Location

[Nate A]

Hi I am Nate from Harrisburg area, I am currently trying to bring aquaponics to downtown Harrisburg in a workshop/educational style medium.  Just wandering where all our PA members are located, and a little personal info about your involvement with aquaponics to get us all a little acquainted.

[Elyse Schmitt]

Hello Nate, 

 

My name is Elyse and I am a student at Allegheny College, we are doing a lot of research here in Meadville, PA about how to incorporate the systems into middle schools and market places as well as looking at mass produce - but I would say our focus has been on middle school application.  If you need contacts let me know, or just opinions I can help you out.  If you want to make a trip I think Cheyne University in Philly has a herb mass production aquaponics system that you could observe. 

 

Good luck 

[Nate A]

I could certainly use opinions and contacts.  I am looking at adopting a block in Harrisburg that has a vacant lot.  The lot will then have a small greenhouse with a couple different mini systems to show the versatility of aquaponics, as well as a donations built compost heap, some recycling bins and since water and power cant be provided we would also be showcasing solar and manual energy as well as rain collection.  I believe getting the schools involved is of incredible importance and I have heard that schools in the area would be interested.  I am not sure what contacts to ask for but anyone involved with any form of aquaponics in PA.  Any shared info on your research would be very appreciated, however I do understand if that is not available.  Maybe any other research on side-by-side comparisons with soil gardenening? Or statistical studies?  Thank you for the Philly info, I just may have to go check that out, and a thanks again Elyse.

[Elyse Schmitt]

I am witing my senior thesis on case studies of commercial aquaponics businesses (1 in Chicago and 2 in Milwaukee), I will be completing this in march and I would be happy to share this with you, if you could send me a reminder then that would be great.  I have a lot of information if you have any specific questions.  

 

That sounds like an amazing project, they are starting something similar in Erie, Pa, they were given some land by the local government and they are looking to do a similar project.  I will try and find their contact information, they do not have a web site up yet.  

 

Where are you looking to recieve your funding?

 

elyse 

Nate A said:

I could certainly use opinions and contacts.  I am looking at adopting a block in Harrisburg that has a vacant lot.  The lot will then have a small greenhouse with a couple different mini systems to show the versatility of aquaponics, as well as a donations built compost heap, some recycling bins and since water and power cant be provided we would also be showcasing solar and manual energy as well as rain collection.  I believe getting the schools involved is of incredible importance and I have heard that schools in the area would be interested.  I am not sure what contacts to ask for but anyone involved with any form of aquaponics in PA.  Any shared info on your research would be very appreciated, however I do understand if that is not available.  Maybe any other research on side-by-side comparisons with soil gardenening? Or statistical studies?  Thank you for the Philly info, I just may have to go check that out, and a thanks again Elyse.

[Samuel Robinson]

Nate,

 

I've only got about 6 or so month of experience with AP, but a good contact with plenty of expertise in the management and general horticulture/hydroponic arena is Mark @ Hydro-Ponics in Lemoyne. Good peoples!  

Also, you might want to contact the Green Urban Initiative folks to see if they have any lots or plots that they would like to roll AP into.

I work at the Naval Support Activity in Mechanicsburg, but I'm usually free on the weekends, if any additional assistance is required.

[Chris & Laura Coulson]

Nate,

My wife and I have a small indoor system down here in York,  and we are going to go commercial.  Check out www.coulsonaquaponics.com  

 

We are working on the commercial business plans for selling produce to locals through farmer markets, and direct to restaurants and chefs.  We already have a few orders, but the plants are taking their good ol time growing.

 

We also intend on selling diy and complete kits, trainings, workshops.  We may even get into schools.  Imagine kids planting seeds for some school project, learning about it, watching them grow.  Then taking a field trip to some commercial/non-profit place and then having them plant into an aquaponics system.  If they do well, they can take the results home to the parents to eat.  Granted, most kids dont want to eat greens, but maybe if they grew it themselves??

 

Elyse,  I would be interested in checking out your thesis on the businesses for your area.  That may be just what we need to acquire some funding.

 

I would second Mark @ Hydro-Ponics, he has plenty of supplies and knowledge of growing.  Mark made mention of a local university or college doing a small aquaponics system, don't recall it's been sometime.

 

Just be careful, most hydroponics places I have been to claim they have the best nutrient solution available, and try to it sell to you.   

