Great questions and observations! We will try and answer genuine and respectful questions. So thank you. I rarely tolerate rudeness or mean spirited haters. This is totally an experiment to see if someone can build a cellar with green home cut lumber. Which for us were the most readily available options. This option allowed us to have a cellar now not in a couple years. Time waiting was a major factor. I’d rather have one that I can afford now, that might not last forever, than one that will last forever that we may spend our whole lives waiting for. We never really know what the future holds, right? If it proves to not be a viable long term option we would hopefully have the means to build one from concrete or stone but at a much steeper price in the future. We also know there are safer options against storm protection, but this hands down beats not having anything at all. The idea of not putting building this for the mere fact that a powerful tornado could damage this is the same logic as not wearing a seat belt in the event of a head in collision with a train because the seatbelt won’t make a difference. What if you only get in a wreck with a Prius. Might save your life right? A big reason was time. It would have taken us longer to mill all the lumber needed for the forms and then the time to form this from said lumber, then still have to pour it. We also had to factor in the additional cost of concrete and steel instead of super affordable home milled lumber. Or the other option, I would have had to purchase form boards which come with a large price tag. Not many people can afford to have a masonry cellar installed, have the ability to install one them selves or both. This might afford somebody the chance to have at least “Something” rather than “nothing” at all. This was just under 2k in materials, but this is not taking into consideration the equipment we already owned. We are fully aware of all the negatives of a wood cellar and the potential to have a total failure. Look on the bright side if it fails, having to building a new one out of masonry is more content for our followers lol. I really can’t help but experiment. Our ancestors figured it out somehow. There are wooden cellars that are still functional that date back to the 1700s. Maybe we could get lucky having the advantage of more modern membranes oh and I forgot to mention we’ll also use a dehumidifier it will be used as necessary to get the wood dry. It can also be used to keep the potential excess moisture under control. Anyway we’re crazy and love building unique stuff. We won’t cry too hard if we have to build another😀 Fwew… that was a mouthful. Thank you and again, great questions.

​@@tickcreekranch You answered my question about the price. I bet the wood will petrify.

@@connieprI think it’s going to rot if we can’t control the moisture. We’ll see

Did you buy the mill for this process or did you have it prior to? My thoughts; if you bought the mill, bobcat rental or purchase, mini ex rental,plus labor time . Could you have poured at concrete one cheaper?

@@markblevins8562 we owned all of this prior to this project.

You almost brought a tear to my eye. He sounds like my kind of guy and he was obviously a very able and skilled man. I would love to see pictures of yours and your late husband’s hard work. May his legacy live on in the minds of those who knew and loved him, after all we only have the memories… Thank you Diane and God bless ma’am

Thanks for sharing, this guy is a master craftsman, and sounds like Jimmie was too. God bless sister.

🙏🙏🙏

You are not alone with this. God bless you.

That was the sweetest thing I've read in quite a while. ❤

What state are you in?

A lot of times when driving down a Highway I see one of these abandoned jutting out of a hill side. The house and barn were demolished long ago but the root cellar survives.

Thank you Clarke, now to see if it’ll last lol

Absolutely! Good call

Water/food/first aid kit and a radio

Thanks Amon, for not talking too much crap lol

As a fellow welder I'd have just dug a hole and dropped a shopping container in it, then bought a load of box section and sheet and made it look sexy lol the work involved with wood is incredible compared to just welding everything up lol 😂😂

Angry beavers and tree carcasses make some sweet shit... I can't weld to save my life

Yeah, a welder can't go chop down an 80 ft tall Mild Steel tree to start working with 😂

@@chrisplayz253 you brace up the sides with pipe or angle every other rib and bury them upside down, (all the structure is in the floor and frame) you can sheet it with steel. But if you pour between the joists with rebar you have structure engendered beams for a roof and a wood ceiling, screw plywood down for the floor. I too am Weld, I build cannons and swords.

Sounds like a beautiful place. Cook Mills have a good reputation from what I understand. Maybe you should take an extended vacation back to AR. Thank you Carl!

Watch out for the bigfoot!

Thanks CornFlake. We’ll keep at it

We sure appreciate it! We hope it lasts but, at least I know a guy who can fix or replace it if it doesn’t lol. Eastern Red Cedar is amazing stuff. Thanks again for the support Rcar

yeah solid work all around! They know there craft im impressed.

We will make some update vids👍

Thank you Josh. We’re experimenting with alternative methods that are more affordable and readily accessible. In doing so hopefully others can benefit from our successes and failures too. Thanks for watching!

Thanks Mounty. We’re just making do with what we’ve got

Thank you we sure appreciate it!

Yeah, just don't use wood. It burns.

@@JR-pm3mr Burn? I won’t be hiding in a hole when they come. Talk about a death sentence

@@tickcreekranch Static defense is only good at making fish in a barrel

Quite the compliment! Thank you Paul we’ll keep at it👍

Agreed. This is so long and the turbulence from the studs on the hallway wouldn’t let air exchange at all no mater what we did. Finally put a that piece of foam in there and voilà

@@tickcreekranch Nice!

