With summer right around the corner, all I can think about is hot, sunny days by the pool. Sipping on something cold, catching a much-needed tan, and being in the water as much as possible! But, for many of us (myself included) having our own swimming pool is just a dream. However, what if I told you that you could literally construct a swimming pool this summer using bales of hay? I know, it sounds strange and confusing! But, once you see these hay bale swimming pools, you will probably change your mind pretty fast! These are absolutely brilliant!
What are hay bale swimming pools?
Much like how bales can be used to create the foundation of a house, they too can be used to construct a swimming pool! Of course, extra points if you happen to live on a farm with easy access to some bales. Either way, these hay bale swimming pools are affordable and easy to construct. And the best part? You get to keep cool all summer long, without having to leave home!
Check it out:
If you’re still a little confused as to how the above swimming pool was built, read on to learn how you can make your own hay bale swimming pool. If you think the idea is silly, it’s really not. There’s even a national Canadian water polo athlete who built one for herself!
Athlete builds backyard pool from bales of hay
Meet Kyra Christmas. She’s on the Canadian National water polo team. After spending her time in full time training in anticipation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, coming home when Covid-19 hit was difficult. Kyra wanted and needed to keep her training going, but of course, social distancing meant pool closures.[2]
“Being out of the pool for over a month was just a bit too long for me. So I was looking at, like, buying above ground for the first time and I realized that none of them are deep enough to tread water. So my parents were, like, well, we can come up with a better solution than that.“
Kyra Christmas
Luckily for Kyra, her father works in construction. So, knowing exactly which tools were needed to construct a new pool was a simplified process. They decided their pool would be about five meters long, 2½ meters wide, and two meters deep. And, it would be made out of hay bales! The best part is, in just two days, they managed to construct their pool, all from stacked bales of hay, double-lined tarps, and about four truckloads of water.
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So, how can you build your own?
Well, it’s a given that you’re going to be needing hay bales. You’ll need to decide how large your pool will be, and find out how big the bales are that you are able to source. If you live on a farm, you probably already have access to bales rather easily.[1]
Cover the ground in double sided tarp, and then build a “wall” of hay bales around it. Remember to rest the bales on the edges of the tarp.
Next, you’ll need to cover the bales with tarp. Make sure to tuck it in over the edges. Using rope, you can rap the exterior of the pool to keep the tarp in place, without risking a puncture.
Straw and hay can be sharp and puncture the tarp. make sure you patch any holes with heavy-duty tape before you put water in it. Better yet, if you can afford it, purchase a softer bale such as Alfalfa (also known as Lucerne). You’ll have less chance of punctures. But, ensuring you double or even triple layer the tarp might be enough to keep any holes from forming.
Last but not least, add water! If you can’t get a truck to bring it in, you may have to do it the old fashioned way with a hose. Your pool doesn’t have to be super fancy to work, either! Just keep holes in check and enjoy the summer in your very own affordable DIY pool!
If you’re looking for some more inspiration, check this video out!
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Sources
- “How To Build A Hay Bale Swimming Pool DIY Tutorial.” Fab Art DIY
- “Water polo athlete builds backyard hay bale pool to train for Olympics.” CBC. May 6th, 2020.