#70 Pouring the Floor 

1:50 on the rock there is the first stanza of a poem by Piedmontese language poet Nino Còsta (1886-1945), that says: "Acque dël mè pais, ciàire cascade ch'i sboche dai giassé, tra ròch e ròch e i sàute giù dai brich con frange e fiòch për riposeve 'nt l'ombre dle valade, acque vive 'd Piemont..." which means "Waters of my country, clear waterfalls springing out of the glaciers, in between the rocks jumping down from the hills with fringes and flakes and then resting in the shadows of the valleys, living waters of Piedmont..."

I read this: A Guard Goose will keep predators at bay by flapping their wings, squawking and hissing. To make a guard goose effective, raise him with the chicks, and he will develop a strong instinct to guard and protect your chickens. Geese are territorial and can train to protect your flock, like guard dogs

I usually read most of the comments people leave for you, Martjin. It occurred to me today that your work provides a service that may not have been on your “reason for doing this project” list at all. What has happened is a gathering of people from across the globe, all focused on supporting your work. We are meeting with each other through our comments as a vast human tribe with many of the same values. We cheer you on, give advice, appreciate each others ideas, share our lives, and generally feel a belonging. What a marvelous thing that is to consider in this wayward world we live in today. Thank you for your service, Martjin, regardless if it was on your project list or not.😊❤

My heart raced when you said “bad news” Martijn. I offer a little Super Thanks to help towards the cost of a fence for the chickens. You work so hard. ❤️

Good job Martijn, in a world so noisy so frenetic, so full of illusions and artificial places, how much peace, how much serenity these images and sounds instill in our soul.

Hey Martijn . Thank you for taking us on your walks. Today’s video showed what a sensitive person you are. You care about your girls you care about the beauty of your environment

Swales are good, but you still have water running over your driveway. It might be worth considering running a drainage ditch along the uphill edge of your driveway to direct the water, and then pass a culvert under the driveway if you need one. That way the driveway can stay mostly dry. Also given the muddiness you might consider a geotextile fabric under the stone. And I would also consider using crushed stone instead of gravel. Especially if your local gravel is collected from a river wash. River gravel is rounded and will roll downhill over time. If you ever intend to plow the driveway, you'll be plowing gravel too. Gravel is also more easily pressed down into mud, and then you're back to a muddy mess after a couple seasons. Crushed rock locks together and forms a more solid surface which is less inclined to wash away. Crushed rock on a geotextile fabric will give you a stable, durable surface.

I can’t help seeing Vincent Van Gogh alive pouring concrete in his cabin. Great video, all angles. Great job!

It's funny hearing you feel it's going slowly, when for me, this week, you seemed to achieve so much. The cabin is starting to look habitable and you've got all the parts for the sewage system ready to go. Sorry to hear about the stress your hens went through. I hope the brown one heals. Oh, and what a treat, to have a Saturday episode.

Happy all the chickens survived! Sad to see Little Red is limping, maybe she'll fully recover use of her leg with time. You worked your butt off that week, pouring concrete! Beautiful hike too.

Hello Matijn. It’s your architect friend again. Don’t worry too much about making two concrete pours. That’s called a cold joint and it’s not ideal, but probably not as critical in a floor slab. A concrete wall poured that way would need more critical attention. After the concrete is fully cured you will probably see some (superficial only) cracks. Those would likely have appeared anyway. On the positive side, all that rain and humidity probably bought you a little time. Concrete likes to cure and dry out slowly. P.S I’m glad the girls are ok!

My heart bleeds a little bit when I see the injured chicken. Thank God, the fantastic 4 are all still alive. My grandfather had about 40 chickens when I was a little girl. I still love chickens today. Their soft cackling touches my heart again and again 🐔🐔🐔🐔

Such amazing beauty. The water fall and the stream are pure magic. Glad the chickens are ok. Great photography and editing.

Hello Martijn. I lost my father in 2015 and we worked many a project over 60 years. My dad look for affirmation of his work so it is a natural thing for me also appreciating positive words from others. The word he loved was FANTASTIC and his work was always that. Today Martijn I say FANTASTIC to you how much your efforts are. The planning and execution is amazing and I'm always thrilled to see help from other come to your aid. Thanks so much for allowing me to observe your hard work and know that it's a work in progress. You seem to be so attuned to the need to be flexible with the obstacles from weather to animal issues and the ever need for trips up and down the hill. Always good to see the mix of you enjoying nature and all it's beauty. Kudos my friend I wish you good health and a prosperous year.

“I highly underestimated the amount of concrete I needed” is the hallmark of all foundation pours. It’s always more than you think. Looks great, making great progress. Always love your videos.

