Tootfinder

Greenhouse update!
Got the roof finished. Ridge cap was a challenge oddly, but we got it there. A bunch of the facia is on and other trim. Some more windows. Getting there!! Oh and we put up the rooster wind vein!
#poolpomd #backyardProject

you can cone if you want Rain! i have beaten you!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

frame down. first wall next! pray for calm air! 😝 🙏 #poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

when a picture is truly worth a thousand words..... or in this case.... screw caps. 😭
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

four corners!
getting that first corner myself was....... time-consuming lol.
going pretty quick now, though!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

they changed the forecast. no wind and we have a wonderful layer of fog keeping the sun at bay! If this can just last for the next four hours I should be able to get the second shed built!!
wish me luck!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

the walls are up! it is (mostly) wind proof now so that's comforting. unfortunately the sun has emerged and it's hot.
taking a break.
Not sure if Ill get the roof on today but we'll give a good college try!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

aaaaaaaaaaaand done!!!
It only took about 10 hours of solid work. 😝
And thats with prior knowledge from assembling one 2 years ago!
@… is happy.
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

back at it this morning after sleeping in a little. got a bit of a sunburn on the neck and back yesterday! But all good today.
weather is perfect. Just a little wind and nice partly cloudy cool day.
the roof is happening! this is the easy part... the most annoying is yet to come, the sliding doors 😂
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

alright, reached my 2:30 time limit.
might have had the roof on but realised the back too support was inverted so had to flip that. Everything is a million screws 😂
Not sure what super humans can put this together in 3 hours. But I will have to come back to it tomorrow morning hopefully befoee the rain!!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #home #portalberni

trenches are not my favourite
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy

give me strength to conquer this today!
#backyardProject #DIY #poolpond

me: hey wow this actually turns so nice on the rocks!
my back: ummmmm
(also me: look at that new perfect roof line for a solar panel!!)
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #landscaping

Oh and my bald spot is peeling.
Wear a hat folks. 😆
#backyardProject #DIY #poolpond

rock down.
rock tamped.
horse pad down!
ready for the shed which is arriving 3 days early! woo!
It takes a full day to assemble though so no new shed pics today.
first, I have to take everything out of this shed and probably unscrew it from the mat so that I can turn the whole thing 90°
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #landscaping

Today’s mission has been achieved!
Mounted the pond pump controllers in the shed! I will eventually run the wire to the back of the shed and bring the wires in from there.
And the new shed appeared! I remember putting the other one together. It was a long process. And it needs to be dry and Not Windy!
It might be a few days before that can happen!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #landscaping

3hrs of work.
feels like I barely got anything accomplished but i know thats not true and there are results. Got the windy part down to 18" and managed ti start on the small Ts for the patio and greenhouse.
really wanted to be done today but tomorrow will be another day and I can definitely get it ready for the plumber.
now to shower... to eat/drink... and hopefully nap
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy

Well, I made a good dent before the fog burned off and the time alarm went off to get onto other things. Got my workout. 🥵 💪
Just got to have it absolutely done by Monday, but I think I can definitely finish it tomorrow. 🤞
Got electrical conduit and wire yesterday! Plumber comes Monday afternoon!
#backyardProject #DIY #poolpond

Nearly 60 year old Grumman canoe hung in a new spot on the new fence. Some things were built to last! 🛶
#canoe #backyardProject

one man's scrap is a another man's perfect fit.
corollary.
"you have a huge piece of thick underlay that would easily fit that entire area! Why don't you just do it in one piece?"
"why would I do it in one piece when I could use up 10 pieces? 😆"
ground is level or at least as level is it is going to be under my supervision lol. Laying down some gardening cloth to keep out blackberries mostly. Next I will put down drainage rock which will bring it to the right level to put down the rubber horse mat, which will then be the same height as the other shed
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #landscaping #wastenotwantnot

proof of life after the first evening dip in the poolpond. 🏊
It was *chilly* getting in. 19.5°C according to the unicorn. 🦄
But once in, quite divine. Did a few "laps" which is a generous term when it is only about 2.5 body lengths long 😂
the water just feels good to be in.
#backyardProject #pondlife

i didnt get a chance to take a picture of today's progress while it was still light!
look how cute the greenhouse is in the dark!! 🥰
working on the plastic sheeting tomorrow!
#greenhouse #poolpond #backyardproject

the skies have opened! retreating inside. Got some more rock down. #bcstorm #poolpond #backyardProject #diy #landscaping #wastenotwantnot

the wind was threatening my thrifty waste usage before i had the chance to get drainage rock down! deploy big rocks! 🪨
Sky is looking threatening. There is lightning off the West Coast this morning.
#bcstorm
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #landscaping #wastenotwantnot

just cleared some of the rocks I had stored along the edge of the pond. Use them for some of the rocks under the shed since it doesn't matter if they're dirty.
At the same time doing the scariest thing in pond making.
Cutting a liner away.
It's sort of like taking off training wheels. You're not sure if things just gonna collapse lol but you're pretty sure it's OK
#bcstorm #poolpond #backyardProject #diy #landscaping #wastenotwantnot

