Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: pea gravel, paths

[Lynn Nadeau (welcome]

Pea gravel is rounded. Which makes it appropriately smooshy for fall zones 
around play equipment. We had it at Head Start: it worked for a fall zone 
and, while not as fun as sand, it didn't attract cat-box attention either, 
and kids were willing and able to shovel it into buckets and toy trucks. 

I don't recommend pea gravel for paths. Too round and smooshy. If you want 
plain gravel somewhere people will walk, choose what's called "crushed rock" 
which is angular, and therefore will pack together. 

Better yet, lay down weed barrier, then some crushed rock, then "quarry 
fines, quarter=inch-minus" or smaller. This is a rather fine sand-like 
material that can pack down to almost asphalt-like solidity, if done right. 
I may be wrong, but at least the paths I've seen done with the quarry fines 
packed into crushed rock seemed to me to be useable by those with mobility 
challenges. But I defer to those with direct experience of that. 

Lynn Nadeau, Port Townsend Washington
RoseWind Cohousing (long built), and PT EcoVillage (in planning)