From my research, animals, particularly small animals are considered to be a good idea in greenhouses, see "bioshelters." The plants benefit from the CO2 and heat they provide - as long as they don't eat the plants! There is no indication that the animals are harmed by residing in a greenhouse.
Yeah I am planning on it if/when the U.S. economy does collapse. The politicians are spending and taxing like there is no tomorrow. If we see the rise in food prices like in other countries my pool is an option. My wife is not ready for the pool to be converted yet. I am going to order the urban permaculture DVD from ecofilms when it's ready.
I think you know already where this will lead. You must be careful what you mention here on the forums, with addicted people like me I'm sure to "obey" your instructions................... Self Sustaining for sure, and just so you know it'll be your fault
Yes- Honor & Pride! As this industry is in its infancy - It is quite amazing to see how fast the momentum is gaining... The collective thought is very natural & positive and all about the Pura Vida (pure life)!
Keep up the awesome work- Imagine where you will be in 5-years!!!
I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of curriculum materials for aquaponics. Even though I have included it as part of the Advanced Biology class for the last 3 years, I've been sort of winging it as we go along. The first year we spent a lot of time building the system. The past two years have been dedicated to improving it and raising as many vegetables as possible. The real goal of the project is to provide students with a real research project that requires planning, teamwork and careful record keeping. It also provides a vehicle for teaching public speaking as I have students give an oral Research in Progress (RIP) report to the the class once every 4-6 weeks. In this RIP they must tell the class what they have accomplished and what their plans are for the next 4-6 weeks. This must be accompanied by pictures, graphs, data tables, etc. Each team of 2 students is responsible for 1 aspect of the project. For example one group is in charge of tomatoes and must learn all they can about tomato culture and then grow them. (We use only heirloom tomatoes). Another group will be in charge of leafy vegetables. Another is in charge of water quality. Etc. Our system worked quite well in spite of some design weaknesses. We had about 600 gal of water in the system with 50 bluegills and 5 largemouth bass in a 4ftX8ft. rubber-lined, wooden tank. We pumped water 8 times per day over three 4ftx4ft plastic grow trays. These trays were filled with about 3 inches of Hydroton. We also had a gravel filled stream made of plastic rain gutter mounted along the inside of the fish tank. Water circulated in this stream continuously. It was a good place for growing water-cress. I'm at the end of my allowed 2000 characters so maybe we can continue this another way.
Hi Carey. With regard to your search for donated materials I think the best thing you could do is to 1) post a forum topic listing what you are looking for and where to send it 2) link to this forum topic in a comment on the Buy/Sell Marketplace board. If we have anything laying around that is on your list I'm happy to send it your way. Keep up the great work!
Heres my thoughts. Myself I too am always broke. But if we both can make money and help the world at the same time before the capitalist scum get involved....which they will as soon as attorneys get involved this could be what the AP community and organic community needs
Beijing in their attempt to look good to the world is utilizing alternative technology as well as trying to come up with solutions to their dissappearing crop land. Rooftop systems as a selling point to the top officials would not only make China look good but would serve a dual purpose and feed lots of people if these were promoted as an answer to existing food, farmland and toxic chemical problems. Entire school roofs could be used, lines along railroads, on top of factories. On top of high rise buildings. Just go through beijing and estimate the rooftop sizes and you could come up with a pretty good number on the thousands of acres that could be utilized with your and my systems.
With Chinas ability to mass produce, I read recently china has committed 50 billion to solar panel production plants and are going to corner the world market. Its speculated PV will be down to $1 a watt by 2013. If I built my system for $800, in China they could be built for a 1/4 of the cost.
If a person was well versed (such as yourself) in ecologyand has a presentation with the right people, this could go over well as well as solve a lot of food problems while maximizing existing real estate as being dual purpose and serving as a farm.
Have any connections with any honest chinese businessmen? Factories in China through Ali Baba are always soliciting to build products for pennies on the dollar.
A good presentation and some honest businessmen would be all it takes. I believe China has way more to gain with this, not only in jobs but environmentally.
I also believe a horizontal verticle tiered system is the way to go for maximum production. Just my thoughts.
Yes, you can use my pics as long as your are not misrepresenting the context of the original pictures. I freely post pictures to inspire others to get involved with growing their own food. I have has issues with others using my pics to promote ventures that I am not involved with.
I love the sequence of photos that you are referring to. My daughter saw ripe strawberries during our morning fish feeding and she had to eat them. I was lucky enough to have the camera in my pocket that day. We have the sequence framed and hanging on our wall.
I would like any incite you have on this subject since you live in China. I am sure this subject will be valuable for others who are wanting to do the same thing.
Thats funny lived here and went to college in MI, I live here but grew up in MI.
