Eric Lyle

Look up the Marsh Arabs in Iraq, this is where this plant originally came from. Their architecture with this giant cane is famous.

John C Daley wrote:I think you may be going " up the garden path"

I like gardens and I like that it's higher in limestone than regular Portland which should allow for longer term carbonation like I mentioned. Going to test it on some non structural patios using a standard concrete mix of 4 gravel, 2 sand and one (plastic) cement.

Plastic Cement & Portland Cement?
Both Ordinary Portland cement and Plastic cement are manufactured using the same II- clinker but there are major differences from there…

Different ASTM Standards
Type II-V cement is an ASTM C150 Standard Specification for Portland Cement
Plastic cement is an ASTM C1328 Standard Specification for Plastic (Stucco) Cement

Type II-V Cement
Designed for use with coarse and fine aggregates for use in concrete
Meets ACI 318 Building Requirements for Structural Concrete
General use and meets moderate and high sulfate resistance

Plastic Cement
Low strength application
Designed for use with plaster sand
High water/cement ratio
Used for more workable and cohesive application
Freeze/thaw resistant
*High limestone addition
*High entrained air content

Plastic cement has Portland in it and sets up chemically but it seems since there is more lime in plastic cement I think it would be the better choice longer term with the carbonation. One exception would be underground or underwater applications. Morning thoughts.

If you don't have Plastic cement you can add lime to Portland. Someone here with more experience could chime in.

Hello people,

I love P.A. Yeoman's key line design and the idea of storing vast amounts of water in any landscape. I have been working on the landform with an old backhoe but my next idea is longer term maintenance. Our property is in a canyon and it doesn't make sense to run a big tractor over it long term. If I was really cool I would use a mule but my best next thought is to use a walk behind tractor with one shank like on the key line plow.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for the great suggestions and resources.

Feel free to continue dropping specific links.

I think a backhoe is the most practical piece of heavy equipment for permaculture, at least at the beginning of the systems.

Later I will want a small walk behind to rip key lines.

Thank you for the resources. I will follow up those ideas.

I have noticed eBay has quite a number of listings for seeds, cuttings and plants. Has anyone tried ordering plants from eBay?

In the end I think gathering and propagating is probably the most cost effective and satisfying.

Hello people,

I am looking for a source for mail ordered to California, fruit and other supporting trees. Zone 8

Any recommendations?

Sounds faster and easier than pouring a structural bell.

John C Daley wrote:Have you tried to use a mixture which has less cement, it may go further if its ok with your soil.
Lime can often be used at 1/2 the rate you use cement.
But experiment first with your soul.

Yes we tried plastering with only lime. Only later did I realize my mix wasn't great so the surface spalled. Inside the shower the line plaster worked beautifully. Not quite tadelak but close. I will use only lime on the final exterior plaster with our local sand and clay but will make it richer as needed. For the large infills I find some Portland useful.