Harder Than It Shoulda Been| French Drains Install |Couple Builds Basement for Cabin in the Woods

This little mistake took us forever to correct! We hit a Snag but We Pressed on Installing the French Drains for our block Basement. We didnt chose the shovel life, the shovel life chose us. LOL!
Our kids were a big help today and were rewarded for their hard work. Despite all obstacles, today was a very good productive day! Part 2 coming SOON!
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[@ftf652]

Hands down, you’re the hardest working couple. Constantly overcoming all obstacles. Couple on a mission. Blessings.

[@deeanderson7358]

The kids were a HIT!!!! That little Abe is such a go getter. They are growing up so fast and really great helpers. Nice job on the drains. God bless

[@mrmrswalterjobjr4188]

Mr. Abe always impresses me with his excellent hammer coordination skills. Both Julia and Scarlett rock with their own skills too. Keep on keeping on. Hugs for all the shovel/bucket brigade with the rock.

[@SpringdaleJim]

i gotta say, i'v never seen a ''french drain'' quite like that before. i'v always seen 1st a layer of gravel, then fabric followed by pipe, then wrap the fabric over the pipe, followed by more gravel, then dirt.

[@patriciarussell7487]

And when you're sitting on your porch one day and everything is built, I will be so proud to say I followed you from the beginning!

[@poppythegoodtroll9136]

I love that the kids worked so hard to be rewarded! That was precious

[@AlAndValOffGrid]

We're a couple of old farts starting our own journey on a beautiful 31 acre spot. We bought a parcel that a fella had been developing for over 20 years with roads, trails, clearings, and finally started building a home. Had the slab poured, septic installed, and some wood cut and then had to give up his own dream when his mother became ill. We bought it with the intention of continuing what he started and building a home on that foundation. We'll be keeping everyone updated on our experiences, all of the hidden costs, issues, expenses, etc. as we go.

[@cantum3783]

I have no clue as to what you're doing with the French drain installation process! I know the purpose, but how you guys work so well together, knocking down obstacles- OMG! Gary has such an analytical mind! Major building Einstein!! And Miss Mel, you are like that little train-"I think I can, I think I can!!" WOW!!! Give yourselves time to relax, refresh, rehydrate! Take care of YOU!

[@elainebuchka6533]

Here You 2 go again , ON your Own (❤lol) 🎶🎶 HITTIN IT & GETTIN IT, Mel & Gary and ALL 3 OF YOUR KIDDOS + Wyatt !!! LOOKING GREAT YOU ALL !! Stay Hydrated and Don't Be Afraid to take Breaks !!! I'd CROOK TOTALLY!!! I'D be putting up lights, in case the breeze blows better at night and it's COOLER !! You ever get Dehydrated or Sun Stroke, it's close Up Shop and NO more working in heat!! You'll feel like you know what !! LOVE YOU ALL !!! AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL BUILD !! Just don't push yourself for others...As anxious as I am to see it ALL (WHEN 🤣) I'd much rather see You All HEALTHY & SAFE, then SICK OR HURT !! If people don't like, tell them to kick rocks or, BRING THEM BLINDFOLDED to Your Place, AND PUT THEM TO WORK, LIFTIN ROCKS, BLOCKS OR SHOVELING OR USING A PICK--AXE !! better, 🙃🤐 zip the lip, but TO MANY MEAN PEOPLE HAVE KNOW CLUE WHAT MANUEL LABOR IS, Just Keyboard junkies, with BIG TALK... GOD BLESS, AND SEE YOU NEXT VIDEO.( 🙏 ❤ For the kiddos 😘😘😘😘💖💖💙💙👋👋👋👋🍭🍭🍭🍭 HAPPY CAMPING !!!

[@maggiecreech8244]

When we were building a deck in the hot HOT sun. I filled a bucket with ice water and ice cubes. We dunked the towels in the cold water and put the towels around our necks. Plus, please wear hats with brims to help with the sun. I don't want y'all having a heat stroke. Poor Gary looks beat. You guys are unbelievable on how hard you work. You kick A$$!!!

