The internet is an amazing thing. With a quick Google search, you can have the world at your fingertips. Want to know how to fix a broken car window mechanism? Done. Want to know which brand of laundry detergent is better for getting grass stains out? Easy. Want to learn how to build a deck? Sure, no problem!
To explore this idea, I’ve decided to learn (from internet sources only) how to build a retaining wall in my front yard that will eventually have a small garden behind it. After all, constructivist theory says that we learn better by doing instead of just observing (“Constructivism,” 2016). It will be more decorative than functional, as I don’t actually have to retain dirt on a hill. Our front yard is very dull right now and needs some sprucing up, so that’s why I wanted to build a little wall. My boyfriend (Justin) and I had actually been planning on doing this for over a year now but have been putting it off repeatedly because neither of us knows what the heck we’re doing.
Below are a few pictures I just took yesterday of what the front area looks like now. As you can see, I have nothing there except two plants that were donated by Justin’s mom and were supposed to be transplanted out back last year. Oops. So I’m going to have some work ahead of me.
I have some rough examples of what I’m thinking it should look like once we’re finished. It obviously won’t just be out in the middle of our yard though. It will be near the porch along the window.
From these YouTube sources (How to Build a Garden Wall, How to Build a Garden Wall | MarshallsTV, Building a Concrete Block Retention Wall, How to Build a Small Retaining Wall in a Weekend) I’ve managed to put together a to-do list on Trello that I’ll be using to track my progress on each step.
Here’s a snapshot of my list on Trello:
Yep, definitely a lot of work ahead. However, I am confident that with persistence and maybe some trial and error, we will make it out the other side successfully.
References
Constructivism. (2016, September 08). Retrieved from https://www.learning-theories.com/constructivism.html
Katie Wojtas 