December Meeting

[Lloyd Booth]

>> We met at Rick's Shop and there were many more new folks than regulars at the meeting. I did not get everyone's names (I'm sorry I can't acknowledge you individually). Some were from pretty far South (Oregon).

>> The meeting started with Julie, from 3in1 Worm Ranch, doing a presentation on red wigglers, the worms best suited for aquaponics. She had good discussion on worm farms, what things to feed the worms in the farming bins, temperatures to keep the farm at – based on how worms live in the soil, and expected volume of return → Worm Population doubles in 3 months.

>> Worms can also be put into the growbeds directly, both Flood & Drain and Wicking. They don't do well in Deep Water Culture [drown], or Nutrient Film Technique [hate light] type growbeds.

>> She also discussed the value of worm tea, not boiled worms, but liquid from the worms natural eating cycles. She reported much better growth of ornamental plants and vegetables using worm tea as a watering medium (diluted 1 part tea to 3 parts water). I can report that in my own house we had a large houseplant my wife had been given as a retirement gift. It had been pretty dull, green and big but dull, before we started using worm tea with the watering. Now, it is vibrant and lively, looks healthier, and visitors comment on it.

>> Worm tea sprayed directly on the plants is both a foliar feeding [feeding the plant through the leaves] and some help in repelling insects, both in the greenhouse and in the open garden. We will be using it on Jeanne's roses this Spring. At the dilution of aquaponics, there has been no discernible effect on the fish, and the fact that worms naturally inhabit both flood and drain and wicking beds, it does not seem likely to affect fish negatively.

>> She also discussed worm castings, what is left after worms are done with their food; they are very beneficial in gardens, and are an asset in wicking beds soils, but may contribute to faster degradation of gravel or other media beds [speculation], as media beds develop dead spots (anaerobic decay areas in the growbeds, usually caused by poor circulation of water) after several years and the gravel, or other media, needs to be pulled and washed to allow regular drainage again.

>> Coir was also discussed. Coir is ground up coconut husks, and is pressed into tight packages. When you get it, you will want to soak the contents in a double volume of water. After about 4-24 hours, depending on how big a volume you are doing, it is a moist organic addition to your potting soil, yard or garden that allows for easy water retention and easy drainage of excess water. It would replace the “peat moss,” that is in your current formula, with a renewable resource (peat moss is not renewable in that it takes 100's to 1000's of years to form). Coir is becoming more available to the general public having been a solid component of commercial potting soil manufacturers for some years.

>> All these products are available, including worms, at the 3in1 Worm Ranch website. They do ship to customers all over the country.

>> Following the question and answers on worms, we moved into the much warmer “education space” where Rick demonstrated a small furniture quality Aquaponics set-up that would look good in any home. [You can see a picture of the system, and they are available, through Sylvia Bernstein's Aquaponics Community website.] He reviewed the mechanics of the system, and noted that it had been working for several years without interruption other than harvesting the culinary herbs he grows there. The goldfish, in the system, were quite sizable and were once 'feeder goldfish'. Most people at the meeting were not familiar with the value of larger goldfish to the outside community ($$-$$$ !).

>> With so many new people at the meeting this month, lots of time was spent answering questions that individuals brought with them. This was very productive, both for these individuals, and for the group as a whole, as it brought up more questions, and more answers. Aquaponics in the Maritime NW is growing!

>> Next month's meeting will be at Rick's Shop on January 27th at 2 PM – earlier than before – to help those who drive a long way do some of the drive home in daylight. Please bring your questions; or if you can't wait, post them on the forum.

[Anne Phillip]

I had an excellent time at the meeting. Thank you to everyone who helped organize it or participated. It was great to meet all of you!