#72 Cutting the Grass, Closing the Trenches, Building a Terrace
I'm finishing up the works on the septic tank. It's time to cut the grass, which at places is nearly a meter high. I'm moving a lot of dirt around, filling up trenches and building a terrace around the cabins. Finally, I have eyes on a new trailer for which I'm going on a road trip to Switzerland.
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Music in this video: Cirkel by Mensenkinderen
0:00 Sunrise and grass cutting
1:39 Cleaning up
5:07 Digger arrives
6:57 a rainy morning
9:03 Last connection on the septic system
11:16 Closing trenches
12:32 Dinner
14:25 Closing the septic trench
14:44 Levelling the driveway
20:55 Closing the rain gutter trench
27:04 Explaining terrace works
30:22 Bread making
32:03 levelling the terrace
32:58 Thunder storm
36:29 Finishing the front terrace
38:49 Retiring the trailer
40:29 Baking bread
41:30 Monologue
46:07 Road trip
I am 82 yrs old and had a pony when i was young. My father used a scythe to cut acres of hay for the winter, turning it all by hand to dry. I can see him now, exactly as you showed, turning the scythe up to sharpen the blade with a file. Thank you for these pleasant memories.
😊😊😊❤ I am 70 and felt the same remembering my grandfather 🙏🏻🌷
Beautiful sharing 🫶🥰
@@elaineschiefer-feria516 Me too. Those 2 sounds, the swish of the blade and then the sharpening of the blade. I could almost smell the cut grass too! Wonderful memories. Thank you Martijn, I think you've made quite a few of us happy with that.
Stone sharpens steel
Thank you
If anyone is interested, some of the birds that can be heard around 35:00 are: Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Blue Tit, European Robin, & Eurasian Blackbird.
Thank you! Every time I hear the birds, I wonder what they are.
Very good 👍
Awesome
Hey thanks, there's seems to be a hell of a lot of them...my pet bird whistles along when I'm watching these videos.
Thank you
These weekly episodes bring peace and calm to my soul and keep me grounded. It makes me fall in love with nature all over again.
weekly..weakly..(🙂)
Exactly!
I'm not religious, but your videos bring such peace that I feel like I went to church after watching them. Beautiful way to spend a Sunday. Thanks so much❤
@caronadams4486/// I feel spiritually moved by the Italian countryside and mountains. A tear glistened when I think of Italy and Switzerland, best holiday ever had. Take care. ☺
God speaks through His creation Blessings from Canada 🇨🇦
@@tracytanasiychuk8253 /// Blessings from Vancouver BC 👍
Well that one was onebpf the best Martijn produced End part and imagery, and music was very beautiful - thank ypu
The quality of your videos and the content is still as great as the first one you uploaded. Thank you for your hard work!
true!
So no improvement then?
Better and better!
@@2bit661 what do you mean? expand
This is really a significant milestone, the laying of the floor the drainage system and the septic tanks. Now you can focus on the heating and internals so that you may move in before winter. Like many, it is the highlight of the week, thanks Martijn. Wishing you well.
The "Like" button just never seems enough. Thank you, Martijn.
You do have the „Thank you“ button, where you can even contribute! I do it from time to time, and I’m so grateful to be able to give something back. ❤
I loved the way you faded yourself out at the stone table while fading in the exact same spot with the coming of morning! Great editing!
Really was!
my favorite scene from this week's video❤
Nice to hear the cows bells again❤
Yeah, hering their bells ringing throughout the summer is one of my favorite things in this
Yes!
Those cows in transit to and from the pastures are traditionally called "le ciochinere," from ciòca 'bell.'
My favourite part of a Sun-day....😊
You should borrow a neighbors goats or cattle or sheep for a couple days. They will mow your grass for you. 😊 Thank you for providing a wholesome, relaxing programming and for allowing us into your life for an hour each Sunday.
I'm happy that chicken can walk almost normally! I always wondering how she is doing. Good for her.
You could probably repurpose the old trailer into another garden planter. A little more room for growing!
That's a good idea.
Or for storing wood or tools
Or put roof over the bed for visiting campers to have dry above ground spot to lay on.
