Minute Chances to Move Merger Vote - NYSE CEO - Galaxy Stocks

The leader of NYSE Euronext announced Tuesday that the company had little room to repel an intended July 7 shareholder vote on its planned merger with Deutsche Boerse AG.

Duncan Niederauer, NYSE Euronext’s chief executive, informed shareholders in the Big Board operator didn’t feel “rushed” by the timeline, refusing criticism from Nasdaq OMX Group and IntercontinentalExchange, which have made their own hostile counter-bid.

Niederauer told an investor conference that German law required NYSE shareholders to vote first, with its German partner having until mid-July to conduct its own poll or risk having to run a fresh tender proposal.

It is about as delayed as we can go, he commented of the July 7 vote.

NYSE Euronext (NYSE:NYX) opened the day at 40.53 then added +0.91 points or +2.24% and closed the day at 41.55, however its 52 week range was 26.42 - 41.18. It had traded an overall volume of 3.27 million shares below its average volume of 4.91 million.

Covering the high profile stories at NYSE, Dean Foods Company (NYSE:DF) shares jumped 11.5% after the dairy company announced a higher-than-expected profit for the first quarter and upgraded its 2011 earnings outlook.

Medifast, Inc. (NYSE:MED) shares advanced nearly 18% after the diet-products company late Monday announced quarterly results that went beyond estimates.

Triumph Group, Inc. (NYSE:TGI) shares enhanced nearly 11% after the aerospace company announced that fourth-quarter net income added to $2.04 per share, surpassing Wall Street approximations.

Zale Corporation (NYSE:ZLC) shares enhanced 12.6% after the jewelry retailer informed that it gave its chief financial officer the added responsibility of chief administrative officer.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) shares dropped 9% after the medical-device manufacturer announced that Ray Elliott would retire as president and chief executive at the end of the year.

DICE HOLDINGS, INC. (NYSE:DHX) shares slipped 5.5% a day following the operator of online technology-jobs sites announced that “certain stockholders” would sell 8 million shares.

Sotheby’s (NYSE:BID) shares sank 6% following the New York auctioneer late Monday posted a first-quarter profit under anticipations.

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE:USNA) shares lost 12.5% after the manufacturer of nutritional supplements announced that three top executives had resigned.

During Tuesday business oil prices moved above $103 a barrel helping the energy stocks to pare their early losses. As a result the energy sector saw a significant growth of +0.72%.

The prominent companies conducting their business in the energy sector include Cleantech Transit, CLNO stock price increased 1.25% Tuesday and settled $0.122. However GreenHouse Holdings, GRHU decreased 3.45% to close at $1.40.

In general, GreenHouse Holdings, Inc is a supplier of energy efficiency offerings and sustainable infrastructure products. The company designs, engineers and installs diverse technologies and products that help to create persistent technical and financial results, by enabling clients to monitor and control their energy costs in the most efficient manner possible. The target markets for GreenHouse Holdings for its energy efficiency solutions slot in residential, commercial and industrial, as well as government and military markets.

Although aquaponics (the simplest definition being “the symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment”) has been around in various forms for thousands of years, Aquaponics from GreenHouse contain proprietary ways to produce yields that fall well within established production parameters for existing aquaponics systems, but with a much more stable system requiring less intervention and maintenance, featuring much greater environmental sustainability, when compared to competing technology.

The second energy sector company is Cleantech Transit Inc that successfully makes use of the benefits of technology progressions and manufacturing opportunities in the expanding clean energy public transportation sector.

Company manages on a direct investment approach in demanding green energy projects that are expected to maximize shareholder profits.

After having recognition for the many economic and operational processes of converting wood waste into renewable sources of energy, Cleantech chosen to place its significant investments in Phoenix Energy (www.phoenixenergy.net). This clean energy project is expected to bump up shareholder returns as well benefit the Company’s manufacturing clients worldwide.

Biomass is a renewable, low carbon fuel that is already widely available throughout the globe. Its production and use also brings supplementary environmental and social benefits. Correctly managed, biomass is a sustainable fuel that can deliver a noteworthy reduction in net carbon emissions when compared with fossil fuels.

To cut the story short, total 3,487 stocks are listed on NYSE out of which 2,775 remained in positive zone and 630 remained in negative zone rest experienced no change for the day, however 107 marked their New Highs and 13 set their New Lows.

THIS IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY OR SELL ANY SECURITY!

Disclaimer: Never invest in any stock featured on our site or emails unless you can afford to lose your entire investment. galaxystocks.com publisher and its affiliates and contractors are not registered investment advisers or broker/dealers. Our disclaimer ( http://galaxystocks.com/disclaimer) is to be read and fully understood before using our site, reading our newsletter or joining our email list. Release of Liability: Through use of this website viewing or using, you agree to hold galaxystocks.com report and Crown Equity Holdings Inc. CRWE, its operators, shareholders, employees and/or contractors harmless and to completely release them from any and all liability due to any and all loss (monetary or otherwise), damages (monetary or otherwise) that you may occur. Rule 17B requires disclosure of payment for investor relations. Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB) is a newswire as well as an IR and PR firm. Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB), in some cases, provides media advertising and public awareness for both public and private companies, as well as disseminating news. As such, in some cases, when Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB) advertises for a particular client, Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB) charges an advertising fee which it must disclose under 17B. The fee may be in cash, in free trading stock or in restricted stock. Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB), if paid in stock, can and may sell those securities during the advertising period. Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB) anticipates receiving 2,000,000 shares of 144 restricted stocks from the company for 12 months of advertisement services for Cleantech Transit, Inc. (CLNO.OB). Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB) has received ten thousand dollars in cash and anticipates another ten thousand dollars in cash from the company for 60 days of advertisement services for Green House Holdings, Inc. (GRHU.OB). In addition to the cash, Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB) also anticipates receiving 20,000 shares of 144 restricted stocks from a third party.

Tags: BID, Boston Scientific, BSX, Cleantech Transit, CLNO, CLNO.OB, Dean Foods, Deutsche Boerse, DF, DHX, DICE HOLDINGS, Duncan Niederauer, German law, GreenHouse Holdings, GRHU, GRHU.OB, high profile Stories at NYSE, IntercontinentalExchange, MED, Medifast, NASDAQ OMX Group, New Highs, New Lows, New York, NYSE, NYSE Euronext, NYSE:BID, NYSE:BSX, NYSE:DF, NYSE:DHX, NYSE:MED, NYSE:NYX, NYSE:TGI, NYSE:USNA, NYSE:ZLC, NYX, Ray Elliott, Sotheby's, TGI, Triumph Group, USANA Health, USNA, Wall Street, Zale, ZLC

Aquaponics redefines 'locally grown' while aiming for profit - Medill Reports: Chicago

From the exterior it looks like another boarded-up building on Chicago’s South Side. But within the small brick structure are rows of lush basil floating in water, thriving beneath the white glow of low-hanging fluorescent lights. In the corner, hundreds of tilapia swim aimlessly in a large 300-gallon tank.

If the founders of City Micro Farms LLC are successful in their business plan, this scene may become a significant part of the future of urban food production.

“We are going after old agriculture, is what we are doing,” said Alan Rose, chief marketing director and co-founder of City Micro Farms.

In its testing facility, the Chicago startup grows a variety of vegetables and herbs, meticulously controlling every environmental input, including temperature, lighting, humidity and water.

At the heart of this operation is a growing technique known as aquaponics. It is a process of raising fish and plants together in a manmade ecosystem, creating a symbiotic relationship. The fish fertilize the water used to feed the plants. In turn, the plants filter the water, making it habitable for the fish.

This, proponents say, constitutes an efficient system for food production.

From Hawaii to upstate New York, aquaponic farms are popping up across the country.

Using less than 1 percent of the water required by traditional agriculture, aquaponics can yield more than 10 times the produce in the same amount of grow space, said Myles Harston, one of the early pioneers of aquaponics and a co-founder of City Micro Farms.

While neither hydroponics (growing plants in nutrient-rich water) nor aquaculture (raising fish in a controlled environment) is new, the synthesis of the two techniques gained adherents amidst a crippling recession and soaring fuel prices.

“Just in the last five years there has been a serious awareness of aquaponics,” said Rebecca Nelson, president of an aquaponics systems manufacturer. “That comes from the demand for local food and concerns for food safety.”

Nelson’s Wisconsin-based company, Nelson and Pade Inc., has been selling systems since the early ‘90s, but in the past four years the company has experienced significant growth. In 2010 the company sold 22 systems. This year it's on pace to sell 30 or more.

