Comments on: Flickr Pool: Backyard Build

By: DanaMite

DanaMite — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:53:57 +0000

Howdy guys. Yes, DanaMite is a chica….. ME!

A tom boy camper girl who loves living in the mountains, but the seep springs was ruining my home’s foundation. I want clarify some things here. The brick wall you saw (at the top of this post) was built in the mid 1980’s, when the home was remodeled. I bought the place in 2004. There was no proper drainage or grading around the home, no patios, just a mud lake at the back door. That brick wall became a mini waterfall during big rains.

$2000 later - After the heavy machinery was done digging my backyard down 3 feet (without hitting the propane line), I had a 100 foot long mud wall, 2-4′ high to retain. I choose Verdura block & built the majority of it by hand w/ a level & a pick axe. Lost 25 lbs too. Who needs a gym, when you live in the mountains?

Verdura - http://www.soilretention.com/verdura-specs.html

Now that wall is an impressive wildflower garden & I will be posting many photos on flickr to come. This summer was well watered. I spent last weekend laying pavers on the walkway to the garage. Next is the front walk way. The property shall keep me busy & in shape for decades to come. Just the brush clearance alone is a chore, since we are surrounded by National Forests.

I also work from home running my own camping web site, for the past 12 years.

Not your average lady,

DanaMite
Total Escape - California, Off the Beaten Path
http://www.totalescape.com

By: Baron

Baron — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:10:25 +0000

I put up about 80 feet of a regular ol wood fence earlier this year by myself and that was hard enough (mostly b/c I used the pre-built panels and they were weighing in well over 100 lbs, that was draining), so I have some mad respect for this amount of a back yard project! GOOD JOB

By: Frank Townend

Frank Townend — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:37:31 +0000

Excellent work. Hats off to you!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:34:32 +0000

I built my first retaining wall a few months ago, and it did not look that nice. I had a problem getting the blocks to offset perfectly like yours appears to have done. Your wall looks both perfect and stout IMHO.

By: AC

AC — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:01:07 +0000

For jc…

Browsing Flickr found this pic of “her” first:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danamite/2610680007/

Turns out, that’s just a hired hand for some dirty work. This is she:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danamite/2595926552/

By: Old Coot

Old Coot — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:54:59 +0000

Just wish the builder was a neighbor/friend. Very spiffy job, way beyond my talents.

By: John

John — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:27:01 +0000

You are SO hired! Never mind that I could use the health benefits of building, well, a couple of walls… I’d really like to have a wall that looks like that — not like something I’d build!

By: Mike Y

Mike Y — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:45:25 +0000

That, sir, is a splendid piece of work. A job not just well done, but ‘about as good as can be’ done.

By: Frank Hicinbothem

Frank Hicinbothem — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:16:55 +0000

Damn, that is a SERIOUSLY impressive looking piece of work! Even for a professional, let alone an amateur!

By: forlerm

forlerm — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:02:27 +0000

now that is some art i can look at and enjoy

By: jc

jc — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:10:09 +0000

And unless the comments in the Flickr photoset are misleading, that’s a lady who built this wall!

That’s *very* cool.