Has anyone read the book “Easy Cellar” by Tom Griffith?

Eileen Young - July 4, 2022

Advice

Has anyone seen/used the “Easy Cellar” by Tom Griffith? He is a terrific sales person but I would like some feedback from persons who are not making money from his book and site. Thanks. Eileen — 

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Here’s a link to the website where this book is sold: https://www.easycellarbook.net/

I typically am weary of sites laid out like this because I feel like they are scammy and low quality, but I’ve found some good products sold on similar sites so I am a little more open to them now. 

There is a 60 day money back guarantee, so maybe give it a try and get your money back if it’s garbage. 

It does look like it’s only available as an eBook in PDF format and you won’t be getting an actual book like is shown on the site.

 

I bought this book and we are actively building the easy cellar. It is not quite as low cost as he states with todays inflation, but this book is WELL done. Explanations, pictures, exact measurements, and many helpful video links. It is a low cost cellar. We plan on using it as a root cellar/nuclear fallout shelter. And it’s easy to understand/accomplish. Not high tech or high cost but I believe effective. Just my opinion. Worth the money!!

 

Holly,

How far into the process are you? Where do you live?

I am curious if it covers or helps provide input for dealing with tree roots, rocks etc when digging? I am struggling to imagine you can dig an underground hole as easily as he makes it sound.

As I live in the Northeast of US our winter frost line can run a few feet deep into the soil, just trying to wrap my head around how this would effect my cellar.

Also, are you running any electric to it for at least a light bulb or doing everything by lamp or flashlight?

 

That would be my thought as well, running into a huge rock or something and needing to jack hammer it apart to keep going. Probably depends on where you live. 

Drainage is something I am curious about.

 

With her permission, I am copy and pasting a response from Holly Bradley that ended up in our email inbox somehow.

“To be honest, we are in the planning and gathering stage and have not broke ground yet….He does go over different types of soils. He describes where you would want to place the cellar versus poor choices for a site. He does say you can dig it yourself, but he goes over renting a backhoe for some of the digging and that is what he ultimately did himself. We have a backhoe, so that will be our plan as well. He lines the entire easy cellar with sandbags filled with dirt excavated from the site. He binds them together with barbed wire for stability and does some waterproofing. I don’t think it will be an issue that your ground freezes. I live in IL and we get plenty of winter as well. People had these root cellars all over the country. I would say I would not dig while your ground is frozen. It would be best done as a fall or spring project I believe, and stay out of the heat of the summer. I have not decided about electric yet…it is certainly an option for us but I have not decided yet. He does even go over how to make a composting toilet for the cellar. He spent a week down in the cellar by himself after he built it just to see if it was comfortable and if he needed to do any improvements. The book/videos are some of the best I’ve seen. And a guarantee for money back if you are not satisfied. I definitely think it’s worth the $37. And the backhoe rental is worth it’s weight in gold. I think he said he only needed the backhoe for one day….but you may require more days based on your circumstances. We are moving forward, winter is coming early this year though so it may ultimately be spring before we break ground. I will let you know how it goes…..”

 

Has anyone tried this who lives in the suburbs or a neighborhood with a homeowners association? Our backyard in South Carolina is big, but not huge, and most building projects have to be approved by the HOA. Is this even possible?