This boom is due in part to the flexibility of where one can set up operations: outdoors, in greenhouses or inside buildings. But more importantly, the aquaponics industry is growing because it is proving to be a profitable venture.

Friendly Aquaponics Inc., a family-run operation in Hawaii, offers classes on how to set up and run a commercial aquaponics business. According to the owner, Tim Mann, Friendly was able to generate an operating profit margin of 72 percent, excluding labor. This is a best-case scenario as the farm avoids typical heating, cooling and lighting costs growing outside in a tropical climate.

When Mann compiled these numbers he generated $9,700 a month on $13,400 of revenue from a farm comprising 3,600 square feet of grow space and 2,700 fish. Since then, he has expanded the farm to over 6,400 square feet.

Mann also points out that aquaponics is not a get-rich-quick scheme.

“You are a primary producer and you are doing real work,” he said.

According to Rose, farmers who use aquaponics but who are not organically certified typically price their goods in a soft spot between organics, which command top dollar, and traditionally farmed products, which are often shipped from hundreds, if not thousands of miles away.

“If a package of lettuce costs $3.99 a bag, we’ll sell ours for $3.50,” Rose said.

Nelson said her pre-packaged aquaponics systems have a typical payback period of three to four years. The price for these setups range from $4,000 for a personal system to just under $60,000 for a full-scale commercial operation that can produce approximately 3,500 pounds of fish and 48,000 heads of lettuce a year.

Chicago-based startup 312 Aquaponics LLC sell aquaponic systems that are modeled for a payback period of less than three years.

“Not bad considering the equipment payoff term for an outdoor farm is at least 10 years, often more like 15 years,” Andrew Fernitz, co-founder of 312 Aquaponics, wrote in an email last week.

Fernitz added that his team plans “to develop a growing system in the near future that can be paid back in a year, is scalable and stackable, for organic production of food year round."

Acquaponically-produced food, still only a fraction of the food market, is enjoying a surge in popularity.

Sweet Water Organics in Milwaukee produces a variety of lettuce, herbs and fish using aquaponics. Since opening in 2008, the company has had a steady increase in sales.

“Right now we are in a situation where we can’t grow enough to meet demand,” said Todd Leech, Sweet Water Organics’ sales manager.

Chris Smith, a former construction worker in Hawaii who turned to aquaponics in 2009 after he could not find work amid the recession, has expanded his growing area from 52 square feet to more than 1,000 square feet. While he and his wife were the only ones working at first, he now uses interns who want to learn the craft.

Three days a week Smith sells an array of leafy greens to his neighborhood.

“Ninety percent of our food is imported, so anyone who sells locally has a huge advantage,” Smith said of his community in Kona, Hawaii.

Now companies like City Micro Farms are attempting to bring this commercial enterprise to Chicago.

But before the seven-month old venture is crowned a success, it must pass two major hurdles: energy costs and Chicago zoning laws.

Because the four entrepreneurs grow indoors, they face extra expenses. To date, most commercial aquaponics facilities operate in greenhouses where growers capitalize on the use of free sunlight, or outdoors in warm climates where heating, cooling and lighting are not needed.

Referring to indoor aquaponics systems, Nelson said, “that scenario has not proven economically viable.”

Still, City Micro Farms is modeled for an operating profit margin greater than 20 percent, citing some technical advantages.

Harston, who has been designing systems since 1992, said growing indoors is actually a boon compared to greenhouse or outdoor operations.

Growing indoors will allow City Micro Farms to produce consistently year round without environmental disruptions such as heavy winds or insects, said Harston. He added that advances in LED and fluorescent lighting have driven down energy costs. Finally, for Midwest climates, buildings are able to control heating and cooling costs better than greenhouses during the harshest winter and summer months.

The other immediate challenge is the Chicago zoning code, which currently classifies fish as livestock. This is a problem since raising commercial livestock is prohibited within city limits. While an amendment is under consideration by the City Council, it is not expected to pass anytime soon.

Because sale of its fish represents only 10 percent of revenue, Rose said the restriction is not a major problem in the short term.

However, City Micro Farms wants to expand to 30,000 square feet of growing space by this fall. Because of the ordinance, Rose and his team are looking for a facility in Bedford Park.

If City Micro Farms can successfully navigate the zoning laws and its expenses, the founders expect a healthy profit, while providing a locally grown product to Chicagoans.

When calculating its potential profit, City Micro Farm used a model of $13.50 per pound of basil and an annual yield of 10 pounds per square foot, both figures the founders consider conservative.

This suggests that if City Micro Farm were to grow only basil on its expected 30,000 square feet of production space, it can achieve annual revenues of $4.1 million and estimated operating profits of $810,000.

Aquaponics System-What Are The Benefits Of An Aquaponics Gardening System

Aquaponics System-What Are The Benefits Of An Aquaponics Gardening System

The aquaponics system has recently become “famous” because of it’s appearance on a TV documentery. This does not mean the system is new, on the contrary aquaponics has been around for many, many years now. If you are in any way interested in indoor or outdoor gardening then this could give your efforts a much needed boost in crops and make your hobby much more interesting.

The aquaponics system is a natural cycle that uses fish (of any kind) to feed your plants and vegetables with all the food and nutrition that they need to prosper. The fish produce waste which is sent from the tank to your plant beds which are specially designed to allow the water to flow through them, at the same time feeding the plants and cleaning the water before returning it to the fish tank.

There are many benefits to an aquaponics system.

1. It takes away a lot of the back breaking work of a typical vegetable garden because the plants can be harvested above ground level and there is no need for any weeding. The watering can will also become a tool of the past as the system waters itself.

2. Unlike normal gardens you will need any fertilizers or plant foods to aid the growth of your crop. Plus there is no need for slug pellets and other repelants because your plants are not at ground level.

3. Because of the lack of extra chemicals and other such things it means that the cost of running an aquaponics system is very low indeed. In fact the most expensive item once you are set up is the fish food, which is dirt cheap.

4. Being as this is a totally natural cycle the vegetables taste so much better than ones from the shops. The saving on your grocery bill is generic levitra buy online also huge.

As well as the benefits to an aquaponics gardening system there is a big downfall and that is the initial cost of buying a new set up in kit form or ready made. The way around this problem is to build your own, this is not at all a daunting task and you can have one up and running in penicillin and ampicillin three weeks flat. The three weeks is the time needed for your aquaponic fish tank to be ready for the fish, the rest of the aquaponics system can be built very cheaply in a couple of days.

http://www.diyaquaponics.org/

Take a look and see how easy it is to create a DIY Aquaponics System

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St. Rose teen sells his award-winning produce at Gretna Farmers Market - NOLA.com

What began as a ninth-grade science fair project has turned into an all-consuming father and son enterprise in the Frazier household.

KARI DEQUINEBrad Frazier inspects the roots of his sweet basil plants grown hydroponically in a raised bed in a greenhouse in his back yard. He sells them at the Gretna Farmers Market.

Last fall, Brad Frazier, 14, set out to prove that tomatoes grown using a hydroponic (cultivating plants in water) system would out-perform tomatoes grown in soil.

Six months later, the experiment, which won third place at the regional science fair, has expanded into an innovative and impressive growing operation at their St. Rose home and a subsequent stand at the Gretna Farmers Market.

A 20-by-40-foot greenhouse, built by the duo during the Christmas holiday, sits in the corner of their yard, bursting with leafy vegetables and herbs. Brad Frazier and father, Lonnie, built everything themselves -- from the elevated water beds to the water circulating system using automatic timers, 55-gallon drums, water bottles and PVC pipe.

While they occasionally top it off, the water is recycled through the system.

Brad Frazier's first gleam of inspiration into the world of hydroponics and aquaponics began with a newspaper article about two culinary students who built a small aquaponic setup in their backyard.

It was his introduction into the world of aquaponics, a symbiotic system that links hydroponics with aquaculture (raising aquatic animals in tanks).

Brad Frazier sells his home-grown hydroponic lettuce and herbs at the Gretna Farmers Market.

Instead of adding nutrients to the water, the plants are able to derive the necessary nutrients from fish waste, which is pumped from the fish tank through the hydroponic system. The water, cleansed of toxins by the plants, is circulated back to the fish.

Brad Frazier was intrigued by the idea.

"It's as organic as you can get," he said. If anything is out of balance, he said, either the plants or the fish will die.

Visits to the Land Pavilion at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center also helped in the Fraziers' inspiration and education. Ideas and information can be found in the attraction's large gardens and accompanying demonstrations.

