January/February 2017

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it? Another year just flew by! I surely hope I don’t sound like an old person saying that, but really, I think time is picking up speed.

Are you are resolution maker? I’m not. But if I were, I’d have a few things on my personal list of things to do better this year. I think it’s a better idea to do a New Year’s “work resolution.” Now we’re talking. It’s always good to better yourself, but not work yourself to death. So, PONDer that for a few minutes as we start the new year. Do you want to be more efficient at work? Do you hire more people or take a good look at what takes up most of your time during the day? Do you feel you work too much? That’s a resolution in itself. Take time to stop and smell the roses a bit, and figure out how to do that and still run your business efficiently. Whatever you decide, we here at POND Trade wish you a healthy, prosperous 2017.

Get ready, because we’ll kick off the new year in our next issue with the results from our first annual Water Artisans of the Year Contest. The response has been enormous, and we are so very excited about revealing the big winners. You won’t want to miss it!

We have some good reads in this issue, too. With every new year, one thing is inevitable — tax season is looming. [Link Here] Mark Battersby is back this month with some important year-end tax tips that delve a little deeper than the basics of Accounting 101. It’s a must-read for any business owner looking for tax savings, as we all start to think about preparing our returns.

If you’ve ever wondered how you might become more “at one” with your pond, you’ll also want to check out “Walk on Water.” [Link Here] Kent Wallace explains in detail how to create beautiful floating steps within a pond, and his article just might inspire your next install. Shane Stefek answers the age-old question, [Link Here] “How Many Koi Can I Have?” and the answer may not be what you think. You’ll want to check out his pond design tips, especially if you have customers who seem to think that more is always better. [Link Here] Frayne McAtee has a great story on the “heart” of the pond — also known as the pump. Or as Frayne says, a pond’s pump design actually dictates everything from water clarity and quality to fish and plant health. Finally, this issue’s cover story [Link Here] appropriately considers a “fourth pond season” that many of you could be missing out on. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean “chilling” by the pond has to be out of the question.

Happy PONDering!