BaseCamp WNC

Welcome back to Base Camp WNC! It's late July, or maybe early August by the time you're reading this, and we’re already preparing for winter by installing a freeze-proof hydrant. If you've ever seen these in stores and wondered how they work, I’m going to walk you through the process. I’ll show you why it’s freeze-proof, how I like to install it, and some extra steps I take to make it even more effective. We’re working on the homestead, running this hydrant out of the well house and into the water system. The key to a freeze-proof hydrant is its installation, which involves burying the bottom part of the hydrant deep enough to avoid freezing temperatures. I like to use four or six-inch corrugated pipe for extra protection, and here we’re using four-inch pipe. Over the top of the hydrant, I place a flower pot filled with gravel for proper drainage at the weep hole—don’t worry, I’ll explain what that means and how it works. To build the stone trap, I’ve taken a four...

Welcome back to Base Camp WNC! Today, we're on my property to work on a hidden spring system that hasn’t been cleaned in over five years. The spring is housed in a concrete block structure with a cement floor, walls, and roof, making it nearly invisible unless you get right up to it. There’s a metal door covering the entrance, and today’s project involves cleaning it out and setting up a small display to show how it was originally built around 1964. Currently, the structure is partially concealed by a tree that fell over it. To give a better idea, the building has a concrete floor, block walls, and a poured cement roof, so it blends seamlessly into the environment. I’m about to remove the door and take you through this adventure as we clean out the accumulated sediment. After taking off the door, it’s a bit difficult to see the back wall clearly, but I’ll describe it as best I can. The inside is about four feet by four feet with cement blocks arranged to allow spring water...

Welcome back to Base Camp WNC! Today, I'll walk you through the process of installing a UV light in an existing water filtration system. I’ll share some tips and tricks I’ve learned, including how to prevent breaking the glass tube, the proper way to install the light, and how to connect everything. Let’s get started! Understanding the Assembly of the UV Light Before we begin the installation, let’s take a closer look at the assembly process for the UV light. These UV light kits are widely available on platforms like Amazon or from specialized suppliers. The model we’re using today is a 55-watt, 110-volt unit, suitable for use in the United States. It features two openings at each end along with a set of water fittings, and it can be mounted in various orientations—horizontal, vertical, or at any angle. The light comes with a long glass tube that resembles a test tube. Begin by sliding a ring over the glass tube, ensuring everything is properly aligned. Gently slide the t...

Welcome back to Base Camp WNC! Today, I'm going to talk about the largest spring box I think I've ever built. This one is either for myself or Mr. Chuck. Both springs are quite old, drawing water from the hillside, but we do get a little dirt and sediment in them. If you’ve watched my channel before, you’ll notice that I rigged up a filter on the outflow pipe to catch some of the sediment, and it works really well. Mr. Chuck has a similar issue with his spring, which we’re currently working on. As I’m going to show you in this video, the setup involves two 15-gallon drums. One drum has the top cut off and fitted to the bottom of the other, making use of both tops. This configuration allows water to enter through a tube that directs it downward, encouraging sediment to settle at the bottom. I also have my usual filters installed in the system. The overflow pipe is located on the side, where the filtered water will exit and flow into the catchment system. Here’s how i...

Welcome back to Basecamp WNC! Today, we're doing some maintenance work on the water cistern here at my place. I’m starting at the spring head, also known as the spring box. According to local stories, this setup was built back in the 1960s for a teacher who lived in the area. The structure is made from laid-up cement blocks with a cement floor and a 1.5-inch Pollock pipe feeding water through. Behind the dark-painted door is the water system that I’ll be walking you through shortly. The last time I cleaned this out, it was filled with a good amount of dirt that had washed down over time. I do a thorough cleaning every couple of years. I was hoping to strike gold in the dirt, but it turns out all I found was more dirt! The creek here is one of the headwaters that feeds the French Broad River in Western North Carolina. We’re quite high up, so there’s no pollution—just clean, natural spring water flowing through. I tried filming inside the spring head for a closer look, but ...

Welcome Back to Base Camp WNC It's finally here! I mentioned in a video from Thursday or Friday (can't quite remember which) that I’ve been eagerly awaiting this moment. We’ve got our hands on the 3000-watt solar pump system that allows you to take your AC well pump completely off-grid. It converts your pump to solar power with AC backup and battery support. Now, I could go on about sales reps. They said this system was ready four months ago, but it took all this time to actually get it to the customer. It’s frustrating to deal with delays like that, especially when it reflects poorly on me. But, at last, it's here! This 3000-watt system is designed to handle up to a one and a half horsepower, 220-volt well pump. It comes with an MPPT charge controller and an inverter. It's a split-phase 220 inverter, meaning you get two 110-volt lines with a neutral in between. Let’s dive into how this all works. They offer three different sizes of this system: 3000 watts,...

Got a new post on the Carolinahomesteadplanner.com site called Bailing hay to feed the cows this winter . Read the full post by heading on over here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWfPRZzUYsw