Aquaponics as an Energy Source

[Green Acre Aquaponics]

Aha!  I prbably got lots of you with that title!  Hehe.  You are probably wondering what in the world I am talking about.  I know it is a bit deceiving, but its what came to mind as I wanted to blog some more about my aquaponics experience.  Aquaponics has certainly been a personal energy source for me, hence the title.  Lately, I sleep little and talk a mile a minute.  Its like a caffiene rush after drinking 13 RedBulls but without the jitters.  Not that I have ever drank 13 RedBulls, let alone even one, but I imagine it would be something similiar.  Interestingly, the only thing I can attribute this incredible, boundless energy I now have is to aquaponics.  I must admit, during the construction phase of our farm, in the middle of the blazing summer, I didn't experience this incredible vivacity that I am experiencing now.  So now I must ponder the source.

 

Certainly, part of this derived energy is just from the sheer excitement of having our farm up and running, but I think it is much more than that.  I can barely contain my enthusiasm when talking about aquaponics, not that I would want to anyway. I don't think I have ever had such a compelling topic to discuss.  I have yet to meet and/or talk to one individual that hasn't found it interesting, fascinating and just flipping cool!  There's nothing better than watching the expression on people's faces as they enter our greenhouse and see it for the first time.  I am wondering if I need to post a sign that says, 'Watch Your Step', because most of them nearly trip over their jaws that are dropping to the floor.  Today's tour and visitor was incredulous.  An educator for many years, she was visiting in response to our efforts to solicit the school department's interest in starting an aquaponics program.  It didn't take much persuasion; really it took none at all.  This high school English teacher who also is the program director for the after school and at risk child program is completely on board.  As an accomplished grant writer, she wants to help us secure funds for our integration of kids and aquaponics.  Sweet.

 

But back to my original blog topic. Could it be possible that this energy is somehow a direct result of my daily interaction with the aquaponics system?  Could the serene bubbling from the airstones underneath the rafts and the constant trickling of water passing from tank to tank have some kind of therapeutic effect?  It is certainly enthralling.  Or perhaps its the beauty of the plants growing and thriving and the aesthetic rippling of colors as your eyes pass from trough to trough and then the almost perceptable growth from hour to hour.  Or maybe its the exhilaration from when you toss in the fish food and hundreds of hungry mouths simultaneously burst at the surface.  I do know these constant distractions actually makes being productive quite difficult.  Often times throughout the day one of us has to say, 'Quit playing with the plants!  We have work to do!"  Oh well, if that's a drawback, I guess I can deal with it.  Really though, I wonder if others experience this compulsion to play with their systems and to spend hour after hour around their plants and fish.  I also wonder if anyone else experiences the derived energy from their aquaponics system.  Tonya does but to a lessor degree, but she is much more the laid back personality type, whereas I, years ago could have been a poster child for Prozac.  No offense to anyone on Prozac!  I just used to be a stress monster and a mess of unchanneled energy.  Now, as I have mellowed with,( yes we will call it mellowed and not just aged) I have leaned to let go of the stress and focus my once very scattered self.  Hmmm, I wonder what aquaponics could have done for me years ago? 

 

So in conclusion, I have to deduce that my energy derives from both the excitement of start up and from sharing it with others and witnessing their disbelief that fish just pooing does such wonderful things.  But I think there's more.  Perhaps there is some kind of unquantified energy eminating from my aquaponic system and somehow I am aborbing it.  I think Cosmo would probably say it has something to do with the alien Tilapia and the mother ship.  I'm not so sure about that, but I do know that as long as I have this bountiful energy brought forth by aquaponics, I am going to continue to use it  to infuse, inspire and energize others as best I can.

[David Owens]

Could your energy source be more of a "natural" energy source? By running such a beautiful farm you are in essence creating a micro ecosystem teeming with life. You are growing both plant and animal energies by harvesting the power of the sun. Also you are expanding on the good energies out there in the world by sharing your knowledge with others...not to mention with children. Could there be anything better? 

[Sahib Punjabi]

Nice ;-)

[TCLynx]

Oh Yea,

The Tranquility of watching/listening to water flow.  The smile that watching the fish puts on one's face. The enthusiasm of seeing plants grow and prosper.   AND The empowering feeling of growing FOOD.

 

And that unidentifiable other "thing" I think has more to do with Nature than nay alien tilapia.  Fostering a system with such synergy must provide excess good karma or chi.  Revel in it and do your best to pass it on.  It's an addiction but I think it's a good one