4 walls up! didnt have time to do the roof and sheeting so that will be next weekend :) happy with our progress though. need a few more materials to finish it
#poolpond #backyardProject #pondlife

rock.
so tired of moving rocks 😂 🥵
the base is down for the greenhouse.
now working on the patio BBQ area.
gonna see a man about a trenching machine later. To bring water and power from the house.
#pandemicpond #backyardproject #diy

greenhouse begins!
#poolpond #backyardProject #pondlife

no exaggeration this is the
best wood you can get! 8ft yellow cedar 2x4s I know a guy! Best prices on the island! <$500 for 38 boards! might have a greenhouse by the end of the day Monday!
#poolpond #backyardProject #pondlife

so sometimes you build a thing and then you go.... um. that was a little bigger than planned.... well, that might be the greenhouse.
But i guess that just means taller tomatoes and room for a banana plant? 😝
got the two main walls up! Poly-plastic sheeting and the roof tomorrow!

#poolpond #backyardProject #pondlife

got the treated wood "foundation" nice and level and square thanks to an expert on the job! 2x4s and plastic sheeting tomorrow! #poolpond #backyardProject #pondlife

moved dirt for 2.5 hours this morning. Doesn't really look like I did much 😂 😭! levelled the area in front of the shed in readiness for reorientation of that structure 90°.
Then spent most of the time finding the level in the back corner and gradually extending the dirt out toward the middle. It's coming along.
We will need to rehang the gate door so that it opens out to the alley instead of inward
#poolpond #diy #backyardProject

nothing distracts from a #tradewar like digging!
this last extension of the trench is not fun. I am about halfway there! thankfully it is partly cloudy and relatively cool. good trenching weather.
it would be cool if electricity could wire itself... preferably wirelessly. ⚡️
#poolpond #backyardProject #DIY #gardening #solar

THE TRENCH IS DUG
a video
Doing some final measurements to figure out exactly what the lengths are so I can calculate voltage drop for the solar panels.
Good news! The full length is only 97ft! That is a voltage drop of 1.4% for 10/2 wire. Good enough for solar! (2% or under is recommended for micro-inverter based solar installation)
#tradewar #poolpond #backyardProject #DIY #gardening #solar

We’ve decided where the greenhouse and patio will go in the backyard. (Delimited by the four cement pavers on each corner.)
The greenhouse will be 8ftx8ft on the right near the sheds.
The patio area will be 10ft by 10ft with a 6ft gap between it and the side and back fence so there is room for the garden boxes and to move between.
Also decided that the trailer will move back to its spot in the front driveway as it is much easier to access and move in/out from there and takes up far less room.
Where the trailer is will be a little green area, maybe a wildflower patch? with a tree and the chicken coop.
Will start leveling the two squares nicely tomorrow and put down fabric and stone.
I am not going to build the greenhouse. Hoping my extremely skilled FIL might do that part for us. He built a greenhouse for his yard that is beautiful.
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy

Had a decent sleep last night after a long day. Got up before 6AM so that I could start the sprinklers on time.
(We are allowed 6-9AM/PM alternating days but I only water in the mornings because watering when it is still 32°C at 8PM is dumb)
While they were going I got going on another dirt-moving session. Over 3 hours! The sun was blocked by clouds for much of it so that helped a lot. Managed to get the space cleared for the 2nd shed. The whole back part of the yard is nearly level. It’s amazing just how much lower one side of the yard was from the other!
Another couple days of moving dirt and leveling and the dirt mountain should be spent!
Lunch and naptime. 2000 calories burned 😝 💪
Started to feel some pains in hands, thumb, back. Body knows… so I stopped :)
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #dirt #portalberni #clay

got very spicy outside all of a sudden. definitely storminess incoming.
flag is good tho! 🇵🇸
#palestine #freePalestine #gaza #endgenocide #israel #BDS
#bcstorm #poolpond #backyardProject #diy #landscaping #wastenotwantnot

