How to Build Paths, Steps and Footbridges

by Peter Jeswald. Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, 2005. Softcover, 248 pages, $19.95.

This clear, practical, how-to book provides a treasure trove of ideas for creating pathways, stairways, and footbridges in the outdoor landscape. While the specific focus on green is relatively minor, the vast majority of solutions described can help to create landscapes that allow rainwater infiltration, replace high-impact lawn areas, rely to a significant extent on natural (unprocessed) materials, and help homeowners enjoy and appreciate the outdoors around their homes (see article on biophilia in EBN

Vol. 15, No. 7).

Specific guidelines for reducing environmental impacts with material selection, the benefits of infiltration, and concerns about wood preservatives are all addressed. While the book recommends the use of wood from certified well-managed sources, it does not reference Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards, which is disappointing. A 24-page spread at the beginning of the book provides superb color photos of projects that nearly all embody important environmental principles.

– Alex Wilson