Opinion please!

[The Goat]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new poster here. I have lurked for a while and learned quite a bit from all of you!

My family and I are making the move from the mountains of Colorado to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. We have a nice piece of land and will begin building our homestead.

The existing yard has a Koi pond in the side yard. It's about 5 feet deep in the middle. I have attached a photo. We have young kids and we are not interested in keeping it as a pond for a variety of reasons.

My questions is, what do we do with it! I know it will dry up if we stop pumping water into it, but looking for the lowest maintenance solution to convert it to something else. Maybe a garden, fire pit, play area? We plan to have goats, chickens, and more as well as several gardens and maybe even do some aquaponics.

Please let me know what you all think!

Thanks




Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[bruce2288]

? If it is not spring fed dig a drainage ditch towards the woods and start filling on the end next to the fence. I will say with some fencing that hogs would love that spot the way it is.

[The Goat]

Thanks Bruce. It is not spring fed. I would think it will dry up fairly quickly if we stop pumping water to it. I will have to relocate several turtles and fish!

[The Goat]

Bump for 1 last shot at getting some input from you guys.

[frank]

Hey Goat,
First, good luck with your new 'stead! If you can make a downhill drain, you're good to go. If not, I'd fill it with dirt because it will hold water from rains. Good luck with it!

[fffarmergirl]

Learn to grow rice!

[The Goat]

I didn't explain this real well. I'm not worried about how to drain it. I was just looking from some creative ideas on what to do with the area after I drain it.

[Pam6]

I like the idea of leaving it and making it into a duck pond. But if you must fill it I like draining it and then adding slag and putting a nice fire pit in with rock seats all around with a small wooden play set next to it.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Pam6

I like the idea of leaving it and making it into a duck pond. But if you must fill it I like draining it and then adding slag and putting a nice fire pit in with rock seats all around with a small wooden play set next to it.

This is the direction I am leaning! I wouldn't mind having a little pond but with 2 little ones running around it's just not worth it.

[Pam6]

I would want a fire pit similar to this to reduce the risk of children falling into it:
http://www.jimcostone.com/firepitkit.php

Then a small play set with two swings and a slide next to it. Then a larger swing set closer to the house.

[The Goat]

I was thinking of a stone fire pit where the pond is (smaller of course). A sunken one, then building a 3 foot ledge around it to keep the kids from falling in.

[Parttimefarmer]

It would be a great play area/sand box combo space. I am leary of ledges and walls myself cause my kids then must climb on them, look over them , and so on.

[Buffy in Dallas]

I hate to see such a nice pond filled in! It looks like it is fenced in. You could add some dirt to the bottom so that it is much shallower, like 1-2 ft. then put in ducks or geese. (Geese can be mean and keep the kids out.) If its fully fenced and shallow and you keep an eye on the kids there shouldn't be a problem.

[Shygal]

I would so love to have that pond!

[Forerunner]

Dry it up. Level it, and build a compost pile.
Works every time.

[Pony]

Bury a "tube" in it and make it into an underground dog house.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Parttimefarmer

It would be a great play area/sand box combo space. I am leary of ledges and walls myself cause my kids then must climb on them, look over them , and so on.

I like the sandbox idea too.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Buffy in Dallas

I hate to see such a nice pond filled in! It looks like it is fenced in. You could add some dirt to the bottom so that it is much shallower, like 1-2 ft. then put in ducks or geese. (Geese can be mean and keep the kids out.) If its fully fenced and shallow and you keep an eye on the kids there shouldn't be a problem.

For some reason I don't see the delight in having a stink-hole like that to breed mosquitos. I will have enough work on my hands without worrying about that thing. And I don't want geese poopin everywhere.

Ducks are pretty though

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Forerunner

Dry it up. Level it, and build a compost pile.
Works every time.

[BonnieDale Farm]

Id get the "pretty" fish out of it and fill it full of bluegill and catfish so the youngins would have a place to fish,...plus it is just added "livestock" so to speak. Plus you could still have a few ducks or mean geese,...;-) .