@richardpenner5515 I think Martiijn did say a few weeks ago when he was talking about getting a new trailer that it would be re-purposed but I just can't remember in what way.
He could sell it to offset the cost of the new trailer. Trailers are always in demand, even used and beat up, someone with a welder and metal fabricating skills could make it like new.
Well all those grass clippings look like the beginnings of a great compost heap!
I’d love to see Martin add some billy goats to help him manage the grasses! The fainting one would be adorable & funny to watch :)
I wondered if they went up to the neighbors cows??
Foi o mesmo que pensei
Yo pensé lo mismo
Or hay for the chickens' nest boxes in winter
The unique thing of this channel is its simplicity. Resembling how a simple life can be fulfilling. I hope the money and fame that you earn will not change the content eventually and you can still keep its simplicity and modesty.
I am a 76 yr, old woman. I have anxiety and watching you helps me a lot. Very calming. Hello from Canada.
Good to see the chickens are not suffering any post trauma effects - they seem happy.
The red hen has developed a limp from the injury 4:48.
@@bovellois Lucky to limp.
@@sunzeneise sure is 🙂
If you bought a Nanny goat and her baby you could have goat milk AND two lawn mowers!
Yes I was concerned about the chickies too, especially the red hen.
Always love hearing the birds.
My little slice of heaven between work and bed. Thank you for continuing to make these, Martijn, we all love them. You're an inspiration.
amen
Your’s is the best vlog and I would rather watch your work than watch anything on tv or movies. Each episode is a work of art. God bless.
Gosh, Martijn. The dew drops on the individual stems and blades of grass glittering in the sun just before they fall to the scythe. And the audio as usual is superb, you can hear the individual stems being cut. All among the barley, who would not be blithe, While the ripe and bearded barley is smiling on the scythe.
When I was 4 in 1954 I remember my mother using a scythe every week to cut grass on the acre we lived on. Christmas of that year, Dad bought her a push hand mower, which made that outside task a lot easier for her. I remember watching her sharpen the blade of the scythe just like this, and sharpening the blades on the push mower using a foot pedal powered grindstone. She didn't get a power push mower until the turn of the decade and then bought herself a John Deere riding mower in the mid 60s after she was able to get a job after the last of her three children was in school and I was old enough to babysit.
Didn't your father ever help with the mowing? Just curious.
@@jennifershaw8951 I never saw him mow until the John Deere riding mower mom bought. He worked 3 jobs, 1 full-time on swing shift that changed every two weeks, and two part-time (one, weekends only, the other the hours he wasn't working full-time). He died at 46 from smoking 5 packs of Camel cigarettes a day of a heart attack and had severe emphysema.
@@mustardseeds7602 I forgot to mention she only made it through 3rd grade; at that point she had to work (very common during the Great Depression) and her labor was rented out by her parents who had 8 living children, and did the rest of her life, dying at 75 from a massive stroke she had when she was 73. She continued to educate herself, mostly in things of a practical nature, though she loved reading. Her father promoted reading and education to all his children.
So sorry tp hear all that - bless you mam
This channel is my happy place. Even when the cabins are finished, I hope you never stop making videos, Martijn.
It appears you make so many people happy Martijn. Thank you for your hard work. 💙🇺🇸
I haven't seen anyone work with a scythe in many years. That's how my Scandinavian grandfather cut the grass.
His scythe was too short for him. Scythe should be selected/chosen on such way when one stand upright with the scythe close to his feet, the blade is above eyes. Short scythe will result in very short cuts and “upping” the cut at the very end. You could see in that last few scythe frames that is exactly what is happening. The swings with scythe of proper size should be long and go for 180 degrees (almost from right leg all the way to the left leg/hip). One can;t do that with short scythe. But I totally admire Martjin’s “let’s do it”. One can only learn from own “mistakes”. The longer the scythe would require less man power.
My initial thought its nice to use traditional techniques and tools but I'd be using a petrol strimmer to make life easier ... and hey presto 😀
❤ great memories, I remember my German grandfather doing the same in Southern Brazil where I was born and grew up ❤
And my Romanian grandfather did the same 🙂
Most of us will see the man with the scythe only once …
And thank you for taking us with you to Switzerland an unexpected joy, the scenery is beautiful 🌸
To me, from San Leo, Italy, you remember this words of a Zen monk, Taisen Deshimaru roshi: A man, at least once in a life, should choice a mission completely impossible to realize and put all his energy to do it.