As a concrete man’s wife I was also so disappointed that you will have a cold joint where you ran out of product. You handled it with much grace. The project is coming along well. I’m proud of you young man. Many blessings from Canada 🇨🇦. So glad to see all four hens survived the assault.

Never curse the rain. You are blessed with faboulus weather up there, a great sign you have chosen well on the location.

Feels crazy watching the floor poured, it’s been amazing watching the entire journey of your home

Martijn you are always so calm and measured. I appreciate that in this crazy world. Your chickens handled themselves against adversity under attack, and your little red hen is managing to get around and is still keen on eating so this seems very positive. Keep up the excellent work. Beautiful films, every week, thank you.

I hope you never gonna get burned out or tired of making these videos like other youtubers and man, it happens a lot. It just makes my Sundays a piece of mind in this crazy times in the world, thank you Martijn

Glad to hear you are making plans to put some gravel down on your driveway areas - I've been "telling" you that for some weeks now ! Hete to see all the struggling with getting the supplies in for these building projects - but taking the moments with "the girls" is a lovely break from all the hassle, I love their cooing sounds ! Everything is looking so green & lush from the rain & while getting wet is a nuisance that is such a better situation than too dry ! Happy building Martijn & thank you for sharing your world with us !

So many variables !!!!! Your patience & planning will always be the recipe for a successful outcome Martjin. Your entire journey on this mountain has been about overcoming the odds, which you manage to make "LOOK easy"!!! While those of us who've followed each laborious week of work knows better !!! We heartily applaud and encourage you, with the hope that our eager anticipation each week will somehow reach you, and energise you, lift up your spirit, and propel you forward, yet again, towards the ultimate goal, attained in weekly increments. 🇦🇺🤗💞🙏✌️👍👏👏👏

Loved the shots of your hike, especially the bridge and waterfall. Thanks for taking us there.

Mr Doolaard, your work is not going slow , it’s just going steady and well done, perhaps we can see the progress more then you do but you’re doing it just fine! Again thank you for being such a great inspiration! 🙏

Thank you for taking us on the hike. Absolutely beautiful country side. You never have a dull day on your homestead.

Hello to all them early birds ;)

My husband and I had the absolute pleasure of bumping into you last week while we were on holiday looking for a place just like yours. You were a legend, just as cool as you are on here and kind enough to have a photo with us - THANK YOU... You really have been our inspiration and we cannot wait to find ourselves a project [although we may be closer to the dream than we were when we spoke to you]. Hope the little chuck is okay. and thanks again for chatting to us.

Thank you Geert and Andira for helping Martijn this week.

Hi Martijn, good job done this week! It is difficult to fix a mud road with gravel since the gravel simply sinks into the soil and the mud reappears. One can use road fabric under gravel to prevent that the gravle sinks into the soil. Doing earthworks to reduce water is certainly a good thing to do.

Hello and thank you from Idaho! I've been binge watching earlier episodes, some twice and I'm happy to see this one a day earlier. So many thoughts, so many questions, but for now, I'll just sit back and enjoy!❤️ So sorry to hear about the chickens! Hopefully the dog owner will take ownership of his dog's actions and make this right!🙏🏼

A swale is parallel to a road. What you need is a swale to collect the water and a culvert to direct it down the mountain

Zen: The flower will flower when the flower flowers. Nothing you can do about it. Just be at peace with its process. Great episode again.

Thanks Martijn for your impressive series 👏👏👏

A day early! What a treat! I'm so glad the chickens survived. Such a hard work you had this week. You're right, you are moving forward. Thank you.

Thanx for making us part of your paradise❤❤. I am from South Africa and yes we do have beautiful places here but not necessarily with the freedom you guys have

So sorry about the chickens. Glad none got killed.

One day early for my weekly date with Martijn!! How many of us were in tears before all four girls 🐔🐔🐔🐔 were safely home again!?😢😢😢😢❤❤❤❤ so hope the floor dries okay!

I was a little nervous for you on that shaky bridge! Stunning scenery. Thank you so much for another very enjoyable episode!

Martijn, wonderful story telling - a celebration over adversity. So, glad the chickens survived and remain your companions. The projects, the journey really never ends. The serenity, peace, and noble labor bring peace to me. Blessings from Tennessee, USA.

The brown chicken at the end…limping broke my heart. Hope she makes a full recovery.

Martijn, I so look forward to your weekly progress on your home and property. I am so happy the chickens survived the attack. Keep up the great work!!!

Great milestone again with the poured base floor, and that shot of you on the chair surrounded by chicks was like some Rijksmuseum level painting - stunning ❤

Watch that limping chick. Sometimes the other chickens will peck and harm her if they see that she is injured. Watching from Connecticut USA.

Ever so glad the chickens are ok! The views on you hike were awesome ...the bridge was scary! Thank you for sharing you week...it's a few minutes of peace for me.

