Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

permaculture - Re: [permaculture] retaining wall

permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: permaculture

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Kelly Lockamy" <garden_muse@bellsouth.net>
  • To: <paul@richsoil.com>, "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Cc:
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] retaining wall
  • Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 15:27:00 -0400

good point about the pH. is there a moss that likes it alkaline? i've seen
some growing on brick around here, maybe that's a good indication that it'd
work and i should use it for my "paint".

good watering tips too kevin, thanks.

thanks again for everyone's input.
Kelly

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Wheaton" <paul@richsoil.com>
To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 10:48 PM
Subject: Re: [permaculture] retaining wall


>
> I could be mistaken, but I think that concrete is going to have a very
high pH and moss
> likes a low pH.
>
> I wonder if you could somehow get a thin layer of peat to stick to the
concrete and then
> get moss started on that.
>
> --- Kelly Lockamy <garden_muse@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > > I prefer rip rap, broken up concrete. It is a waste material that
looks as
> > > good as stone, if not better, and is available in urban/suburban areas
in
> > > abundance. It can be stacked like stone, and painted with moss to
mimick
> >
> >
> > thanks kevin.
> > this material is certainly in keeping with the budget (free) and spirit
of
> > the project (re-use, recycle). i have tried the moss trick before with
no
> > positive outcome. how long does one have to keep the wall material wet
in
> > order for the moss to take hold? and does watering it risk washing it
off?
> > any tricks i don't know about?
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Kevin Topek" <ktopek@houston.rr.com>
> > To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 1:08 PM
> > Subject: Re: [permaculture] retaining wall
> >
> >
> > > Kelly,
> > >
> >
> > > age. Mix healthy moss in a blender with buttermilk and apply it to wet
> > > stone/concrete with a chip brush and water lightly and often until it
gets
> > > established. The buttermilk acts as a sticking agent and feeds the
moss
> > > initially. My neighbors all comented favorably on mine recently, made
from
> > > my 70 year old walkway, and at first I thought they were being
facetious
> > > (very uptight urban neighborhood). They actually like it, and it stops
my
> > > yard from washing into the street. I backfilled with sheet mulch and
will
> > > paint with moss when the rains return (current drought in Houston). We
> > also
> > > use it as gabion material in watersheds and bayous. It ages
beautifully
> > and
> > > in an area with no natural stone it really fits the bill on many
levels.
> > > Make sure the base is furthest out downhill and build upwards toward
the
> > > hill, offsetting each layer slightly inward. Backfill as you go and
test
> > > stability often. If it is wiggly, try another piece and make it firm.
An
> > > ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. If you are not
> > > comfortable as a stone mason, find someone who is! I know my
limitations
> > and
> > > tend to do the manual work while my man sets the stones, he has a gift
for
> > > spatial recognition. I love this material and recommend it highly!
> > >
> > > Kevin Topek
> > > Permaculture Design
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Kelly Lockamy" <garden_muse@bellsouth.net>
> > > To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> > > Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 10:08 AM
> > > Subject: [permaculture] retaining wall
> > >
> > >
> > > > Friends,
> > > > I do small scale permaculture and landscape designs for
urban/suburban
> > > > clients. Currently I have the need to build a retaining wall about
2-3
> > > feet
> > > > high and about 30 feet long. It will seperate the yard from the
> > sidewalk,
> > > > so i need to be sure it won't tumble into the sidewalk someday. It
> > needs
> > > to
> > > > be inexpensive to build, I was thinking a sandbag core with a
> > stucco-type
> > > > outer layer. Can anyone recommend some "how-to" reference materials
for
> > > > this? Any suggestions as to other materials, cheap,
long-lasting....
> > (hot
> > > > sub-tropical, humid environment)
> > > >
> > > > Many Thanks,
> > > > Kelly
> > > >
> > > > -----
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > permaculture mailing list
> > > permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > permaculture mailing list
> > permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
> >
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> permaculture mailing list
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
>





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page