[@TheDimentoGraven]

I always thought a 'french drain' was a preemptive surrender of forces before any actual battle took place... You learn something new EVERY DAY!

[@CCRider5312]

Glad to see you using the felt cloth/fabric. Because some people who install French drain pipe don’t use pipe socks or felt to cover the pipe. Then what happens is dirt & sand ends up clogging the holes 🕳 in the drain pipe. Then the pipe serves no purpose if it’s clogged up. So it pays to use a felt pipe sock or felt cloth between the dirt and pipe to avoid the corrugated pipe holes 🕳 from getting clogged. Good job guys 😉👍🏻

[@stephenlaurie4098]

That pipe should be covered with a sock before that stone went over it eventually that's getting clogged hate to be pessimistic because these doing great job

[@CCRider5312]

@@stephenlaurie4098 yeah I agree the 4 & 6 inch pipe socks are very cheap they come in 10 foot lengths in a plastic bag at Lowe’s or Home Depot. They are made by a company called NDS and they’re called Filter Sock & you just slide them over the pipe. Then lay your pipe in a bed of gravel and then throw the dirt over the pipe water can get thru the sock but not dirt and sand.

[@AriannaJolie]

You guys doing the damn thing I can't believe y'all are really able to build your own entire estate from ground up!!! Forest to HOME!!! And really good at putting all on your channel!!!

[@mumpygumboo8554]

Oh, to be young again!.... but I was into doing other stuff, like renovating an existing home and building a career. I never wanted the responsibility of building a whole house. But, kudos to them for going for it!! It takes guts to do all this.

[@maryjemison1101]

@@mumpygumboo8554 Yes, God Bless Mel And Gary

[@Blox_fruit_master1]

This is only a Show, they are not building anything.

[@AriannaJolie]

@@Blox_fruit_master1 SLR can you please block this dumb guy?

[@pannis72]

The kids in the tent with their fan and iPad - super cute!!!!!

[@Judy-Flashphotography]

The kids did an excellent job......team effort......they are also experts setting up tent etc

[@aquiltingmama]

Those sweet babies make me ☺ smile!

[@raykemry954]

Should have invited the dump truck driver over . Job well done guys . Watching you reminds me of 20 yyears ago when we built our home 37 years of working together with my wife. Wouldent change a thing. Love each other more every day we have a project to do. Keep it up .

[@billdodd118]

tent camping is really fun for kids and the older one like us. they will remember this for the rest of their lives. WE REMEMBER VERY WELL THOSE DAYS

[@sandrahmurphy]

That is so funny the children all in the tent ⛺️ and a dog 🐶

[@katee2231]

You two are amazing workers. Also, teaching your children great work ethics. Hats off to a dynamic young couple.

[@justinsmith9847]

I love couples like you. Please don't stop loving each other.

[@mmanut]

SOLID JOB GUYS. MAKE SURE TO COVER THE GRAVEL WITH MORE OF THAT CLOTH SO DIRT AND MUD DOESN'T GET WASHED INTO THE GRAVEL AND CLOG THE PIPES. VERY IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR BASEMENT‼️ Vinny 🇺🇸

[@lloydwilliams8715]

Wow that's a smart move with the tractor. Work smarter not harder 🐱🐱

[@janetkoball44]

What alot of work in the sun. But that part is done. Hope your work in the morning will be easier. All of the children are good workers too . Such valuable lesson for them when they are young. Thanks for the video, and see you all on the next one.

[@Ann10999]

It was so adorable seeing all the kiddos stretched out , doing their little camping thing , so sweet ⛺️ 😍

[@agragtime]

All the kids are great but that little Abe is such a hard worker. Gona grow up to be a wonderful man!

[@heidipustelniak652]

Wow! Busy day! Very productive! Good idea to use the tractor! The kids did a great job! The box fan in the tent is perfect! Our back patio used to flood during monsoon season here in Tucson. One year it came in the sliding glass door in my husband’s office! That was when he installed a French Drain alongside of the patio, that takes the water out to the side yard. No more flooding since he did that. He worked so hard getting the correct pitch on the pipes for proper water flow. Incredible amount of work you are doing! It will pay off in the years to come!