Another source of vital information for the construction process was a manual called "Barrel-ponics," a how-to guidebook by the concept's inventor, Travis Hughey, on using common household plumbing fixtures and plastic barrels.

For about $50, the Fraziers were able to build a mister that would have cost $500, said Lonnie Frazier, and a raised bed for about $400, that would have cost close to $5,000. "It's not as nice looking, but it's functional," he said. To build the frame of greenhouse, they found a "pipe-bender" on eBay.

The Fraziers successfully found sources for obtaining the barrels from local businesses -- the clear ones once held soap, while the blue ones were filled with hot sauce. The vendors at the Gretna Farmers Market, Lonnie Frazier said, have been another much-appreciated resource

The plants in the Frazier greenhouse use a variety of material for stability in the water, from burlap for the microgreens and rocks for the bell peppers, to a specially designed foam for the lettuce and coconut shells for the tomatoes.

To battle the pests without pesticides, the Fraziers are experimenting with an idea gathered at Epcot Center: ladybugs. So far, they said, the results are promising, and the plants have fared much better since introducing the ladybugs to the problem areas. Without bees, Brad Frazier demonstrated his technique: pollination via electric toothbrush.

Already, Brad Frazier said he has plans for expansion. They want to build a new greenhouse, he said, at twice the size, and a pond for goldfish, coy and perch. So far, Brad Frazier said his lettuce is his "prized-possession" and hopes to devote an entire greenhouse to it. He grows butterhead, oakleaf and baby romaine. He's found the "baby" or miniature varieties -- like his baby cucumbers, are popular among buyers.

For Brad Frazier, part of the driving force is simple. "I need money," he said. "I need a car."

But looking at the bigger picture, he is becoming increasingly interested in the field and science of agriculture. He foresees a need for a new generation of farmers and recognizes the current popularity in urban and community gardening. He said he is pushing for his school, John Curtis High School, to develop an agricultural department.

"I've learned as much as he has," Lonnie Frazier said, adding that a lot of the fun comes from the trial-and-error process.

They've had their share of challenges to overcome, like the right timing for planting, the aphids on the eggplants, the winter freezes, a flooded yard that displaced the fish tank and the two pet Springer spaniels who like to steal tomatoes. But both Brad and his father are eager to continue their quest on figuring out what works best.

"I feel if people found out how easy it is you'd find more people doing it," Lonnie Frazier said. "It's not as expensive as people believe. It just takes a little time and a little ingenuity."

As for the science fair project: "Fish, Dirt, or Water: Which grows tomatoes best," Brad's hypothesis that aquaponics would come out on top was close to correct.

His dad's bet was on the hydroponics, which did emerge victorious, but the aquaponic set-up was close behind. Using graphs that tracked plant height and fruit productivity, Brad's experiment showed that the hydroponic plants produced 30 tomatoes, the aquaponic produced 23 and the soil-grown plants produced six.

How To Choose The Right Fish For Your Aquaponics System

How To Choose The Right Fish For Your Aquaponics System

Growing fish and vegetables together with aquaponics is a great way to produce low cost organic food for you and your family. The amount of production can be high for the small amount of maintenance you put into it. But in order to get good results, you need to choose the right fish for your aquaponics system.

Fish are a very important component of any aquaponics garden. They are the ones that supply all the nutrients that your plants need to grow. Although fish are easy to grow, they do have certain requirements in order to survive and flourish. Different types of fish have different requirements, mainly with water temperature. Before you decide which type of fish is best for your aquaponics system, you will have to decide what kind of water temperatures you can maintain.

Before anything, you will have to check to see if any fish are banned in your area. Tilapia, for example, are not allowed in many parts of the world. Mainly in areas with warmer climates where they could survive in the wild and become invasive pests if released. You can check with a local extension agent or with your local fish and wildlife department.

Once you know which fish are allowed, you can determine which will be best for your system. If you have an indoor system, most of the warm water fish will do well with possible only a little bit of supplemental heat needed for the warmest water fish. If you are in a climate with cold winters, warm water fish like tilapia and Chinese catfish can be difficult to raise outside, unless you have some way of keeping the water warm. There are fish like bass, crappie, bluegill, some perch and many others that can tolerate both warm and cold waters. These can be great for outdoor growing in temperate climates.

If you have the ability to maintain cool water year round, consider yourself lucky. This opens up the possibilities for growing cold water fish ampicillin sodium like trout and salmon. For most people to be able to grow these fish, they need cooling systems for their water, which can be costly.

With a little research into the requirements of different fish species, you can determine which fish will be the best for the environment that your aquaponics system will provide. Making sure you have the right match to produce healthy fish will help to ensure you also have healthy productive plants.

Download this aquaponics guide and learn everything you need to know to get started with aquaponics the right way.

aquaponics guide

http://TilapiaFarming.org

best fish for aquaponics system

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Aquaponics workshop idea catching - Moreland Leader

LIKE the sound of catching a fish in your own backyard?

Residents can learn to build 2m x 2m systems to farm edible native fish and vegetables for as little as $100 at a two-day workshop at CERES Environment Park in Brunswick East this month.

Course facilitator Stephen Mushin said the two-level aquaponics system used 99 per cent less water than a conventional garden and could provide households with two fish a month and plenty of fresh salad.

“You can grow almost anything, but we normally grow leafy greens: bok choi, basil,” said Mr Mushin. “We grow silver perch, but there is a large variety of native fish we recommend.”

Plants grow in a bathtub lined with gravel, which sits above a tank filled with fish.

A small aquarium pump feeds nutrient-rich water from the tank to the bathtub, irrigating and fertilising the plants.

“The water basically goes round in a circle, through the gravel bed and back down again. It only uses 1 per cent of the water a normal garden uses,” Mr Mushin.

He said it took six to 12 months for silver perch to grow to an edible 500g size. The workshop runs on May 14-15. Cost: $220/$180. Bookings: 9387 2609.

permaculture Permaculture and horses

Hi Cory:

Check out Natural Horse Magazine:
http://naturalhorse.com/

In the summer of 2007 I was invited to visit the farm of the owner of the magazine, Randi and Gene Peters and given the full tour.

I was working at a convention in Reading, PA and met Randi and Gene there. They invited several of us to come out and spend an afternoon at their place following the convention. It was inspiring.

I believe that they would be a great resource for what you are looking for.

Brent McMillan, Steward of Woodhaven
Avilla, IN USA

> Question: Does anybody here do permaculture with horses on range? Or do > you know of someone who does do that? Or Holistic Management with > horses?
> C
> _______________________________________________
> permaculture mailing list
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subscribe, unsubscribe, change your user configuration or find out more > about this list here:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
> permaculture forums http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums > Texas Plant and Soil Lab
> http://www.texasplantandsoillab.com/
> List contacts: permacultureforum@gmail.com, chrys@thefutureisorganic.net > and paul@richsoil.com
>

Sustainable Indoor Growing Systems

Sustainable Indoor Growing Systems

Article by M Wilson

Growing plants indoors has many advantages over traditional outdoor gardening. Indoors you have control of the environment and can create the ideal conditions for plant growth. With sustainable indoor growing systems you can produce food and other plants year round.

With indoor growing systems, it takes much less energy to grow plants than with traditional farming. When farming outdoors in the soil, massive amounts of energy are used to till the soil, transport and add fertilizers and pesticides. Not to mention the natural habitat that is lost on some of the most fertile land. Even with organic farming, sometimes even more energy is used to till in cover crops and other forms of organic matter.

With indoor growing systems, you can bypass the use of soil all together. Hydroponics and aeroponics have become popular systems for growing indoors, but these systems typically rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and can use a lot of water.

Aquaponics is a system that is just now starting to catch on and may be one of the most sustainable indoor growing systems available. Aquaponics can use as little as 2% of the water that traditional farming uses, and is all organic. Aquaponics has the advantages of hydroponics but without the disadvantages.

Aquaponics combines the advantages of hydroponics, with the advantages of aquaculture (growing fish). And the major disadvantages of both systems cancel each other out when you combine the two. This is one of those instances where two unlikely pairs come together and make a perfect match.

With aquaculture, one of the big problems is disposing of the water full of fish wastes and supplying the fresh water to replace it. With hydroponics, a big problem is supplying plants with a constant supply of nutrients. Since fish wastes are loaded with plant nutrients, and plant roots are excellent at filtering water, it only makes sense to combine the two.