Thankyou for taking us with you to Switzerland, my parents took me after the war . I was nine. Now I am 83. We visited lake Maggiore .a souvenir from there I kept for years a painting of the wonderful big white hotel you just drove past. In my day there were palm trees on the lake side . Brought back sweet memories of family vacation. I look forward to all the postings of your amazing work at the property in Italy. You are a true treasure. Blessings.
Sounds like you made a lot of people extra happy with this video. I hope you are getting as much pleasure from your efforts as we are from watching you. Be well.
Thank you, Martijn, for taking us along for the roadtrip to Switzerland--so beautiful!! You're a true Renaissance man.
Has anyone mentioned the difference between crushed stone and washed rock? Use the crushed stone on the driveway, it will interlock nicely. Using washed stone will be like driving on ball bearings. Use washed stone for drainage applications, like behind your retaining walls, and cover it with fabric to prevent too much soil infiltration. Wet soil will push the walls over. I've done some masonry, but as a heavy truck and equipment operator, I've moved a lot of material and have spoken with the experts. Greg 🇨🇦
I am so sad when each episode comes to an end..... each finer than the last
Me too, can't wait till next week, the videos get better and better
Same here, I can’t get enough of it!
Yes…an aching sadness…
Start over from beginning
Sometimes I feel my eyes tear up! I thought I was a bit crazy for that. I just am absolutely in love with every single minute of these videos.
Imagining your book...That first shot is your..book cover with you sickling the grass (work hard) and the mountains in the background. So beautiful. Inside cover shot.... bread baking over the fire (eat wonderfully). Then another of you looking out over Switzerland or hiking your mountain trail (play). I'll buy it as will so many more. Thank you Martijn. Bless bless.
Excellent idea ...a coffee table book that we could all enjoy ...pick up now and then and recall a favourite milestone of Martijn's journey.
I've been waiting all week for this! I hope to see more bread and peaceful walks! Thank you Martijn for your wonderful videos!❤️
WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHATS NEXT FOR THE INSIDE OF THE CABIN
Martijn really has niche for baking bread
I so love the bread baking
He makes bread making look so easy. I've decided I want to give it a try. I think it's called Martijn's No Fuss Bread! Actually, he makes almost everything he does, easy.💙
I thought so. When you pulled the plug on the old trailer, and the light went out, I could swear I heard Taps being played in the background. Congratulations on the new trailer.
Amazing, I can't get enough of watching you create your own corner of heaven !!! 👍👌❤❤❤🏆🥇👑🙏🙏
I feel as though I am reading poetry when I watch your videos. Just beautiful!
Home site is really coming along beautifully. Thank you for taking us to Switzerland with you, amazing beauty there as well!
The lingering shot of the retired trailer in the "trailer graveyard" was quite touching Martijn and made me realise you were about to get your new one. Maybe the occasional glimpse of the old one sometime when you're passing that way. 😎
For these few minutes every week, we are there...hearing the thunder and the rain, watching the clouds, and being at peace. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Since you have some neighbors that raise cows, you might offer your lot to them for grazing. Many farms where I come from do this. It’s a very natural way to keep the meadow in good shape. And what they leave behind is good for your garden.
Best comment on this particular topic. I hope Martin sees it and think about.
I seem to remember Martijn having the cows graze a portion of his pasture last year
Of course they raise cows,sheep and goats, when you heard the bells, at one point, they were from the flock of sheep, goats of the shepherds in the area. Also he can get milk and cheese 100% organic .
Goats are particularly good at getting around things like the picnic table and other detailed areas. He’d have to goat-proof the garden though, or they’d raid it.
He already has done that.
Keep working hard. We will always support you.
Lovely seeing you using a scythe. I used to use one when I lived on Bardsey Island in Wales. We used it to cut the bracken. It's great when you get into a good rhythm. The scenery of the lakes and mountains on the way to pick up your new trailer was stunning. What a beautiful part of the world you live in.
