posted 7 years ago
In all seriousness, if you use the pig method that Michael Newby used in the thread that is posted above, there seem to be a couple of key variables. First, you'll need a slow trickle of water down into your pond site so that the pigs can create a wallow. It doesn't look like there is a nearby water source during the dry months so you might need to run a hose out there and connect it to a pump or some other means or drawing water. I wouldn't imagine it would take much -- even a slow trickle would gradually fill that space over time. Larger rain events would hasten the process considerably.
Second, the gleying process is a combination of rotting vegetation, pig manure and the bacteria that naturally occurs when these first two ingredients are smashed down into the muddy wallow by the pig hooves. Any kind of biomass would work, but for simplicity sake, a couple of big bales of grass, hay or straw would work great. I once saw them seal a pond in Iowa years ago just using lots of mowed grass and weeds. If you knew anyone who runs a lawn service and bags their grass clippings, that would work fantastic. Basically, as the pigs are wallowing in the mud, you continue to provide food and continually add a layer of green biomass around the edges growing pond. They'll roll around on this like any animal would lay on straw in a barn. As the water slowly rises, the pigs mash that biomass down into the mud, poop all over everything, and seal the pond with this slurry of poop and bacteria.
Third, Michael integrated ducks into his pond system so that there would be an ongoing layer of poop being added throughout the year.
Comparatively, his site looked like nothing but fine stones and sand. Your site looks much more promising. Its crazy that from that, he was able to create a pond and a rich ecosystem that surrounds it.
Best of luck.
"The rule of no realm is mine. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, these are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail in my task if anything that passes through this night can still grow fairer or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I too am a steward. Did you not know?" Gandolf