In an aquaponics system, water from the fish tank is circulated into the grow bed, where the cheap ampicillin plants absorb the nutrients from the water. The cleaned water is then returned back to the fish tank to provide a clean healthy environment for the fish. Since no mechanicals filters are needed, growing fish this way is even easer than a typical home aquarium. And since the fish take care of watering and fertilizing the plants, it is much easier to grow plants this way. Plus there is no need to work with soil, pull weeds or any of the chores associated with growing plants in the ground.

Aquaponics systems can grow several times the amount of plants per square foot than you could in soil, and in less time. Since plenty of water and nutrients are delivered directly to the roots, plants can produce spectacular results. Plus the system will produce fresh organic fish. If you eat or sell the fish, it can more than cover the cost of fish food. And if you want to be really sustainable, you can grow the fish food yourself.

Aquaponics may be the most sustainable indoor growing systems available. And it is a relatively new method that is just developing, so there may be even greater future for it as it develops. It is very scalable, so you can start small and build on as you go.

You can start with a simple low cost system with the step by step instructions in this aquaponics guide. Learn everything you will need to know to start growing plants with a sustainable indoor growing system.

About the Author

You can get started with an aquaponics indoor growing system with this aquaponics guide.

http://TilapiaFarming.org

Indoor Growing Systems

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Home Aquaponics – Backyard Aquaponics System Elements

Home Aquaponics – Backyard Aquaponics System Elements

First and foremost what is an aquaponics systems?

For someone new to the concept simply put it is the marriage of aquaculture (which is raising fish) & the practice of hydroponics (cultivating plant life).

Okay then how does it work?

Your fish waste accumulates in the fish tank which is circulated to your growing beds to feed your plants; this waste is toxic to the fish but beneficial to your plants because it is rich in nutrients. Plants cultivated using this method is referred to as a hydroponic system; in return the plants cleanse the water for your fish from deadly toxins and the water is circulated throughout the system completing an aquaponics system. The water in this type of system is never released or exchanged and only the evaporated water needs to be replaced.

Why bother with an aquaponics system?

Home aquaponics is an exciting concept for gardeners looking to grow their own vegetables with the added benefit of using fish as the plants nutrient source. A home system can be as tiny as one in your spare room using goldfish and growing herbs. To a much larger system in your backyard with silver perch growing lettuces, tomatoes, herbs and other delicious veggies! By the way there are several hundred different plants you can grow in this type of system.

The fish used in your system.

The type of fish you select for your home system will be determined by your goals and your conditions. You have to consider your climate and the availability of the fish in your area and of course your state laws regarding fish. There is no ideal fish so do the research for your location and decide based on your needs and availability.

Location is important for your system.

Consider this:

Is the location you choose level?

Is electricity accessible for your pumps?

Will you be able to provide cover if needed and will you be irritating your neighbors if it is outside?

Which Type of System?

There are 3 types of system you can design:

Nutrient Film Technique

Media based

Deepflow/raft

Media based systems feature gravel or clay pebbles. The plants are planted directly into the gravel or clay pebble media.

Deepflow/raft systems are commonly used by commercial systems. The media used is water and Styrofoam rafts or a floating board with pots to allow the plant roots to be immersed in the water.

Nutrient Film Technique can be used for home aquaponics or commercial but is the least popular. The plants are in pots and a small amount of water is trickled through the base of the channel where the roots access the water.

Your Pump for the system.

If you can design your system using one pump is will be far more energy efficient, and fits in easily with other environmental advantages. Place your fish tank lower than your grow beds to ensure that only one pump is required and it is in your fish tank. The water can be pumped from your fish tank into the grow beds and then let gravity allow the water to flow back into the fish tank.

Water requirements

It is important to use a filtration system and/or water additives to neutralize the water and it is vital that you test the ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels, 7 to 7.5 is a good range for the ph used in your system. The temperature of your water is critical for your fish to survive. A rapid increase or decrease in temperature can shock to the fish. Keeping the temperature at the right level for your type of fish is important to prevent dead fish.

Setting up your own home aquaponics can be a rewarding and fun venture so do it right with the proper aquaponics guide it is important as a aquaponics beginner that you do it right the first time!
http://www.squidoo.com/aquaponics-guide

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permaculture Dryland articles sought for IPC10 Jordan website

Hi All

When I launched www.ipcon.org I put a couple of articles at bottom of main page, just to get the ball rolling, but I’d love to see some of you submitting material I can put there instead. Given the nature and location of IPC10, any articles relating to dryland permaculture would be ideal, but anything would be considered. It’d just be great to see some involvement with the site from some of you experienced permies, so that interested onlookers will get a sense of enthusiasm from it!

If you have submissions for this, please send them through to me. A picture or three to accompany them wouldn’t hurt either if at all possible – but if not available I can improvise.

Also, don’t forget our growing list of potential sponsorships that could use some assistance in getting to IPC10:

http://www.ipcon.org/pages/sponsorships.htm

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Kind regards

Craig

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Craig Mackintosh
Editor/Photojournalist/IT Manager
Permaculture Research Institute
craig@permaculture.org.au
www.permaculture.org.au
www.permacultureglobal.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Raft Aquaponics System at Vancouver Island University

The latest aquaponics system contructed in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at Vancouver Island University (www.viu.ca Kirsti explains how the new raft system works and how to get the bibb lettuce and basil started. The tilapia are provided by Redfish Ranch (www.redfishranch.com) and hydroponic equipment provided by Progressive Hydroponics (http://www.yournetideas.co.uk/aquaponics.html
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Diy Aquaponics – Without difficulty Create Your own Aquaponics System

Diy Aquaponics – Without difficulty Create Your own Aquaponics System

If you are seeking a trial Aquaponics Pattern that you could follow then Im going to try and place you in the correct path. There are tons regarding different types of aquaponics tanks & gardens, and so you will need to choose what kind you wish to go with. The easiest way to start this is to use a DO IT YOURSELF manual that will walk you over the complete processHow utilizing a DIY guidebook just might help you with your aquaponics designEach particular person has a distinct living space, and you desperately want to be able to ensure that you can take advantage out of the space which you own. For instance, in case you were to use a regular aquaponics style and design or any package then you may not be able to use to the max out of the room you want to help turn into your aquaponics garden.   That’s why some sort of DO IT YOURSELF guideline which can help you to produce the complete kind of aquaponics style and design which you will want for the given area.Don’t buy an aquaponics kit – this is whyA massive amount people are assuming that the simplest way to get into aquaponics is to buy a kit that has been premade with a company. Nonetheless, this is not the most beneficial move because you can certainly shell out a lot of money for a thing that couldn’t take you very long to make your self with the help originating from a manual. I don’t think kits are for everyone, yet they’re just for some people. In case you discover one that you truly like then really feel free to take a look and see if it will fit into your own living space.This is the best DO-IT-YOURSELF aquaponics design guide that can walk you through everythingIf you will be serious about beginning by using aquaponics next Aquaponics4You will be the finest manual which i can easily recommend. Simply just pay a visit to these folks now and read over the front page, you will learn a lot – after that download the guide and get going.
Why don’t you check out this particular step-by-step guide?
Within just a couple of days you should be developing your own plants in addition to having your property turn into a great aquaponics natrual enviroment. All the best .!
And so, would you like to start establishing your own aquaponics system? Go to:Diy Aquaponics

do you want to begin with establishing your aquaponics system? Visit: http://www.squidoo.com/diy- aquaponics

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permaculture Aquaponics + Biogas + Green Business = Food & Energy Independence

I’d be very interested to hear others thoughts along the thread of aquaponics being “one of the most sustainable” agricultural systems ever created. I really appreciated hearing Darren Doherty’s thoughts about that.

I’ll go ahead and admit my weakness: I haven’t been convinced of aquaponics sustainability. I am convinced that it is an extremely productive system. I currently oversee a small two-tub aquaponics demo that my students built and take care of, so I am familiar with the concept and function. It seems the materials that it takes to set up such a system embody huge amounts of energy (including the greenhouse structure itself). As an urban set-up to use converted warehouse space in overly industrialized areas with toxic soil it makes great sense. Beyond that I am not yet willing to generalize it as an extremely sustainable form of agriculture. Naturally, it probably depends on the methods one uses. It seems particularly subject to power outages and equipment failure though.

I also should note that I’m NOT suggesting aquaponics shouldn’t be done if it is proven to be unsustainable, just that we might want to choose different language when generalizing about it. For example, I love the benefits of a greenhouse, but I’m not going to suggest it is one of the most sustainable forms of growing. It’s just nice to have fresh food all winter!

And aquaponics could be the holy grail of agriculture, but I’m not convinced yet. I’d like to hear about other models, that use gravity more than pumps, soil based media instead of hydroton, or more chinampas like scenarios.