[@morgansword]

When I was just your kids age, I seen a tent like your setting up now and thought, thats for sissies so stayed in my canvas tent that dripped water where ever you touched it and it was right uncomfortable... enter girl in picture and she wasn't having any of my tent thing so we stayed in her sissy tent... wow, I sure changed my thinking after that... and girlfriends too but thats another story/lol. We have come so far in tec and someday this will also be old fashioned also. Grasshoppers really do fill in fun times for us and kinda a short ending for mr hopper... toss them into the chicken pen and watch the chickens grab at them... after a crop fails do to grasshoppers, you will feed all of them to birds of any kind that eat them! I sure hope a subscriber reaches out with a tractor no longer needed. I have seen them parked for acres worth n nice tractors but the own thought they were too something... big/small/last years.... ya, last years even tho never ran they changed tractors like me changing underware... once or twice a year depending on accidents/lol. Nice work kids

[@CynBrown]

I admire your tenacity so much.. It never matters what the job is you two will GET IT DONE, and more importantly you will get it done TOGETHER. Mad respect and much love guys.

[@brendateague9111]

I love how you’re passing on your amazing work ethic to your kids. Awesome family! ❤️

[@sarahjones6342]

Oh Gary there are days you get so exhausted.Man you just keeping.Hard working man.Your lil Mel is a great team player and always lets you know your doing good job.Take a break and have a cold slice of watermelon.God Bless you guys on your journey on your building your home🙏🏚 ❤🤗

[@debrawiley7673]

Always extra work. It was very nice of Dave to let y'all use his tractor 🚜 . The kid's are learning life lessons 👌🏻. Good luck with everything 😊❤️✌🏻

[@TheShadowlover9]

The pipe needs a lot more holes for sure

[@gabrieladeleon4509]

Good job 4 kids the youngest I love when he hammer the nail for the tent smart

[@gayfitkin6861]

I've been a firmer believer that women can do anything {with some exceptions I know} that's why I'm always impressed with Mel that she undertakes so much on her own and with Gary. It's certainly terrific. So, good for you Mel and both you and Gary as a team. Blessings !!!

[@phantomframe]

You two amaze me with the intense work in the heat. Damn that rock pile! Loved the kid gang in the tent with the fan. That’s some GLAMPING!

[@dorothyallen3614]

Wow guys, I was hot n sweaty just watching y’all, so sorry that happened. Almost done right! The kids had a goal also, accomplished it and got to camp out, what a treat. Great job family 👍❤️🙏🇺🇸

[@RonnyandBrettany]

Wow oh wow! That is a lotta work. You two are kicking butt! So glad you are taking all the precautionary measures to insure the basement doesn't leak. Our old house had a basement and I don't think they sealed the outside, so for the 5 years we lived there we were constantly fighting moisture coming thru the walls. We only had to use a sump-pump once... Are you guys installing one of those?? Ours sat in a hole in the lowest spot of our basement, it would kick on if the hole filled with water... Something to think about? Ya'll are building your dream! I love it! ❤

[@deborahpelletier4573]

Awesome. Working smarter not harder. Kids did great. Teamwork makes the Dream Work.

[@cherylehubicsak3070]

Kids did a great job! Even Wyatt got in on the work. So cute lined up in the tent.

[@cakgun11]

I was also tellin this. With the French drain you saved your basement. Every house being built on the slope of a hill, has be protected from the ground water (still is a sponge and releases the water being soaked after the winter and the spring rains).

[@nancywarner5782]

Boy, you guys really hard an extremely hard day. Mel, you were great with the kido’s today, that was so good for them.

