With the year already halfway over, the world continues to deal with a lot of unknowns and uncertainty. Since we last met, things have gotten a tad better, at least. I live in the Chicagoland area, where we’ve moved into the next phase of reopening. These are all baby steps, but I have to admit that they feel oh so good. Who knew I could feel like such a queen just by eating outside at a restaurant?
While a lot of us may want to rewind the clock and go back to the way things were before the lockdown, it’s important to try to keep up with this “new normal” and make it through these uncertain times together. I’ve actually gotten word from some of you that things are booming, with more people staying at home and improving their yards. After all, if you have to be at home, why wouldn’t you want to sit in your yard and enjoy the sights and sounds of flowing water?
Others of you may be coping with the economic slowdown, with clients holding onto their money or manufacturers facing production issues. Regardless of the role you play in the pond industry, I hope that you are faring well, or that things start to look up soon. We are all in this together, and we will make it through this together.
We’ve got your back here at POND Trade with a knockout issue overflowing with content curated just for you. Did you see the cover? That was super fun to design, and the cover story—Preventing Koi Theft—is a must read. (Geez! Not only do we have to worry about herons and raccoons — we also have to watch out for two-legged creatures with an eye for thievery!Jamie Beyer looks below the surface at sediment and how it can accumulate in a waterscape—Muck? Yuck!”—in a piece that could prove helpful in your quest for crystal-clear water. For the marketing gurus out there, Mark “MJ” Wilson gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his his company’s video streaming operations. And for those of you who maintain ponds and features, you won’t want to miss Demi Fortuna’s steps for diagnosing water loss—The W.E.T.S. Spot.
Happy PONDering!