permaculture

["Kelly Lockamy" <garden_muse@bellsouth.net>]

> 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
> >
> > -----
>
>
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