Process – Excavation starts after surveying the site and marking the perimeter. All roots are removed from the area and six inches of dirt is displaced or taken to a recycling center.
The trench is filled with gravel, four inches deep. This provides a solid foundation for the patio, prevents growth of weeds and allows water to seep through.
Gravel is leveled and flagstone or block is laid out with large, medium and small pieces distributed evenly. Flagstone is arranged so the space between them does not exceed one inch, block for retaining walls are flush.
Edges of the flagstone are cut as needed with a chop saw. This creates a uniform appearance and ensures a tight fit which prevents movement.
Excess stone is used as back fill for steps and retaining walls or discarded at a recycling center.
Flagstone is leveled from the highest point, usually by the side of the house. A very slight (unnoticeable) drop in level is used to direct water. Dry stack retaining walls are set with a gentle tilt backwards.
Gaps on patios are packed with crusher fines which harden over time but won’t crack like mortar. Retaining walls are back filled with dirt or gravel depending on preference.

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Excerpts from Hagakure – Yamamoto Tsunetomo

1716

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In Yui Shosetsu’s military instructions, “The Way of the Three Ultimates”, there is a passage on the character of karma. He received an oral teaching of about eighteen chapters concerning the Greater Bravery or Lesser Bravery. He neither wrote them down nor committed them to memory but rather forgot them completely. Then, in facing real situations, he acted on impulse and the things that he had learned became wisdom of his own. This is the character of karma.

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Okubo Doko is said to have remarked: Everyone says that no masters of the arts will appear as the world comes to an end. This is something that I cannot claim to understand. Plants such as peonies, azaleas and camellias will be able to produce beautiful flowers, end of the world or not. If men would give some thought to this fact, they would understand. And if people took notice of the masters of even these times, they would be able to say that there are masters in the various arts. But people become imbued with the idea that the world has come to an end and no longer put forth any effort. This is a shame. There is no fault in the times.