Today on Bad Idea Theatre!

[bzarcher]

So, while squeeing about the finished smoker, I kinda joked that after how fun it's been working on the smoker and researching different stuff to cook with it that I didn't know how I was going to top it for a project next summer.

Then someone said, "Well, you could always put a pond in your backyard."

I kinda laughed it off, said yeah, maybe, but I I don't know how much room I can totally get away with doing that in.

But now I'm kinda "Hmmmmmm..."

After all, I have that electrical junction not that far from the back of the garage near where the old owner had his above ground pool that flaggerx and I need to put a box and outlets on anyhow sooner or later.

Once I do that, running a concealed cable for a water pump wouldn't be that hard. If we cleared out some of the (currently) weed infested area, dug down a ways to create an informal style pond away from the tree roots in the yard, dropped a newspaper cushion down and then added a PVC liner, a border of rock or brick around the edges, and filled it up.....

Y'know, that might not be so difficult after all. I think the hardest part would be the digging (no big surprise), and after that it's just lining the pond, creating the border and filling it with water. Maybe adding some decorative plants if I got ambitious.

Hey, and it'd mean that much less grass to cut. :D

Comments

[twfarlan.livejournal.com]

I've enjoyed watching this project come about through your entries. So, not that I'm encouraging your project habit or anything:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_garden

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hadn't actually gotten much feedback on the whole thing from people. :D I figured I'm either mostly boring you guys, or everyone's waiting for me to start showing them some food. ;D

It really is kind of an interesting idea...I wonder if I'd need to get a permit or anything from the city.

Plus, I have to say the one advantage of working on stuff like this with flaggerx, dklegman, and other friends is that even if I'm nowhere near a pro at it when we're done, I'm learning! At worst, I have a much better idea of what we did and how to do it, or what I need to ask someone to do for me if I'm not capable.

Meanwhile, hmmm....

[twfarlan.livejournal.com]

Plenty of time to examine the logistics and any necessary paperwork, should this become next summer's backyard project.

I don't care nearly as much about the food as I do the technical details of the thing.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

You'll probably enjoy me messing around with the diffuser plate and sealing up the door, then. :D

I'm currently trying to decide between making a gasket out of high-heat silicone, or just buying some fiberglass rope and using some small tacks to hold it in.

[twfarlan.livejournal.com]

Gasket. Better control, less chance of tack failure.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Yeah, plus I just found out that if I go to the hardware store and buy a gasket kit, it's $15.

If I buy 25' of rope (the only length they'll sell it in), it's $4 a foot!

[alathaniel.livejournal.com]

I admit to shamelessly awaiting the culinary results from use of this device.

[dklegman.livejournal.com]

Koi Pond.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

It could happen. A little more work, but doable.

[las.livejournal.com]

If you have a pond, there need to be fish in it!

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

The possibility is certainly there. :D

I'll probably kick this drawer open next April-ish and start planning if that's what we're gonna do.

The other thing I found out that is worth giving me a pause is that the insurance might get hiked if I add one to the property - extra liability, etx etx.

[ladysephiroth.livejournal.com]

We had a small pond at our rental house, and frankly it was a pain in the ass. There's a lot more to it than just making the pond .. we had algae that choked all the punps for the waterfalls (you have to have some water movement or your water gets stagnant, and in this case it was filtered through lava rocks on the way through the waterfall.) If you can handle to work it looks wonderful, but just a caveat from someone who's been there .. it does take a bit of work to maintain a pond.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

I do believe it. Thank you!

[ladysephiroth.livejournal.com]

Bayani wants to know if you are goign to make the pond out of 55 gal. drums?

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Hah! That would be a good trick, but probably not. :D

[flaggerx.livejournal.com]

Gee, can you get a backhoe back there? Or even a small trackhoe? (they can be rented, but I wouldn't want to tow one behind my pickup) Also we need to find out where the utilities enter the building and then avoid them.

Of course we could dig it all by hand. Might even be plans available which make my pessimism undeserved.

Granted I'd like some experience, I mean practice-- driving a hoe, but you're talking about a lot of digging, although the result would be tres sexy. And you're right, we do have some power out there, and with a bit of concrete, a five gallon bucket and a few other bits an outlet can be placed where needed.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Trackhoe or a bobcat might work if we took the gate off the fence? There is that bobcat rental / sales place on the cookercial end of Lacon. BUT. I think we should enjoy our success and table any pond plans until April. Ish.

Capping that line with an outlet box, we might want to just go ahead and do but that's about it.

[flying-landon.livejournal.com]

Turtle pond > Fish pond

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Duly noted.

[demeterschild.livejournal.com]

Tricker's. Websearch them. Get their videos.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Oh?