Floating Islands Dress Up Farm Ponds

Floating Islands Dress Up Farm Ponds FARM HOME Miscellaneous 31-4-20 Anyone with a farm pond will want to take a look at these new BioHavenÖ Floating Islands û artificially produced mini ecosystems that benefit water, fish and wildlife, according to inventor Bruce Kania of Shepherd, Mont. Best of all, they can be a beautiful addition to any body of water. Floating islands occur naturally in some lakes. BioHaven islands simply give nature a helping hand. Plants and trees growing on the islands draw nutrients and pollutants from the water, cleansing it and improving water quality û especially in waters where there is heavy contamination. Fish nibble the roots which extend down under the islands, and they also find shady cover there. The additional plants bring with them insects that provide food to the fish, and increased microbial activity that helps cleanse the waters. The many different benefits of real floating islands are what prompted Kania to develop his patented man-made version. He researched and tested the product for several years before recently putting the do-it-yourself islands on the market. Besides enhancing water quality, the floating islands can be used to provide lake bird nesting sites, for wave reduction, erosion control or just to beautify the pond. Islands are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They're made from layers of recycled shredded plastic which is bonded together with adhesive marine foam. They're extremely buoyant, flexible, and can support a lot of weight, Kania says. Installation involves covering the base with a special proprietary mix of soil and other ingredients, and adding plants of your choice. According to Kania, it takes two people about 2 1/2 hrs. to completely plant and launch a 250 sq. ft. island. Plant roots grow through the porous, filter-like material, reaching down to the water below. "The islands can grow wetland or terrestrial plants like sod and conventional garden plants, which opens the door to many unique possibilities," he adds. "Vegetation is self-supporting and functional in any waterway. If you prefer islands that don't move around with the wind and water currents, they can be anchored or tethered in place." Floating Islands International currently has two licensed manufacturers û one in New Mexico and one in Montana - however the company is in talks with more than 20 other potential licensees all over the world. The floating structures can also be used to create walkways, piers, docks, jetties, or to provide support for picnic tables, floating stages or gazebos, Kania points out. The suggested retail price for islands is $29 per sq. ft., not including planting materials or vegetation. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Floating Island International, LLC, 10052 Floating Island Way, Shepherd, Mont. 59079 (ph 800 450-1088; questions@floatingisland international.com; www.floatingisland international.com). The Canadian distributor is Canadianpond.ca Products Limited, 513 Knowlton Road (Highway 104), Knowlton, Quebec, J0E 1V0 Canada (ph 450 243-0976; info@canadianpond.ca; www. canadian pond.ca).

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