Water levels way down at Blanchard Springs, near Mountain View AR
We all know that one of the biggest problems facing the world today is lack of water. Our rivers are being diverted to cities for ever growing need, to farms for irrigation to grow food for animals to eat and we are losing water to climate change. Our colder regions are not getting as much snow and warmer regions are not getting as much rain as 20 years ago. So our rivers are drying up, our lakes shorelines are receding and we should fear for the shortage of potable water.
So, we want to have a pond. Is this wasting a precious resource? Is it just another example of people putting want above need? I say no. Well, it's because you are a pond builder, you say. Still, I say no. People want vast expanses of lawns. In their gardens, in public spaces. Lawns take vast amounts of water, water that could otherwise be used for satiating the thirst of people. Lawns get irrigated, they get fertilized, they get cut using gas gulping machines that pollute the atmosphere. And next week they get all those things again.
Ponds get filled with water once a year ideally. They need topping off occasionally when conditions lead to evaporation, but that's rare.
Ponds need little maintenance and certainly never need mowing. They provide places for wildlife to visit, breed and live. Birds, bees, toads, frogs and yes, the occasional bird eating egret or heron to get dinner.
Ponds can be used for growing food if owners wish, but even if they don't, they are beautiful additions to the landscape and don't use precious resources.
If you want to build your own pond, my book can help you do that. It really isn't hard to do. Download it here
If you want to get more information about ponds, join us at pondlady.com to meet other pond builders and pond keepers.
2 comments:
Here's an idea for you, perhaps, which is being practiced more and more here. Lead the rainwater from your gutter (roof) through (underground) piping to your pond.
My knowlegde of english is letting me down here somewhat. You know what I'm saying?
Still, trying to comment from my iPhone doesn't work. Beats me...
We could do that and I have done that with rain water going into the pond from the roof via a gutter. The biggest problem is most of our roofs in the US are made of toxic material and the run off from them can foul the pond, killing fish and plants. It's a great idea tho.
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