Aquaponic Farmers Cooperative (work in progress) - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T05:02:32Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/aquaponic-farmers-cooperative?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A26103&feed=yes&xn_auth=noExactly ... power is in numbe…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-13:4778851:Comment:869712011-04-13T04:48:13.537ZJon Nosehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JonNose
Exactly ... power is in numbers .. on my small acreage I think I can do 5 greenhouses 30 x 100.. already have neighbours etc waiting to see how it works before they jump on board ...<br />
First need to perfect the system though .....
Exactly ... power is in numbers .. on my small acreage I think I can do 5 greenhouses 30 x 100.. already have neighbours etc waiting to see how it works before they jump on board ...<br />
First need to perfect the system though ..... I think we may have to define…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-13:4778851:Comment:873062011-04-13T03:47:11.419ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
I think we may have to define what we mean by Aquaponic farmer.Will the Cooperative include "all" AP farmers even if i only produce say, 50 lettuce plants per month? If the farm is along the distribution route or close enough to it, with 20 of these types of smaller producers it would mean an extra 1000 plants in the AP pool. If transport and other logistical cost are factored in, a percentage cost can be calculated as a price per lettuce. This would mean that it would cost each farmer,…
I think we may have to define what we mean by Aquaponic farmer.Will the Cooperative include "all" AP farmers even if i only produce say, 50 lettuce plants per month? If the farm is along the distribution route or close enough to it, with 20 of these types of smaller producers it would mean an extra 1000 plants in the AP pool. If transport and other logistical cost are factored in, a percentage cost can be calculated as a price per lettuce. This would mean that it would cost each farmer, regardless of quantity of produce, the same. the Cooperative can also offer AP training to people along routes to increase supply to the terminal end of the route(Outlets) and slowly expand their routes creating an ever growing network. Who knows? this network could possibly reach even myself, here in the Caribbean!...........eventually. Some background first ... I t…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-12:4778851:Comment:867992011-04-12T22:26:56.584ZJon Nosehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JonNose
Some background first ... I think we are looking at a possible financial meltdown .. having said that I am trying to set up an aquaponic system that will take care of first the needs of my family ... from their to take care of the needs of my neighbors .... then look at supplying your small local grocery stores... need to stay away from the big corporate strongholds as much as possible as with their mega hydro systems ...<br />
start a aquaponic associated group ... local ...…
Some background first ... I think we are looking at a possible financial meltdown .. having said that I am trying to set up an aquaponic system that will take care of first the needs of my family ... from their to take care of the needs of my neighbors .... then look at supplying your small local grocery stores... need to stay away from the big corporate strongholds as much as possible as with their mega hydro systems ...<br />
start a aquaponic associated group ... local ... state/provincial/national .. more for strength in numbers but also as an outlet for excess production. Also working together one could commit to one or two products .. ie one does bokchoy another lettuce etc .Local memberships is another possibility.. offers food security for those who desire such a thing ... for non-certified organic.<br />
Are you going to get rich ... probably not .. but if you enjoy what you are doing and can make a decent living ... Could you elaborate more on y…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-11:4778851:Comment:856462011-04-11T17:30:40.584ZIzzyhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/aquaponics
Could you elaborate more on your idea? What benefits does this have for the small farm and their customers?
Could you elaborate more on your idea? What benefits does this have for the small farm and their customers? Depending how big you operati…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-06:4778851:Comment:833112011-04-06T21:27:42.563ZJon Nosehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JonNose
Depending how big you operations are ... start with local ... and expand your market as cash flow allows for increased production... i am leaning more toward the little guys ... your neighbors .. your town etc....
Depending how big you operations are ... start with local ... and expand your market as cash flow allows for increased production... i am leaning more toward the little guys ... your neighbors .. your town etc.... I like the idea too. Setting…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-06:4778851:Comment:828582011-04-06T19:49:53.680ZChris Cateshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ChrisCates
<p>I like the idea too. Setting up originally with hubs handling 150 miles in all directions sounds like a good start, but I think eventually it would be good to shrink that range a little. Using Florida as an example, a hub in Orlando would cover most of central Florida from Jacksonville to Jupiter. I suspect if I lived in Jacksonville I'd be tempted to try to stay closer to home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have we got a list of equipment and space needed for this? Commercial refrigeration facilites,…</p>
<p>I like the idea too. Setting up originally with hubs handling 150 miles in all directions sounds like a good start, but I think eventually it would be good to shrink that range a little. Using Florida as an example, a hub in Orlando would cover most of central Florida from Jacksonville to Jupiter. I suspect if I lived in Jacksonville I'd be tempted to try to stay closer to home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have we got a list of equipment and space needed for this? Commercial refrigeration facilites, packaging, people to package. Would the packaging be at the individual farms, and the produce brought to the distribution facility already packaged? Would this distribution hub have delivery trucks and drivers to get the produce out to the retailers or restaurants?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And if we're going to do all that, why not try to contract with a company that already has these distribution systems set up, such as Sysco or US Foodservice?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> Like your concept...plan on d…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-04-06:4778851:Comment:826452011-04-06T04:22:45.435ZJon Nosehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JonNose
Like your concept...plan on doing the same in my area ...since my small setup is a prototype for the rest it will depend on how successful it is..<br />
Cheers...