Like film, you are the director, actor, editor, and writer, you record your life and perform it for us, I think this will will be the best memory of your life. Thanks for sharing this with us. Can wait to see the final results.
Thank you Martjin,wish I could live where you are….its beautiful and so peaceful
You might consider pushing your northern (uphill) terrace far enough to put in a root cellar with the entrance in your retaining wall. Once you get your gardens and orchards into full production, you could store everything to get through the winter and the hungry gap without expensive refrigeration. Assuming the Italian building authority allows it, of course.
Switzerland is incredibly beautiful
Italy is better
Non è la svizzera ma il piemonte
@@maurimartini5895 no é la svizzera
He lives still in Italië 😊
🪴Martijn, you have a way of sharing your life that touches so many in ways which are hard to explain. I often find myself mesmerized. At about 35:00 I began to feel a bit sad as I knew it was ending and then you took us on your road trip! How beautiful! Thank you Martijn! 👏👏 Your new trailer looks fantastic, very sturdy and even pretty! Your place is really starting to “shape” up. I’m not able to visualize very well, this week, for the first time, I was able to get an understanding of how your landscape will look and your pipe layout. I like the idea of flat area around the cabin and can’t wait to see how that will look. I imagine you making a sitting area in back looking out over the mountains. I got rather excited this week when I was able to “see” it. 😄 I absolutely smelled your bread when the steam spread in the air. Coffee and cinnamon, two of my favorites! No matter if it didn’t finish cooking, it will make great toast. Nice touch of your potted plant and cut flowers on your kitchen table. 🌾🪴 I thought you looked tired as you worked. You worked so hard and when you sat at the table and sighed, I thought yes, he’s tired. You are doing such good work. You must feel good about it all. You’ve not had any seed eating birds come to the feeder you made? Perhaps check the type of seed to feed in your area. The birds songs are so nice. I noticed you tied a tomato with a twine, better than wire. 👍 Try to use larger twine, even fabric to keep the branches from being rubbed and cut through. Have a wonderful week. Save some time for yourself to relax and take in the spring beauty around you. Take care. 💚 from Texas
Thank you for taking us to Switzerland!
Hope you have a beautiful road trip to Switzerland, enjoy. You deserve it.
Martijn, I always enjoy your music choices that go with the videos. Thanks for your hard work and editing!
Not gonna lie…been looking forward to this video, got my coffee and popcorn at the ready 😂
Bravo, Martin! The scythe is such wonderful tool: mindful to insects and nature, no noise, no waste, no emissions, long blades of grass easy to rake...I love to do that work it in the cool early mornings. And hay is a perfect mulch material for the garden. Greetings from Ticino!
Get yourself some local honey, this is the pollen in your area the bees use. A take a tablespoon a day, this will help with your allergies. Beautiful video.
Dear Martijn, I am a senior, and I live in Ajax Ontario Canada. I have watched every one of Your videos and I cannot tell You how much I enjoy them. Sometimes I go back through the videos and watch one that I have already seen. I can see Such amazing changes with every single video. I remember the first one and I thought OMG there is so much work to do but You had Your vision. You are working so hard Martijn and we can see Your vision now for sure. I just finished watching # 73 and Your little paradise looks absolutely beautiful. The luscious greens and the forest, and Your gardens and chickens, but most of all the unbelievable breathtaking beauty that surrounds Your mountain top home. It always brings me back to when I was a little girl and my Dear Dad would be doing all the things that needed to be done, very similar to what You do Martijn. So now I am looking forward to Your next video. Thank You for taking us along with You on Your spectacular hikes through the Alps. You know Martijn if You had not taken us along with You there are those of us who would never have experienced such wonder. I especially love it when You visit all the abandoned homes. In appreciation I would like to help You to keep Your videos going. I am not rich but every bit helps. So where or how would I send to You. Maybe old fashioned mail. Let me know please and thank you. God Bless Your Heart and keep You safe. Mary.
