A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Hello from N. Florida zone 8b - newbie to AP

Aloha Ya'll,

I'm in N. Florida and researching AP systems to use when we move in full time to our home on 3 ac. We recently started building a 30' 50' pole barn w/5-10ft bays. Although we have many options for uses in this barn, we have considered using some of the space for AP. The long sides of the barn face N/S, so if an addition of a green/cold/shade house is needed, it can be done.

I've already learned from this group that a green house may or may not be needed due to Florida climate depending upon what we plan to raise/grow. Bluegill sounds nice, although we expect they would be in need of protein (feed, worms?)

Looking forward to learning about your AP systems, what you grow/raise, what structures do you use (or not use if outdoor).

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on June 13, 2011 at 5:36pm

Always good to have a small learning system, will help you figure out what you want to do different for the "real" system.

Permalink Reply by Lanza on July 1, 2011 at 12:55pm

Hello,

I've been reading the thread and couldn't help but be outraged about how home owners association banning veggie gardens, solar panels and clothes lines. If this is true, not saying you are wrong by any means because I don't know where to find the info, then it's ridiculous how people are trying to conform and limit the amount of freedom one has.

Not going to get into this subject too much, but I just wanted to ask where can you find out the local laws and regulations or state laws and regulations and growing AP for personal use and for commercial use? I've been having a hard time to find this info. It all depends I guess on where you live and what your going to do with your system, but it wouldn't hurt if someone knew where to find this info. Thanks a bunch.

TCLynx said:

Provided you have power close enough to where you put your fish tank, I don't think your local government should care if you have an aquaponics system in your backyard (as far as I'm concerned it is an ornamental fish pond and the only permits needed for something like that would be if you need to run power out to it and then raised garden beds which local building codes won't care about unless you are talking something big enough to need a foundation poured.) Now a Home Owners Association with control over what you are allowed to have in your back yard may be a different story since I've heard of them banning veggie gardens which I think should be against the law the same as they are no longer allowed to ban solar panels and clothes lines.

Learning to kill your own food can sometimes take a bit of practice but where there is a will there is a way.

Permalink Reply by Lanza on July 1, 2011 at 1:11pm

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/onestop/aqua/aquacert.html

answered my own question regarding commercial use.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on July 1, 2011 at 3:37pm

Some HOA's here in FL are way out of hand. I believe the gov did step in and say cloths lines and solar panels are allowed regardless since that has to do with energy conservation.

As to what is allowed as far as a hobby or residential system you want to check with your county/city zoning and code enforcement departments. Don't get into asking about aquaponics or fish farming or hydroponics, that will only confuse the issue. You want to know if a pond is allowed (like an ornamental fish pond) and what the regulations are regarding that. When I asked Orange County they said sure but you would need an electrician and a permit to get power run to it, so I asked, if there is already a power outlet next to where I put it, then that's fine. So I went on to ask about raised garden beds. Those are fine as long as they don't require retaining walls over a certain height (they don't want a 4' high wall of dirt collapsing on someone because it wasn't engineered properly.) And I asked if there were any regulations regarding container gardening and there arn't. So as far as Orange County is concerned my systems are fish ponds and container gardens and they shouldn't care at all beyond that.

HOA's are another story since some of the people running those get really carried away and nosy. I made a big point of buying a home where I wouldn't have to sign on for the deed restrictions.