We appreciate the support Brent

Lol! Thank you

Well, I can’t help it. I’m jealous!

@@martinDS533 lol Thanks Marty

That sentence doesn’t make sense.

This was actually very affordable. We milled all this lumber ourselves.

Thank you Terry! Hopefully it works as designed

Solid advice! We’ll take all the tips from the seasoned veterans we can. Thanks Grandma!

Awesome! I’m sure yours were more durable lol

I was thinking the same thing about the entrance. Unless he’s got a 10-ton steel door at the end of that hallway, it’s an opportunity missed for protection from in-line projectiles. That also helps mitigate overpressure issues too. My area of study was in military/FEMA construction techniques and testing. Obviously this is one of those until the storm passes type shelter plus root cellar.

A short stone or cinderblock /concrete wall about 10 feet from the start of the entrance would cure the strait line hazard .

Would a relief system be possible in an underground bunker? To mitigate blast force have a couple 4 inch pipes with one way valves maybe?

Thanks Loki

When I was a kid the biggest issue was getting to the storm shelter . It was behind the house about 100 feet . Mom would wake us in the middle of the night and we would have to run through rain and wind and lightning to get in it. That’s why I built my shelter in the basement when I built my house , if we are expecting storms/tornadoes we will just sleep down stairs .

We didn’t show in the video, but there is a roof and door vent👍

It’s an experiment to see if it’s a viable affordable option for other people to emulate. The premise of our channel is to inspire and help others to live a more sustainable life. Time will tell my friend. Thanks for watching and the feedback!

Thank you Pat!

I agree! We’re doing our best to pass on what we know and still learn new skills every day. Trade schools are way more important than brain washing universities. It seems someone does like the idea of people being able to do for themselves.

We appreciate it. Thank you for watching!

Thank you Carla. We appreciate you. Do everything you can to keep it dry, no soil contact to wood, positive drainage and ventilation. Should serve you well. Cheers!

We appreciate you Benjamin!

Awesome! I love the history. Sounds like they had a really well built and designed cellar. We incorporated several of those elements you speak of in this build. High/low vents, built into a hillside, arched roof (but it won’t help our ventilate any better), sloping floor and a drain system. Obviously ours is still very different considering it’s constructed from wood. Thank you Shawn

Thanks SPFB. You live in the city but, also have some land it sounds?

Thank you Banjo!

Thank you Kathleen! I think our whole country is going to see some really interesting times. Already have. God bless…

Thanks Nate

Wow, thanks Bruce!

@@tickcreekranch you guys are quite welcome

I’ve at least got a pile of kids to teach:) come on down I’m sure you could get your hands dirty too😁

Lost knowledge is one of the great tragedies. Sorry my friend

The cellar has a roof and floor vent. White wash is amazing stuff for sure. Thanks Eli

Thank you! We’ll keep them coming 👍

Thank you! I tried the partially clad thing and we couldn’t get views🤔

Another door at the covered entrance would be good.

Thank you! I kind of anticipate the entry lifting away if hit with a nasty one. It’s not overly secure to the main building. I would rather it become a flying object like every thing else than have it pull the front out of the building. That’s why it’s a plant-on instead of framed into the plates. Has just a few timber loks with small heads. They should pull through fairly easy. Good eye noticing that hazard. Thanks for the sub Zach!

Me either! Thank you sir

⁠@@tickcreekranch I wouldn’t put my safety into it cause I have personally seen one get ripped out of the ground and tossed like a rag doll. It was made out of concert. The tornado was only a F2. Nice build though.

​@Katie that's hard to believe,I road an F-4 out in one, safe as could be!

We sure hope so. Praying we don’t end up like Dorothy when the big one hits:) Thanks Catherine

Thank you, I don’t like milling the stuff because you shouldn’t breath the dust but, everything else about it is magnificent!

We mill our own lumber so this was very financially affordable, but very labor intensive

Oh it is…I feel old lol

Doesn’t have to be fancy just functional. Thanks Suzi

Thanks James

I hope so! Thanks Bear Skinner we appreciate it.

It’s one of my favorite places on the ranch now

@@tickcreekranch I call our 60 acres tick ranch, we have quite a herd ,dam biting vermin

Thank you Sue! Welcome aboard lol

I’m glad it gave you a chuckle. It’s just the way the good Lord made me. I’m always getting in trouble with the Mrs. lol Thank you, Bill

Awesome! What state? How did you handle drainage? Thank you George

@@tickcreekranch schedule 35 drain tile to drywell or daylight

Wow Lisa thank you! Agreed. Some of my most vivid memories are working with my old man. I always tell my kids “if you know how to work with your hands, you’ll always be able to feed yourself”. We appreciate the support!

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Bob

Thank you. We try to not lose people’s attention! We’ll keep it up 👍

Thank you Robert