What to do with an endless supply of water?

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by SaraR.

Good to know! The water belongs to us, it is bordered by BLM land. There are no ponds and no fish that I know of, it's 25 acres so we haven't hiked it all yet.

The stream feeds into another property but it is a very strong stream. So they still keep about 25% of the water which is plenty for them. Husband spoke with them. They also have a stream below their property which they derive water from.

We are considering a pond, mainly to raise fish we can use in dog food. The easiest alternative which can create animals to use in dog food is our best choice.

In the West, if you don't have water rights filed with the state, you don't have the right to use the water. There should be a Water Master with offices at your local county courthouse or possibly the state capital. Talk to them.

Info about what state you live in would be helpful.

[SaraR.]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

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Info about what state you live in would be helpful.

Sorry so late. It is California. There is one artesian ground spring, A firemans hose was hooked up and it shoots alot of water. It runs freely to some friends/acquaintances of ours down to their house below so we won't use all that water. It may go further to other houses, I am not sure.


Another artesian ground spring has less water so it's being hooked up too so we use it as another water source for the goose pond & greenhouse pond.



We also have water coming from our mine located on the property but so far, haven't chosen to do anything with that water. It could be contaminated but many in town drink from the mines nearby as it is piped into their homes and haven't had issues. Live long lives.


The County, and the former property owners (it was in their families posesion since 1910) have no idea about any water on the property thus we got this land very inexpensively.



Across the county road is about 1/4 acre of flat land with a ground spring too. That's where the majority of the 20 acres are.
We may eventually build over there.

[SaraR.]

We've decided to build a greenhouse adjacent the house with a waterfall and fish pond inside. We'll also grow some vegetables inside using dirt from the manure pile but will not buy pay dirt. So it will be a while.

The waterfall will go into a few ponds, one feeder fish pond, one larger pond for the baby trout, and one for larger trout. Our chickens will sit above it as their "coop" so they can poop into the fish and feed them while they are there in the evening. The trout will be used as our dog food for 2 German shepherds.

We will also be feeding the fish maggots (by placing meat in a bucket with holes so chickens can grab at them while sitting there on their perch. It will be dark so the chickens won't eat alot. Some maggots will fall down into the pond to feed the fish too. We'll also feed both our chickens & fish worms from the compost pile. Chickens will free range during the day. We'll be supplying them with extra calcium from shells we'll crush from the beach and some grains. Grow some of their fodder (greens).


This way we'll save close to $100 a month on dog food while having a nice relaxing 12 x 12 pond and some veges growing inside the greenhouse. We may also have geese as pets and food for ourselves with a small pond outside.

And we met someone who will install our hydropower going to the house. My husband already ordered Solar Panels and batteries but this means we'd have power all year.



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