Here's how I Messed up...Farm Pond Basics most don't know!

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I'd like to offer two pieces of construction criticism, if you're interested: 1, aerating your pond will increase fish habitat, reduce algae, and generally improve the health of your pond (I'd suggest a surface aeration system with a draw tube that trails down into the bottom third or so of the depth where it is placed); and 2, avoid applying chemical fertilizers to the grass adjacent to the pond, because it can lead to excessive algae growth and a host of other problems in the pond ecosystem.

I built one on my homestead, I dug down 4 feet and water started pouring in, kept dig down to 12 feet, attached it to my year around creek that comes off a reservoir, the reservoir is fed by four natural springs, we allow 1,100 gallons a minute to come out of the reservoir and feed my creek and some irrigation ditches on the ranch next to me, the reservoir never drops the level of water in it, so basically the springs feed as much water into it as we take out of it plus evaporation. We have clay soil here so it holds the water, I built banks up along my creek and around my pond to bring the water two feet above ground level, then I buried irrigation hoses into the sides of the banks to gravity feed my crops, gardens and pastures. Glad I watched this video I learned about grass karp.

As an environmental science student I really appreciate the work you've done here! I'm glad to see you've done the research. It looks amazing.

Love that blue water and green grass! Your years of hard work are really showing. You've created your own little paradise! 👍

Thank you for this video! So much great information, and perfect timing since we’re about to dig our first pond on our country property.

Very well explained, without getting complicated... well done!

I really enjoyed this video, you really need to have a pond to appreciate all the work that goes into keeping a nice one. Ours was an existing pond which was overgrown and had a huge muskrat problem. After years of work we can finally enjoy it with minimal up keep. Your video touches on the main issues of owning a pond and as you point out they don't take care of themselves.

Great information for future pound making. I love what you have accomplished.

Really excellently done. Always wondered about farm ponds. You have learned so much.

Our pond has been here for about 30 years, we’ve had a family of geese come back every year. We also have transient ducks that come and go. I love watching the geese grow up.

You must have been reading my mind… I need to expand our ponds. Great info

Josh this was a very informative video. I have a property in NW Missouri we have owned about 8 years. It has a pond on it we call the cesspool lol. this video has given me some great ideas on how to correct some problems and I have a great dozer man that does pond work. Thanks for the great content on your channel!

Man josh the place is really coming along and the ecosystem for everything you e done is just amazing. I can't wait to see where its at in another 10 years.

When I was a teenager,15, I spent a summer on a big farm near Buchanan, VA it was on the James River on its Easter border. It was a pretty big farm that my grandfather was managing for a rich Doctor from Roanoke. It was 1968 so it was a human labor intensive farm with old tractors and strong backed men. I think they milked ten cows and raised a dozen or so beef cattle and then a big pig operation. 50 or so pigs for fattening and to sale. Chickens for the house , eggs & meat which my grandma to care of she was able to accumulate a large number eggs over 10-14 days which we dropped off at a local store on our way to the big grocery store which was every 2 weeks. We took the extra milk to the main road every morning,where the farm access road started, to be picked up by the milk man. Usually 4-5 big steel metal jugs. They raised corn for hog feed and hay for the milk cows plus they had a very large group of pastures which they rotated on every 3 or so days, which way my main job during my stay there . Cows had their routine and knew as soon as the gates were open were to go. After the cow patties dried we walked around picking those up to put in with the barn manure & pig pens. Grandpa pilled all the up to compost for awhile then spread it around where it was needed. Oh I almost forgot they grew a lot of sweet corn to be delivered at a farmers market in Ronake during season. I sure enjoyed that summer.

Lessons learned and lessons shared! Thanks.

Great video! So helpful. I learned so many things to help me with my pond! Much appreciated.

Your work here is amazing! I just enjoy these videos.. These talks and milling at Stoney Ridge. Keep em' coming!!

Thanks for sharing! Great to see examples in real time.

Hey Josh, excellent topic. Water is the sustenance of life. It is all about a reliable clean source and working with nature. Good you have those ponds for the SRF. Take care.