A funny and honest look at the art and science of keeping water where you want it.”

Building a pond sounds simple — until it isn’t. How Not to Build a Pond is part memoir, part manual, and completely real. Drawing from years of hands-on experience, author Susan Trott takes readers through the pitfalls, surprises, and quiet joys of creating and maintaining a koi pond that actually works.

From filtration mistakes to wildlife surprises, design revisions to hard-won serenity, this is the book that speaks to every pondkeeper who’s ever thought, “How hard can it be?” and found out the answer the wet way.

Inside you’ll find:

• Real-world lessons from a decade of pond building and rebuilding
• Water chemistry and filtration explained simply (and with humour)
• Seasonal care tips for cold climates
• Reflections on the connection between water, patience, and beauty
• “Not a coffee-table book — a survival guide for pond builders with a sense of humour.”

A practical companion to How Not to Build a Pond, this guided journal helps pond owners document their systems, track water quality, and follow the life stories of their koi.

It includes dedicated pages for:

• Daily, weekly, and seasonal maintenance logs
• Water parameter tracking
• Fish records and growth notes
• Reflections on pond life through the year

Perfect for beginners and seasoned koi keepers alike, it turns pond care into both science and storytelling — because every pond has its own rhythm, and every koi its own tale.