The History of a Retaining Wall Built in The Garden

In the back half of the main, fenced-in Garden, the slope of the land required some thought about what to do with it. Build raised beds across the slope? Build a retaining wall and split the back half in two?  What materials to use? Dunnage wood from the construction site? Lava Rocks? Concrete? Jackie had always wanted to try her hand at building one of those Dry Stack Lava Rock Walls which are so common all over Hawai'i Island. Work began on May 17, 2012 once my Income Tax was filed! These photos tell the story:

The Wall has begun. Work Duty Students are Leveling, Picking out rocks, Mulching and Weeding the lower half.

By June 19 progress has been made. A young friend comes to help me.

A Work Duty Student really wanted to learn how to do this.  He was a big Help; especially with the larger Rocks.

We held a Rock Wall Building Bee with some friends. The  "End Rock" is delivered.

Big Rocks, Medium Stones, then Little Pebbles. Not as easy as I had thought it would be! Very much an Art Form.

7 People hard at work! The Guys in the back are filling in with Fresh Soil; Hot and Sweaty Work!

One last Evening of work and Jackie's Wall is DONE! July 31, 1012: A 10 Week Long Project!  In the foreground you'll see the layer of  leaves to mulch and protect that Allophane Clay and Endisol Ash soil.
Go IMO's Go! Go Worms Go! Your turn to get to work!

Now that's a WALL! It is 10 feet high and 17 feet thick! How do they do that?
City of Refuge / Pu'uhonua o Honaunau.