Episode-2736- Back Yard Aquatics as a Permaculture Design Element
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:24:22 — 19.3MB)
Honestly one of the greatest things I have done on my property is the installation of multiple aquatic systems. I likely have done more than I should have but such is the life of an educator and in the end over time it led me to the concept of the “Miyagi Pond” which likely would have never occurred if I didn’t simply start playing around with Stock Tanks and IBCs.
There is a saying most people know, that saying is, “water is life” and it is beyond a simple truth, rather it is a fundamental reality. And one can make a case that the most sustainable systems in history come from island cultures, mountain cultures and specifically Asian cultures and all used aquatic components to their systems. In fact in a PDC class Bill Mollison once said, “if you give a Chinese man a pond the size of a tea cup, he will put a fish in it”.
Today I did an update video of my gardens that surround my largest pond. While not directly connected the pond is the magic that truly empowers the gardens. Today we talk about that and more.
Join Me Today to Discuss
- Why you’d want a garden pond anyway
- Beauty
- Habitat
- Fish (food or aesthetics)
- Reserve water
- Aquatic plants (edible, profitable or otherwise)
- For an aquaponics component
- Ideas for Ponds of various sizes
- Stock tanks (plastic or galvanized) 100 – 800ish gallons
- Wood frame ponds 500 – 2500ish gallons
- Concrete poured ponds – limited by budget and skill only
- Spill trays – the one I am working with is 250 gallons
- Preformed pond shells
- Above ground swimming pools – big bang for the buck – can be free
- Lined in ground ponds – bentonite or pond liners
- Stocking the Ponds
- Minnows
- Snails
- Shrimp
- Goldfish/Koi
- Pan Fish
- Catfish
- Anything that works
- The things no one thinks about
- High mineral mulch
- Predator and pollinator insects
- Breeding fish for true sustainability
- Bait tanks
- Holding tanks for eventual dinner fish
- Income potential
- Dealing with climate types
- In the ground is the best
- Deeper is better
- Solar heating should work
- Pump to the small, heat there and return
- Shade is always good, including floating vegetation shade
- Use local fish or fish that DGAF about anything
- Final Thoughts
Resources for today’s show…
- Follow Life With Jack on Instagram
- TSP Facebook Group
- Join the Members Brigade
- Join Our Forum
- Walking To Freedom
- TspAz.com
- TSPC on Discord
- TSPC Group on Telegram (group chat)
- TSPC Telegram Channel (just messages from me)
- Jack on Parler
- Jack on MeWe
- Join Me on LBRY
- And it Stoned Me on SongFacts.com
- Videos
- Song of the Day (Chill Out Week) – And it Stoned Me – Van Morrison
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Appreciate the video walkthrough of the garden beds – interested in a walkthrough of the status of the greenhouse hyrdroponic setup and of the aviary. Thanks for the inspiration!
Beyond your past videos who are the best people / resources for a system similar to your timber frame pond? 12x12x6 (4′ below grade)
Beyond the initial build what is the maintenance cost and requirements of such a system?
Thanks for the sharing.
I’m interested in a source for the spill trays you mentioned jack
Jack got a deal off of facebook marketplace.
250 Gallon Spill Containment Tray, Part N-42114, 222.99, shipping looks terrible more than doubles the price they might be out of Fort Worth.
https://www.plastic-mart.com/product/6686/250-gallon-spill-containment-tray-42114
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5P7lwqNOZc
Good Luck.
Yea the are really expensive I would not buy a new one it was a good luck kinda deal.
I’m trying to fin a 8’ round stock tank in my area (south Louisiana). Not having any luck except for the blue one or galvanized.. shipping is very expensive. So I may settle for the 300 gallon Rubbermaid from Tractor Supply.
I’d go 8′ galvanized first. Hell line it if you feel the need. So much more water and space!