Bless you Martijn for this weeks video…so relaxing and perfect healing for the soul 💜💜 Mother Nature 💜💜 Thank you too for taking us with you on your trip to get the trailer. Much love and gratitude for these weekly pleasures 🙏
I wish one day to walk on this green grass barefoot To sit and close my eyes and listen to the birds singing.. to breathe clean and pleasant air Thanks Martin, you sent me a nice feeling about where you live.. like I live there 💚💚
Come on you guys!! Martin has 551 thousand subscribers but only 15 thousand likes!!🙃Hit that like button!!! I love his videos and watch every single one!! Takes one second to hit that button!!👍
❤me too , his channel brings light in this dark world. He makes normal daily chores look as if a pleasure to do. His hard work will pay off for him some day. Stay safe and be blessed Martijn!
I find myself waiting each week for a new video. Just wish i could be there to see it in person. Such hard work but very rewarding. I love watching the progress.
Thanks for taking us on your drive. Incredibly beautiful. ❤
Perhaps take the cut grass and cover the newly dug earth from/around the terrace and septic. This will reduce any potential erosion/rivulets from rain but also lay seed to expedite its coverage.
A really hard-working week, Martijn! Excellent video, as always :D
❤..you are my Sunday morning guilty pleasure ..I love to take this time to myself and watch all that you do ..thank you Martijn. 😊💕🇺🇸
Thank you for taking us along for the scenic ride to pick up yr trailer. Absolutely gorgeous weekend for it. ❤
2 hints for mowing with a scythe: The whetstone should be soaked wet. Use a whetstone holder or a cow horn filled with water. If you are mowing, try not to chop! Take a smaller stripe of grass and pull the scythe. Starting to swing far away from your body and during swinging pull the scythe nearer to you. Try also to move the scythe on a longer way by turning your body to the left (if you are right handed). Oops, I have forgotten some usefull (and one dangerous) aspect! If you are on an even ground the mowing direction doesn‘t matter, but on a slope you should start on the right side (if you are right handed) and stay in the same height while mowing one row. If you reach the end of the row stop mowing and start the next row again on the right side. First of all there is an security reason: if the slope is steep and wet, it could be that you slip into the sharpened blade of the scythe. (If the slope is very steep it could be necessary that you are wearing crampons!) The second reason is simplier: if you are mowing from top to the bottom the blade of the scythe cuts the grass in an very flat angle and if the grass is bending, not all of them is cutted in the same height and your lawn looks raffled. If you are mowing across the slope the scythe hits the stems of the grass in an small angle and the stems aren‘t bending away from the hill, you will hit them therefore exactly. If your work was correct you should see at the end multiple lines of cutted grass with mowed lawn between them. Using the whetstone: the blade of the scythe has an curved edge. You can easily hold it with your fingers and the scythe will not rotate during the sharpening. You should always sharpen both sides of the blade, the first strike on the front side, the second on the back side. (But beware of cutting your fingers doing it with a high speed.) At the end of this process the blade should be as sharp as an razor blade. You can test it, moving your thumb (across 😊) over the blade.
Wow u know your stuff
So that's why Mom always started on the right, moved left, then turned around and cut from right to left! I never knew that, but it makes sense. I just used it to cut along a fence line that had stone directly under it.
Conosco poco l'inglese ma comprendo il tuo amore per ciò che stai facendo,vomprendo il tuo impegno,le tue fatiche,ilntuo non arrenderti mai,ti ammiro,ammiro la tua energia e la tua sensibilità,anch'io dipingo e trovo bellissimo il tuo quadro,ha un'anima,attendo con impazienza i tuoi video,arrivederci quindi al prossimo👋😊
puoi anche attivare i sottotitoli in italiano , se vuoi
After days of hard work the trip to Switzerland was the best way to unwind, I like how you captured the views It felt like I was there enjoying the ride while sightseeing. Thanks for taking us on this wonderful trip!
I felt so full of peace and joy during the last past of the video going through Italy into Switzerland. The scenery was stunning and the music divine. Thank you.
The great legacy left behind by Martijn may be his artful filmmaking skills combined with his determined restoration/rebuild of his Italian Alps property, even amongst other great accomplishments of his that we are unaware of. In comparison, I guess my legacy is to witness his from my couch. Damn you, Martijn!!!😅🤣
I mean, your videos are some of the greatest content on youtube, yet you are not expert in anything you do apart from making bread :). Do not take it personal. I believe that “imperfection” is what makes your channel even better and can be a motivation for all couch potatoes to move out and do something similar. I am happy I found your channel at the very beginning.