By any any chance a Spartan grad?
I built this system based on the concept theres got to be a cheaper affordable way of gardening, Yearly between, plants, fuel for tilling, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer I was spending about $3-400 on my garden, not counting the hours on end pulling weeds, watering for an hour everyday and electricity for my well pump. With the produce I'll get back, and money saved, by next fall it will have paid for itself easily. 2 year payback.
I wanted to build something affordable and easy, my area of expertise is HVAC, energy management and controls. I've always had the knack for building what people say can't be done. Just like greenhouse efficiency, I truly believe I can build the most energy efficient greenhouse on the planet, and have just designed the most efficient solar water that I've seen to date, nothing on the market like it (doesn't use water so you never have to worry about freezing). My hydrogen generator blows away anything you see on youtube. If I were to build the system I have in mind it would look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
I'm not worried about you using my idea or photo, what bothers me are the "high officials" you want to make a presentation to. I say lets take it 1 step farther, Baker & Daniels has an office here and Beijing, This could revolutionize the world with cheap production cost making AP affordable to all.
Remember about what you said about refusing to sell your hard labor, me neither nor will I give it away for the corporate scum to get richer on, lay out a presentation with my pics, send it to me, and lets see if we can both make money before it is stolen and maybe change the world in the process....hows that for a counter?
Thanks for the comment and advice and the new thread on making your own fishfood. I am going to try my hand at that soon. The growbeds are the black 2 foot square tubs and the fish tank and sump tank are 275 gallon IBC tanks. TC Lynx hooked me up with a great timer and indexing valve that floods two of the growbeds at a time. Works great! I have taken some black polypropelene closed cell foam and wrapped the IBC tanks to keep out the sun and keep algae from growing. I posted some new pics to contribute to the community. I appreciate all of the knowledge that everyone shares on this site...it is awesome!
We have eaten some of them but most we have been growing out for sponges. When they are really small they taste good enough but I notice that the skin get bitter really quick and we haven't much tried just eating the pulp from inside the medium size lufa's. My ducks really love eating the flowers.
Aha! So that explains it! ;) My holistic doctor has a great poster on her wall that says, "Everything I needed to know in life, I learned from Star Trek!" and lists wonderful points and lessons from the series. Your vision is incredible and the world needs more like you! I must say that is the first thanks I have ever heard given to Monsanto, but look at the context! They are evil!
Having extension help is great, but it is limited. We are always fighting to exist.. Those trays are speedling trays. Unfortunately they are quite expensive. I am rethinking the needs of a tray and hope to have a new, cheaper tray out there for lettuce.
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I'd be happy to help you. What do you have in mind?
Hi Carey,
I think you know already where this will lead. You must be careful what you mention here on the forums, with addicted people like me I'm sure to "obey" your instructions................... Self Sustaining for sure, and just so you know it'll be your fault
Hi Carey Ma, bicycle, I think it's to hot here. But you did a great job if I see the pics. If you are interested what we do in Thailand, please visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aquaponics-Thailand/170218083004597
Have a nice day
Werner
Nice photos and setup.
I especially like the wall mat, you definately have a nice area to work with.
Yes- Honor & Pride! As this industry is in its infancy - It is quite amazing to see how fast the momentum is gaining... The collective thought is very natural & positive and all about the Pura Vida (pure life)!
Keep up the awesome work- Imagine where you will be in 5-years!!!
Hi Carey,
I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of curriculum materials for aquaponics. Even though I have included it as part of the Advanced Biology class for the last 3 years, I've been sort of winging it as we go along. The first year we spent a lot of time building the system. The past two years have been dedicated to improving it and raising as many vegetables as possible. The real goal of the project is to provide students with a real research project that requires planning, teamwork and careful record keeping. It also provides a vehicle for teaching public speaking as I have students give an oral Research in Progress (RIP) report to the the class once every 4-6 weeks. In this RIP they must tell the class what they have accomplished and what their plans are for the next 4-6 weeks. This must be accompanied by pictures, graphs, data tables, etc. Each team of 2 students is responsible for 1 aspect of the project. For example one group is in charge of tomatoes and must learn all they can about tomato culture and then grow them. (We use only heirloom tomatoes). Another group will be in charge of leafy vegetables. Another is in charge of water quality. Etc. Our system worked quite well in spite of some design weaknesses. We had about 600 gal of water in the system with 50 bluegills and 5 largemouth bass in a 4ftX8ft. rubber-lined, wooden tank. We pumped water 8 times per day over three 4ftx4ft plastic grow trays. These trays were filled with about 3 inches of Hydroton. We also had a gravel filled stream made of plastic rain gutter mounted along the inside of the fish tank. Water circulated in this stream continuously. It was a good place for growing water-cress. I'm at the end of my allowed 2000 characters so maybe we can continue this another way.
