Tamaqua resident Rachelle 'Shelly' Young recognized that her backyard needed a retaining wall.

"I wanted it to look nice," says Young, the former Shelly Baddick of Still Creek. Plus, heavy rains often caused erosion, something she noticed often during her two decades of owning the property.Problem is, the backyard of her 109 Washington St. property is a severe pitch. The land slopes down to the Pleasant Row path, a dirt walking lane atop the retaining wall of the historic Little Schuylkill Railroad tracks. (At one time the path was a street that ran along the base of The Pines, below present-day Trinity Church. The early lane connected with Rowe Street 140 years ago, according to documents.)Although no longer a thruway for carriages, the path is heavily traveled by pedestrians.It's also highly visible to traffic along Route 309 South and from passing train excursions."I had to make it look nice for everyone going by and for the train rides, too," says Young, whose property lies roughly midway between the Italian Bakery and the Tamaqua train station.But a landscaper quoted a price of $15,000 to get the work done. That price tag was out of reach, and so Young and her partner, Jim Thorpe native Jeff Galgoci, decided to tackle the project on their own.Galgoci, a trucker for a Northumberland County firm, is using his Dodge Ram 2500 to haul materials, including large rocks found at a local mountainside."There are probably nine or ten tons here," says Galgoci.Other materials include topsoil, mulch, plants, and almost $300 worth of bluestone to create steps.The two started the project in April and have averaged 10 hours of labor every weekend over the past 12 weeks.To get the job done, they established several terraced rock gardens and a gently sloping stairway. Along the way, they changed the severe contour of the land and established a means of rear access to Young's house. They added a stone birdbath, solar lights, flowers and vegetation all of which turned an unattractive hillside into a place of beauty and function.They didn't work from any kind of plan or schematic. Instead, they put their heads together and shared in the creative process as they went along. And it continues to be a work in progress. For instance, they carefully monitor the azaleas, hosta, periwinkle and other plants to determine what will grow best.They're also weighing the idea of adding a small pond.Both enjoy history and have made some interesting discoveries while digging. For instance, they found some early marbles, a 1920s wheat penny and interesting bits of broken glass."But no whole bottles," says Young, employed as front store manager of Boyer's Market, Tamaqua. She's been surprised by praise and rave reviews she's received from passers-by."It's good to see someone fixing things up," says pedestrian Tina Keip, Tamaqua, as she walks by Saturday afternoon. "It'd be nice if all of the property owners did the same," adds Keip, explaining that she's watched the project since day one.The comments are an inspiration, but Young is humble."I didn't do it for the recognition," says Young.The couple saved money by doing the work themselves. Spending a total of $800, all of which represents supplies.Young and Galgoci are devoted to the project and to each other. The work is a manifestation of their sense of caring. For that reason, there have been added benefits, they say."It gets us outside and gives us something to do together," says Galgoci, who'll turn 40 shortly. "And it's good exercise."The physical activity also serves as a form of therapy for Young, who deals with effects of a form of multiple sclerosis.The two intend to work on the project in the weeks ahead. They welcome folks to stop by and check it out.There is no deadline for completion, they say."It'll get done when it gets done," says Galgoci. After all, Shelly's stone garden is a labor of love. And love has no timetable.