Anybody have thoughts they want to share about this…

Jason

Does Water Need to Be Changed in an Aquaponics System?

Does Water Need to Be Changed in an Aquaponics System?

A common concern that people often have when hearing about aquaponics, is about cleaning the system and changing the water. With hydroponics aquaculture and aquariums, they require periodic water changes to keep from becoming toxic. But aquaponics works on a different principal, similar to bodies of water in nature.

Obviously we don’t have to change the water in the oceans periodically to keep them clean. For the same reason, there is also no need to do the same with aquaponics. Aquaponics creates a balance between fish and plants to create a cycle similar to the cycles we see in nature. The fish produce wastes that accumulate in water in aquariums or aquaculture. Instead of flushing the systems like traditional fish tanks, we allow plants to use these materials since they are the nutrients that plants need. With hydroponics, chemical fertilisers are added for the plants. But with aquaponics, fish and plants give each other both what they need so it eliminates the problem of cleaning and flushing the system and fertilising the plants.

As long as there is a good balance between plants and fish, and as long as you are not adding any harmful chemicals, there is no need to flush the system, and doing so could be harmful since it could upset the balance.

It can take a while to get a good balance in a new aquaponics system. Bacteria are a key component in breaking the fish waste down into usable nutrients that the plants can use. It takes some time for the wastes to accumulate in the water and then for the colonies of bacteria to get established to convert them to nutrients. This can sometimes take a few months. Once that balance is in place, it is best not to upset it by changing the water.

This is one of the reasons that aquaponics uses so little water compared to other ways of growing food. Many forms of farming like hydroponics and aquaculture are very wasteful of water, just from flushing the systems. Plus the waste chemicals in the water are usually disposed into the environment. With aquaponics, water is retained except for natural evaporation and transpiration through the plants leaves.

Aquaponics is really one of the most simple ways to grow food. It is very water efficient and needs no chemical fertilisers. It can produce fresh healthy organic fish and vegetables year round.

Learn how easy it is to grow your own food with this simple aquaponics how to guide. Get step by step instructions on how to build your aquaponics garden and how to care for it.

This aquaponics how to guide shows you exactly how to set up your aquaponics system.

http://TilapiaFarming.org

aquaponic system water change

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permaculture Aquaponics productivity, energy use, “sustainability” etc…

Hi all,

I’ve been running aquaponics for some years now and have made a number of observations in comparison to soil based systems and extensive aquaculture (all of which I’m playing with in my small suburban back yard).

Handily, Frank Gapinski came here a week ago with Geoff Lawton to film for their upcoming Urban Pc DVD and Frank has put up a couple of blog entries with graphics, so you can see my setup exactly.

The “traditional” aquaponics system is chronicled here:
http://www.ecofilms.com.au/2011/04/26/pond-aquaponics/

And the extensive system here:
http://www.ecofilms.com.au/2011/04/26/pond-aquaponics/

Comparisons:
I agree that aquaponics can be incredibly productive, as ours was in its first year. But there are many downsides that are not discussed much.
Our growbeds use perlite as the grow media, which I got cheap as a result of a screw-up at a local manufacturer’s. Downside is it floats, so makes flood and drain harder to set up. Upside is it retains moisture, so extended pump failure does not lead to pump failure.
The gardens on the other hand, are no-dig raised beds, using Toby Hemenway’s recipe for sheet mulch from Gaia’s Garden.
Like all aquaponics setups, we have more fish than will survive if they are left to fend for themselves. Therefore, we need to feed the fish. The pellets contain commercial fishing by-catch as well as chicken guts sourced from industrial chicken farms, neither of which could be described in any way as sustainable. I’ve heard of some pellets recently that are made from rape (canola), but am sure this comes from industrial canola farming, so ditto. I haven’t managed to source any of this yet, so don’t know if they’re any good. And I don’t have enough land to grow food for them here…
I have enough surface area to ensure the pond gets enough oxygen that the fish don’t die if the pump fails, but it’s pretty marginal in summer, when the water holds less oxygen. Every backyard aqaponicer I know has had at least one episode of pump failure and mass fish death.
With only a few exceptions, the taste and quality of food grown in soil is superior to that in the aquaponic system. The exceptions are Tuscan kale, which takes on a lovely subtle flavour compared to the stronger tasting soil borne variety and silverbeet (chard), ditto. Most everything else has a more intense flavour out of the garden, and for us, this is desirable for most things we grow.
We’ve found that aquaponically grown plants get big very quickly and seem to have weaker structures as a result. They are then far more susceptible to attack by chewing and sucking insects than the plants grown in soil.
We also have a bacterial wilt that got into the system two years ago that wiped out all the solanaceae. This year we’ve been able to use actively aerated compost tea to outcompete the wilt, but the plants in the growbeds get the wilt harder and faster than those in the garden.

The extensive system:
The pool setup in the link above is fundamentally self-managing. I have a small pump to stop the water at the bottom of the deep end of the pool going anaerobic, as happens in some pool conversions. I only do this because we still swim in the pool and don’t want to stir up smelly muck while doing so. Otherwise, pump failure has zero impact on this system. I added the gravel filter beds just as an extra to help get the water balanced and clean faster. The floating garden beds would be sufficient for this, had I not done the filters. Adding biofilters as in the aquaponics system would get it going properly even faster.
The fish (100 Silver Perch or Barcoo Grunter) are an Australian native and omnivorous. They eat the algae that grows in the pool and any insect attracted to the water. We no longer have any mosquitos in the house through the summer. They were introduced to the pool in October or November last year and were mostly 10mm long. Without any food added (other than bits of bread when we want to show off), the largest are now around 25cm and the smallest are at least 10cm. There is clearly no shortage of food for them.
At this point, we’re only growing aquatic plants with this bunch of fish. The aim was to introduce more veggies as per an aquaponics setup, but this will have to wait for another time, as we’re putting the house on the market so we can attack all these concepts in a more serious manner outside the city.

So, what do I think of aquaponics? In a small space with lots of energy, you can produce a lot of food. Handy if you live in a city. Is it sustainable? About as sustainable as the city in which it is placed – i.e. not at all sustainable. I also have animal cruelty concerns about small tank systems with high stocking rates, as are commonly advocated by tank manufacturers.

Will I use aquaponics when I move to the country? Only as described in the pool to pond article above, with a few veggie beds attached.

Cheers,

Les

Growing An Aquaponics System Inside Your Home

Growing An Aquaponics System Inside Your Home

Article by M Wilson

Plants growing in the home have been known to have a positive effect on people. Plants are great at producing oxygen and just their beauty is known to lift peoples moods. There is no question why house plants are so popular in most homes. There are some people who are discovering that many plants that grow food will do well in the house.

It only makes sense. If you are going to grow plants, why not grow plants that will create other benefits, like fresh food. They can produce free fresh vegetables and at the same time, decorate your home. Aquaponics allows you to do this very effectively and without the hassles of potting soil, fertilizing and watering.

Aquaponics combines plants with another common home decoration, a fish tank. Fish, like the rest of us, produce a lot of wastes. Fish wastes are full of the nutrients that plants love. In a typical fish tank, the water is circulated through a filter that removes these materials from the water. Otherwise they accumulate to levels that can be toxic to the fish. Plants love these substances, but fish don’t.

So one day someone go the brilliant idea of growing plants in the nutrient rich fish water. That worked great for the plants. But it just happens that the plants do an amazing thing. They filter the water and make it clean for the fish. So with this type of system, the water can be recycled over and over. The fish continually fertilize the plants, while the plants clean the water for the fish.

This is easy to do in a soil free system. Plants don’t really need soil to grow, they just use soil to get the water and nutrients out of it. So if you give them the water and nutrients directly, you can bypass soil and all the work involved, like digging, conditioning, getting your hands dirty, etc.

This kind of system is very common for a greenhouse, or outside if the climate allows. It also works great indoors. An advantage of an indoor aquaponics system is the ability to control the climate. When outside, the weather will determine when and what you can grow. But inside, you control the temperature and eliminate common garden pests. No more slugs, snails, gophers, weeds or any of those things that take the fun out of gardening.

With these systems, you can grow more food in a smaller space. You can alternate young crops with older crops that make a nice contrast that can be quite decorative in your home. And imagine being able to pick fresh organic produce right out of your living room.

Get an aquaponics guide and learn how to grow vegetables and fish indoors or outdoors with fantastic results.

