KristieJun 7

Before I became a drystone waller I knew nothing about how walls were built, or by whom. That's the thing about drystone, it's everywhere, it's ancient, it's extraordinary, and most of us walk straight past it.

The very first Drystone Diary is live. What drystone actually is, how it works, and why it matters.

https://kristiedegaris.substack.com/p/drystone-diary-what-is-drystone

#DrystoneDiary #Craft #Scotland #UK #Ecology #Sustainable #Nature #Environment #Writing #History #Culture #Women #Countryside #NatureWriting

Drystone Diary - What Is Drystone?

What is drystone, how does it work, and why does it matter? From the physics of a wall to the ecology of its gaps, we explore drystone walling.

Kristie De Garis
Show threadMaria Langer | 📝🛥️💎Jun 7
@kristiedegaris @ebender00 I would like to build a large drystone planter at the end of my driveway and affix my house number to it, but I don't think I can get the local basalt stones to lock together sufficiently. Drystone walls can be found throughout New England. (I live in Washington state.)
Show threadKristie

@mlanger @ebender00 Drystone will work with almost any stone. Basalt is a trickly one for shaping, very hard, but you could definitely get at least a rough wall out of it. The locking together comes from how you build it. I made a free beginners guide you can download on this page. It may be helpful for showing you how. Happy to answer any questions too.

https://www.kristiedegaris.com/drystone-waller

Kristie De Garis - Writer, photographer and drystone waller based in Perthshire, Scotland.

Kristie De Garis - Writing

‎KDG
Jun 7 at 2:37pmWeb
Show threadMaria Langer | 📝🛥️💎Jun 7
@kristiedegaris @ebender00 Thanks so much for this! I'll definitely check it out! Shaping the stones manually is not really an option for me, but I have a literally unlimited supply of the stuff in the neighborhood. I suspect if I look hard enough I'll find the sizes and shapes I need.
Show threadKristieJun 7
@mlanger @ebender00 Oh my God, do you live in HEAVEN?! You'll definitely be able to build something! Just go slow and focus on the rules in the PDF. It won't be perfect looking on your first try but if you follow the rules it will be very strong, do the job you need and last well.
Show threadMaria Langer | 📝🛥️💎Jun 7

@kristiedegaris @ebender00 LOL! Ususally people say something like that when I share a photo of my view in the other direction (see photo).

This is a rural residential area of 10 and 20 acre lots at the base of those cliffs. Very early on in its development, one of my neighbors actually quarried stone out of here. Giant truckloads throughout the day every day. Other neighbors managed to shut her down with the help of the county.

The amount of rock I need is a grain of sand in the ocean.🤣

Show threadKristieJun 7
@mlanger @ebender00 Double heaven!