moving dirt this morning before the sun gets too hot.
It's supposed to be 34°C with a humidex of 36 this afternoon. 🥵
It is only 20°C in the shade right now so time to get a good dent in the pile before I melt.
Current interim goal is to level a space equal to a little bigger than the current grey shed so I can put an identical one beside it either back-to-back or face to face.
The shovel mark in the top of the dirt pile to the left is the width mark that I have to clear to. 😂 We'll see if I get all the way there today! Watch says I have put 73min in so far.
I also need to convince the boy to help move the rocks from around the pond into a central pile. Pile location is TBD tho. 🤔
But it needs to be done so I can shore up a couple of low spots on the edge of the poolpond and in general start landscaping the edge of it.
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #landscaping

made a good dent in 2.25hrs
one more half hour stint and then I'm done for the day. Sun is getting high and hot! 🌞
The goal is to turn the grey shed in the picture 90° so the door is facing to the left, then get an identical shed and place it facing the first shed with a gap in the middle to get things in and out.
AND THEN... because the roof lines will face south, put solar panels on top of both. 😊 ☀️ ⚡️
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #landscaping #solar

work... worth it
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening

Pipe and electrical wiring going in the trench!
The plumber came today with the water pipe so this is all very exciting. Now that I, back to work I don’t have much time except in the evenings and weekends but we’ll get everything in there and cut to appropriate length so we can cover up the trench!
Yay!
I had a minor panic when I realized I originally, with our old shed, used 3-conductor wiring for the Enphase inverters. But this time I bought 2 conductor (single phase).
But I double checked the wiring diagrams and indeed single phase is adequate for up to 9 panels.
All good!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #solar

made good progress so far this morning. it is so much easier in the cool of the morning!!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening

branch to the pump in the large pond done!
2 more to go... the sun is starting to break through the morning fog. time is ticking!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening

taking a breather while the sprinkler does its thing watering both the flower/blueberry garden, and the hazelnut tree, and the poolpond itself!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening

got some of the intake bay branch done... but also hungry!
time for leftover burrito fixings. the tomato is actually from the plants on our deck!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening

ok. the branch behind the shed is not gonna happen today. It will be a chore... lots going on there. But got started at least and the branch to the intake bay pump is done.
ready for the plumber tomorrow.
ready for a dip in the clear water of the pool pond NOW 😝 🏊
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening

main trench is complete!!
including branches to the south fence, patio area and greenhouse!
now just need to make 2 or 3 final branches. two short ones to the edge of the pond for each pond pump wire and one long one along the back of the shed to the north fence post for wiring into the shed and to the fence!
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening

GUYS! My FiL, @Tree
and son have been working hard the past couple days in the perfect weather to make progress on the greenhouse and the windows are in in time for #fensterfreitag!
So many little trim pieces for the window frames!! It's looking so great 💕
#greenhouse #poolpond #backyardProject #garden

#silentsunday
(end of today's pond thread) 🧵
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening

there. watering fill
#poolpond #gardening #pondlife #diy #backyardProject

achievement unlocked!
just before I got stuck on the curb, I put the trailer back around in the back!
Managed to move and level enough of the dirt to make a spot for the trailer!
Perfect little spot :)
#poolpond #gardening #pondlife #diy #backyardProject

i was just reminded that the city water is..... not warm... 😂 🥶
gonna dip anyway!?
it's nearing full, full enough for both pumps to be operating well, but family members are having a shower so filling has been halted until they're done.
The poor banana plant in the back corner got a little dry in the feet 😆 😬. Hopefully it's ok. The first plants in the pond always have the toughest job.
The others are looking ok. Marsh marigold is maybe a little too exposed. I will move it to be more under the hazelnut tree. The bug eating plant is not enjoying life. It might perish. Will do my best to nurse it back to life.
#poolpond #gardening #pondlife #diy #backyardProject

oopsie doodles!
Came outside to do some dirt moving only to find the #poolpond intake bay very nearly empty!
I have not been topping up the water since I filled it about 9 days ago? It has been cooler but windy and the last little bit of rain we got was a few days ago.
It must have just got below the level of the intake bay in the past hour or two as it was on its way to emptying. Luckily i caught it in time.
Water is being added now. I am also going to use the twirly sprinkler to water the flower and blueberry garden and it will also add to the pond at the same time in a nice aerated way.
Adding from the hose is not ideal as all that chlorine goes in at the same time
Anyways, crisis averted and information gained. It is already coming back up nicely.
hopefully it is full in time to have a dip after dirt moving!
#gardening #pondlife #diy #backyardProject