[@rebeccamunoz4596]

Man im sorry all that gravel fell in hindering the process your time & your strength. I can't remember when I was able to do the things your up to. Very proud of y'all~❤🤗👍

[@carolbryant7230]

I feel for you me and hubby did same bold on our home we lived in basement for 5 years before we put upper level on , that was 35 years ago you all bringing back lots of memories and back breaking work but worth it all

[@annamaybeekman5152]

GREAT JOB KIDS 👏 ON SETTING UP THE TENT

[@marywalker2896]

Y,all and the kiddos all working together as teams wow. Y,all should be proud.. we are all proud of y,all..

[@nevertolatehomestead1957]

The kiddos did a great job setting up the tent

[@kkeenan536]

So I seem to remember on the live Gary saying the dumped rock “was not that bad”…wanna retract that statement 🤣😂 Great job…you guys and the kids are 🔥💥🔥

[@SimpleLifeReclaimed]

😂😂😂 I think he shoulda said, could a been worse. But I also remember him saying it wasn't that bad 🤣

[@angelabowman1614]

You all are working so hard! Stay Safe and Stay Hydrated! And it's wonderful that the kids are helping out! It's nice for them to feel that they are helping you all build your homes and stuff. 😊👍

[@MelissaMalzahn]

Wow bummer about the stone, you all conquered it. The kids did fantastic, team work. Have fun in the pool.

[@jimdelong949]

Hi Gary & Melanie Unfortunately looks like you guys did some rockin😄 on this video. I felt bad for you having to shovel all that rock. But as Melanie says, " it is what it is". I commend you for just doing what you had to do to get back on track. Looks like a family affair also. Everybody got to input . Even Wyatt. Glad they got to use the pool and camp out. Can't wait to see the next episode Stay strong and safe

[@pannis72]

Julia, Abe, and Scarlet are some awesome helpers! 👏🏻 great job!!!!

[@coralsancetta7242]

You guys look exhausted. Such hard work. But you are achieving it. Great work. Love the kids teamwork. Congrats

[@rockkline7096]

U guys are awesome hard workers and great people. Your kid's are awesome to.u are teaching them great.sorry I can't watch that much.busy around my house and and working small jobs.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌👌👌💥💥💥💥💫💫👋👋

[@maryjemison1101]

Children are so precious ❤❤❤⛺️

[@lindamcdaniel1176]

I hope you two are staying well hydrated. Ya’ll are some awesome hard workers. 🤗

[@barrywhitlock141]

That was a lot of hard work but you got there, well done and well done to all the kids that also done quite a bit of work

[@elizabethbetsyschneider1647]

Supporting your kids ideas is hard because of exhaustion. But…you guys are killing it! Wonderful memories with a wonderful family.

[@JamezJrYT]

@11:19 that how you know he's a hard-worker and its all legit thats a true man right there! keep up the good work guys its coming along nicely :)

[@velmad5dilbert344]

OM GOODNESS. THATS a lot of hard work.! It will be all worth it in the end. Gary looked more tired.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Great progress!! We put in a foundation french drain with the holes up and a viewer saw it and mentioned it. That was months ago and I just uncovered it and turned the holes down last week. Always something!!

[@sheilatubbs1241]

Great kids love them working together.

[@awesomesauce7535]

Wow guys, you did so much in one day! And the kids too. Hope your swim was good. Kids looked happy in the tent.

[@IveysFamilyFactotum]

Military uses the bucket brigade often but also has many many hands going....going thing for friends with tractors....👍🏽

[@larryfeeks6620]

Now that's a lot of shoveling. Reminds me of when y'all were digging footers for the basement.

[@jerriewyatt905]

You both look pooped! You were really getting it today. The kids did a great job too.. They can look back and tell their kids how they helped build their cabin they grew up in..

[@glenchristensen3689]

As usual , another great video and you doing good on the drainage. it was nice to see you make the kids put up the tent by themselves.

[@jamesmccarthy1922]

I feel your pain Gary. I can totally read your face lol when things don't go right. I used to do lots of construction before I became a concrete mixer driver.

[@lilahnewton7940]

Ohhh man I heard your relief sighs in NY when you both hit that pool water!! WOW GREAT JOB!! Love ya lots 🤙😘 take care!! 🙋‍♀️ XOXO

[@debbiebarnes2723]

Love the campin within the camp!

