ACWA for June

[Jeremiah Robinson]

Originally posted on Cold Weather Aquaponics.

This post introduces a new feature to the Cold Weather Aquaponics blog: the Awesome Cold Weather Aquapon (ACWA).

Each month, we'll celebrate the contributions of one of our members to the community. Aquaponic growing in the cold is challenging, and it takes a lot of hard work and creativity to design a system right.

We're on the cutting edge here folks, and those who advance the field do us all a world of good.  This is our chance to celebrate them.

Our monthly Awesome Cold Weather Aquapon (ACWA) award will go to someone who grows in cold weather using innovative energy-saving techniques, and who contributes knowledge and time both to this community and their own. Or some of those things.

Feel free to make a nomination by sending the group leader a message.  Thanks!

Our first ACWA is Jim Fisk, owner of Smoky Mountain Aquaponics and moderator of the IBC Aquaponics discussion forum, and regular contributor to the Cold Weather Aquaponics group among others.

Around the forum, Jim is known for his generous, straightforward, and thorough responses to peoples' questions. He calls it like he sees it and isn't afraid to tell you about it.

A truly creative grower, Jim has come up with a number of innovations that help us grow in the cold. Most of these involve re-purposing things gotten for free or cheap. Bonus points if you had to dig for them in a dumpster!

Some of Jim's inventions include the following:

• Homemade bubble-wrap low-tunnels over his IBC grow beds (think enthalpy).
• Simple, cheap, fail-safe bell siphons (for sale on eBay)
• Hinged lids for IBC fish tanks
• Tight-fitting floating grow beds for IBC grow beds
• Creative greenhouse design with fish room, vents, and an insulated north wall.

Here is a video and some pictures of Jim's setup.

If you get a chance, visit Jim's Facebook Page and let him know how much you appreciate his help in advancing the cause of growing in the cold.

And whatever you do, don't tell him it's not cold in Tennessee :)

Smoky Mountain Aquaponics

Greenhouse Aerial View

Bubble Wrap Low Tunnels

Auto-Siphon Kits

Hinged IBC Lids[

IBC Floating Grow Beds

Greenhouse Profile

Greenhouse Plan View