Doing some #poolpond math as someone was asking about power usage/cost.
I have been running the pond pumps (Jebao 20000) at 50% normally. They show on the controller to be using around 63 Watts. So that’s 126 Watts total. The pumps run continuously, 24/7.
When we are in the pond, or if I am doing something that disturbs it and it needs a clean, I’ll put them up to 95% temporarily which is 160 W on the display. So 320W total.
I am thinking that in the winter when we are not swimming as much (lol!), and the demands are lower as there is less plant and other growth, I’ll reduce it to minimum which is 30%, which I believe is 15W. So that’s 30W total.
Ok, so now that we have those three modes we can talk about cost and comparison.
Cost: My power cost is based on time of day (cheaper overnight, normal in day, more expensive in evening), so we will keep it simple and say I pay an average of about 11c/kWh.
Comparison: for comparison, since I talk about my #EV a lot, let’s compare to my Kona EV. Which has a 64kWh battery.
Here comes the math:
Let’s say I never do anything but run it at 50%, 24hrs a day and 365 days a year. The math is easy.
63Wx2pumps = 126Wx24hr =3024Wh or 3.024kWh per day
3.0kWh x 365 = 1095kWh per year
1095x11 cents = 12,045/100= $120.45
Or
1095kWh / 64kWh = 17 “fills” of my Kona EV.
Realistically, I will be running these pumps in various configurations and power levels throughout the year. I might even only run one pump at times. I am not sure yet.
But at this point let’s break it down something like:
2% of the time at 95% (320W)
40% of the time at 50% (126W)
58% of the time at 30% (30W)
That works out to:
95% / 320W for 7.3 days = 56kWh = $6.16
50% / 126W for 146 days = 441kWh = $48.51
30% / 30W for 211 days = 151kWh = $16.61
Total: $71.28
If your question is “why is that so much less than running my hot tub like 20 times a year?”… it’s the “hot” part. There won’t be any heating in my poolpond. You swim in whatever temperature it chooses for YOU. 😂 🥶 🥵
Well. That was fun. 🧐
To complete the nerding, I have attached a snap of the user manual with the various pump ratings/specs. It is searchable online for Jebao pumps.
Now you too can have a poolpond!
#poolpond #backyardproject #diy #cost #electricity #power

back around to the backyard and the #poolpond project. got one pad levelled and cloth down for the greenhouse (8ftx8ft). Now levelling the pad for the patio/sitting area and paellero / bbq spot (10ftx10ft)
#backyardProject #diy #gardening #home

early bird gets the worm in the dirt pile. And also the wet boot from the unexpected rain overnight 🤷 🌧️
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #portalberni

The progression of the #poolpond #backyardproject over the past 2 years. I started it on Labour Day of 2024.
The first picture is August 3, 2024 as the last true “before times” picture. We started by demolishing the old shed… but the pond work itself didn’t start until Labour Day that year!
We’re getting there! It is almost starting to look like a backyard again :)
A few important things remain from the original yard. The fence, which was mostly just renewed and heightened for bylaw, not changed. The hazelnut tree, which has dealt wi5 all the earthly disturbances surprisingly well. It is full of nuts again this year. The rhubarb, which is impossible to kill if we wanted to and is as big as ever, and the chicken coop and run, which has been moved around but will find a spot eventually.
#diy #patience #gardening #landscaping

well I made the new splice, and the pump came to life!!
But the controller is not responding to inputs 😢
It seems to be locked at 90% power.
I don't know if I have fried the controller so it is only partially working, or if this is still due to a poor connection through the extension.
When I was making the last splice, I was noticing that the extension cord wire is quite blackened. This could be preventing a good connection?
Well at least it is working and circulating again. I am going to find another extension cord to use and see if the wiring looks more pristine.
#poolpond #DIY #backyardProject #chores

it's gone! Dirt Mountain has been flattened.
here's a couple before and after shots.
The close up shots of the pile are between this spring (May) and today.
The wide shot is from the beginning, Labour Day 2024.
And today.
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #portalberni

2nd #poolpond pump is back up and running!
Spliced in a new (old) extension cord.
But I actually think the previous one was OK as well and I had just misconfigured the controller and didn't know how to reset it because of the --shall we say-- less than English instruction manual 😂
all good.
Onward!!
Main job now: Finish levelling the whole backyard dirt pile and start landscaping!
#diy #backyardProject #gardening #pondlife

