Everyone knows that for major construction, concrete offers unparalleled durability at low cost. What you may not have realized is that concrete also boasts remarkable versatility. It's capable of ...

In October, I made my first hypertufa troughs from a mix of peat moss, perlite, Portland cement, and water. Extremely durable once they set up, the resulting containers look similar to carved stone.

When I was a kid, troughs were for horses. Now when I say "trough," I'm not talking about the large, galvanized metal watering holes. I'm talking about the rugged-looking, cement-based containers that ...