Like your concept...plan on doing the same in my area ...since my small setup is a prototype for the rest it will depend on how successful it is..<br />
Cheers... Daniel, your idea is very sim…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-09:4778851:Comment:596882011-03-09T12:23:18.167ZGreen Acre Aquaponicshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/GinaCavalieroandTonyaPenick
<p>Daniel, your idea is very similiar to one we have had for quite some time. I must say, great minds think alike! I think we are both on the right path in thinking that commercail ap definitely needs support in the form of a facility or what we call a 'distribution hub' that would support individual small farms and collectively have more distribution weight and support facilities. The idea of a place that could provide cold storage, transport, distribution and marketing would not only pool…</p>
<p>Daniel, your idea is very similiar to one we have had for quite some time. I must say, great minds think alike! I think we are both on the right path in thinking that commercail ap definitely needs support in the form of a facility or what we call a 'distribution hub' that would support individual small farms and collectively have more distribution weight and support facilities. The idea of a place that could provide cold storage, transport, distribution and marketing would not only pool together small farm products but help solve issues inherent for the small farmer. Already, those are things we struggle with as we operate our commercial farm. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Part of our thoughts on this is that these hubs would be spaced out every 300 or so miles. The distance for local food is generally an accepted 150 miles so the 300 mile span would work. I think your location relative to ours would have your farm supporting the same hub! Of course the challenge not only to this type of infrastructure is not only funding but in order to work, we must have farms. Lots of them! We hold farm tours, do presentations, commercial trainings and talk to people at farmer's markets constantly about this idea so we can hopefully inspire others to take up the gauntlet. So perhaps, in the meantime while you are broke, help advance this idea by just simply talking to as many as you can about it. There is relatively little cost associated with that!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Soon we will begin formulating a business plan for this type of entity and more than likely we will set it up as a NPO. We think this would be the best type of vehicle for optimal funding and operation. Lets definitely brainstorm more about how to make this a reality. Hang in there on being broke, you are very wealthy in spirit and mind. :)</p> Thank you for the encouraging…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-09:4778851:Comment:596552011-03-09T04:06:28.121ZDaniel E Murphyhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DanielEMurphy
Thank you for the encouraging words Harold. Your right. This idea is important to me and I do want to accomplish it. It will just take some more time to save. I pretty much used up my start-up money since I wasn't able to find a job. I have considered grants as well but I am not good at sticking my hand out for free money it seems... I need to tho :)
Thank you for the encouraging words Harold. Your right. This idea is important to me and I do want to accomplish it. It will just take some more time to save. I pretty much used up my start-up money since I wasn't able to find a job. I have considered grants as well but I am not good at sticking my hand out for free money it seems... I need to tho :) Hi Daniel,
Great Idea! Very p…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-03-09:4778851:Comment:599022011-03-09T03:32:29.264ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>Hi Daniel,</p>
<p>Great Idea! Very progressive thinking!. As with any idea we pursue it's about the energy we use daily on the road we travel toward it and not the length of time it takes. If the idea is important to us, the time will not matter. If we keep our mind on the bigger picture it will happen. Ap has allowed me to dare to dream, a dream that i believe in, a dream to help me and others, a dream that will happen no matter however long it may take.Make it happen Daniel.</p>
<p>Hi Daniel,</p>
<p>Great Idea! Very progressive thinking!. As with any idea we pursue it's about the energy we use daily on the road we travel toward it and not the length of time it takes. If the idea is important to us, the time will not matter. If we keep our mind on the bigger picture it will happen. Ap has allowed me to dare to dream, a dream that i believe in, a dream to help me and others, a dream that will happen no matter however long it may take.Make it happen Daniel.</p>