[@karenspeer7378]

Wow!! Your whole family is So Hard Working!! God Bless and have a Wonderful Week!! 😀❤⚘

[@Patty747]

Loved the kids at the end, enjoying the fan!

[@MelissaMalzahn]

How fun the kids are, with a fan in the tent. Hope the enjoyed their night.

[@MickToo]

Abe is a BEAST!! Well done kiddos!

[@shirleywarner8831]

Wow, the weather sure made your job even harder (either the heat or the cold or rain) but you are both persistently hard workers. I'll bet you all sleep well. The kids are so helpful they are learning so much from you all about hard work and not shying away from it.

[@gayfitkin6861]

That was definitely precious seeing all the little guys in the tent after all their work setting it up. Brings back great memories of when my kids were that age. Very nice video ending !!🙃😊 See ya tomorrow !!

[@Rosiarita171]

You guys all did the best job today ❣️one day at a time.

[@connielea1896]

Your children are pretty hard workers. They did a great job and looks like they have mastered tent pitching. Glad to see them getting along together.

[@sharonsmith9478]

I just love what you do with your kids that is so so beautiful god bless you all i just love you all so so much you guys are great parents need more parents like you two you have a bless day

[@robertbates5537]

Did your supply house not have the French drain piping? They make specific pipe with the correct sized and spaced holes. And it is the same price, if not cheaper, then the same sized pvc pipe, and designed for burying in the ground

[@charlotteforrester3118]

The kids did awesome cleaning up the rock and y’all are rocking it! (Pun intended😂) it looks amazing. I wasn’t entirely sure what a French drain was. Now I’ve learned something new! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@rsinyard2760]

How wonderful!! What good parents you guys are.

[@deedunn7563]

Just a comment on the family teamwork. Good job. Best lessons of training up a child with basic values that will serve them well the rest of their lives. Just applying it day by day. Makes for a happy lifestyle. Great job mom and dad. !...and children.!!!

[@ronnydowdy7432]

This was one of the best videos I have watched. Good family.

[@edgasaway2207]

Smart idea of using the fan for the kids. You two did a heck of a job and remember that every little bit of moving forward is advancement.

[@carolynmesser7199]

So much work you guys , admire you all 💕😊💕😊🙏

[@Freedom_Child]

You’re killing it! I’m totally looking forward to seeing how things look as you progress.

[@nancyhoward7575]

Adorable ending!

[@brendahaire8824]

That was very hard work. Are you ever so tired when you go to bed that you are just too tired and sore to go to sleep? You guys are rocking it.

[@harrymasson9945]

Bless you two A hell of a Job

[@themajorchange2680]

Years from now, the kids will cherish the simple tent camping.

[@annamaybeekman5152]

YOU GUYS DID A FABULOUS JOB

[@Itsallgrady]

Dang you guys! You are making huge progress! we are proud of you!

[@suejackson1731]

You all did a good job so glad you still have the tractor there.

[@grannylanna7940]

Fun with the sleep out!

[@ericsenn]

Kids setting up tent and camping at the end was best part. Watching them all take turns blowing up the air mattress, good stuff. Always glad to see the house coming along of course. Did you use pvc where you drilled your own holes instead of the black corrugated pipe because cheaper or out of stock? The holes on the corrugated pipe are a little bigger if memory serves me correct. I would have gone ahead and run drains for gutters along with the French drain system and just left them sticking up to be connected to. Not the end of the world to go back and add later but may have saved you some future shoveling.... Keep up the good work on the progress.

[@maryofventura4767]

Those are some durable, capable kids! Good going!

[@lorikarpe9964]

What fun for the kids getting to sleep outside in a tent! They did a great job setting it up!

[@estellaknox9285]

how beautiful is that the kids were amazing Time to cool off hard work but well done.

[@kyraacher3047]

You guys look so tired. I feel bad. You guys are doing a great job. If I lived their I would come by and help you guys.