nclivingwaters

Barley straw was a well kept secret by farmers for decades.
A few bales in the cow pond kept the algae in check. Today it is readily
available through pond suppliers in the form of mats and rolls, but can be expensive
for straw. Local feed/farm supply stores might be a good first place to look price wise,but you will have to purchase an entire bail.Then just pull some off, tie up in a small cloth bag,and toss in pond.Again,it must be barley,not wheat or alfalfa straw.I prefer the use of a UV(ultra violet)sterilizer,but there is cost and installation to consider.I first used a UV about 6 years ago,and the water turned from "pea soup" to qrystal clear.Good luck!! Rusty