Adding a stone walkway between buildings on your property, or along the edge of structures can not only add function and form to a homestead it can also preserve your lawn.

And a great way to add the element of a stone walkway is to use reclaimed stone or slabs, or even paver bricks. While all of these items are available at the local hardware or home improvement mega store, they are also often available locally if you know where to look.

Certain residents in the midwest know this secret, and look to the left over chunks of slab from limestone mills to enhance their flower beds, or to mark walkways. Many times stone mills will have piles of leftover slabs, and flat cuts of rectangular rock which they will allow people to haul away for free. These types of stone pieces are ideal for making edging around landscaping and creating walkways.

The main thing to remember is to choose stone pieces which are of relatively the same thickness, otherwise there is going to be a lot of individual digging and refitting, and that can mean a lot more work than it’s worth.

Using reclaimed stone can inevitably mean more work than if you go to the store and purchase uniform stones. But, it’s also going to save money and using stone from the environment around you promotes sustainability and reduces waste and energy costs.

Once the stone is chosen lay it out in a rough pattern to see how everything is going to fit. Using a Shovel dig a few inches deeper into the soil than the thickness of the stone pavers. Fill that gap with sand using a level and a board make it even.

Finally knock each piece into place with a rubber mallet and sweep sand thoroughly into the margins.