Just the start

River Bed Builders- Just the Start

When I was in the second grade my teacher gave our class an assignment: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? It is a question in which we all ask ourselves at some point in our lives. At the age of only 7, it was clear. I was going to be a pet shop owner. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t exactly clear. But, I did know a few things for certain. I did love animals and plants, and I most certainly loved being outdoors.

Exploring with what I could build with my hands in the dirt and rocks as a child was what I loved to do most. In the library one day, I discovered a book on watergardens. I brought the book home with excitement to show my parents. Looking through the pages, I imagined how cool it would be to have a pond in my own backyard- the fish swimming around with the frogs as they jumped in from the edges. I begged them to let me build one.

My parents were supportive. My mom took me to a friend’s home where they had a watergarden. It was the first time that I had ever seen one in person. It was breathtaking. I was just a boy, but I was inspired. The small pond was filled with blooming beautiful water lilies and colorful koi and goldfish. Frogs jumped in and swam around like little divers. It was full of life.

My dad told me that if I really wanted to build a pond of my own that I would need to dig the hole for it. He would help me with the rest, but for the hole, I was on my own. Now, at age 12, this was a major job, but I was serious, and I meant business. I dug the hole, and the rest is history. Digging that initial hole for each project has gotten easier with practice, but I still get that same satisfaction when I’ve completed a job just as I did that very first time.

Now that I’m all “grown up”, I’ll admit that I haven’t stayed as true to myself as I’d wish I would have. I’ve spent most of my days stuck inside working a job where my passion has fizzled out. When I graduated from high school, I had high hopes of opening my own auto body repair shop. As you can see, my entrepreneurial spirit has always been alive and well. I have pursued that path for some time now, but change is in the winds.

River Bed Builders is my dream coming to life through ponds, streams and fountains. My journey is just beginning. I am truly excited to be working in an environment that I absolutely love. Building beautiful waterscapes that people can enjoy brings such a reward in itself. When a customer is ecstatic about a completed project, I feel on top of the world. Being able to provide that for them and myself is amazing. Who knew following your heart could feel so great!? 


Story by Andrew Johnson, Written with words by Andrea Johnson


River Bed Builders designs and installs waterscapes.  Located in southern Indiana, we install and maintain water features in the Kentuckiana area.  Please feel free to leave us a note and share your passion for water too!