A New Pond

I decided to begin a forest garden. After the forest bark replaced the grass, I dug a pond. But the soil here is sandy silt. Rain soaks in within 20 minutes. I believe there is not a speck of clay in my soil. After researching this, I mixed bentonite clay with my soil and waited for the rain. All summer long the ground was dry. Yesterday, the rain began in earnest... And today, I have water in my pond. Just to be sure there would be enough to fill the pond quickly, I made a ditch from the downspout. I'll show you.
I have some dogbane waiting for the pond edge. Dogbane likes its feet wet. So far, around the pond are 2 other fiber plants, flax and New Zealand flax (unrelated). The cotton will have to winter over inside my house. Lavender, thyme, oregano, huckleberries, and 2 cherry trees surround this new pond, and many more plants and trees will follow in the spring.
Next year, I hope to be able to add some water plants and some little fish.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• pond
• forest garden

[Pirate88179]

Jeanna:

Excellent job on the pond...it is beautiful. I love your work-around for the no clay in your soil...that was brilliant.

Now, you can add accent lighting around it at night using an EER, a JT and your large supercap.

Really great project you made over there.

Bill

[jeannacav]

Thanks, Bill.

I am thinking I should try to add a bit of clay to the soil to see if it helps with the EER.

j

[jeannacav]

Thanks harpbloke.

That is a really good point. It started out as a teardrop then I began to dig the deep part of the teardrop wider and at a different level. I will keep this point in mind! In my small backyard a few poochouts will be easier to do than one big pond anyway. cool. thanks for the great idea.

jeanna

[harpbloke]

heya jeanna,

if a pond has many curves, like a star shape, then you increase the bank area dramaticly and you will be able to sustain much more life fish plants etc. it will also be ready for fish much sooner than just a round pond.