Heres my thoughts. Myself I too am always broke. But if we both can make money and help the world at the same time before the capitalist scum get involved....which they will as soon as attorneys get involved this could be what the AP community and organic community needs
Beijing in their attempt to look good to the world is utilizing alternative technology as well as trying to come up with solutions to their dissappearing crop land. Rooftop systems as a selling point to the top officials would not only make China look good but would serve a dual purpose and feed lots of people if these were promoted as an answer to existing food, farmland and toxic chemical problems. Entire school roofs could be used, lines along railroads, on top of factories. On top of high rise buildings. Just go through beijing and estimate the rooftop sizes and you could come up with a pretty good number on the thousands of acres that could be utilized with your and my systems.
With Chinas ability to mass produce, I read recently china has committed 50 billion to solar panel production plants and are going to corner the world market. Its speculated PV will be down to $1 a watt by 2013. If I built my system for $800, in China they could be built for a 1/4 of the cost.
If a person was well versed (such as yourself) in ecologyand has a presentation with the right people, this could go over well as well as solve a lot of food problems while maximizing existing real estate as being dual purpose and serving as a farm.
Have any connections with any honest chinese businessmen? Factories in China through Ali Baba are always soliciting to build products for pennies on the dollar.
A good presentation and some honest businessmen would be all it takes. I believe China has way more to gain with this, not only in jobs but environmentally.
I also believe a horizontal verticle tiered system is the way to go for maximum production. Just my thoughts.
Aloha Carey,
Yes, you can use my pics as long as your are not misrepresenting the context of the original pictures. I freely post pictures to inspire others to get involved with growing their own food. I have has issues with others using my pics to promote ventures that I am not involved with.
I love the sequence of photos that you are referring to. My daughter saw ripe strawberries during our morning fish feeding and she had to eat them. I was lucky enough to have the camera in my pocket that day. We have the sequence framed and hanging on our wall.
I am working on sourcing materials from your area and was wondering if you might be able to help me out. I have started a discussion http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/need-help-sourcing-wholesale-parts.
I would like any incite you have on this subject since you live in China. I am sure this subject will be valuable for others who are wanting to do the same thing.
Chris
Greetings Cary,
Thats funny lived here and went to college in MI, I live here but grew up in MI.
By any any chance a Spartan grad?
I built this system based on the concept theres got to be a cheaper affordable way of gardening, Yearly between, plants, fuel for tilling, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer I was spending about $3-400 on my garden, not counting the hours on end pulling weeds, watering for an hour everyday and electricity for my well pump. With the produce I'll get back, and money saved, by next fall it will have paid for itself easily. 2 year payback.
I wanted to build something affordable and easy, my area of expertise is HVAC, energy management and controls. I've always had the knack for building what people say can't be done. Just like greenhouse efficiency, I truly believe I can build the most energy efficient greenhouse on the planet, and have just designed the most efficient solar water that I've seen to date, nothing on the market like it (doesn't use water so you never have to worry about freezing). My hydrogen generator blows away anything you see on youtube. If I were to build the system I have in mind it would look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
I'm not worried about you using my idea or photo, what bothers me are the "high officials" you want to make a presentation to. I say lets take it 1 step farther, Baker & Daniels has an office here and Beijing, This could revolutionize the world with cheap production cost making AP affordable to all.
Remember about what you said about refusing to sell your hard labor, me neither nor will I give it away for the corporate scum to get richer on, lay out a presentation with my pics, send it to me, and lets see if we can both make money before it is stolen and maybe change the world in the process....hows that for a counter?
Hi Carey,
Thanks for the comment and advice and the new thread on making your own fishfood. I am going to try my hand at that soon. The growbeds are the black 2 foot square tubs and the fish tank and sump tank are 275 gallon IBC tanks. TC Lynx hooked me up with a great timer and indexing valve that floods two of the growbeds at a time. Works great! I have taken some black polypropelene closed cell foam and wrapped the IBC tanks to keep out the sun and keep algae from growing. I posted some new pics to contribute to the community. I appreciate all of the knowledge that everyone shares on this site...it is awesome!
Hay Carey,
We have eaten some of them but most we have been growing out for sponges. When they are really small they taste good enough but I notice that the skin get bitter really quick and we haven't much tried just eating the pulp from inside the medium size lufa's. My ducks really love eating the flowers.
Carey,
Having extension help is great, but it is limited. We are always fighting to exist.. Those trays are speedling trays. Unfortunately they are quite expensive. I am rethinking the needs of a tray and hope to have a new, cheaper tray out there for lettuce.
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