Here's the overview. 😝
#pandemicpond #poolproject #backyardProject #diy #tools #cars #ev #trailer

back into the trenches, literally. I'm continuing to get the trenching done for electrical, internet, and plumbing out to the shed.
If anyone sees this who has experience with home fiber networks I would be interested in their advice. Our home is mostly wired with CAT5 but there are increasingly heavy bandwidth loads over the past few years.
We have 10Gb fibre to the house from Telus. I would like to gradually add a few ports of fibre to key points but it is out of my day to day networking experience.
First question would be, can I bury fibre with the electrical?
suggestions welcome.
here are some pics. I have dug this trench before, almost 20 years ago.. when we first put solar and power to the old shed. 110 and 220V circuits.
different route this time arohnd the ponds, and also more connection points for both 220 solar and 110 home. Only want to do this once every 20 years at most, so now is the time to do it all. 😝
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #networking #fibre #cat5 #gardening #home

impress the neighbours.
use a big level.
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #ants #anthill

well that was one of the best $112 I have ever spent for 3 hours of labour! Got it back just under the 4 hour-wire!
The backyard is a bit of a disaster again!
But it's all part of the process.
If I can get ahold of an electrician and plumber reasonably soon then the trench will disappear fast.
I will need to hand dig some parts that were too tight for the trencher, and make sure the whole thing is down 18" minimum but I'd say that thing just saved me 15 solid hours of digging!
#pandemicpond #poolproject #backyardProject #diy #tools #cars #ev #trailer

in all the #pandemicpond and #poolproject shenanigans since 2021, there has been one tool that has played a massive role in making it both possible, and fun.
This utility trailer is the best car-thing I have ever bought!
Is the Kona EV rated for towing. No.
Did putting a trailer hitch on void the warranty? Not officially 😝 and its well past now.
This thing has been so damn handy! From cross country camping trips to hauling 400kg of rocks, it's done it all!
New toy rented today! Welcome Tony the Trencher Machine to the party!
(I rented the metal ramps too.
theyre not cheap to buy)
#backyardProject #diy #tools #cars #ev #trailer

foaming!
I cleaned out the waterfall of gunk and most of the small stones and gravel leaving only the large rocks placed as strategically as I could to leave small gaps for foaming.
1.5 cans worth of landscape foam (DAP). I think I got all of it, but water always finds a way so its probably more like 75% if I'm lucky.
Ill let it cure for 24hrs then Ill trim some of the excess and reactivate the waterfall tomorrow to see what it looks like. It should make a big difference no matter what.
#poolpond #backyardproject #diy #gardening #portalberni

ran out of steam but good progress!
the area in front of the sheds is pretty much level and I got the dirt pile down to level up to the edge of the sheds. I think another 5 or 6 loads cart loads of dirt will finish off the pile and bring then dirt up around the back of the pond!
my back was starting to complain and the sun came out so I stopped and ate black berries poking through the fence!
then I went for a swim. It felt sooo good.
#poolpond #backyardProject #diy #gardening #ants #anthill

alright, job #1 for the day done -- dishwasher filled as much as possible (we can't do dishes in the sink due to a busted faucet pipe!)
job #2 -- update mastodon -- also done.
Feeling good…..
job #3 -- now to try again to splice in an extension line for the 2nd #poolpond pump. I'm apprehensive... feeling like it is probably not going to work and that I'm missing something else, or that the pump itself or controller has gone bad (due to my actions). I'm going to try to shorten the existing extension as much as possible in case it is something in the line or the length. If that doesn't work, I’ll use a brand new extension cord for the extension. I'm also nervous because the line I am extending is not long (thus the extension!) and I'm going to run out of cutting space at some point -- ruining the pump. : (
wish me luck.
#DIY
#backyardProject #chores

A little discouraged this afternoon as I spent part of the day adding extension wire into the 2nd pump as I had the first.
Two tries on both ends splicing in the cord and both times the pump fails to start with a low voltage on the pump-side error. 😢
Hate losing a day… but also unsure where the problem is. If it’s the pump, my splices, or the quality of the extension cord spliced into it (it is the other half of the same cord used to extend the first pump.) Really hope it is not the first! But the other two options suck too because it is an annoying job to do the splices.
Bummer.
Also after the foaming in, it looks like I still missed a significant gap somewhere. Only redirected about half the water. There is a lot more coming down to the end of the waterfall which is good. Still lots coming out the bottom under the flat rocks.
I think I am going to try splicing in a newer extension cord another day since that will kind of answer both the splicing and cord questions at once.
For now though, no extra bottom poolpond circulation/sprayers, just the main pump. And I still have 1.25 cans of foam to use, so I will plan for another day of foaming when I can take a super close second look at where the water is going that it shouldn’t.
Can’t all be successes. Like computer stuff 😝
Onward!
My outdoor office was fun tho. 😊
#poolpond #backyardProject
#diy #pondlife #success #failure #life