Hi all! 
I've dug a pond in my last 3 homes. My first was about 5x5 and 3 feet deep lined with a silo cover. My feeder goldfish grew to about 3 inches long over the years before they were released into the canal behind my house (yes, I already had waterfront property. lol) to make room for a pool.
My last pond was more of a "duo". The swimming side was about 10x20 and 3 feet deep at its lowest point. I chlorinated it the first year. It had a small waterfall my son lovingly referred to as "the toilet bowl". Yes it was pretty circular. I called it "the damn pond" because I hand dug it with a shovel and a wheelbarrow and at one point in the process I couldn't drive because my palms were too sore to hold the steering wheel. Once started I had to finish though. There was a smaller second pond to the side that had fish and plants. A path allowed me to walk between them.
I was in the process of making the 2 ponds one large pond when I moved due to a pending divorce. The x found great joy in filling in my labor of love...to say the least.
This past March I moved to a new home with the love of my life. I swore I'd never do it again but it is apparent I am addicted to the process. We are on 2 1/2 acres. There is a natural small pond buried in brush, fallen trees and beyond a mess. I started to clean it up but after a couple of weeks found it was overwhelming. Especially when the middle of the pond is my properties border. The neighbors and I have briefly discussed dredging it in the future.
Until then...here I go again!
Some (understatement) low ground that was flooded from the winter snow and retained the stagnant water for a couple of months towards the back of my property was calling my name. Actually screaming loud enough to call the x and ask for MY shovel and wheelbarrow. He gave me my shovel but kept the wheelbarrow. The love of my life promptly replaced it with the biggest bestest wheelbarrow he could find. And I began. This time I'm not doing it alone though. Love of my life is sharing the project with me when he has free time and gets in there with his own shovel. Yes we are hand digging again.
I have not measured it. Well I started to but I ran out of tape measure and figured I really didn't wanted know after that. The deepest part is 3 feet below ground level but the actual water level will be about 4 feet deep as dirt from the pond is being placed around the border of the flood line.
I just couldn't resist sharing the process. I'm using clay as the base for a waterfall that I carefully formed to be sure it would not look like a toilet bowl. There will also be a swim up bar and I'm racking my brain for a cost effective way to do a grotto. I am able to get rock for free with lots of labor from a nearby quarry. One can only carry rocks so big tough. It may end up being a future addition when budget allows. I expect this pond to take me at least through next summer and possibly the fall before it is usable. But as pond lovers know, a pond is never actually "done".
I will start a thread for the ponds progress pictures in the appropriate forum.
I've dug a pond in my last 3 homes. My first was about 5x5 and 3 feet deep lined with a silo cover. My feeder goldfish grew to about 3 inches long over the years before they were released into the canal behind my house (yes, I already had waterfront property. lol) to make room for a pool.
My last pond was more of a "duo". The swimming side was about 10x20 and 3 feet deep at its lowest point. I chlorinated it the first year. It had a small waterfall my son lovingly referred to as "the toilet bowl". Yes it was pretty circular. I called it "the damn pond" because I hand dug it with a shovel and a wheelbarrow and at one point in the process I couldn't drive because my palms were too sore to hold the steering wheel. Once started I had to finish though. There was a smaller second pond to the side that had fish and plants. A path allowed me to walk between them.
I was in the process of making the 2 ponds one large pond when I moved due to a pending divorce. The x found great joy in filling in my labor of love...to say the least.
This past March I moved to a new home with the love of my life. I swore I'd never do it again but it is apparent I am addicted to the process. We are on 2 1/2 acres. There is a natural small pond buried in brush, fallen trees and beyond a mess. I started to clean it up but after a couple of weeks found it was overwhelming. Especially when the middle of the pond is my properties border. The neighbors and I have briefly discussed dredging it in the future.
Until then...here I go again!
Some (understatement) low ground that was flooded from the winter snow and retained the stagnant water for a couple of months towards the back of my property was calling my name. Actually screaming loud enough to call the x and ask for MY shovel and wheelbarrow. He gave me my shovel but kept the wheelbarrow. The love of my life promptly replaced it with the biggest bestest wheelbarrow he could find. And I began. This time I'm not doing it alone though. Love of my life is sharing the project with me when he has free time and gets in there with his own shovel. Yes we are hand digging again.
I have not measured it. Well I started to but I ran out of tape measure and figured I really didn't wanted know after that. The deepest part is 3 feet below ground level but the actual water level will be about 4 feet deep as dirt from the pond is being placed around the border of the flood line.
I just couldn't resist sharing the process. I'm using clay as the base for a waterfall that I carefully formed to be sure it would not look like a toilet bowl. There will also be a swim up bar and I'm racking my brain for a cost effective way to do a grotto. I am able to get rock for free with lots of labor from a nearby quarry. One can only carry rocks so big tough. It may end up being a future addition when budget allows. I expect this pond to take me at least through next summer and possibly the fall before it is usable. But as pond lovers know, a pond is never actually "done".
I will start a thread for the ponds progress pictures in the appropriate forum.
