The Time I Almost Built a Retaining Wall (And Why I Didn’t)
Opening: "Last month, I watched a YouTube tutorial and thought, ‘How hard can a retaining wall be?’ Answer: Very. Very hard."
The Problem: My backyard slope is slowly creeping toward my house like a zombie in a B-movie. I bought 50 cinderblocks and a dream… then realized I had no idea how to keep them from toppling over.
The Discovery: I found Fiorello’s Homepage (link) and gaped at their gallery of walls that actually look like walls. No duct tape, no prayer—just engineering. They even mentioned geogrid reinforcement, which sounds like something from a superhero movie.
Takeaways:
Gravity is not my friend.
DIY = “Destroy It Yourself” when it comes to erosion control.
Maybe I’ll stick to potted plants until I can afford a pro.
Closing: "For now, the cinderblocks are ‘decorative garden accents.’ Shh, no one needs to know."