 

[Nate A]

Hi Samuel,

 

Thanks for the response, I actually do know Mark, he helped me quite a bit this past summer when I first started getting involved with AP.  The GUI is having a board meeting this month that they have invited me to so I can share my ideas and possibly get some funding or use their non-profit status as a launchpad for what I wish to accomplish in downtown.  I currently have a friend contacting some Penn State alum to get some info on state or federal grants as well.  The purpose of the downtown location is educational and I really cant wait to get kids involved in this process, they will be growing up with knowledge I am only now learning and have the potential to grow and better these systems over a lifetime.  If ever you are interested in meeting up to talk about aquaponics, and possibly the future of Harrisburg(as I fully believe it has a great future headed its way and I want to be apart of rebuilding a great capital city)in the arts, agriculture, and business, please hit me up, I am located in New Cumberland so very close to almost anywhere on either side of the river.  Typically i have my Sundays free.

 

Hi Chris,

 

I would love to come check out your system sometime if that is an option, I really am interested in starting an aquapon business for the Harrisburg area, and before I commit to a very large fee for an out of state workshop/class I would like to see as many local systems as I can.  Thank you all for your responses and again if anyone mentions something that you feel is worth checking out then I certainly will.  To anyone who is interested, this is a very neat article http://www.changinggears.info/2011/11/16/converting-empty-buildings...

 

Elyse,

 

Any chance that those case studies are Growing Power, last I heard they are based in Milwaukee with a satellite in Chicago.  Specific questions I am not completely sure of what to ask, maybe what type of system they are using, raft/deepflow, NFT, media based, or wicking.  They may not apply to PA, but what if any grants they applied for.  As for my funding that is still in the works, as I mentioned above a friend is contacting some people at PennState to get pointed in the right direction, I am awaiting the meeting with one local non-profit(Green Urban Initiative) and would certainly like to find more non-profits in the area.  I am almost done putting together a presentation for this meeting, the last page I am fleshing out is a donations/needs list to get started by the end of Winter.  I will also be joining the Aquaponics Association which promises the ability to apply to the Association as a Branch for funds to set up community projects and to promote aquaponics at community functions, events or school.  Sort of slowly putting some money aside to join both the association and the Harrisburg Young Professionals.

 

Thank you all again for your responses and good luck to all your ventures

Samuel Robinson said:

Nate,

 

I've only got about 6 or so month of experience with AP, but a good contact with plenty of expertise in the management and general horticulture/hydroponic arena is Mark @ Hydro-Ponics in Lemoyne. Good peoples!  

Also, you might want to contact the Green Urban Initiative folks to see if they have any lots or plots that they would like to roll AP into.

I work at the Naval Support Activity in Mechanicsburg, but I'm usually free on the weekends, if any additional assistance is required.

[Nate A]

I also wanted to add, if anyone is interested in talking aquaponics and/or community involvement, please feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[Nate A]

Just started a fan page for Harrisburg Aquaponics on facebook, please like, comment, suggest, criticize, or spread the word.  Thanks guys

[George Moreo]

Hello Nate,

My name is George. I just starting dabbling in Aquaponics about a month ago. I have 3 + years of Hydroponic experience, figured Aquaponics was a natural progression.  

I have a simple flood and drain system right now that i'm cycling, got my first readings of nitrites today, but plan on adding a lot more as money and time permits. I'm located in Brodheadsville PA, west end of the Poconos. I work in retail so my schedule is all over, but if you need a hand I'll be glad to help on some of my days off.

[Timothy McMaster]

Hey Nate! I am located in Northern York County.

Have 2 systems running presently. One in a small greenhouse (55 gallon drum/barrelponics) and one in the basement (200 gallon tank, f/d media bed).

I got into AP as an off shoot of 'prepping.' But, found myself more into the self-sustainability and naturalness of it.

[Dana Choate]

I am pretty new to AP. I am in the process of setting up a system. I was hoping to get some updates from AP growers here in PA. I noticed this group hasn't had any postings in a while so I thought I would check to see if anyone is still active in this group. Give a shout out and if you have a few minutes please tell us how things are going with your PA AP, perhaps some recent photos if you have them.

I am located in Mechanicsburg. I have a family of 10. We are in the process of turning our in-ground broken swimming pool into an aquaponics green house. When I get my system up and running well and reliably I have a couple of friends who are restaurant owners who would be interested in buying my produce.  

Some of you mentioned bringing aquaponics to school. Have any of you been successful in this area? Chris Coulson mentioned going commercial. Have you been able to do that and how is it going if so?

I hope all is going well for each of you.