[Homesteadingfamily] Re: Underground cow barn...

Hi Nick:Yes, we did add 8' fluorescent lights in there with an
underground electric hook up. There is no water hook up, though. If the
power goes out, it will be dark inside. But, we need to have a way to
protect some breeding stock for as long as we can. The temps pretty much
stay about 60-65 degrees year 'round since it has 4-5 feet of dirt over
it. If no one knew where it is, it'd be very hard to detect now..the
underbrush has taken over and concealed it 's location. We would be able
to allow the animals outdoors for periods of time during the daylight
hours and work from there. We made hutches for chickens and guineas for
eggs and meat on one wall. The walls are 10" thick, ceiling is too, with
steel bar joists across the top to prevent cave in...and we added double
rebar when putting the concrete top on it. This was done years ago by a
company that is now out of business. They guy who owned it died and it
was closed. Sometimes, I think it was by Divine intervention...the way
it all came together. Cost was about $15K , but we feel, worth every
penny.~deb

--- In Homesteadingfamily@yahoogroups.com, "nickibulicek"
<nickibulicek@...> wrote:
>
>
> It looks very nice, does it stay cooler in the summer and warmer in
the winter? How about the lighting? Did you have to add a lot of
artificial lighting?
> Nicki
> crurbanhomesteaders.blogspot.com
> Nickib86.etsy.com
>
> --- In Homesteadingfamily@yahoogroups.com, "Deb" debsbread@ wrote:
> >
> > I added a picture of our livestock facility. It was started a few
years ago and has now been completed. But you can get the idea from this
shot.
> > It is under "deb's album", if ya'd like to take a look. It is 10"
thick concrete with extra rebar in the top and sides, under four feet of
dirt for the small part that is exposed, bar joists in the roof with a
12" thick concrete top. Short of an earthquake, it should remain stable
(no pun intended!).
> > ~deb
> >
>

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