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Comment by Mike & Mary on March 22, 2017 at 12:32pm

Just took the class, luved it! Cant wait to get our farm up n running

Comment by Dave Lindstedt on February 26, 2014 at 7:16pm

Good to hear from you, Dave.  By now, I have learn a lot of this is trial and error with a great deal of error. Been here in FL since 2006 and this is my first freeze FREE winter!  I manage to swap some dragon fruit plants for 3 banana tree "pups". I am looking to set up an orchard with bananas, papaya, and figs.  Just completed 3 raised in ground organic grow beds, where I planted tomatoes, squash, cabbage, and brussel sprouts.

One of the members from our co-op farmer's market put together an excellent planting calendar for our section of zone 9.  So now planting tomatoes in Feb and not May! 

Comment by Dave & Yvonne Story on February 26, 2014 at 6:59pm

Dave,

Great to see you are doing GREAT.

Papaya grows great for me, but only one fruit

I tried the wet paper towel technique for kiwi.. out of 50 seeds, none became seedlings

Comment by Dave Lindstedt on February 26, 2014 at 6:46pm

Gina and others, whereas this group is about

Comment by Dave Lindstedt on March 11, 2013 at 4:02pm

It has been a while, since I posted anything.  Today we just installed our 16th 4x8 DWC grow trough for a total of 512 sq.ft. of grow area. I have given up on coconut fiber as a grow media and I am now using nothing but lava rock.  I now start all my seeds on damp/wet paper towels in plastic "take out containers" from Cracker Barrel. They work great and I'm getting almost 100% germination.

Thanks to the "Suncoast co-op" for marking my products, I am starting to build a coustmer base. Not getting rich but finially starting to produce some income.

Problems.. tomatoes and peppers have been disapointing.  120 day grow time to maturity, is too much time wasted for poor maturity. I am now looking to plant only items with 75 day or less grow time. This would permit 4 crops per year. Lettuce is my big money maker at this time.  However I have been propagating Fig trees and Dragon fruit and looking to start growing papaya, for resale.

I would like to hear from others as to sucessfull products for them.

Comment by Gina Cavaliero on March 11, 2013 at 10:08am

Howdy!  Wow its been a long time since updating about GAA.  Its just because sooo much has been going on!  Between managing the farm, the AA, our educational program and new projects, the time just flies by.  Here's a recap since my last post in July.  Yikes!

In June of last year, I spent a couple wonderful weeks in Denver helping build the commercial system at the GrowHaus with JD Sawyer of Colorado Aquaponics.  What an incredible experience it was.  From unique challenges in the build like a concrete slab that pitched nearly a foot across the length of the greenhouse, to raccoons and crazy heat it made it a memorable time.  But perhaps the best part was getting to spend day after day working with a tremendous group of people, from JD and Tawnya, to Sean, Rick, Terri, Avery and more.  Good times.

After that, it was time to concentrate on the AA conference and then our Fall sessions in Denver.  Meanwhile, the farm was just chugging along.  While I spent much of the summer and fall on the road, Tonya managed the farm and dealt with close calls with hurricanes, tons of summer rains and lettuce blights.  Needless to say, we were glad when hurricane season and the summer ended.

In September and October I was back in Colorado. First it was for the AA conference and then for our Colorado classes held at the new Colorado Aquaponics farm at the Growhaus.  Both were a great success and another 80 something farmprenuers joined the Farm Revolution.  After that it was time to return home for a good while and concentrate on the farm.  Ed, Tonya's brother joined us in October and has been an incredible help on the farm. Since then we have added on a new vertical install, added a 256sqft wicking bed, and built a rocket mass heater that heats our main greenhouse.  Just recently during our Florida farming class, our students just helped to add onto our existing vertical system.  What's next?  More verticals, me thinks!

Another big change was the decision to finally transition to Koi as our primary fish stock.  After the third winter of sluggish cold Tilapia, we brought in nearly 1000 Koi, 961 to be exact and our Tilapia are going to be the guest of honor at our first ever Farm to Fork Dinner event.  This event will be May 5th, where we have partnered up with one of our restaurant clients and proceeds will benefit a local food bank called Hungry in Hernando.  We are expecting a great turnout and are lining up entertainment and sponsors. If you would like to join us for this great event, details are coming soon!

What else? Well there's the AA's Tour de Tanks that we are getting fired up for next month too.  We are proud to offer tours of our farm and help the AA's mission of promoting aquaponics.  We want to help everyone get their aquaponic on!  

Also, just last week we supplied over 1000 heads of freeze damaged lettuce to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo and helped feed nearly a dozen Manatees sickened by the latest Red Tide outbreak to affect Florida coastlines.  Unfortunately this event has killed more Manatees then any previous Tides and numbers continue to climb.  Read our blog coming out later about how Green Acre's greens will help some ailing, gentle Manatees.

Whew!  I think that's about it. The farm is rocking and we are looking at expanding in a new and exciting way. We'll let you know about that as soon as we can!  We can't wait...  Keep it green y'all.

Gina 

Comment by Gina Cavaliero on July 9, 2012 at 12:34pm

Its been a terribly long time since blogging and I am glad to say I have finally resurrected Green Acre's blog this week.  Stay tuned for weekly blog posts from Green Acre AP!  Today's blog - Why Experience Matters  http://greenacreaquaponics.com/?p=616

Comment by Meg Stout on May 8, 2012 at 7:19pm

Fun article!

Comment by Jay Wolf on May 8, 2012 at 10:54am

I am so happy for you Gina!!!!!  Congratulations on the good pub!!!!

Comment by john tramell on May 6, 2012 at 1:21pm

Great article Gina congrats way to go.

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