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<\/a>My Attempts at a Natural Swimming Pond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I tell the girls that the sooner we have a hole dug for our natural swimming pond, the sooner they can go swimming. Armed with various sized shovels, spades, pick axes, wheel barrows, gardening gloves, gumboots and other assorted tools we head outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It goes well for a while. \u00a0We remove some plants that have seen better daysto make way for our natural swimming pond. \u00a0The random bits of rock garden edge are removed. I lift some pavers. \u00a0An ants nest is disturbed. \u00a0They run everywhere. \u00a0They bite. \u00a0First aid is applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And so we continue for a few days. We know that at some point in time, there was a fish pond in this area that was filled in by the previous owners. They are lovely people, with artistic backgrounds. Their DIY skills fall into a category best referred to as “alternative”. We have no idea how big the pond was, but I’m secretly hoping it was big – VERY big!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We find it eventually – filled in with concrete and rubble and clay. Our natural swimming pond has a plastic lining. It is small. \u00a0But, we have got the first part of our swimming pond dug. \u00a0It rains and fills with water. The kids play in it and the dogs drink out of it. \u00a0After the squabbling (mostly over the pick axe), constant interruptions and ant bites, I’m about ready to tell the kids that the muddy hole is the end of the natural swimming pond project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But a new day dawns, and hubby and I come to grips with the fact that we will never get this natural swimming pond dug by hand. \u00a0A lovely farming friend who has taken interest in the project comes for a visit and offers to dig our hole with his tractor. \u00a0As tempting as this offer of a free hole is, we turn him down and make contact with a few earth moving people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first guy arrives to look at the natural swimming pond job. \u00a0He has his two kids with him, so I supervise five kids while “the men” talk dirt and look at the very accurate engineering specifications for the hole. \u00a0I’m called over at some point and advised that the hole needs to be swung 90 degrees to work. \u00a0Five kids and three adults walk around the area with string lines and stakes to work out what will be the new location of the swimming pond. \u00a0It is obvious that the peppercorn tree I wanted to save is now going to be in the middle of the pond and will have to come out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The quote is more than reasonable and the time frame is right. I’m happy but hubby is not. The guy has confessed that he has never dug a hole for a “pool” before. I argue that he has the specs and if he can read them, he can dig the hole. We get a second quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second quote comes from a “friend”. \u00a0He is an ex-neighbour who we have used in the past. \u00a0His work is good, but he is notoriously unreliable – and doesn’t give “mates rates”. \u00a0He looks at the job, makes all the right noises, tells hubby he has dug holes for natural swimming ponds in the past. \u00a0He promises he will get the job done on time and gives us his quote. \u00a0It is double the first guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hubby and I have words. \u00a0I’m managing our non-existent budget and I want to use the cheap guy for our natural swimming pond. He wants to use our “friend”. \u00a0And in the middle of it all, his phone rings. \u00a0The man who told us his factory-second pool wouldn’t be ready for a while, is ringing to say it is ready and he wants to deliver it next week, which coincidentally happens to be the start of school holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n None of this is good. School holidays are a very hard time for our family. We have all three kids at home 24\/7 and that requires both of us to be constantly with them. The disabilities of our oldest two make it impossible for one adult to successfully care for all three children for any length of time. We are blessed with family and friends who go out of their way to time their stays with us to line up with school holidays. Many hands make light work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But with an excavator, a torn up yard, trucks, cranes and other random deliveries, let alone a whole heap of physical work on our part, this is a natural swimming pond disaster in the making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Building a natural swimming pond on our family property seemed like a dream project at first. As a hands-on mom with a penchant for big DIY endeavors, the idea thrilled me to no end. However, reality soon set in, and the challenges piled up. Here’s a closer look at the difficulties we faced and the lessons we learned along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Underestimating the Scale<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n I quickly realized that digging a natural swimming pond was no small weekend project. Unlike planting a new flowerbed or painting a room, this was a full-scale construction job. We needed to move tons of earth, and every shovel full seemed to mock our initial enthusiasm. The physical demand was immense, and with three little ones to care for, our stamina and time were severely tested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dealing with the Unexpected<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n You never know what’s under your feet until you start digging. In our case, we discovered remnants of an old fish pond filled with concrete, rubble, and clay. Adjusting our natural swimming pond plans to accommodate these surprises required quick thinking and flexible problem-solving\u2014skills that were put to the test daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regulatory Hurdles<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n One aspect we didn’t initially consider was the local regulations surrounding large backyard projects. When we first conceptualized our pond, we thought about the aesthetic and functional benefits but overlooked the need for permits. Navigating the bureaucratic maze of environmental and safety regulations was a task that took nearly as much time as the physical construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Budget Management<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Money always matters in DIY projects, but it became a critical focus once we received wildly varying quotes from contractors. Balancing our shrinking budget with the need for professional help was a constant challenge. Each decision had to be weighed against our financial limitations and the potential long-term benefits of investing more upfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Impact on Family Life<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The chaos of construction took a toll on our family life. With equipment strewn about and our yard resembling a mining site more than a home, maintaining a safe and enjoyable space for our kids proved difficult. The noise, mess, and general disruption were far greater than anticipated, complicating our daily routines and stressing our already busy lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Technical Difficulties<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n From selecting the right liner to ensuring proper filtration and water circulation, the technical aspects of building a natural swimming pond were daunting. Each choice had significant implications for the sustainability and maintenance of the pond. We had to rapidly educate ourselves on ecological balances, beneficial plants, and more to avoid turning our dream pond into a murky swamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Longevity and Maintenance<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, we had to consider the long-term commitment of maintaining a natural pond. Unlike a traditional pool, a natural swimming pond requires an understanding of ecological systems<\/a> to keep the water clean and healthy without relying on chemicals. This ongoing responsibility was something we had to prepare for mentally and practically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these challenges, the project brought unexpected rewards\u2014teaching us resilience, deepening our connection to nature, and ultimately providing a beautiful retreat in our own backyard. For anyone considering their own natural swimming pond, be prepared for a challenging but potentially rewarding journey. Just remember, when the mud settles, you might just find yourself swimming in the fruits of your labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So the score right now is something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fear factor: 10 Is it quittin’ time or time to show the world and Rebecca what she’s ‘made of’?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ever experienced these emotions? How did you handle it? Would you push on or call the bank and the pool company? You’ll have to wait for the next episode to find out what I did \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until then, keep me company by adding your comments below…<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Difficulties of Building Your Own Natural Swimming Pond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Panic factor: 10+
Budget strength: 2
Optimism: 4.5 and falling<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n