"Upcycling was my calling"
Alternatively, Tarrant and his partner Caryn headed off to friends who recently purchased a 1100 acre native forest property in the mountains in Nymboida. The property is an off-grid weekend escape with about 12 km of pristine creek frontage. When their friends mentioned they wanted a stepped path from the small cabin campground down to the creek, it was Tarrant's calling.
Gather your Tools and materials
Imagination, Marking Paint, Tape Measure, Mattock, Spade, Fencing bar, Spirit Level, Angle Grinder, Lump Hammer, Bucket
Steps:
First, select the edging you want to upcycle:
Initially, Tarrant used the Straightcuve Hardline (150mm weathering steel) as a whipper snipper edge and barrier between lawn and river pebbles at a pool edge.
Second, clear a selected area just like Tarrant and Caryn did in Nymboida, NSW, to aid working.
Furthermore, make sure you trim and notch the Straightcurve garden edge to get around any rocks in the way.
Equally important, work with any fall and flatter areas, for instance, to introduce initial steps in must-have locations.
If you can work with it, it will make your job easier and add flow and curve. Here, Tarrant narrows the width of the step to lock into a natural rock crevice.
Time to connect with nature. Tarrant and Caryn worked with the natural curves and contours and the rock slabs. This is a bush property; curves don't have to be uniform. Plus, it gives the path more character. "It opens it up for you to go in both directions at the edge of the water", says Tarrant.
Time to backfill the steps with fine sand and fine pebbles from the creek edge. Tarrant and Caryn started "paving" with flattish surface rocks again from the creek edge.
Working with your own hands offers you a new perspective on life.
Once you finish the "paving", you can line the sides with larger river rocks. This reduces vegetation encroachment from the sides and further locks the steps in place.
When finished, wash down the steps to wet the sand and wash any muddy boot prints off. This will bring out the varying colours in the stones!
Ready – sit back with a well-deserved drink and appreciate your handy work!
