A representative sample is important in soil testing. . A pond can be very desirable if located in the right place. Size is a consideration. Size will depend on the intended use and land area available to drain into the pond. Unless the pond is fed by a spring each acre of pond surface requires a bout 20 acres of drainage area above the pond.
Soils are important in pond construction.
It appears that this year is a better nut year than last year. There are different treatments for nut growing depending on the species. Other species, like the walnut, red oak, black oak, and pin oak produce dormant seed. This means they need to be exposed to a period of moist cold called stratification. Stratification can happen in the soil or in storage.