Building A Pond: Disking, Raking and Seeding

If you have been following me for a little while, you know that we have been involved in a major pond building project.  So I wanted to give you an update!

Although the basin and banks were finished a few weeks ago, our wooded area adjacent to the pond was too wet to work.

Until late last week! 

We worked like crazy people, taking advantage of the great weather.  My husband did the final grading with the loader.  Then, we all raked around tree trunks, and hauled wagon after wagon load of big clay clumps and sticks to our ravine.  It was back-breaking work!

Then, we disked and raked the open areas.  A LOT.

To do all the work by hand would have taken forever! 

So we are very thankful for the help and generosity of our wonderful neighbors, from whom we borrowed the big John Deere, the big disk behind it, and that piece of chain link fence with the lumber on top.  In case you are wondering, we dragged that fence behind the Cub Cadet to smooth things out.  It worked like a charm and was SO much easier than raking by hand! 

By the time I had to leave for soccer last night, my husband was just beginning to put down the lime, fertilizer and grass seed.  The neighbor (who owns the pond) came over with another spreader to lend a hand and you can imagine how thankful we were for his help!!  

Here, I am standing at the back of our pasture looking in towards the pond.  You can see the newly green banks of the pond beyond the trees. And if you look closely, you can see my husband pushing the spreader.

An area that was nothing but bog is now a beautiful and usable piece of land.  We’re confident that many in our community will get to enjoy it!   

Don’t worry about the critters that lived there, we didn’t destroy all of their boggy home.  There is still plenty of that behind the pond.

Today, I’m thankful.

• First, to have the project DONE!! 
• Second (which probably should be first!) for the health which enabled us to actually do the work!
• Third, for our friends and neighbors who happily offered their help and equipment, AND encouragement.
• And finally, for the fun (Lol! Can we call it that??) as a community we have had working together.

What have you tackled recently, or are thankful for today?  Come share with us at Tackle It Tuesday, and Gratituesday so we can all be blessed by what God is doing for, in, and through you!