Editor’s Letter

More About Legacy

Sure, this magazine is all about helping people become better stewards of their land and water. I remember when Pond Boss was conceived in a Texas Whataburger restaurant, founding editor, Mark McDonald and I came to several conclusions. First, we knew this idea needed to be birthed. Secondly, we wouldn’t be one of those hook and bullet publications. We wanted to help people take better care of their waters. Third, we concluded we’d lend nothing toward solving world hunger or peace in the Middle East, so we should have some fun doing this.

Last issue’s Editor’s Letter touched a few people. We don’t get many comments about content, but last issue received more than a handful, several of them about the Editor’s letter topic—legacy—and just in the last month, my legacy building continued as I watched a grandson graduate from high school and a week later head off to Air Force boot camp. In the midst of that week, a brand-new grandchild entered the world, a sweet baby boy—number ten for us. Mixed in there was a middle of the night phone call from another family member, distressed to the point of suicide. We talked through it, for now. Maybe it’s not appropriate to talk about that in this column, maybe it is, I don’t know. In the wake of celebrity suicides maybe we should see it coming. We see the celebrations, the graduations, and the new births; maybe we should see the hard stuff, too. Most all of us are touched by these events, these new beginnings, new chapters, even new books in this journey on Earth. With the joys, there’s the other. Right now, my heart smiles about the joys while my mind lingers on that other. Each one of us will leave a legacy. We’re building that legacy right now, right this moment, based on our beliefs and our behaviors.

Meanwhile, back at the pond, we received several complimentary comments about Dave Beasley’s article last issue. I had little trepidation in publishing an article about blue-green algae, other than some scientific journal we’ll never read, what better place than these pages? The problem is real; the science is new and as it’s put to work, solutions become clearer.

This issue of our favorite pond rag is once again loaded with good stuff. I’d like your feedback, please. Email info@pondboss.com with your constructive thoughts about content this issue. In the masthead, I always have a friendly plea for stories from our readers. And, we get some good ones. This issue, read about a family project in northern Kansas in the midst of corn country. A new lake along with a series of afterthoughts and fluid decisions, a unique ecosystem was carved into a farmland greenbelt. Otto spins a yarn about reviving a fallow spot of land, one with an old pond that new owners deemed a comeback. I read a master’s thesis close to my heart as it was formulated from science data gathered from one of my favorite private lakes. Even though it seems to zero in on the stomach contents of fish, it really doesn’t. You’ll see what I mean. Michael Gray guides us through one of those tough projects he tends to do, and the outcome was serene. Dave Beasley shares some lessons from fish kills. That’s pretty timely, considering this summer is on its way to record heat in much of the country. I have a story called “Loose Ends,” where I make a feeble attempt to tie a bunch of the pond management concepts together. Lots of us understand some of the pieces, but not all of us truly understand how those pieces come together to make a tapestry. Ty Kleeb, rapidly becoming a reader favorite, reflects how he fished the spawn to catch some amazing fish. You’ll want to read this story again next winter. Bird Man Mel revisits repelling squirrels. Dr. Neal shares the impact of taking kids fishing—or the consequences of not taking kids fishing. Dr. Boyd has more thoughts about microbes and our waters, and how that science stuff works where we can’t see. Dan V is all about attracting waterfowl this time of year, and Bruce Kania, from Montana, challenges us to do something with fathead minnows that everyone but Bruce deems impossible. The Fish Professor shares his tutorial on the freshness of falling rain; Eric West talks about fast growth in new waters, and Kid’s Korner keeps our little ones informed—and some of us big ones, too. Because of a question on one of my weekly Facebook Live broadcasts, I dig into the depths of the different types of pond water amendments, minerally-speaking. Yes, on most Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30 cdt, I do a live broadcast on the Pond Boss Facebook page. You are cordially invited. It’s interactive, too. Ask questions, and I’ll answer them. We have a new concept this issue. I’ve asked associate editor, Beth Lahaie, to offer some thoughts about water. This issue, beyond the biology, beyond the science and engineering, Beth shares the next chapter and a totally different use of peaceful waters. Last, and certainly not least, I’ve got my mom’s favorite peach pie recipe. We cooked it, let it sit—but not for long.

I can’t say it enough—we deeply appreciate you and the fact you support Pond Boss. In our way, we do what we can to support you with the best information out there, sharing real working concepts and experiences that you won’t find at the University of Google, no matter how hard you look. Thanks for being a key part of our expanding Pond Boss family. Oh, if you have a friend or neighbor, or anyone with a pond or lake, let us know their address. We’d love to send them a free copy of the magazine, compliments of you.

Fish on!