This might start out like the reading of a hot dirty novel but hear me out: Aquaponices How My Garden Grows: It’s addictive and all consuming! The sweet smell of blossoms with all their color, gr…

[Becky Coburn]

This might start out like the reading of a hot dirty novel but hear me out:  Aquaponices How My Garden Grows: 

 

It’s addictive and all consuming! The sweet smell of blossoms with all their color, green fruit, boldly firm, promises of juicy sweetness and then even splashing water! 

 

It was and is overwhelming to say the least.  I am hooked!

 

Now, I had to sell the idea to my other half.  I was so excited; I wouldn’t hide my enthusiasm or wait any longer to share the great news.

 

At first my spouse had trouble seeing the vision though all my excited chatter.

 

But the fresh green life of veggies pulled my love in.

 

Dirty novel no!  This hobby is fun and should be a way of life for many.

I/we started off with a 3’ X 2’ Styrofoam raft added on top a small koi pond.  I added lettuce starts to the holes and within days the theory of Aquaponics was proven to us.

 

I couldn’t keep my hands out of the water!

 

Hubby & I bought two used IBC units, cutting one of them and building the bell siphon in one afternoon.  

 

We added water and let it run, proving the drain cycle worked with no leaks.  Adding 1000 pounds of pea gravel purchased from Lowes on a pallet for $35 dollars was labor intense for one of us.

 

Adding lettuce starts to our grow bed was just the start; we soon where planting celery, broccoli, tomato, cucumbers, beans and even Stevia.

 

We learned to add seeds in a straight row using a toilet paper strip right in the gravel bed.

 

After a few days we added a bag of feeder goldfish along with   

A quart of liquid seaweed.  So, then we waited.

 

As the cycle spike hit, we lost a few of the weaker fish.   This was disheartening but yet anticipated.

 

The plant starts and seeds grew quickly with the help of the seaweed and new fish.

 

As life became evident so did the signs of plant deficiencies.

 

After some research and help from the forum we gained a new awareness and an appreciation for patients.  We learned the ability to wait calmly, evaluating the maturity of our system.  To see the season and our systems ability.