Comments

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  Jaime M. de Zubeldia December 24, 2009 at 12:54pm

  Will do. I like it so far. If you've done a basic home test to get an idea of the soil structure and clay content, it then becomes a fairly quick and fun exercise to make them. I've found sunken garden beds to be a good source of the raw material since they can generate more material than can be used for the paths, and if one has the time and planning ability they can save themselves some dirt moving work by making the adobe as they remove the "waste" dirt from the bed. I've found that many soils in my area have a slightly higher clay content below a depth of 3" to 18". However, there can be tens of soil types (series) within a valley or region that have usually been classified, so the home testing or locating information on your specific soil can save time or confirm your findings when you test bricks or notice certain ailments in whatever you plant.
  
  FYI, I've found that our native desert soils (that have been moved by previous agriculture or construction) generally have less than 1% organic matter, and many assume they have caliche when it's really just a very dry sandy/silty clay loam soil. Just because you have to use a pic axe when it's dry doesn't mean it's caliche. Now if you still have to use a pic axe when it has been thoroughly wetted down 3 days prior, then there's a strong chance it's caliche. Caliche acts a lot like a weak soil cement and has some resistance to water creating a slightly impermeable layer that roots cannot pass. It can also vary greatly in thickness and coverage.
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  Ericka December 24, 2009 at 9:52am

  Welcome fellow permaculturist! Your adobe project interests me. Keep us up to date on that. There are many people who are starting to look at adobe again in a new light.