Looking to grow in Ga.

[Scott Eidson]

I'm looking at getting my feet wet with aquaponics, have started gathering water tanks,(12' dia x 54", open top), looking at several options for grow beds, already have greenhouse frames,( 1-30' x 96', 1- 44' x 144'), and abundance of spring water. I want to learn the art of aquaponics before diving into commerical production. I was in live production agriculture, and understand mechanical/ electrical sytems and want to incorporate this into my operation. I plan to be heavier in vegetable production, than fish. I was headed in the direction of hydroponic tomato production but discovered aquaponics. Please point me in a direction for gaining knowledge and direction. I'm pretty handy with my hands and very resourcefull. Any and all comments will be appreciated and considered. Thank you in advance, btw, I've been silently watching and listening and feel you guys have a real insight into the future of agriculture.

 

Scoot

[Daniel E Murphy]

Cool Scott :)  maybe ill see yo there this year :)

[A "Dee". Deville]

Greetings Scoot,and any others that might be interested.I'm a permaculturist at "Gaia permaculture) connected to Sal Spr.permaculture,Koinonia partners,Davis Farms.I have a 8 room rustic block cottage on an 1/2 acre in the Moye estates/Sandhill fort Benning area of Columbus Georgia. I am starting an "Integral Urban Sustainable House", and within this dwelling starting a natural food cooperative that is to serve only those 4 major upscale communities of homes that surrounds this rural like cottage.There are many win wins,and I seek partners and other interests in this project.There are to be aquaponic systems,developing towards semi-commercial sells of various aquatic products,and I look forward to meeting others that have interests in this area,and or may have fish products in the future that would be positive to the co-op.

I welcome all interests.I steward a 14 acre land holdings as well the urban block cottage in Columbus, where there will be Urban farming workshops and permaculture intros conducted soon.volunteers accepted too!.....Peace."Dee

[Scott Eidson]

TC,

 I'm in Carrollton about 50 miles due west of ATL. Washed pebbles/ river rock, no limestone. I was in Moultrie for the Sunbelt Expo each year for 15-18 years. Had a ball every year looked forward to a week of seeing new stuff.

[TCLynx]

Will also depend on where you buy from.  When I contacted aggregate suppliers that usually supply cheap gravel for construction projects, pea gravel would usually get you limestone here.  The stuff for more landscape type purposes is more likely to be pretty river pebbles.  If doing constant inflow to beds, I would recommend going larger on the media like Murray says 3/4" is good.   For timed flood and drain or where flow into the beds in intermittent, the 1/2" stuff has been fine for me.

[Daniel E Murphy]

Ya TC is right, but once you know no limestone is in it then your good.  I haven't yet gotten any pea gravel while in Florida that had any limestone but I was buying it by the bagful and not the truckload.

[TCLynx]

pea gravel should be checked to see what kind of rock it is before buying a truck load.  Pea gravel describes shape/size, doesn't tell you what type of rock.  Here in FL pea gravel is often limestone which would keep pH too high for most plants.  (However, if your plan is to grow just watercress, it seems to like a high pH just fine.)

[Daniel E Murphy]

Hey Scott,

 

Yes I am in Moultrie, Georgia but plan on moving to Colorado when I can.  Not sure how long that will be though.  You can use pea gravel no problem.  You can also use river rock as well.  My plan is also to do rafts and beds.  Where in Georgia are you?

[Scott Eidson]

Daniel,

Are you located in GA.? I went to San Diego last spring to look at an operation, but have only been gathering compoents,( pvc pipe, installing piping and pumps in the water source, piping to location,etc), as of lately. Plan on starting the seeding and 1st stages of construction soon. Would like to correspond with growers local and share an idea or 2. I plan to do some rafts and beds, I have access to washed pea-gravel and I'm wondering if this could be used as the media in the beds?

[TCLynx]

I'm not even sucking up from the middle anymore.  The drain is off to the side.  But with big flow rate, big fish, and an air stone the gunk doesn't really settle anywhere and it moves on through the system

[Daniel E Murphy]

BTW, I am in Georgia and we do have a Georgia group.  You might try posting in there :)