Just wanted to share what made my day the last couple days.

The S.O. and I have been talking about and looking into the how too's of building a root cellar (among other ongoing projects). The one sticking point for us on most things is money (she blew a disk at work and has been benched for over 6 months now while they get her fixed up and I'm living on my Mil retirement while I get things caught up and fixed up around here) so we try to do things on the cheep if we can.

To that end we've spent the last few evenings going through Freecycle and Craigslist to see what building materials we could lay our hands on to lower costs on the cellar. Looks to take in the neighborhood of about 250-300 8"x8"x16" cinderblocks as well as other assorted materials.

Yesterday we scored big time. Not only did we lay our hands on a large number of practically new cinderblocks (about 110 or so) but we also were able to grab up a lot of 4"x8"x16" solid blocks as well that I'll put to use on something I'm sure.

Then today (from a different source) we were able to grab up a bunch more 4"x8"x16" solids, 4 cement pier bases for 4x4's, some more 8"x8"x16" blocks, and about 30 or so solid red bricks that will go towards an outside wood fired oven that I'm planning to make down the road for baking. On top of that we scored 4 plastic composite 6"x6"x12' posts. These babies are hefty, dense, and darn near indestructible from the looks of it. I had planned on putting up a roofed area over the oven using old telephone poles if I can lay hands on some but at 12' these will be perfect for the corners and have cut my material needs for that down a good bit.

BUT the biggest score of the last two days wasn't material in nature at all (YET anyway). Turns out that the reason the guys had the block and posts and such today is because the local military post here is closing down their on post trailer park housing area and all the trailers have to be moved out within the next month or so or the post will come in and tow and scrap them. The folks have no choice and have to go. But in addition they have to clean up their lots and get their papers for them cleared. The guy took me around and did the hand shake thing with several of the folks there who are moving and I'll be getting calls for when they will be ready to clear out their lots to come and get the blocks their trailers are sitting on as well as a couple of handshake agreements on demo'ing their decks provided I haul it off so they don't have to which means lots of salvaged dimensional lumber as well as those wavy fiberglass panels that'll be just perfect for animal roofing and such. Being retired military, access to post is easy peasy for me and it's only 30-40 minutes away. So it looks like LOTS of projects are going to get elbow grease funding here at Casa De Loco very soon!

Just had to share it with someone.