3 aquaponics ideas to consider this week

[Paul Trudeau]

Hi friends,

 

3 ideas I thought folks might want to consider in this last week of the year:

 

1. Join the Aquaponics Association, if you haven’t already.  As you may know, this is the organization established in 2011 for people doing all types of aquaponics.  Its mission is to promote the benefits of aquaponics through education and outreach. We have a Sacramento branch, although most of our activities locally so far have not specifically been under the auspices of the organization--yet.  There’s much more we could do in the coming year, if folks are interested.  See http://aquaponicsassociation.org/

 

2. Join the California Aquaculture Association:  this is the organization of fish farmers statewide.  They put on the State Fair exhibit and represent the interests of fish farmers to state government, etc.  When aquaculture and aquaponics interests coincide, their presence in the Capital could very well be a help to the aquaponics community.  In recognition of the increasing numbers of people doing aquaponics, most of whom are hobbyists, CAA now has a hobbyist membership category at a much lower cost than their regular dues.  And if you sign up before January 1, dues are even less.  See http://www.caaquaculture.org.

 

3. Check out this university aquaponics course:  http://aquaponics.com/page/uwsp-introduction-to-aquaponics-course.  It is offered jointly by Nelson & Pade and the University of Wisconsin (Dr. Chris Hartleb, Professor of Fisheries Biology & Co-Director of the Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility).  The course involves 2 full online lectures per week for a semester, starting in February.  There are also weekly online discussions with the instructors. You can leave it at that, or you can also add on a 3-day in-person lab session at the end of the course in May at Nelson & Pade’s demonstration greenhouse in Wisconsin*.  I took the initial offering of this class last spring, including the in-person lab, and learned a ton.  Lots of different people and organizations offer aquaponics training, each with its particular strengths.  I’d say the strength of this one is breadth and depth of scientific information from people with decades of experience in aquaponics.  Syllabus for the course is attached.

 

*and if you do decide to make the trip to Wisconsin, you can get the most out of your travel dollar by also checking out Growing Power and other aquaponics projects in Milwaukee on the way.  

 

 

Just some ideas to take or leave as you see fit. 

 

Paul