Catching the waterbug

The glory of the backyard is it's the spot where the amateur gardener can try to turn their own dreamscapes into reality, digging and building - contented no critical eyes are scorning such bumbling until the triumphant day when the bumbler can invite visitors in to be astounded by another miracle among the marigolds.

And for those who do not delight in getting down in the dirt nor feel compulsion to concoct their own anti-aphid emulsion but are lush with the green of dollars, there's the option of hiring professionals to turn one's fancies into waterfalls and fountains.

Jevon Griffin is one of those pros, a London contractor who builds and restores backyard "water features." He's a stonemason by trade and stone is his passion, but more of his business is being devoted to backyard ponds and waterfalls.

"We're doing five to 10 (projects) a year now and it's growing," Griffin says. He and his crew of three have just put finishing touches on their biggest job yet, a restoration and expansion of a full-backyard effort - with three waterfalls - near Woodstock.

"We brought in skid after skid of stone. The whole installation, including my work, probably cost about $60,000."

At the other end of the scale are two neighbours in northeast London, the Devries and the Halls. They have been close friends for almost 40 years, so much so they have a common rear gate, framed in an archway of cedars, joining their two domains.

John Hall figures he has spent about $1,700 to create his backyard waterfall and pond that has become a daily communal bath for flocks of birds and a sort of mini-Niagara Falls honeymoon destination for dozens of amorous toads and frogs.

John and his wife Verna did the spadework along with Verna's equally energetic brother, a Nova Scotia contractor, and Martin Devries.

Actually, the pond was a collaborative effort from the beginning.

"Three years ago, our backyard swimming pool literally disintegrated and 35 tonnes of water poured through the hedge," John Halls recalls. "There was Martin - the first time I'd ever seen him in shorts - wading around his backyard scooping up his fish all over the place."

Fortunately, the inundation caused no more than consternation and the disappearance of the Halls' 33-year-old pool, leaving a bed of compacted beach sand.

It gave the Halls an ideal spot to create their water feature in 2009, a shallow pond about five metres in diameter with a 1.3-metre-deep centre.

Farming Algae Biodiesel From Backyard Ponds

From the last couple of years interest in Algae Biodiesel alternative fuels produced from algae biomass have exploded onto the global stage. Indeed, some are even starting to call 2010 the “Algae Evolution”. Incredibly few organisms on earth offer you as significantly potential or have the potential to radically modify our lives as we know it.

Some speculate, that all life on the planet came from algae a 1 cell organism. It’s clear that within the next several many years algae derived merchandise stand to revolutionize the way in which we conduct our day-to-day lives. Here are just a handful of of the approaches whereby algae is going to adjust the way we live our lives.

So why would you even think about growing algae to produce algae biodiesel? Algae grows really fast, and this is a enjoyable project you can do in your backyard with tremendous reward. Consider growing your own feedstock to make biodiesel for your vehicles that you drive every single day. Now consider just how much you spend every month on fuel for those automobiles? Now, you see this really is a project that pays you back.

The materials you will need to get your algae pond project started are all off- the- shelf items for example, pond liners, covers, water, pvc pipe a full list is available in the instruction manual. If you are fortunate enough to have alot of land, then choose a sun-drenched location. Bear in mind you will need electrical power at the location, so make sure it is a location where an extension cord or electrical line can be easily placed. Once your site is selected determine the shape of your algae biofuel open pond. Many people feel the best design for the algae pond is definitely an oblong or one that is longer than it wide for ease of up keep and care.

When you have your design you can begin initial framework of your pond then strengthen the frame with pipe before introducing your liner. Once your liner is finished just clean up any loose ends such as clipping any excess from the liner and securing any last minute items such as electrical power and fill your pond with water.

Now you can inoculate your algae pond with a local or regional strain of algae in your area, or you can order a strain from algae providers who will supply you a ideal strain of algae. Keep in mind if you’re growing algae to make biodiesel you will want algae which has a relative high concentration of oil such a spirulina. You can have access to a large algae strain suppliers list.

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