. A foot of it will be impermeable. The rest can be topsoil as nothing will be going down past it. Nice to have something easier to dig out again other than gravel though. I have seen others install a membrane over the gravel, but I prefer your use of clay as a top seal. Using both would be best I think. Also best to dig wells in a dry summer.

[@simonforget280]

This well is different than what I thought it would be (well, way simpler from what you begun with). I am still not sure which method (hand shovelling or mud digging) would have be faster, although the mud digging might be problematic depending on your bylaws. Anyway, that is still a lot of bentonite. Do you have a requirement of how deep the bentonite needs to be? I cannot believe if you had a 100' deep well, you'll have to put bentonite up to the top of that well. Keep on your good work.

[@Simplegroundlife]

Yeah, this was a little out of the ordinary because of the way the state well standards are written. It is working out though. The state requires that a bentonite seal be at least 18 ft deep, from the top down, or within 3ft of the bottom of the well if the well is less than 18 ft deep. Either way, the greatest expense on this well was the bentonite clay. And the company that offered to dig it for me was going to use an excavator to dig a hole the size of an suv, 20ft deep. That would have been a few thousand dollars worth of bentonite clay. I always enjoy your input.

[@thejamesrivertaskforce5303]

keep up the good work

[@pockets8108]

I love these videos

[@mike1968442]

I was waiting for someone to slide down that pipe like at the firestation peeps do.

[@richardsandwell2285]

Great video, good information..

[@thegeneral3094]

One day I would love to be a well

[@bufordmcnairy8175]

I am a "new' viewer and have only watched part 1 and now 2 of the well dig and enjoyed watching very much. so i'm going to be sure and subscribe and give you a well deserved thumbs up. Then on to part 3. Thank you for sharing your project/work. ::SUBBED::

[@Simplegroundlife]

Buford McNairy Hello and welcome. I'm glad you are enjoying the channel!

[@HouseholdDog]

Always wondered how Timmy fell down the well.

[@TheKlink]

could you use hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach? and sand along with the gravel?

[@____________________________.x]

I can't see the point in filling to the surface, without first clearing all the top soil from around the immediate area. As soon as you reach the topsoil layer then there's nothing to gain by going higher? I'm impressed you managed to dig that deep, no easy task for sure.

[@Simplegroundlife]

First of all, welcome to the channel and thanks for all the comments. I'm a little slow getting to them but I'm going through them today. When it comes to filling to the surface, I totally see your point. The reason that I did things this way is because this is what the state code called for. Digging this was an awesome experience, I have an odd bucket list.

[@danielstephens1049]

U are like happy go lucky lol

[@njione]

If you need any advice on permaculture to help with the fruit trees I'm here for you way to go on the deal for the fruit trees you are so gorgeous

[@buckreams8871]

Bentonite clay is also the.main ingtrdiant in most cat litter.

[@curtisfoster2743]

I like how happy you a

[@glenngoodale1709]

Two thumbs up from me!!

[@treeclimbing7798]

Why not Top off the Hole w/Clay ?? You seem to have More than enough Bentonite.

[@earljtharp]

I see small children close to the well. That is insane ! They should not be allowed within 50 feet of the well. CRAZY !!!

[@beggsnachin]

And there are other adults there watching them closely. This is why I hesitate to put kids and possibly controversial things on YT. Or Facebook. Or anywhere. One person will comment, another person will call authorities. Those kids are obviously well versed in where they are supposed to be, even the little one. Relax. Geez.

[@quintendewit3220]

how much did it cost you and is bentonite clay the same as cat litter and how much gravel did you use Does it preduce anuf water for you famely Greats from belgium

[@firlox9202]

You looked like me when I'm high at the beginning

[@beggsnachin]

I wonder how much you paid for that bentonite clay. Because if you check the label on the bag... the el cheapo kitty litter is just straight bentonite clay. I think I priced it at $3 bucks a bag... Less sometimes.

[@danesmith2363]

I am curious what filter material you have that is safe for potable water.

[@Simplegroundlife]

+Dane Smith I used gravel that was washed and chlorinated. On top of that I used bentonite clay that was certified for we'll use and potable water. I followed the state guidelines for filling the cavity.

[@danesmith2363]

Simple Ground I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I was trying to asking about the black fabric material around the well central pipe

[@Simplegroundlife]

Dane Smith That was my mistake, I bought that fabric at the well supply store, I don't know the details on it but they told me that it was the stuff for wells.

[@greenspiraldragon]

I think they call it filter cloth or filter fabric. You can get it at a building supply place people put it around their sump pit wells too.

[@CrimeVid]

a man in need of a wheelbarrow !

