Finally doing it!

[JamieB]

So today, we actually got the pond dig started. I’d say 75% dug. Now I get to fine tune, move dirt to make the two steps on the side Dad took too much away, create a ramp for the turtles and frogs I know will be in and out, then will come the hardest part, hauling off excess dirt! It’s all in a heap to the side. Most will fill puppy dug holes, some will go to fill various buckets and planters, the moats forming in the driveway, etc.
so far, I still need to find/ buy a good protector layer for the liner, I’m reusing a pool liner, which should be more than big enough. Excess liner will be the liner for my bog. The bog is up against the side porch wall, will consist of three metal frames bolted together, half filled with dirt to be a base for the bog liner. I’ll then have about a foot of gravel deep. Getting the gravel will be harder than the frame, I’m thinking of raiding the local creek for the big stuff, then a layer of screening, then medium sized gravel, screening, then 4-6 inches deep of pea gravel. My Christmas wish list consists of a 4000gph submersible pump, and a gift certificate for 1 butterfly koi and 3-5 shubinkin. I figure in 5 years, I’ll have shubinkin and koi-kin hybrids to give or sell.
If it wasn’t dark out, I’d be outside working on it now!

 

[addy1]

I used carpet padding, found some new cheap stuff on sale.

Post the pictures! We wanna see

 

[Stephen Noble]

Sounds great!

 

[JamieB]

Ill try to get a picture that shows its size better shortly. Coffee and kitty cuddles first! I thought of your carpet liner addy, and was debating on calling Lowe’s to see if I could get old carpet from them. That’s the only place around that I know of where I may be able to get old carpet.

 

[j.w]

I used old carpet, layered blankets, quilts, towels, anything soft and fortunately we don't have many rocks or roots and it's sandy soil. Our property used to be a strawberry field.
Maybe your neighbors or people at work have stuff laying around they don't use anymore. Ask at thrift 2nd hand stores as they throw a lot of damaged stuff out w/holes etc.

 

[JamieB]

Shade is making pictures look flat, but here’s so far. I’m taking a break, with a kitty insisting I pet him at my feet, a wild honey bee buzzed me, thinking I might have nectar. So glad to see the bee, that means I still have a colony somewhere near here to fertilize flowers!

 

[JamieB]

Have to cut it short to give a hair cut, then shower myself. One of the boys here starts a new job tomorrow morning, and he requested I cut it. By the time he’s out of the shower, it’ll be time for me to shower, and start getting ready for my day.

 

[JamieB]

Well, I’m working on getting the pond edges fine tuned, I need a bucket brigade to remove dirt. Having to pull weeds, there is one type that clings, irritates the crap out of my skin, and that has got to go! I’m also finding saplings from the maple, those I’m trying to remove carefully to give away and plant elsewhere. Will post pics later, I’m trying to get this done on my one day off with good weather!

 

[poconojoe]

Nice! Kudos for digging by hand! I rented a baby backhoe called a Terramite when I did mine. It was worth the $300 for the rental.

 

[JamieB]

Dad did the bulk of it with a little back hoe last fall. I let it sit and settle over the winter, and am fine tuning it by hand. Just carved a nice seat for myself, and am working on an area for mulm to accumulate and as an extra deep winter retreat for fish. Then comes leveling, lining, and then the actual liner. Still have a few roots to remove. Here’s pics from a bit over an hour ago. On the right hand side is a ramp for critters to escape.

 

[j.w]

Looking good!

 

[JamieB]

Deepest part is somewhere between 3 1/2-4 ft, I sprayed it down well so I could see low spots to fill them in better. So it’s a rather muddy mess right now. But the digging is done! I have some theater curtains I’m going to use as sub liner, which I will place where tree roots might come from. I am also thinking of doing a time capsule, which we can look at much later, when I get around to redoing the pond properly.

 

[addy1]

That will look great, doing good!

 

[JamieB]

Oops, so busy thinking, I didn’t attach the pictures

 

[addy1]

Still looks good!