How to upcycle a stepped path

"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.

This was removed a few years later as part of a pool area renovation.

Second, clear a selected area just like Tarrant and Caryn did in Nymboida, NSW, to aid working.

Tarrant has to clear the selected area first.

Furthermore, make sure you trim and notch the Straightcurve garden edge to get around any rocks in the way.

Tarrant has to trim Straightcurve to the ground.

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.

Straightcurve is great to make winding paths.

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.

Flat rocks give the steps a natural look.

Working with your own hands offers you a new perspective on life.

A day's work is always more accessible with good company.

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!

This is Tarrant watering down the steps.

Ready – sit back with a well-deserved drink and appreciate your handy work!