I learned many years ago how to make stone walls without changing the stones form with a hammer and not using cement. My teacher was Francesco from Lipari. I saw him making a stone wall one and Half meter high. I asked him and he explained how to do it. I made a smaller low wall, 1 m high with his advices and that wall remained intact for 30 years.
I am now trying to make a stone wall again. The first part didnt beome so nice but I can walk on it. I decided to make this wall longer but also a little bit more nice.
There are two principles Francesco adviced me to follow.
- Put heavy big stones at the bottom of the wall.
- All stone must be stabilized with smaller stones so they do not move.
- Make it a little bit inclined just a few degrees.
- Put smaller stone behind the wall. Never let earth touch the stones. I understand today that this must be done as the earth during rain season becomes wet, swell and press on the stones.
Francesco helped making a water tank 1975. | ![]() |
Following my teacher Francescos advices the wall must have a small inclination and small stones behind. The inclination is especially important for higher walls. | ![]() |
I made This first part with small stones behind. I do not need it to be so high. I did not care to have it done stright. | ![]() |
I removed all stones from the old wall to make a new one. I kplaced these over the first part of the wall. | ![]() |
I decided to have a blue rope to help me make the wall go in the right direction. I decided to have small stones on the bottom. | ![]() |
1The first stones have been layed out. I need to remove some earth behind those stones to get space for smaller stones. | ![]() |
This is my solution of keeping stones for future wall building. My dry stone wall is behind the potato land. | ![]() |