Though I perhaps should have photograhed the storefront, I was drawn instead to this. Ditch digging is in our future...and bobcat fantasies are dancing in my head.

We'll need to move quite a bit of earth, both to excavate a foundation for the wall (we're looking at a minimum of about 12 inches, four inches for a base of aggregate and 8 inches to bury our first block) and to backfill the wall as we build it. For the purpose of sharing information learned with my associates, I'll recount some basic info. The ditch must be deep enough for a foundation of at least 4 inches of aggregate, some kind of 3/4 inch stones. This must be leveled in all directions. The ditch must also accomodate the first level of block, and they are 8 inches in height. Around this first level, which is the critical level (everything rests on this, so it MUST be level and straight in all directions), dirt must be compacted. Flush with the ground level a drain pipe must be installed behind the wall, run to the lowest point, and a drain cut either into the wall or run into the ground. This is 4 inch perforated pipe. Each level of block above ground must have at least 6 inches of aggregate packed behind it, and behind that dirt. The very top level does not need the aggregate behind it, and can be packed in with dirt, so a flower bed can be put up there. It's not rocket science, but it's labor intensive!

For an installation guide from the manufacturer here's a link:

http://www.interlock-concrete.com/walls/installation.php