My Mother was a nurse and our chicken broke its' leg so she put a plaster cast on it! Vaguely remember. It's a roller coaster life keeping up with the chickens! All in good time the house will come..

Another engaging episode in the renovation of your Italian dream, thank you for sharing it with us.

I can't believe you went over that bridge with the missing planks. My heart stopped, you definitely have no fear of heights.

“When I take you to the Valley, you’ll see the blue hills on the left and the blue hills on the right, the rainbow and the vineyards under the rainbow late in the rainy season, and maybe you’ll say, “There it is, that’s it!” But I’ll say. “A little farther.” We’ll go on, I hope, and you’ll see the roofs of the little towns and the hillsides yellow with wild oats, a buzzard soaring and a woman singing by the shadows of a creek in the dry season, and maybe you’ll say, “Let’s stop here, this is it!” But I’ll say, “A little farther yet.” We’ll go on, and you’ll hear the quail calling on the mountain by the springs of the river, and looking back you’ll see the river running downward through the wild hills behind, below, and you’ll say, “Isn’t that the Valley?” And all I will be able to say is “Drink this water of the spring, rest here awhile, we have a long way yet to go and I can’t go without you.”

Can't believe you are pouring the floor come a long way. Sorry about the chickens, they had such a good time exploring and scratching.

So sorry about the dog attack! You need to splint the chickens leg or it will get a serious infection and die in agony. Soak a cloth in Juniper Berry Essential oil and wrap the leg. Then splint it and wrap it with sticky bandage. I fixed a Guinea fowl' leg that way, after not doing anything for 3 others which all died from infection.

I am so happy to see your channel thrive. You are producing art here and deserve the credit for your work!

I really hope that the chick's leg will heal nicely and that we will see more homemade bakery that is made out of own chick eggs. :) I love the series and on every Sunday it's has become my main ritual the get my mind off the stressful things and relax and enjoy the scenery, thank you for that Martijn O:)

Hard working guy! If you get a different vehicle I recommend getting one with a good winch on the front. In that mountain environment it will come in handy!

Just finished watching your whole journey and I wanted to leave a comment to say thank you, truly - I can’t tell you how much I’ve loved and appreciated the videos of your life in the Alps. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say it’s the greatest, most entertaining, beautifully shot and zen-like sequence of videos I’ve ever watched on RU-vid, and I will certainly watch them all again. So many “real life” RU-vid videos have a godawful soundtrack which I cannot stand - the music you choose actually compliments the videos without being annoyingly distracting. Thank you once again from the UK

I hope you sleep well and stay healthy. I’m praying for you 🙏🏻

When my days are crazy and I'm anxious all I have to do to be at peace is find you on RU-vid. Thank you

Hey Martin… I really admire you… nothing seems to stop you from reaching your goals… to be doing all the work and the videography at the same time shows a lot of patience and fortitude. Thank you so much for taking us all on your journey. If I can’t be there to help you out at least there is the opportunity to live vicariously through you! Keep up the good work!

The amount of physical labor it takes to do what you do is staggering!

Watching one of your Italian Alps episodes is like a literal walk in the clouds. Thank you🙏

I admire your total dedication to this renovation. You have bonded and will always be attached to it. It's like it's your baby.

Such an amazing building process! Glad you have some help, and happy that your chickens survived!

Poor chicken with the hurt leg. I hope she will fully recover.

Is so good that in Italy, France and some other countries selling old ruins and people saving them and renovating brining beauty and glory to old stones 🌈

Seems like everything is moving forward pretty well. Sad to hear what happened to the chickens and hope the one with the broken leg heals quickly! Thanks for sharing this with the world.

Thank you for sharing the beauty of those mountains.

I am so impressed by how hard working, diligent, dedicated, skilled and patient you are with this huge undertaking! Take care of yourself. I hope you can get your new road in soon.

Great work, lots of troop work including the chickens. Chickens& dogs about as real as it gets. Back in the day our dog couldn't resist, Mother made him wear the dead chicken for a week, he was pretty good after, but he was always keeping an eye on them. Tall tales........! Thank you. Good health& sunshine to you. 🍀🍁

Starting the peaceful Sunday early this time 😊🙏 Love it, have a great weekend everyone.

Sending good vibes to you - so glad the chickens are ok. They certainly know you are their keeper. My heart was in my mouth so often during this video. You are a real trooper, Martijn - keep positive.

I just love your way. Attitude is everything--I try to tell myself, anyway. Still the luckiest chickens on the planet, even with threats of life and limb. God willing, see you next week.

I've pointed this out to you before as a villager: you need to fence the chickens because they are taken by animals, you need to keep a dog to alert you, and you need to provide lightning protection for the solar panels and a large tank of water as a backup. The mountain region is a dangerous region even if it is very beautiful and pleasant.

