Hopefully you’ve found the prime location for your bubbling boulder oasis. If so, now you can start digging! While it’s not the most rewarding part of the job, it does give you a sense of accomplishment, and the feeling that it’s really happening.
Gather all the tools you’ll need.
Before starting any project, it’s best to think through which tools you’ll need. The below list should cover just about anything you’ll need to dig the pit:
- Durable Shoes
- Sun Hat
- Gloves
- Spade Shovel
- Square Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Loppers (for tree roots, if you have nearby trees)
- Measuring Tape
- Long Board
- Level
- Fluids (to stay hydrated)
Digging the pit takes time.
The pit I dug was about 6’ x 6’ x 18″-24” deep. (It was on a slight slope so the depth varied.) Subtracting breaks, digging time totaled 6-8 hours. It’s a great workout. 
Okay … I just realized I’ve not explained WHY you even NEED a pit. When you read next month’s bubbling boulder post, or possibly the following month’s post, this will all make sense. For now, I’ll give a brief explanation.
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 the view from our front porch Deciding WHERE in your yard the bubbling boulder should be placed is an important decision.
Once the site has been constructed (an upcoming how-to post), and the boulder set in-place, it’s pretty much a done deal. It’s not like flowers where you can whimsically decide to move them elsewhere – just pluck ‘em out of the ground, and plop ‘em into the other end of the garden bed. After all, the boulder will weigh hundreds, maybe even thousands, of pounds. (I don’t know about you, but we don’t have a bobcat or forklift just sitting around the property.  )
In choosing the location, there are five things you’ll want to think through:
1. Proximity to Electricity
Know where your power lines, cable/satellite lines, and any other lines are BEFORE you settle on a location. Some may be above ground, while others are buried. You don’t want to start digging without knowing their location.
On the flip side, you will need SAFE access to electricity.
In an upcoming post, I’ll explain how to run power to the boulder area to operate the water pump. Fortunately, that post will be heavily guided by my husband’s knowledge and experience. If you relied on my [lack of] knowledge and experience, you’d end up in the emergency room or … six feet in the ground.
It’s possible to simply use a GFI extension cord, but I’ll walk you through a more aesthetically pleasing installation where you’ll tap into the electrical power from your house, garage, barn, or whatever the case may be.
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After thinking back on my boulder shopping experience (from 2010), I came up with six helpful tips. If anyone is considering doing a project like this, or already has, I’d love to hear from you.
1. Figure out if you want a natural or formal look.
If you like a natural look – something you’d see in a stream at the bottom of a mountain – look for an irregular shaped boulder. Pitted surfaces, and nooks and crannies are also great natural looking features.
Our bubbling boulder has all kinds of nooks and crannies that allow the water to pool, creating a natural bird bath. I love to watch the birds bathe in it. They also drink from it.
If you like a fancy or formal look in your yard – something out of a magazine – look for a boulder with a strong geometric shape (e.g., square or rectangular) and smooth surfaces. A very round, ball shaped boulder would also provide a nice formal look.
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I’m gonna be completely honest with you. I’ve been a little nervous about this particular post because our bubbling boulder project was a bit pricey. Will I offend people? Will people misunderstand my logic? Will people unsubscribe or unlike? I hope not.
Many blogs are centered on, or have a strong element of, FRUGALITY. Being frugal, if it’s Biblically-centered and not an all-consuming obsession, is very wise. And there are some really great blogs that provide excellent examples and ideas of how to do that.
Being frugal is one way of being a wise steward of the financial and material blessings in our lives. If we find a good deal, and are able to save money, it helps us steer clear of debt. It also provides us more opportunities to help those in need here and abroad.
On the flip side, many times God blesses people in such a way that they are able not only to give, but also enjoy some earthly pleasures. That might mean they’re able to pay for a second car, build a room onto the house, revamp an out-building for homestead critters, or … build a bubbling boulder oasis.
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There are countless ways to put to good use all parts (rind, pulp, fibrous strands, and seeds) of a pumpkin. Here are just a few ways. We’d love to hear how your family uses pumpkins. Be sure to share your ideas in the comments area. Pumpkin Rind
Compost Worm Food
Red wiggler compost worms LOVE pumpkin rind, or so I’ve read. I started my worm “farm” back in March, so this is the first real opportunity I’ve had to feed them this fall/harvest/Thanksgiving treat. They’ll be feasting on some pumpkin rinds very soon.
Don’t have compost
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The LORD is speaking to Moses in this verse. Exodus 17:6a “… Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Click here to read more of this chapter.
Two years ago, I was at a mulch and stone company perusing their onsite inventory of character boulders, in the hopes of finding the perfect one to transform into a bubbling boulder. I was deciding between two boulders, and ended up choosing what I
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