[@jayejaycurry5485]

Should you have used a level to plumb the casing?

[@Simplegroundlife]

+Jaye Jay Curry It needs to be plumb. I did fairly well by eye and I haven't had any trouble pumping from it. It would have Ben better still if I had used a level.

[@jayejaycurry5485]

I thought so. May your eye be true. Thanks.

[@thegeneral3094]

My uncle new a well that would attach

[@ParttimePilgrim]

Great videos, but arent cha sposed to move from WASHINGTON TO IDAHO? Good job Bro. This has been a great help. Im about to start one myself in Washington. Found the RCW to do this. Rcw 90.44.50

[@Simplegroundlife]

I'll admit that I do like Idaho and miss it from time to time. The homesteading community sure likes to move into Idaho. Anyway, I'm glad that the video was helpful. That is the RCW I looked at too, plus the corresponding one at the county level that required a permited well to be issued a building permit. Best wishes to you on your own adventure!

[@gregstiles]

a video about a hole that we never get to look into?

[@p33ty333]

what I dont understand, why do you putting Bleach to the water... what is that needed for?

[@jondoes8222]

its to clean the pipe and water. Then you pump the water out until the bleach runs out

[@AnonymousYT-oy8fm]

Homemade well

[@Splatzloki]

why so much bentonite clay? why do you have to go all the way to the surface, why not just pour about 3 ft and then cap it with cement?

[@Simplegroundlife]

Max Steel The bentonite clay is a state regulation. It has been a while since I was in the thick of things, so I don't remember the details of the requirements. I know that they had some mention of cement but it wouldn't work in our particular situation.

[@Splatzloki]

I also wonder about "prions"/amoeba. If the state testing isn't thorough enough it may skip that test. I'm not for causing home-owners headaches through cost, but seeing as there is no cure for that affliction, I would test for it myself through an independent lab, if need be. Lastly, there is a blight (among the firefighting community in particular) that has gone completely unnoticed by the general public. BROMINE. not unlike lead, it contaminates through contact and flakes off, billed as a fire retardant, it not only doesn't serve it's purpose, but it causes cancer. PVC (and polyester) are drenched in it.(also wood) I wouldn't even begin to know where a person could find "untreated" PVC or a cheap building alternative, but FYI, watch out for Bromine in clothing, water ducts, and air vents. Legislation is going through the pipeline but its taking forever because we're fighting phillip morris and monsanto

[@Simplegroundlife]

There are dangerous substances out there for sure, but I feel much safer drinking water from a system I built, over water from most cities. That is just my opinion though.

[@Splatzloki]

Agreed.

[@noyopacific]

@@Splatzloki Amoebas and most pathogenic bacteria are big enough to be removed with a fine (

[@whatever465456]

$13 per bag X maybe 20-30 bags = $390. Why not just buy an RO member for $30, a pressure pump for $15, 3 normal filters for $50-100, $20 for piping and accessories, $20 battery and $50-$75 solar panel and have great drinking water for a total of $175-230, that way one will not have to worry about surface contaminants or minerals?

[@Simplegroundlife]

Autonomy is a big factor. But the biggest factor was that I needed a well to obtain building permits here. Also, I don't know where you are located but here those price tags are a little odd. I couldn't build a reverse osmosis system for 230. Plus I still need a water source.

[@whatever465456]

Hmm, yes a water well is important. An RO membrane* with its housing can be found for CDN$39 on amazon.ca and USD30 on amazon.com, it will deliver 50GPD of drinking water, the rest of the parts are available everywhere. Alternatively, a 5 stage RO filter can be purchased for CDN$ 225. I was researching these filters last month but turns out that due to my location, an $175 investment in a filter was delivering an ROI of 4.5 years since, I only need 16 gallons of drinking water per month. Hence, I get those big 4 gallon water bottles.

[@hollylaughter8722]

It looks like cat litter

[@Simplegroundlife]

+Holly Laughter Some kitty litter is bentonite clay. (I only learned this when I was shopping for the stuff)

[@greenspiraldragon]

It is the same thing.

[@thegeneral3094]

You have to be careful with wells

[@njione]

Your wife is lucky

[@aprox23]

Damn bro, why didn't you just back your truck up instead hauling one by one?

[@Johnrider1234]

Are you going to answer anyone

[@Simplegroundlife]

I do what I can. What did I miss?

[@beggsnachin]

WHY on earth would you move from wonderful Idaho with minimal rules, to Rule Nazi Washington?????? You left paradise...

[@earlrussell1026]

You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. You must love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus the anointed is Lord! Repent and be baptized and believe the Gospel.

[@ajsanz838]

I’m a 9 year old