There is no better way to attract bio-diverse life to a place then creating a permanent water source.
with that in mind I set out to make just that with leftover building materials that were lying around for way too long.
the old "volcano", as we call it was dug eons ago with the idea of creating a banana circle. https://www.permaculturenews.org/2014/04/08/banana-circles/. it has now finally been used and repurposed for the pond.
first step was to dig out organic material that was accumulating there with the original idea in mind
this pile of organic gold is alive with fungi and bacteria and will be repurposed too and serve as mulch around young trees.
next, these large bags will line the bottom of the hole and protect the larger liner from being punctured with the weight of water (excuse my finger there ; )
a layer of sand on top secures them all in place and creates another layer of protection for the main liner. the weight of the water will compress the sand further creating a stable base
the main liner is made using a 4x8m tough plastic sheet. it is folded and creates a double layered 4x4m piece. first shovel of sand placed on it pulls it down to place and helps center it over the hole before securing it there forever. the liner is the only thing I bought for this project and cost me less then 12€
more sand. this will pull the liner down and secure it in place while serving as a base for plant roots and provide some protection to the liner from the top
gravel can be then added on top to help anchor plant roots in place
first plants are placed in their new home. they will look better now that temperatures are on the rise and with the extra space
time to add water !
using my son´s catapult, I now bring some of this floating cover plant from the well, which will help protect the water from evaporating in the hot months and provide shade for whoever chooses to live under it
this plant grows so dense that even though I have taken a fair amount of it, the next day, the well was all covered again
water. filling slowly and letting the weight of it pull the liner into its final position. the edges had to be secured as some wind was trying to blow them into the pond
this is how it looked when I stopped for a lunch break. I was very happy with what I have managed to do in about 2 or 3 hours
with renewed forces it is now time to wheel over the heavy granite rocks to start securing of the liner edges permanently
once this is done, I add another element of old logs to further shade the South side from the high summer sun
after that, it is all cosmetics
Sunday. next day. more plants were brought in from a friend on another farm. I want diversity of plants too
5 different water plants are now present. two of which float and cover the surface while the other three grow out of it. Papyrus being one (Cyperus papyrus)
another element I introduced to create shade is floating cork pieces that we have been blessed with in our area as our area is dotted with cork oaks (Quercus Suber). these floating rafts will later serve frogs, dragonflies and other wildlife. one large piece holds a vase with Peppermint in it that will enjoy growing its roots into the water while another holds an Electroculture spiral to provide the pond with enhanced cosmic magnetism
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I am daily making the change I want to see in the world.
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