About the Author

aquaponics guide

http://TilapiaFarming.org

indoor aquaponic system

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Aquaponics Designs – Easily Build Your Very Own Aquaponics System

Aquaponics Designs – Easily Build Your Very Own Aquaponics System

If you’re looking for a sample Aquaponics Design that you can follow then I’m going to try and point you in the right direction.  There are a lot of different kinds of aquaponics tanks & gardens, so you have to decide which one you want to go with.  The best way to do this is to use a DIY guide which will walk you through the whole process

How using a DIY guide will help you with your aquaponics design

Each person has a different living space, and you really want to make sure that you can make the most out of the space that you have.  For example, if you were to use a standard aquaponics design or a kit then you may not be able to make the most out of the room that you want to turn into your aquaponics garden.    That’s why a DIY guide which will help you to make the exact kind of aquaponics design that you need for your given space.

Don’t buy an aquaponics kit – here’s why

A lot of people have been assuming that the best way to get into aquaponics is to buy a kit that has been premade by a company.  However, this isn’t the best move because you can easily spend a lot of money for something that wouldn’t take you very long to make yourself with the assistance from a guide.  I don’t think kits are for everybody, but they are for some people.  If you find one that you truly like then feel free to check it out and see if it will fit into your space.

Here’s the best DIY aquaponics design guide that will walk you through everything

If you’re serious about starting with aquaponics then Aquaponics4You is the best guide that I can recommend.  Just visit them now and read over their front page, you will learn a ton – then download their guide and get started.

Why don’t you take a look at this step by step guide? Visit: Aquaponics Designs And Plans

Within a few days you should be growing your plants and having your home turn into a great aquaponics forest.  Good luck!

So, do you want to start setting up your very own aquaponics system? Visit: Aquaponics Designs

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Backyard Aquaponics Garden gurus 1

Neville Passmore from the Garden Gurus talks about Backyard Aquaponics.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

 For more information Visit http://www.yournetideas.co.uk/aquaponics.html

Essential things you must know

Setting up an aquaponics farming system, while not a difficult task, requires some basic knowledge of aquaponics. If you have decided to install such a system in your house, “Aquaponics 4 You” will give you a lot of this basic background information. However, you may still have several questions in mind or have missed some key points. So before starting to go ‘full hog’ with your new hobby, here are some essentials you need to be aware of in order to obtain the best results possible.

This is a review site. Click here to visit the official “Aquapoincs 4 You” website

Location

The place where you put your aquaponic system is highly important for plant and fish development. In order to obtain good results you should make sure that the temperature is not too high, nor too low, that there is enough light for the plants to develop properly and that no wind or extreme weather will reach them. (Folks living in cooler climates usually end up placing their aquaponic system in a green house for best protection of plants and fish).

Also, make sure that no dangerous chemical substances can get to the water of your aquaponic system as that means death for both your fish and your plants.

Oxygenating the water

The happier your fish are, the better your system will work! This is why you need to oxygenate the water on a daily basis and make sure your fish have all the “comfort” they need.

Choosing your fish accordingly

Aquaponic systems work well with almost all types of fish. Yet, there are states in which you are not allowed to grow particular types of fish. You will want to see what types of fish you are allowed to have before starting your aquaponic farm as you do not want any problems with the law.

Placing the pots

In order to make harvesting much easier, you should place the grow bed so that the pots are at waist level. This way you will not have to bend over, while performing daily maintenance tasks.

Adding Supplements

There are cases, that are quite common with any method of aquaponic gardening, in which your fish may not provide all the nutrients needed for your plants. And if those quantities are lower than what the plants need, then you will have to supply them with the proper nutrients. In most cases you will need to add iron, calcium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

Planting Seeds

Planting the seeds for your aquaponic garden is much easier than putting them in the ground. You just have to put them in a netting pot and then you wait for them to start sprouting. But there is a little aspect you must know of before starting your seeds. That is – the ideal moment when the seeds should be planted.

Many people purchase their fish, place them in their tank and at the same time they plant their seeds in the pots. This approach is the worst way of starting your aquaponic farm. The seeds; even though they will grow and develop to a certain point; will die in a matter of days after they consume their own nutrients. This is because to start, there are no nutrients in the water for your plants to consume. These nutrients take time to produce.

The best time to plant your seeds is when the fish excrement has turned into nutrients. Try the following process. It will help you obtain nutrients for your plants and is quite simple to do:

After you place the fish in the tanks, they will start depositing excrement into the water. Because the excrement contains ammonia, it is highly toxic for the fish. However, it’s not a big problem just yet as the ammonia will be removed by nature itself, with time. There are bacteria which transform the ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates. In order for your plants to grow you need nitrates, so once the natural process of decomposing and transforming ammonia is over, the water will be ready to support your plant seeds.

Unless kick started, this natural process can take up to 3 months, time in which you should not place any seeds in your pots as they will die off in a few days. Kick starting is a  way to speed up the decomposing process by adding the bacteria that create nitrates in the water before the fish excrement can transform. However, many people do not like to interfere in nature’s way. No matter which way you choose to go, it is recommended to monitor the amount of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in the water so that you know if the quality of your water is suitable for both your fish and your vegetables.

Please consider the tips mentioned above. They will help you to increase your success in your efforts to grow organic food with an aquaponics system.

?This is a review site. Click here to visit the official “Aquaponics 4 You” website

permaculture Aquaponics productivity, energy use, “sustainability” etc…

Hi all,

I’ve been running aquaponics for some years now and have made a number of observations in comparison to soil based systems and extensive aquaculture (all of which I’m playing with in my small suburban back yard).

Handily, Frank Gapinski came here a week ago with Geoff Lawton to film for their upcoming Urban Pc DVD and Frank has put up a couple of blog entries with graphics, so you can see my setup exactly.

The “traditional” aquaponics system is chronicled here:
http://www.ecofilms.com.au/2011/04/26/pond-aquaponics/

And the extensive system here:
http://www.ecofilms.com.au/2011/04/26/pond-aquaponics/

Comparisons:
I agree that aquaponics can be incredibly productive, as ours was in its first year. But there are many downsides that are not discussed much.
Our growbeds use perlite as the grow media, which I got cheap as a result of a screw-up at a local manufacturer’s. Downside is it floats, so makes flood and drain harder to set up. Upside is it retains moisture, so extended pump failure does not lead to pump failure.
The gardens on the other hand, are no-dig raised beds, using Toby Hemenway’s recipe for sheet mulch from Gaia’s Garden.
Like all aquaponics setups, we have more fish than will survive if they are left to fend for themselves. Therefore, we need to feed the fish. The pellets contain commercial fishing by-catch as well as chicken guts sourced from industrial chicken farms, neither of which could be described in any way as sustainable. I’ve heard of some pellets recently that are made from rape (canola), but am sure this comes from industrial canola farming, so ditto. I haven’t managed to source any of this yet, so don’t know if they’re any good. And I don’t have enough land to grow food for them here…
I have enough surface area to ensure the pond gets enough oxygen that the fish don’t die if the pump fails, but it’s pretty marginal in summer, when the water holds less oxygen. Every backyard aqaponicer I know has had at least one episode of pump failure and mass fish death.
With only a few exceptions, the taste and quality of food grown in soil is superior to that in the aquaponic system. The exceptions are Tuscan kale, which takes on a lovely subtle flavour compared to the stronger tasting soil borne variety and silverbeet (chard), ditto. Most everything else has a more intense flavour out of the garden, and for us, this is desirable for most things we grow.
We’ve found that aquaponically grown plants get big very quickly and seem to have weaker structures as a result. They are then far more susceptible to attack by chewing and sucking insects than the plants grown in soil.
We also have a bacterial wilt that got into the system two years ago that wiped out all the solanaceae. This year we’ve been able to use actively aerated compost tea to outcompete the wilt, but the plants in the growbeds get the wilt harder and faster than those in the garden.

The extensive system:
The pool setup in the link above is fundamentally self-managing. I have a small pump to stop the water at the bottom of the deep end of the pool going anaerobic, as happens in some pool conversions. I only do this because we still swim in the pool and don’t want to stir up smelly muck while doing so. Otherwise, pump failure has zero impact on this system. I added the gravel filter beds just as an extra to help get the water balanced and clean faster. The floating garden beds would be sufficient for this, had I not done the filters. Adding biofilters as in the aquaponics system would get it going properly even faster.
The fish (100 Silver Perch or Barcoo Grunter) are an Australian native and omnivorous. They eat the algae that grows in the pool and any insect attracted to the water. We no longer have any mosquitos in the house through the summer. They were introduced to the pool in October or November last year and were mostly 10mm long. Without any food added (other than bits of bread when we want to show off), the largest are now around 25cm and the smallest are at least 10cm. There is clearly no shortage of food for them.
At this point, we’re only growing aquatic plants with this bunch of fish. The aim was to introduce more veggies as per an aquaponics setup, but this will have to wait for another time, as we’re putting the house on the market so we can attack all these concepts in a more serious manner outside the city.

