These rammed earth garden walls were built in Vancouver, B.C. and were  a community involved project. Jean who is a landscape architect decided to try the rammed earth in her own back yard first.  Part of her overall improvement plan was not only for her property but to enhance the neighborhood as well. Jean and Mike invited their neighbors to participate and many of them did and enjoyed the process.

The landscaping is done around the walls and the fence posts are up.

A closeup of the rammed earth, the red layer is lava and so is the thin dark black line.

The top of the wall was troweled organically, leaving in rounded to be more comfortable when people sit on it.

The following pictures show the process of building the walls.

The footing is poured and the curb stakes and batter boards are being removed.

Adding pigment to the mix, in this case we used crushed limestone.

Mixing by hand, since we had a small volume and lots of people we mixed by hand.

Ramming the first wall.

Placing some lava along the edge of the wall, the kids liked this part the best.

The curve is formed and jean is putting a finishing nail into a piece of trim we will use to make a small chamfer between the rammed earth wall sections.

Removing the forms on the curve.

The curve complete.

Clamping the top of the form.

Penny tamping.

John, Linus and Jean tamping.

The all girls building crew.

Placing more lava on the edge of the wall.

The dance of the hand tampers.

Forming the final garden wall section.