Geosynthetics Magazine is a valuable go-to source for technical earthbag articles. This is a great, free resource for serious earthbag builders, especially commercial builders. They have a new article about natural green facades on earthbag highway retaining walls. It’s surprisingly simple and effective. The retaining wall is not only strong, it also looks good because the wall will soon be covered in plants. The same concepts can be used for simpler retaining walls around your home or farm.
Image credit: Geosynthetics Magazine
I have done a earth bag retainer wall of 4 metres height and 170 feet length just finished doing it
I have used earthbags that i made myself from bidim material, bidim® is a continuous filament nonwoven needlepunched geotextile. It is manufactured of 100% recycled polyester from discarded cold drink bottles. I filled it with soil where i constructed the terraces, 20 plus years later and theyre still intact, plant roots grow into the bags, making the wall ridged. No drainage in my walls as water can seep through the material.
Are you able to share any more info on this? I’m planning out a garden retaining wall and wavering between a green wall or just earthbags covered in plaster.
My first question is how did you build the bags? It sounds like a big sewing project. Would it be possible to sew them together with wire?
Secondly, how did you plant? Did you cover the bags with soil and plant on top or did you puncture the fabric?
Wow, that wall is huge. Haven’t seen a retaining wall this big made out of bags, interesting. Thanks for sharing!
HI Owen,
We have spoken before regarding the organisation I represent, the Mlambe Project.
I have been interested in earthbag retaining walls since seeing this article, however I had always imagined we would have large problems with keeping the earthbags dry.
Do you know whether a membrane is used on the earth side of the wall?
Charlie
Usually the bags are covered in cement plaster and have drainage holes for water to seep through. Do not build very high.
Hello, I am interested in building a earth bag retaining wall. Do you have instructions on how to do this?
Yes, it’s very easy. Search this blog for keywords retaining walls. Also, more details are in my earthbag building ebook. See link at top of page. The key steps include using gravel bags and anging the wall slightly towards the slope. Be sure to leave small gaps between bags for drainage. Cover with cement plaster.
I have read lots of blog regarding to retaining wall but this article is totally different.
this wall looks great. can anyone tell from the picture how drainage was taken into consideration?
Water can seep through between bags and through the woven poly fabric.This is an excellent solution. I touch on this topic in my Earthbag Design Guide (one page).
Thanks for sharing this..:)