The Granite Kiss: Traditions and Techniques of Building New England Stone Walls

by Kevin Gardner, Susan Allport

A master stonemason imparts the fundamentals of building traditional New England-style dry stone walls. In this elegant, literate primer, a master stonemason imparts the fundamentals of building traditional New England-style dry stone walls, along with thoughts on the history, aesthetics, and philosophy of the craft of placing stone. In this eminently readable primer on the fundamentals of placing stone, Kevin Gardner distills 25 years of experience in building and repairing New England-style dry stone walls into principles and practices that are adaptable to a wide variety of designs and circumstances. In addition to directions on building basic stone walls, he also demystifies steps, wells, ramps, walkways, and may other forms of dry masonry. Gardner also discusses the philosophy behind the repair and restoration of old walls, and gives the beginning wall builder ways to think about the place of the stone wall within the landscape. Along the way, Gardner considers the mythology of the stone wall and its place in the New England imagination. And he explores the history, philosophy, and aesthetics of working with stone in a book that will bring as much pleasure to armchair craftsmen as it will valuable instruction to the beginning wall builder. Selected as one of 2001's Best Gift Books by The Times of Trenton, New Jersey; one of the 50 best nonfiction books of 2001 by the Christian Science Monitor. 22 black & white illustrations, glossary, bibliography, index.

Genres: Reference, Gardening, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Chrisl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably better that I didn't read this before stacking many tons, some interesting and very useful information, longer than I wanted to read, but a valuable perspective to play with ...

Gardner quotes Charles McRaven, Building with Stone:

"I never tire of the game of fitting stones, none of which are even similar. Bricks, now, and concrete blocks, have that moronic sameness that makes them better building materials, but endears them to no creative person."

Book's opening quote:

"The Granite Kiss: That instantly discouraging, and inevitable, experience in stone work when a fingertip or two fails to escape the contact point between two large stones on the occasion of their first meeting." (When I first got rock smacked, a fingernail was sacrificed. A hour before a significant dinner date.)

Library of Congress has this cataloged 693, putting it in masonry, applied science, rather than cataloging it Dewey 717 for artistic stone work.

CIP Subjects:
1. Stone Walls-New England
2. Granite
3. Landscape Construction

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book inspired me to build my own stonewalls in my gardens. I love the feel of the rocks and the smell of dirt. This book captures the pleasures of working with stone and it actually gives very helpful instruction.

[Kenneth Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely coffee table book on working with granite to build and landscape

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Kevin Gardner speak at the Lawrence Barn in Hollis a few months ago. He's a true Renaissance Man! If you want to learn how to build a stone wall, this is your book. If you want to read a well-written book by a man with a great sense of humor, this is also your book. Thank you, Kevin!

[Mary Beth]

Written and illustrated by 2 cousins.

[Mila Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you live in NH, its a MUST READ!!!