Not gonna lie you, you talking to the chickens was so adorable.. just shows your true caring nature ❤

Thank you so much for taking us along on this fantastic journey! You are an amazing man! So glad your chickens are safe, I know you have great affection for them. A chicken yard is imperative to keep them safe from dogs, etc. Looking forward to the next installment of this incredible journey❣️❣️❣️

what a pleasure it is to not think about this stupid world. I watch this and I wish i could help, just to sit and look out over that valley

Poor Jimmy, the work he accomplished is amazing 😮

Very happy that the chickens are OK.

Your vlogs are so peaceful and amazing. 😁😁

Hello, from Canada🇨🇦 from someone who lives in a cold climate on steep terrain with lots of winter snow and spring rains I know exactly how you feel. I would really suggest that you have your driveway graded and put down some good road rock and have it compact it down so that you can go up and down it in the winter without getting stuck continuously. Just a thought.

I feel so sorry for that limping chicken of yours. I hope it heals completely. They all seem so sweet. Ever since I started painting again I'm looking at your houses and mountains with an artists eye and hope I have time to paint them. I loved the way your painting came out and think you should continue to paint. It's such a relaxing way to re-group and refresh.

Lord love a duck..I about had heart failure when you crossed the bridge but I am so glad that you did because we got to see all the beauty in that place.

Another wonderful video martijn the cabin is coming along very well. What a relief the chickens are alright. Thank you for the walk through you stunning surroundings, until next week take care 😊

37:20 …..” it doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop “ Confusius. I put up this quote starting renovation of my first house, take care Martijn , You’re so inventive

Fence area is the best solution, against dogs & foxes, I did that for mine chicks, no problem already since 3 years. Geese need water, & against big dog, or dogs crew, they can't do anything. U have wild orchids in the field, it's very nice (28:03).

40:10 A great deal of hard work ! Well done! So pleased to see that all the chickens made it! I so appreciate your attitude and perspectives. I wish I had that same reassuring voice in my head some days... instead of “more, better, faster, Go!” 😅. Thank you for your calm... I’m learning. 😊

This world needs more humans like you. Such an optimist. I hope all goes well for you and your hens in the coming days.

Yes the chickens do like their freedom. Praying for a safe area for them. It's so beautiful there. Such a blessing. Take care 😊.

Good job martijn Another episode please

I loved seeing your precious hens hanging around you when you were sitting in your chair. They trust you. Such a delight...these fine-feathered friends. I love hanging out with you Martijn.....if only I were a chicken!

A lot of work, a lot accomplished~Martijn just keeps going! So happy to see the chickens are doing well💛💚

From a plumber to a "beton vlechter " to a concreter and all in a few days, is not a bad effort !! Greetings from Australia

Clay bricks will carry the moisture to the rebars ,best to use cement blocks. If you make more than a concrete pouring make sure to make a cut, so the next concrete joins easily with out flaking.

Loved the hike by the mountain stream, such gorgeous country… And yes, so glad all the chickens survived!

Uploaded 11 seconds ago, I'm possibly the first one to see this. I'm honored

The chickens-….just scratching around and having fun.

really appreciated the bird's eye view crossing the bridge over the rapids, as that was a lot scarier looking from your forehead or chest cam. do you see many hikers? Ugh on the chickens getting bitten. Man, that's sad.

I was involved in the swale discussion. Then I remembered something I saw on IG of big landslides in Italy . Then I found this . Potentially something to research . “Swales are not appropriate on steep landscapes. Any area with more than a fifteen-degree slope (about 1:3.75) isn’t appropriate for installing swales, as the water saturation may cause slides, which could be dangerous. However, like dams, the higher we can get swales in our landscape the more effective they’ll be, as the water will plume beneath them, continuing to use force of gravity to permeate the subsoil at a right angle down from contour (i.e. water can’t move uphill without a pump). Lastly, swales should have trees downslope to regulate the water and stabilize the soil, which means putting a swale just uphill of a building (and its foundation), with nothing between them, probably isn’t a great idea.” From this article www.permaculturenews.org/2017/03/31/use-swales-appropriately/

Once again, thank you, Martijn, for using beautiful scenery, and music mixed in with your work... It takes my mind off my daily struggles for an hour, and makes me feel like I am there, watching you. I am so glad the chickies are mostly fine... I hope your little black hen gets healed up soon...💜

LOVE LOVE LOVE you Martjn. Your story touches my heart deeply. Thanks for bringing us along with you.

Glad to see the wounded girl getting around.

Great progress. Lovey view even the fog is beautiful, but the rain can slow you down and the "swell" you call is what country folk in American South call a drainage ditch,, no matter what you call it, it will keep the road and your lower property from damage.