On his website he describes as a filmmaker and photographer …
I so happy the cow bells are back one of my favorite part of the vlog. Beautiful views as always and great job.
It’s so fun to read through the posts of the endearments of all for you and I was happy to hear the cow bells again. ❤ The travel shots were amazing, I could watch a full hour of just that and some work of course. 😊 Thanks for the motivation you give and peace. Be well Martijn Ruby from California
Martijn, je bent onze Hollands glorie in de bergen! Dank je wel voor het mooie filmpje!
absoluut.
Wow, alot of comments on here regarding sything techniques this week. Your videos speak of something else though, of just BEING, being Martyn and doing what you do - awesome!
You are such an incredible hard worker. The place is glorious
Good to keep some grass left for the Butterflies and other insects.
Thank you again and again for your time spent putting together these wonderful pictures of your life in Italy 🇮🇹. The progress is amazing.
Thank you for taking us along on your trip to pick up the new trailor.
I love Lago Maggiore. This place brings me very good memories. TY for your dedication in presenting an exquisite video every week. Have a good week, Martijn!✌️
You let us tag along with you!!! Thank you! Those places are so beautiful. My heart yearns to there so strongly!!!! Nice to see the chickens chilling and to know that limpy is still alive. The ambient after cutting the grass is amazing. So many perfect video shots!!! How blessed!!!
Beautiful editing (the bread at the table) I've never seen anyone on KZhead do that before ❤
Beautiful landscape as always. A transformation appears visually only speaks a lot of hard work, perseverance and personal artistry. Trips outside and beyond the cabin are one of the many 'undertakings' that are enjoyable and at the same time it bring about nice learning experience. Thanks for sharing.
i love the idea for retaining walls i think its going to look amazing
What a wonderful episode, thanks so much for taking us along on your adventure. I hope you are saving that beautiful mountain meadow hay for your chickens for bedding this winter as well as for mulch for your garden.
Thanks for taking us on the trip to Switzerland. It's such a beautiful country.
It's amazing to me that you're working so hard, yet seem so thoroughly satisfied by any amount of progress...there was quite a bit of progress in this episode, though. Thank you, Martijn, for the inspiration.
I love how the digger looks like a Ray Harryhausen stop-motion monster. Your shooting skills are very impressive, Master Doolaard! Howdy from sunny & warm Ireland! ☘💪🏽👀👍🏽☘
Little Jimny is a fantastic little workhorse
There’s something very satisfying hearing the sound of the scythe cut the grass, and the scrape of the blade being sharpened. It was an unexpected delight to see that tool living its purpose again.. Thank you, Martijn! 🙏
Your place looks so green and wonderful. That drive to Switzerland must have been breathtaking! So many fabulous places to see ! ❤
My favourite part of the week. Thanks Martijn!
For a sewage system the pipes should only fall 1 cm pr meter otherwise liquid can separate from solids
How would he make the fall 1 cm per meter on the side of a mountain? His system would end in Switzerland.
Another misty morning on your gorgeous mountain. Trying to imagine the scents of the freshly cut grass.
What a busy week you have had getting lots work done. Glad the weather is giving you some relief from the rain to give you time to move on with the outside work. Love seeing the beautiful place you live every week. Thank you from Australia.
Hi Martijn, wat woon je toch op een prachtige plek! Elke week kijk ik uit naar je video. Inspirerend, kalmerend en adembenemend!
Gegroet, zijn plaats is erg inspirerend. Het maakt me ontspannen na een zware dag. Zegeningen!
Oh boy, I was just wondering when the cows were coming back. Bells, bells, bells all day long. Your videos are some of the best there are out there. They tell a story that has personal meanings to different people.
We watch your videos all the time, you are the luckiest man in the world, your place is breathtaking, thank you for sharing this journey
Thank you Martijn , lovely video, calm , peace and one can never get tired of the scenery .
Brilliant! Our weekly video. Thanks Martijn 🙏🏻
give us this day our weekly video (and daily bread)
I’m so happy we traveled to Switzerland. Thank you Martijn. Beautiful footage.