Tohislegionsofreaders,GeneLogsdonisbestknownastheContraryFarmer.Hiswritings,whichblendcommonsenseadvice,curmudgeonlywit,andrespectfortheearth,aremannatoanyonewhowantstolive,asLogsdonputsit,“atnature’space.“ThePondLoversisLogsdon’sodetothewaterymicrocosmsallaroundus,fromthehalf-acrefarmpondtothesuburbangardenpool.Readerslookingforhands-onexperiencewillfindplentyofpond-keepingdosanddon’ts.Logsdon’shigherpurpose,however,istoproclaimthenatural,spiritual,andrecreationalbenefitsofponds.Fedbyspringorfilledbyrainfall,thepondsclosesttoLogsdon’sheartneedminimalhumaninterferenceinthewayofmachineryorchemicals.ThosewereadaboutinThePondLoversmostlybelongtoLogsdon’sfriendsandneighbors,anextraordinarilyresourcefulgroupofpeople.Forthem,apondismanythings--fromaplacetofish,swim,orskatetoanoasisforlocalplants,insects,andanimals.Eachpurpose,Logsdonshowsus,hasitsplaceinathoughtful,self-sufficientlife.Throughout,LogsdonalsoremindsusoftheintensepersonalconnectionstopondsofsuchcreativegiantsasClaudeMonet,AndrewWyeth,andHenryDavidThoreau.Drawnfrommanyandvariedlifetimesspentaroundponds,ThePondLoversbrimswithlessonsandopportunitiesforgoodworkandgoodplay--forbackyardnaturalists,do-it-yourselfers,andarmchairgardeners.
