Dry Stone Walls: Basics, Construction, Significance

Dry stone walls are a critical component of the landscape in Switzerland and many other countries. They support the cultivation of agriculture and livestock, and they are also integral to the ecosystem. And, in many locations across Switzerland, they are in need of restoration by those with a thorough understanding of their roles and vast range of types and purposes. Drawing on the copious research and practice of the Environmental Action Foundation, Dry Stone Walls is a uniquely comprehensive work on the topic, combining cultural history with a guide to plants and animals that find their habitat in such structures and a practical, step-by-step manual to the building and maintenance of dry stone walls. Richly illustrated with more than four hundred photographs and drawings, including many in colour, the book contains a wealth of advice for both the planning of new dry stone walls and the care of existing ones, as well as information on structural analysis and the organisation of building sites. The book will serve as a guide for future generations everywhere to this ancient practice that is in danger of extinction. With contributions by Werner Batzing, Sandro Benedetti, Fredi Bieri, Giovanni Buzzi, Francois Busson, Klaus C. Ewald, Hans-Karl Gerber, Marianne Hassenstein, Thomas Kesselring, Hans Peter Kistler, Peter Krebs, Christine Loriol, Daniel Pelagatti, Ingrid Schegk, Theodor Schmidt, Mathias Steiger, Richard Tufnell, Andrin Willi, and Franziska Witschi.