Great video and info on berms! Haven't checked out your channel in a while and I guess I missed this one... I had the same problem with my berm of the "blow" sand here in Crestone.... I ended up retaining it with a series of straw bale terraces similar to how Earthship does some of the new Encounter models. It for sure helps! Also maybe a little late now but if you do a series of swales on contour it would be helpful for permaculture and growing instead of maybe the big hole. Either way looking good!
Ya I remember them saying something along the lines of "It takes a LOT of dirt to make a berm, so be ready for that." It's hard to teach I suppose also as you mentioned for the many types of back fill one may end up with. I spent 8 days on a bulldozer creating a giant clay pile for the berm and it still doesn't seem quite as much as ideal for a more gradual slope - my berm is about 35+feet at the north side and still quite steep. Currently prepping to do an thermal umbrella style 15-20 feet out from the walls in the Passive Annual Heat Storage style. This type of umbrella would work for sand as the plastic and insulation would create a bit of a barrier to hold some of the sand under it in and keep water from flowing through the berm. A smooth gravel/river run/etc. as you mentioned may be ideal for capping it in place. In permaculture it is often talked about dumping massive amounts of organic matter on an area which ends up being sponge like with water and sustains plant life well - likely would work well on a sandy berm. Oh I see a good comment related as well from Owner Builder Dudes.
Great video and info on berms! Haven't checked out your channel in a while and I guess I missed this one... I had the same problem with my berm of the "blow" sand here in Crestone.... I ended up retaining it with a series of straw bale terraces similar to how Earthship does some of the new Encounter models. It for sure helps! Also maybe a little late now but if you do a series of swales on contour it would be helpful for permaculture and growing instead of maybe the big hole. Either way looking good!
Wow yes it seems that is a big part of building, soil and berms!!
Ya I remember them saying something along the lines of "It takes a LOT of dirt to make a berm, so be ready for that." It's hard to teach I suppose also as you mentioned for the many types of back fill one may end up with. I spent 8 days on a bulldozer creating a giant clay pile for the berm and it still doesn't seem quite as much as ideal for a more gradual slope - my berm is about 35+feet at the north side and still quite steep. Currently prepping to do an thermal umbrella style 15-20 feet out from the walls in the Passive Annual Heat Storage style. This type of umbrella would work for sand as the plastic and insulation would create a bit of a barrier to hold some of the sand under it in and keep water from flowing through the berm. A smooth gravel/river run/etc. as you mentioned may be ideal for capping it in place. In permaculture it is often talked about dumping massive amounts of organic matter on an area which ends up being sponge like with water and sustains plant life well - likely would work well on a sandy berm. Oh I see a good comment related as well from Owner Builder Dudes.