Aquaponics in Action - USA Urban Inroads

[Sahib Punjabi]

Hello fellow Aquaponic Gardners,
I am always interested in reading about the acceptance and use of aquaponics as part of our normal daily life. Here are two new stories that I read recently that I would like to share. Should you have such articles, I would love to read/see them :-)

http://www.newswise.com/articles/hells-kitchen-school-to-build-roof...

 

[Gus Cabrera]

This is all great and good, but I would object to the $444.00 per square foot price tag. So what else are they are going to teach students? How expensive aquaponics is? How prohibitive it is to get into? Did anyone consider alternate systems? It seems that anytime you have universities involved the cost goes up, way up. The 128 sf system I am anticipating building would cost me $5,683.00 based on those figures. This constrasts with Friendly Aquaponics Micro System's estimated price tag of around $13.50 per square foot and a total of around $30,000.00 for a 4,096 sf commercial system or about $7.32 per square foot in Hawaii and about 30% less than that on the Mainland. Oh well, it is New York and it is a grant and there are politicians involved. I can't wait to see pictures and maybe some day visit and would also love to see a breakdown of the costs. One good thing is that I'm not paying for it.

[Gus Cabrera]

Excuse me. On my previous reply I should have written $56,830.00 and not $5,863.00. It was a typo.

[Sahib Punjabi]

Cambridge's CitySprouts celebrates edible wall, new garden

Perhaps this should go in the "Vertical Gardening" section but since I am not a member as yet (will only join when I have mine operational), I liked this article and would like to share it. I just saw Rob's video and liked seeing his Strawberry towers which look as if has designed them. I have seen Nate's Zip Grow Towers (and purchased a couple), as well as TCLynx towers. Have any other AQ members designed their own vertical towers?


http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x161457770/Cambridges-Cit...

[Sahib Punjabi]

Walmart focuses on sustainable farming

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. retail giant Walmart said Thursday it was revamping its grocery business to concentrate more on locally grown foods and sustainable farming practices.


Is this really true...? Hopefully it will not lead to a reduction in "quality" of "Naturally Grown" local food as producers try to meet demand at the lower prices demanded by the Walmart.


http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/10/14/Walmart-focuses-on-sust...

[Sahib Punjabi]

Whitney Young students construct a prototype aquaponic urban farm
Building a better world

http://www.chicagojournal.com/News/10-20-2010/Whitney_Young_student...

[David Hart]

It's nice to see the schools doing this, getting young people involved. 'Maybe' I'm getting old (?) :-)....looks like it'll be a good climb to plant and harvest the veggies.




Sahib Punjabi said:

Whitney Young students construct a prototype aquaponic urban farm
Building a better world

http://www.chicagojournal.com/News/10-20-2010/Whitney_Young_student...

[Sahib Punjabi]

Growing Power's proposed vertical farm up for zoning review

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/lifestyle/106621613.html

[Sahib Punjabi]

WOW! 16 acre urban farm comprised of 72 compost-heated aquaponic greenhouses.

FARM MIDWAY: Urban Agriculture as Urban Infrastructure
Author(s) John Steingraeber
Date Posted October 8, 2010 11:47 PM
Program M. Arch
Instructor Comazzi
Description

My thesis project explores the potential of urban agriculture as an essential element of urban infrastructure. After surveying a number of vacant sites in St. Paul's Midway I decided to design a 2-part system. The larger and more static entity, FARM MIDWAY, is a 16 acre urban farm comprised of 72 compost-heated aquaponic greenhouses. The smaller and more static side of the infrastructure system includes TUGUs (Temporary Urban Gardening Units) and TUGU support pavilions. The TUGU system leverages its mobility to take advantage of temporarily vacant lots and underutilized parking surfaces along University Avenue.

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/arch/studentwork/2010/10/farm-midway-urban-...

[Sahib Punjabi]

City group fights hunger

http://muskogeephoenix.com/features/x1744209092/City-group-fights-h...

[Sahib Punjabi]

Detroit's proposed urban farms face hurdles
Detroit officials hesitant to OK large projects

"A city already filled with tiny community gardens so far has balked at allowing larger-scale commercial farming inside the city. Several such farm projects have been proposed for more than a year, but as 2010 winds down, they still await city approval.

Some of the would-be urban growers are letting their frustration show....

Read more: Detroit's proposed urban farms face hurdles | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20101113/BUSINESS04/11130373/Detroit-s...

[Sahib Punjabi]

Well said...Ha,ha,ha :-)


Kobus Jooste said:

Maybe they should just promise to add toys in the sale merchandise and slip some of the profit to the mayor.........

Sahib Punjabi said:

Detroit's proposed urban farms face hurdles
Detroit officials hesitant to OK large projects

"A city already filled with tiny community gardens so far has balked at allowing larger-scale commercial farming inside the city. Several such farm projects have been proposed for more than a year, but as 2010 winds down, they still await city approval.

Some of the would-be urban growers are letting their frustration show....

Read more: Detroit's proposed urban farms face hurdles | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20101113/BUSINESS04/11130373/Detroit-s...

[Sahib Punjabi]

Seeds of Change: Vertical Farming Comes to the South Side of Chicago

http://www.sustainable-chicago.com/2010/06/10/603/

Interesting related video links :

The Plant Takes Root in the Stockyards from The Plant Chicago on Vimeo.

and:

The Plant in 2 minutes from The Plant Chicago on Vimeo.