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Another wall at Manambe Lavaka

MattyB

By MattyB
in OHANA NUI  -  OFF TOPIC SUB-FORUM

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
Posted

I just finished another retaining wall to create a flat seating area down below the house. This is the last of the walls for a while. I'm pooped! It takes a quite a bit of work just to get a 10' diameter flat spot around here but it's well worth it to have a nice perch to sit and relax on. I'll let the backfill settle and compact over the Winter rains and then level the top surface with some nice compacted gold DG. Next project is creating the cactus and succulent garden below the seating area. I'll be using lots of rock borders and gravel walways. I'm gonna make use of the unlimited rock supply I have around here.

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Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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tank Grand Master

tank

Posted
Posted

That's really a stunning view.

I hope you have access to some earth moving equipment. Something a bit more efficient than a shovel?

Jason

Gainesville, Florida

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Kim Grand Master

Kim

Posted
Posted

You've really mastered the art of the curve. Nicely done! :)

Kim Cyr

Between the beach and the bays, Point Loma, San Diego, California USA
and on a 300 year-old lava flow, Pahoa, Hawaii, 1/4 mile from the 2018 flow
All characters  in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

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All done by hand tank. The 3/4" gravel rock footings and 4" backfill against the blocks all carried down from my driveway bucket by bucket. My neighbor has a wheelbarrow with a brake on it but it's too heavy to push back up.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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buccaneers37 Mentor

buccaneers37

Posted
Posted

Impressive work!!! How long did it take you to create that seating area? And that is a stunning view.

52% 9B / 42% 10A / 6% "Other"

Brandon.gif

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

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I've been working on the smaller wall that forms the seating area for about 3 months now. The stacking itself is the easy part. It's getting the footing dug out, backfilled with a gravel base, and the basecourse perfectly level is what takes a lot of hard work. Then you stack a course, that goes quick, then you have to carry down buckets of gravel to backfill, and that is slow again.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

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No guard rail. You drunk you fall! :lol:

Paul :bemused:

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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palmislandRandy Grand Master

palmislandRandy

Posted
Posted

No guard rail. You drunk you fall! :lol:

Paul :bemused:

The cactus garden below should keep the falling to a minimum .......right Paul? :blink:

"If you need me, I'll be outside" -Randy Wiesner Palm Beach County, Florida Zone 10Bish

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Jeff in St Pete Grand Master

Jeff in St Pete

Posted
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Looks like a professional did it. Good work Matt!

Please update us with more photos when you get the cactus/succulents planted.

Put up a rope when Paul comes over...

Formerly Jeff in Costa Rica
 

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

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Maybe we'll set Paul up with a fall protection harness.

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Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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Walter John Grand Master

Walter John

Posted
Posted

That's great work Matt, the view is stunning. Are they your friends sitting at the table ? :lol: no, seriously, that is a premium seat and view and I bet your local chiropractor is also happy about the work... :winkie:

Happy Gardening

Cheers,

Wal

Queensland, Australia.

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Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

nice work...how your back feeling???

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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BS Man about Palms Grand Master

BS Man about Palms

Posted
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Matt.

I'm impressed.

:bemused:

Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

"The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

-George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

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bgl Grand Master

bgl

Posted
Posted

Matt,

That is absolutely incredible! What an engineering project! And talk about perfection! :)

Bo-Göran

Leilani Estates, 25 mls/40 km south of Hilo, Big Island of Hawai'i. Elevation 880 ft/270 m. Average rainfall 140 inches/3550 mm

 

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Tassie_Troy1971 Grand Master

Tassie_Troy1971

Posted
Posted

Matty Good job and alot of hard work but well worth it ! I can only imagine the hrs of labour to backfill and stack those blocks . :unsure:

I look forward to sinking a few beers in the new alfresco area next time i come over .

Matt is an inspiration to anyone as to what can be achieved with hard work and determination in your own backyard . and in very challenging topographical elements ! :D

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see

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Old Beach ,Hobart
Tasmania ,Australia. 42 " south
Cool Maritime climate

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peachy Grand Master

peachy

Posted
Posted

And here I was feeling so proud of my efforts with rocks and instant mortar. :(

Peachy

I came. I saw. I purchased

 

 

27.35 south.

Warm subtropical, with occasional frosts.

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Palmə häl′ik Veteran

Palmə häl′ik

Posted
Posted (edited)

GetRDoneSon. 180 on ea pallet. :winkie:

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Edited by Palmə häl′ik

Brandon, FL

27.95°N 82.28°W (Elev. 62 ft)

Zone9 w/ canopy

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spockvr6 Grand Master

spockvr6

Posted
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GetRDoneSon. 180 on ea pallet. :winkie:

I thought down here it was spelled "gitrdun"?!?!?!? LOL

Larry 

Palm Harbor, FL 10a / Ft Myers, FL 10b

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Jeff Searle Grand Master

Jeff Searle

Posted
Posted

Matt,

What a great touch you just added for the garden! I can actually see myself sitting there w/ all the PT members, cocktail in hand when I make my next visit out there. Seriously, very nice, alot of hard work went into that.

