Hopefully you've read Ellen Beaulieu's meaningful and important article on "Chuck In The Bucket" in which we explore what a "Chuck" actually is, and how a water feature can be many things to many people. Sometimes you meet people with a single idea of what a fish is, and what a water feature is. It's a singular thing and there's one interpretation. NAWGS disagrees.
We think the pond keeping experience can be anything you want it to be. NAWGS won't discriminate. You can be a NAWGS club even without the word "Koi" in the name, even without Pond in the name! If you support water features and the proper care of Chuck in whatever his bucket may be, participate with us!
Everyone has their own perceptions about things in life - from their definition of a "fun time," to what it means to be a good parent. Here at NAWGS, we realize that these differences in perceptions certainly extend to ponds and other water features. In fact, one of our primary reasons for coming into existence was to acknowledge, validate and celebrate this wide-ranging diversity.
Chuck In a Bucket
Picture a silver pail with a handle, filled 3/4 of the way with water. Add a miniature cattail jutting above the rim and a small goldfish swimming happily inside. And voila!Éyou have a water garden that would make many people happy. You hear the excitement in their voice and see the pride on their face as they proceed to tell you about their fish named Chuck.
Someone else with a more advanced system sees Chuck the fish, in a bucket, and would argue, "That's not a water garden!" as they pull out a picture of their 4' x 6' preformed pond, they exclaim, "This is!"
Then, another hobbyist comes along and pops open his laptop computer to proudly show the digital pictures of his 20' x 30' gravel-bottomed water garden, and announces, "This is how it should be done!"
The Common Thread
It's well understood by NAWGS that all of these perceptions are correct, and that the common thread with every one of the people in this example is that they all have a water garden. The person with the little fish in a bucket enjoys the hobby just as much as everyone else and has every right to be excited about his fish, Chuck. NAWGS' mission is to be a complete and dynamic resource, supporting hobbyists at every level on an equal basis. We are dedicated to making this wonderful hobby even greater than it already is, which includes helping make Chuck happy.
Sharing and Learning
Through the NAWGS website, as well as local club meetings, the proud owners of Chuck can meet with other water garden enthusiasts to share stories, get new ideas, and find any information they might need. They can explore other people's water gardens, and others can see Chuck's bucket. Perhaps someday Chuck may outgrow his bucket and need a bigger home. With access to solid, accurate information his owners will be well prepared, and he may very well find himself in a larger water garden, swimming with a few new friends.
~ Ellen Beaulieu , President, North American Water Garden Society