So, what do I think of aquaponics? In a small space with lots of energy, you can produce a lot of food. Handy if you live in a city. Is it sustainable? About as sustainable as the city in which it is placed – i.e. not at all sustainable. I also have animal cruelty concerns about small tank systems with high stocking rates, as are commonly advocated by tank manufacturers.

Will I use aquaponics when I move to the country? Only as described in the pool to pond article above, with a few veggie beds attached.

Cheers,

Les

St. Rose teen sells his award-winning produce at Gretna Farmers Market - NOLA.com

What began as a ninth-grade science fair project has turned into an all-consuming father and son enterprise in the Frazier household.

KARI DEQUINEBrad Frazier inspects the roots of his sweet basil plants grown hydroponically in a raised bed in a greenhouse in his back yard. He sells them at the Gretna Farmers Market.

Last fall, Brad Frazier, 14, set out to prove that tomatoes grown using a hydroponic (cultivating plants in water) system would out-perform tomatoes grown in soil.

Six months later, the experiment, which won third place at the regional science fair, has expanded into an innovative and impressive growing operation at their St. Rose home and a subsequent stand at the Gretna Farmers Market.

A 20-by-40-foot greenhouse, built by the duo during the Christmas holiday, sits in the corner of their yard, bursting with leafy vegetables and herbs. Brad Frazier and father, Lonnie, built everything themselves -- from the elevated water beds to the water circulating system using automatic timers, 55-gallon drums, water bottles and PVC pipe.

While they occasionally top it off, the water is recycled through the system.

Brad Frazier's first gleam of inspiration into the world of hydroponics and aquaponics began with a newspaper article about two culinary students who built a small aquaponic setup in their backyard.

It was his introduction into the world of aquaponics, a symbiotic system that links hydroponics with aquaculture (raising aquatic animals in tanks).

Brad Frazier sells his home-grown hydroponic lettuce and herbs at the Gretna Farmers Market.

Instead of adding nutrients to the water, the plants are able to derive the necessary nutrients from fish waste, which is pumped from the fish tank through the hydroponic system. The water, cleansed of toxins by the plants, is circulated back to the fish.

Brad Frazier was intrigued by the idea.

"It's as organic as you can get," he said. If anything is out of balance, he said, either the plants or the fish will die.

Visits to the Land Pavilion at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center also helped in the Fraziers' inspiration and education. Ideas and information can be found in the attraction's large gardens and accompanying demonstrations.

Another source of vital information for the construction process was a manual called "Barrel-ponics," a how-to guidebook by the concept's inventor, Travis Hughey, on using common household plumbing fixtures and plastic barrels.

For about $50, the Fraziers were able to build a mister that would have cost $500, said Lonnie Frazier, and a raised bed for about $400, that would have cost close to $5,000. "It's not as nice looking, but it's functional," he said. To build the frame of greenhouse, they found a "pipe-bender" on eBay.

The Fraziers successfully found sources for obtaining the barrels from local businesses -- the clear ones once held soap, while the blue ones were filled with hot sauce. The vendors at the Gretna Farmers Market, Lonnie Frazier said, have been another much-appreciated resource

The plants in the Frazier greenhouse use a variety of material for stability in the water, from burlap for the microgreens and rocks for the bell peppers, to a specially designed foam for the lettuce and coconut shells for the tomatoes.

To battle the pests without pesticides, the Fraziers are experimenting with an idea gathered at Epcot Center: ladybugs. So far, they said, the results are promising, and the plants have fared much better since introducing the ladybugs to the problem areas. Without bees, Brad Frazier demonstrated his technique: pollination via electric toothbrush.

Already, Brad Frazier said he has plans for expansion. They want to build a new greenhouse, he said, at twice the size, and a pond for goldfish, coy and perch. So far, Brad Frazier said his lettuce is his "prized-possession" and hopes to devote an entire greenhouse to it. He grows butterhead, oakleaf and baby romaine. He's found the "baby" or miniature varieties -- like his baby cucumbers, are popular among buyers.

For Brad Frazier, part of the driving force is simple. "I need money," he said. "I need a car."

But looking at the bigger picture, he is becoming increasingly interested in the field and science of agriculture. He foresees a need for a new generation of farmers and recognizes the current popularity in urban and community gardening. He said he is pushing for his school, John Curtis High School, to develop an agricultural department.

"I've learned as much as he has," Lonnie Frazier said, adding that a lot of the fun comes from the trial-and-error process.

They've had their share of challenges to overcome, like the right timing for planting, the aphids on the eggplants, the winter freezes, a flooded yard that displaced the fish tank and the two pet Springer spaniels who like to steal tomatoes. But both Brad and his father are eager to continue their quest on figuring out what works best.

"I feel if people found out how easy it is you'd find more people doing it," Lonnie Frazier said. "It's not as expensive as people believe. It just takes a little time and a little ingenuity."

As for the science fair project: "Fish, Dirt, or Water: Which grows tomatoes best," Brad's hypothesis that aquaponics would come out on top was close to correct.

His dad's bet was on the hydroponics, which did emerge victorious, but the aquaponic set-up was close behind. Using graphs that tracked plant height and fruit productivity, Brad's experiment showed that the hydroponic plants produced 30 tomatoes, the aquaponic produced 23 and the soil-grown plants produced six.

Setting Up an Aquaponic Farm

Setting Up an Aquaponic Farm

Article by AQUAPONICS

In a world where everything is done on the run and more and more people complain about their lack of time, starting a new activity seems as a way of social suicide (you will have less time to see your friends and your family). This is why many people are quite reluctant in giving their precious time away on new activities, especially if that new activity is gardening. Yet, what I want to propose you is something simpler, which even though is a way of growing crops, has nothing else to do with gardening. It is called aquaponics and it is the easiest way to have fresh food on your table.Aquaponics is a system which involves growing fish in normal tanks and using their water, filled with bio-nutrients in a system similar with that promoted by hydroponics. The best thing about aquaponics is that you will not have to take care of the plants, as the fish will offer them enough food to grow and develop properly. You will just have to take care of your fish, which will also take less time as you will only have to monitor the water and feed them. There is no need to change or clean the water as this is something which your plants will do. This symbiosis between fish and plants is the one which will save you lots of time and will give you the opportunity to take on this activity without compromising your social or professional life. Few minutes each day will be enough for you to make sure that both your crops and your fish are alright! In fact, growing plants and fish with the aquaponic system is so easy that your entire family will be willing to help you with that. Because it involves no dirty hands, bending and digging in the ground, you can even let your children help you. It will not take long so that they will not get bored and you will get to spend some moments with them.Take a look at this, you will be enjoyed: http://7bc63fp6p1xjul1wrpon2eja0a.hop.clickbank.net/Aquaponics is the easiest way through which you can have tasty, fresh and healthy vegetables on your table each and every day. There is no need to be afraid to start such a new activity as this is one of the best steps you can take for you and your family!

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permaculture Aquaponics + Biogas + Green Business = Food & Energy Independence

I’d be very interested to hear others thoughts along the thread of aquaponics being “one of the most sustainable” agricultural systems ever created. I really appreciated hearing Darren Doherty’s thoughts about that.

I’ll go ahead and admit my weakness: I haven’t been convinced of aquaponics sustainability. I am convinced that it is an extremely productive system. I currently oversee a small two-tub aquaponics demo that my students built and take care of, so I am familiar with the concept and function. It seems the materials that it takes to set up such a system embody huge amounts of energy (including the greenhouse structure itself). As an urban set-up to use converted warehouse space in overly industrialized areas with toxic soil it makes great sense. Beyond that I am not yet willing to generalize it as an extremely sustainable form of agriculture. Naturally, it probably depends on the methods one uses. It seems particularly subject to power outages and equipment failure though.

I also should note that I’m NOT suggesting aquaponics shouldn’t be done if it is proven to be unsustainable, just that we might want to choose different language when generalizing about it. For example, I love the benefits of a greenhouse, but I’m not going to suggest it is one of the most sustainable forms of growing. It’s just nice to have fresh food all winter!

And aquaponics could be the holy grail of agriculture, but I’m not convinced yet. I’d like to hear about other models, that use gravity more than pumps, soil based media instead of hydroton, or more chinampas like scenarios.