In a few more years, call me when your back is out, I have a great neurosurgeon you can get in touch with. :D

Jeff

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

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www.dadluvsu.com Grand Master

www.dadluvsu.com

Posted
Posted

Woah Matty, very impressive! The walls and seating, not the socks and sandals combination :mrlooney:

That last pic Troy posted really shows the change over time... I remember when ya'll first moved in to the house and that was just a dusty hill. It's really filled out and when mature it will really become an oasis...

Nicely done.

www.dadluvsu.com

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

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GetRDoneSon. 180 on ea pallet. :winkie:

Man I wish I was working with those blocks. Those are the 25 pounders. I had to use the 60 Lbs blocks (48 count to a pallet) because I was building a retaining wall. The even larger 75 and 105 pounders are just too much for me to handle carrying around on that uneven ground.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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Hilo Jason Grand Master

Hilo Jason

Posted
Posted

Wow Matt, that looks incredible! My back always hurts just looking at the work you do around your place! Looking forward to seeing it all in person one day.

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Palmə häl′ik Veteran

Palmə häl′ik

Posted
Posted

Go ahead. Just say it...

I take snarkism well...

"Those blocks you got are for woosies Ray..." :lol:

~Ray.

Brandon, FL

27.95°N 82.28°W (Elev. 62 ft)

Zone9 w/ canopy

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Dave-Vero Grand Master

Dave-Vero

Posted
Posted

Matt, you should have visited Coral Castle while in Miami. That guy did quarrying and stonework on a scale the Inca would appreciate, all by himself.

That's a huge investment in retainers. And presumably in building an incredibly muscular back.

Fla. climate center: 100-119 days>85 F
USDA 1990 hardiness zone 9B
Current USDA hardiness zone 10a
4 km inland from Indian River; 27º N (equivalent to Brisbane)

Central Orlando's urban heat island may be warmer than us

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ghar41 Veteran

ghar41

Posted
Posted

Looking awesome Matt. Great job! :)

Glenn

Modesto, California

 

Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

 

Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

 

High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

 

Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

 

             

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

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Dave, saw coral castle...conquered it...next

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

Matt, you should have visited Coral Castle while in Miami. That guy did quarrying and stonework on a scale the Inca would appreciate, all by himself.

That's a huge investment in retainers. And presumably in building an incredibly muscular back.

was that the guy that said he figured out how the egyptians and mayans built there massive structures??? if its the same place im thinking of he used just simple tools and no cranes.

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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amazondk Grand Master

amazondk

Posted
Posted

That is a nice project Matt. I am sure it will look real nice as it ages. I wish I had rocks around my place. They add a great touch to the landscape.

dk

Don Kittelson

 

LIFE ON THE RIO NEGRO

03° 06' 07'' South 60° 01' 30'' West

Altitude 92 Meters / 308 feet above sea level

1,500 kms / 932 miles to the mouth of the Amazon River

 

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil - A Cidade da Floresta

Where the world´s largest Tropical Rainforest embraces the Greatest Rivers in the World. .

82331.gif

 

Click here to visit Amazonas

amazonas2.jpg

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KPL Proficient

KPL

Posted
Posted

Matt, you have made many contributions to this forum, all very well done.

This current post, what BEAUTIFUL FORMATION, bucket by bucket, my hat's off to you! :)

Congratulations!

Karolyn

Enjoying MY home and garden in Leilani Estates, "K.P. Lundkvist Palm Garden"

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  • 4 weeks later...
Al in Kona Grand Master

Al in Kona

Posted
Posted

Just a ditto to what everyone else has already said. Great job! As you know, we too live on a hillside so I know the + and - of it all. You can do unique and interesting things on a slope but it takes a little more work to prepare it. I've done a lot of rock work to retain areas. Luckily I have enough of my own rocks but it can be a challenge fitting them together properly.

Hawaii Island (Big Island), leeward coast, 19 degrees N. latitude, south Kona mauka at approx. 380m (1,250 ft.) and about 1.6 km (1-mile) upslope from ocean.

 

No record of a hurricane passing over this island (yet!).  

Summer maximum rainfall - variable averaging 900-1150mm (35-45") - Perfect drainage on black volcanic rocky soil.  

Nice sunsets!

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MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

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Here's a few more pics of the progress of this project. I topped off, leveled and compacted a nice gold D.G. surface for the seating area. I'm getting the fine grading down below, laying weed fabric, rock borders, gravel paths, etc. I'm using the cheap grey 3/4" gravel for my base and I'll top it off with a color layer that better compliments my native rock.

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Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

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Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

looks awesome. nice use of the native rock.

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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