When we moved into our house we have a wickedly overgrown, wild garden in the backyard. It was awesome but.. overwhelming.
In the time that we’ve lived here, the dogs have done horrible, unspeakably things to the yard. The kids? Not much better.
And so I’ve decided to make it as low-maintenance as possible by chucking down landscaping cloth, mulch and rocks wherever I can – while keeping only the plants that I like.
When we lived in Hamilton, we’d pick up random rocks/stones from the beach and from the side of the road and from construction sites.
I have no idea where to look in the KW area for free rocks. The obligatory post has been put on Craigslist, of course, in the event that someone wants to rehome some rocks (?) but.. any other suggestions? I mean, beyond sneaking out at night and swiping the pretty rocks from other people’s yards?
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There is a large construction site (three, actually) on Ira Needles Blvd between Erb St. and University Ave. in Waterloo. On the larger one I have seen piles of stones (and boulders – no shit, some very big rocks) piled up. It looks to be in the “let’s put it here and figure out what to do with it later” pile of assorted land clearance debris. That would likely be a good in-town solution.
Otherwise, go for a drive. Any farmer than plows fields will likely have a rock pile somewhere; when they plow up a big rock, they chuck it in the pile and curse the rocky soil. Meanwhile us urban folk pay good money for piles of this rock.
Might I suggest that before you do this you either resign yourself to many trips, or find a friend with a truck with a bed liner? I doubt your Spectra would enjoy hauling a few hundred pounds of rocks loose in its trunk.
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I’m fully resigned to many trips – that’s how we’ve done it in the past. :)
Do you think contacting the construction company would be necessary? Hmmmm..
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Be sure to check your owners manual for Maximum Payload of your car. It might be worth it to rent a pick-up truck for a day once you have located the pile of rocks you want to move. Less trips, less fuel, less emissions, less time.
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In a word, fuck no.
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That’s two words. And would you care to elaborate?
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Yes. Rocks are impediments to construction. That is why they pile them up. They probably wish they would magically disappear overnight, because then they wouldn’t have to get a backhoe, scoop them up, and dump them somewhere. You’d be SAVING them money by taking their stones.
Oh, and the big lot beside the landfill on Ira Needles, across from the drug store is, there is a large sign on pillars that’s been dug around. Behind there it appears there is a huge selection of rocks and boulders for the taking. Bring your wellies, it’s muddy, but there’s lots of rocks for the taking.
“Fuck” isn’t a word, it’s emphasis. :)
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Oh I thought you were Fuck No-ing my suggestion that renting a truck might be worthwhile.
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If you’ll notice the formatting, I was replying to Violet’s question.
Of course, I also don’t think it’s worthwhile to rent a truck. Violet has friends, one of whom must be local-ish with a truck. She could pay them in kids, or granola bars, or such.
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“Hello, friend! I would like to borrow your truck so I can pick up some rocks. In exchange, please select a child to take home. Fair? Yes? Cool! Let’s go!”
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See? Totally natural conversation. If I owned a truck I would *expect* at least a few kids in payment over the years.
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oh and…Rock on Violet, Rock on.
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