Responsible Design: Using Local Stone

At Gardenform we like to use local stone, and whenever possible, stones harvested from the site. Bringing in materials from long distances both uses finite fossil fuels for transport, and potentially robs a landscape of its indigenous rock formations. One example is the palletized Pennsylvania flat stone, which was undoubtedly plundered from an old farm field in the rural countryside. The selling off of old walls and trucking them to distant locations for use is a growing epidemic. These old walls are natural, cultural, and historical landforms, which are being destroyed for a shortsighted monetary gain.

A second reason for choosing local stone is negating the need for unseemly timber structures. Loaded with carcinogens, these timbers have a life expectancy of 10-15 years in the landscape, and once removed have to be disposed of at the local dump eating up valuable landfill space.

Building with pressure treated timbers requires wearing thick gloves and a respirator due to their poisonous nature. Once installed this timber proceeds to break down, releasing those toxins into the surrounding soil. Dry laid stonework is a reflection of the local geology and an ancient craft that produces timeless garden elements, while timber structures are symbolic of our disposable society that emphasizes quantity, not quality.

Article Index

1. Why Use Stone?
2. Responsible Design: Using Local Stone
3. The Merits of Dry-Laid Stonework