hello

We love hearing from you, so here is your chance. Introduce yourself and tell us what makes you selfsufficient 'ish'. Go on don't be shy, we welcome one and all. You can also tell us how you heard about us if you like.
Post Reply
User avatar
kiddrahcir
margo - newbie
margo - newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:40 pm
Location: teesside

hello

Post: # 90182Post kiddrahcir »

hello, just found the site whilst looking for info on building with cob. very impressed.

thought i'd join your forum as it looked like there is a lot of friendly clever peolple who i could ask what are probably daft questions.

so if people could tolerate my daftness as i'm new that would be cool.

anyway here goes....

i was thinking of building some low walls in my garden and was wondering about the feasibility of using car tyres, but as tyres are a bit dull to look at i was wondering can you cover them with cob or a similar material to create a more attractive look.

any advice would be appreciated.

apologies if this is in the wrong place or anything.

and er hello.

ina
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland

Post: # 90195Post ina »

Hiya, Kiddrahcir - welcome to the world of Ish! Join all the other dafties here... :wink:

Can't help you with your wall, but I'm sure there's folk around who've done something like this.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)

User avatar
Mainer in Exile
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 778
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:06 pm
Location: Middle Franconia, Germany

Post: # 90204Post Mainer in Exile »

Hello

User avatar
red
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 6513
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2006 7:59 pm
Location: Devon UK
Contact:

Post: # 90215Post red »

welcome :flower:
plently of daft yet friendly people here :mrgreen:

can't help you would your cob/tyre idea though.. other than to suggest trying a test bit
Red

I like like minded people... a bit like minded anyway.. well people with bits of their minds that are like the bits of my mind that I like...

my website: colour it green

etsy shop

blog

User avatar
old tree man
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 1661
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:57 pm
latitude: 54.5619 N
longitude: 0.9874 W
Facebook Name: Don't have one
Location: North yorkshire

Post: # 90217Post old tree man »

Hi and welcome
:flower:

Russ
Respect to all, be kind to all and you shall reap what you sow.
old tree man,
aka..... Russ

Shirley
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 7025
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:05 am
Location: Manchester
Contact:

Post: # 90218Post Shirley »

Hello - what a clever username!

It might be worth asking your question in the tips and hints section too, as not everyone checks the hello thread regularly. I imagine that you can cover the tyres with cob though.
Shirley
NEEPS! North East Eco People's Site

My photos on Flickr

Don't forget to check out the Ish gallery on Flickr - and add your own photos there too. http://www.flickr.com/groups/selfsufficientish/

User avatar
gigglybug
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 544
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:36 pm
Location: Somerset

Post: # 90246Post gigglybug »

Hello and welcome Kiddrahcir :hello2:

Amanda

User avatar
marshlander
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 1323
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:45 am
Location: Cloddygate Farm, North Linconshire coast.

Post: # 90279Post marshlander »

Hello! :hello2:

I've cut and paste this from thriftyfun.com;-

Retaining Walls
You can use whole tires, just like block walls staggering them. Start off with a level surface, dig down if you have to and start your first row, making sure it is level from one end to the other. Now comes the hard part, you have to pack each tire with soil and I mean tightly. I use a short handled sledge hammer. When you get the first row, done drive a 24 inch piece of 3/8 rebar at the back of each tire. Start your next row, staggering the tires so the lines do not match up and do the same thing all over. I have done one wall 90 feet long and 12 feet high 8 years ago and it is still solid as a rock. You need to plant a high fibrous root plant in each tire, I like red honey suckle as it cascades and hides the tires and the wall but monkey grass lariope does well also.
By Stanley

The only place I have seen tyre walls rendered is in Earthships.

You would want to take care any wall is really stable - the earth it would be retaining weights tonnes - literally!!!!

Hope this helps.
Terri x
“I'd rather be a little weird than all boring.”
Rebecca McKinsey

User avatar
hedgewitch
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 1251
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:42 pm
Location: Alicante, Spain
Contact:

Post: # 90333Post hedgewitch »

Hello and welcome to the forum.
:flower:
My Blog
My Website

Plant Seeds and sing songs.

User avatar
kiddrahcir
margo - newbie
margo - newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:40 pm
Location: teesside

hello

Post: # 90344Post kiddrahcir »

thanks for that everyone, as i expected you are all very nice people. its also nice to know that some of you are daft as well. i shall put my request in the tips section sounds like a good plan.

i'm not using the walls to hold back soil they are going to divide parts of the garden and i was hoping to add some innovative features to them, if they do work i will try and put some photos on.

ran the idea past my 5 year old boss (daughter) and she thought it sounded good so hopefully it will be. her brother (1) just shouted doggen so the jurys out on his opinion.

once again thanks, speak to you all soon.

ina
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland

Re: hello

Post: # 90357Post ina »

kiddrahcir wrote: ran the idea past my 5 year old boss (daughter) and she thought it sounded good so hopefully it will be. her brother (1) just shouted doggen so the jurys out on his opinion.
Sounds like you are getting good advice at home! :lol:
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)

John Headstrong

Post: # 90429Post John Headstrong »

welcome to ish

someone has already pointed out that earthships use tires.


http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... rch=Search

there are a few videos that show how it is all done

User avatar
Thurston Garden
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 1455
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 3:19 pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact:

Post: # 90550Post Thurston Garden »

Ahoy Kiddrahcir! :salute:
Thurston Garden.

http://www.thurstongarden.wordpress.com
Greenbelt is a Tory Policy and the Labour Party intends to build on it. (John Prescott)

Post Reply