Matt Cassells

Douglas, the misting (or existing moisture in the timber) will be fine for the gorilla (polyurethane glue), although unnecessary in my experience. I have used this glue on construction sites for years with good results. Recently I have switched to tightbond II interior and am trying tightbond III exterior, mostly because it is less messy to clean up. So far I like it...but with a handle this far gone, I would replace it. Matt, carpenter. New Zealand

Here in New Zealand you can buy hydrated lime from building supply, or agricultural supply stores. While it is still caustic, it is much safer to use than quicklime, as it doesn't give off heat when mixed with water. The bagged lime can be mixed with sharp sand to make a traditional mortar like those used  before Portland cement was developed.

A ratio of 1 part lime to 3 parts sand would be a good starting point. If the sand used is dirty (mixed with clay or silt) it will reduce the strength of the mortar, so you may want to increase the lime quantity. This may not be a problem for a garden wall. To increase strength and to speed up set time, some wood ash could be added to the mortar.

It should be noted while lime is better then portland cement from an environmental viewpoint, it does still require quite a lot of energy in its production.

Matt, Builder, NZ