Veggie's random garden

               

The old pond being turned into a growing bed.
Pic. 1 as it was 3rd May
Pic. 2 - this morning with carpet!
Pic 3 - Now. Getting there slowly. All pond liner, bubble wrap, carpet and table top have been removed. Two barrow loads of wood ash from the bonfire pit added. The other piles are gravel from the bottom of the pond.
The next step is to lift some wood slices and drop them into the pond. Some of these slices are in Pic. 4 - they were stepping stones but became very slippery when wet. 
The gravel and woodash will be spread around to fill the cracks.

           

Today's progress and a change of plan.

Dug up the first drum of wood and rolled it into the middle of the pond. Unfortunately, its so thick that the top is about level with the sides of the pond. It can stay there and become a "feature" as its too big to remove. At a guess, most of the other drums will be as thick and, therefore, not suitable for going into the pond. They'll be stacked somewhere to dry out. In case you're wondering, they're too big and heavy to go on the log splitter.
I've started dragging the surrounding soil into the pond and more wood ash has also been added. 
The change of plan - once I have as much "soil" in there as I can find, I'll make planting holes filled with compost for courgettes and squashes. Hopefully, they can spread over the ground and produce a few courgettes, whilst making lots of foliage that can be left to compost in situ.

   
I've given away the old water pump as it was getting in the way. Sorry to see it go but, it was given to me some years ago by a man who bought my old car. I went to his house to deliver it and did the obligatory tour of the garden. He had an underground rainwater storage tank and used this pump to extract the water for the garden. His house was about to be extended and the tank had to be moved so he asked if I'd like the pump. How could I say No? He still has my car as I see it in his drive when I go to Morrisons.

Progressing nicely with your pond deconstruction   .
I wish I was closer to you, I’d of bitten your hand off for that water pump.   .

You would have been welcome to it, SC. Dread to think what the postage would have been if I'd sent it.

       

Added some grass cuttings to the old pond and cleared part of the "path" around the far side,

       

The dry pond, planted with 16 courgettes and squashes 3 days ago.  There are some spare plants on the log in the middle - in case of failures.

Veggie you might be able to supply the church food bank with your excess courgettes, if in fact there are any excess ones. where's your challenge pumpkin? I've only got 9 courgette plants, I can't live up to your example.

My challenge pumpkins are tucked up warm in GH3 - they're thinking about showing their heads out of the compost!. I'm a late starter.
Some of the pond plants are Cha Cha winter squash - don't want you to think I'm growing 16 courgettes - although there are 5 more in another place and about 6 more to plant out somewhere. I like courgettes.
I have a similar number of cucumbers looking for a space!

I had 2 cucumbers last year that produced more than enough for the 2 of us. I planted out the same this year but one died on me. I've told the survivor that it will have to work extra hard to make up for it's mate. There are a few cucumbers developing on it now - hoping for the first in about 10 days to 2 weeks.

My cucumbers & courgettes weren't good last year, in fact last year wasn't very good, full stop. I've sown far more plants than I need this year as an insurance policy. I'm expecting to be picking Beth Alpha cucumbers soon too. No sign of any courgettes yet though.