Anybody have thoughts they want to share about this…

Jason

permaculture West Coast Women’s Permaculture Gathering – Cazadero, CA May 20 – 22

** Please spread the word**
Ticket Sales end 5/13

Greetings Permie Women-
Registration is open for the next West Coast Women’s Permaculture Gathering. The themes include Women’s leadership, social permaculture, self-care and growing a revolutionary paradigm.
It will happen May 20-22, 2011 in Cazadero CA at the Black Mountain Preserve and Retreat Center (http://www.blackmountaincenter.com/). Speakers at the event will include:
Nina Simons (Bioneers)Starhawk (Earth Activist Training)Jude Hobbs (Cascadia Permaculture Institute)Kat Steele (Esalen
Institute)Jenny Pell (Community by Design)Carla Perez (Movement Generation-Permaculture for the People)Pandora Thomas (Earth Seed), Deborah Eden Tull (The Natural Kitchen)Rachel Kaplan (Urban Homestead)
Also Rebecca Newburn of Richmond Rivets will coordinate a seed swap! There will be room for all to speak and share ideas and projects through an Open Space format so come ready to share and participate. We will update you with other important details as they become available.
The site is a breathtaking space surrounded by nature. The weekend will be full of strong, powerful, committed women who share a vocabulary about planetary consciousness that sets us apart. This weekend will juice you up, connect you to other extraordinary women, and inspire you to continue to create the world we all know is possible!
We are creating a weekend of connecting, inspiring, playing and conjuring with other women dedicated to a vision of the world where resources are precious, relationships are priority, and beauty abounds! Spreading what’s possible by implementing permaculture designs and principles throughout our lives. We will share what’s happening in the various cities we live. We will inspire each other with the great projects we are spear-heading. We will support and offer resources and guidance to each other throughout the weekend.
The first gathering was amazing. This one is sure to be equally incredible. A bunch of permaculture minded rock star women all together for the weekend! How could we go wrong?
We’ve tried to make it as affordable as possible while still covering expenses. Tickets prices range from $165-$350 depending on accommodations and
income. Please pay at the highest level you can afford. This helps us offer work trade options and makes the future of this gathering sustainable and not subsidized!
To register for the event please visit our website at www.westcoastwomenspc.weebly.com or use the following link:http://womenspermaculture.eventbrite.com/ **If you have the means to contribute financially to help create this event that would be appreciated (to help us support key note speakers travel, provide scholarships, and make the event more smooth)
We are delighted to be creating this gathering and are looking forward to sharing it with YOU! Please spread the word!
Thank you for what you do!
Joan, Camille, Kat, and Melora

**Also, if you are attending
and have a projector you could bring please email asap – we need a few at the gathering.**
Fliers are available on the website: www.westcoastwomenspc.weebly.com Post them around town!
Event: West Coast Women’s Permaculture Gathering
Date: Friday, May 20, 2011 at 3:00 PM – Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 4:00 PM (PT) Location: Black Mountain Retreat Center23125 Fort Ross RdCazadero, CA 95421 For more information click here: West Coast Women’s Permaculture Gathering

The Advantages of Aquaponics Farming

The Advantages of Aquaponics Farming

Article by M Wilson

It is a relatively new technique for farming, but the advantages of aquaponics farming over traditional farming are quickly catching the attention of backyard gardeners and commercial farmers. With traditional farming, the focus is placed on growing plants and supplying the plants with everything they need to grow vegetables. With aquaponics, fish are added into the system and they are put to work to supply the plants with the nutrients that the plants need. At the same time the fish get benefits from the plants in the form of clean water.

This creates a symbiotic environment that is a blend between hydroponics and aquaculture. Blending these two systems creates a more complete system that closely mimics nature. Here are some of the many advantages this kind of system has over traditional agriculture.

You will have the ability to provide yourself with fresh organic vegetables whenever you want them. When you are ready to prepare a meal, simply go out to your aquaponic garden and harvest it. Not from a can or the refrigerator, but fresh off the plant.

You will also have a steady supply of fresh fish. Fish are a very healthy source of protein and when you grow them yourself, you will know they will be clean and organic. You can catch your fish as soon as you are ready to cook them. Where else would you be able to get fish that fresh? Not from the market or the freezer.

An aquaponics system is amazingly simple to put into use. The systems are very easy to assemble, since there is nothing really complicated about them. A lot of food can be grown in a small amount of space with aquaponics so you don”t need much space. This opens up many locations that you could put it where a traditional garden would not be practical. And then later it can even be moved to a new location, even while the plants are growing! Try doing that with a traditional garden.

Aquaponic farming has great financial benefits. Not only are you getting fresh organic food, it also costs very little to produce it. After the initial investment for the system, your food can be grown for very little money. It is a great feeling to know you are no longer dependent on the market for much, or even all of your food.

Aquaponics gardening is less work for you than traditional farming. No bending, tilling, dirty hands and clothes. Weed pulling, fertilising and maintenance is minimal or non existent. Since we are mimicking nature, instead of working against it, the system mostly takes care of itself. This makes this an ideal system for people with busy lives or people who aren’t patient enough for traditional farming.

The advantages to aquaponics are many. This is why this form of farming is growing so quickly. The quality fresh food will be great for your health and your bank account. It can also be very enjoyable to watch your own food grow and know you will have a constant supply of quality organic food.

Get a complete aquaponics how to guide and learn everything you will need to know to get your aquaponics system up and running.

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Get a complete aquaponics how to guide and learn everything you will need to know to get your aquaponics system up and running.

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Advantages of Aquaponics Farming

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Growing Organic Plants The Easy Way While Keeping Your Aquaponics System Clean

Growing Organic Plants The Easy Way While Keeping Your Aquaponics System Clean     Article by M Wilson

Many people question the claims of how easy an aquaponics system is to operate. When people think of growing fish, they often think about filtration systems, cleaning the tank and regularly replacing the water. With traditional aquaculture and aquariums, this is the case, but not with aquaponics.

In nature, people don’t have to go out and clean up or maintain natural habitats. They typically take care of themselves. Aquaponics creates a similar situation. The fish, plants and beneficial bacteria create a complete system that has just about everything it needs to take care of itself. Any wastes put into the system are cleaned up by the bacteria and the plants. So there is no need to change the water or to regularly clean the system.

In some cases, you may want to stir up the solids if they accumulate at the bottom of the fish tank. This way they will be picked up by the pump and carried to the grow bed. Here a bed of solids at the bottom are not a problem, and can make a place for colonies of bacteria to grow. These bacteria are essential for turning the ammonia and other chemicals into nutrients that the plants can use. Having a bed of these solid wastes can actually benefit the system.

As long as oxygen levels are maintained, these bacteria will do their thing and help keep the tank clean. It is also important to keep enough plants growing to remove enough of the fish wastes from the water. If these levels start to build up too high, consider reducing the number of fish, or even better, add another grow bed. This is an example of how scalable an aquaponics system can be. It is easy to add on more grow beds or to add a larger tank, or multiple tanks.

Although we humans like things to be clean, nature does not always like things clean. A clean sterile environment would be unhealthy. You don’t want the system to become toxic, but a slightly dirty system is often the sign of a healthy system that will produce a continuous supply of high quality organic food for many years.

This aquaponics guide will walk you through setting up your aquaponics system. This simple to build and operate will produce amazing amounts of food in a small space.
aquaponics guide

http://www.yournetideas.co.uk/aquaponics.html

Choosing Where To Locate Your Aquaponics System

Choosing Where To Locate Your Aquaponics System

Article by M Wilson

There are many great advantages to growing vegetables and fish in an aquaponics garden. Getting started and maintaining this kind of system is very simple, and it can be a lot of fun. In order for this system to live up to its potential and produce exceptional results, there are some details that you will need to get right.

An important decision when setting up an aquaponics system is to decide where to put the system. One of the benefits of aquaponics is it is very versatile as far as where it can be located. Unlike a traditional garden, it will not be dependent on fertile soil. This means if it is outside, it can be located in areas that would normally be unsuitable for growing much of anything.

The two things to consider when choosing a location is temperature and light. It will need to be located in a sunny location, or you will have to supply it with full spectrum lighting. It will also need to be located in an area with a temperature that will be appropriate for the type of fish and plants you will be trying to grow. If the system is outdoors and you have cold winters, this will limit what you will be able to grow in the winter.

Putting the system indoors or in a greenhouse gives you the ability to better control the temperatures. Indoor aquaponic systems open up the possibility for year round gardening in climates that would typically not allow it. The disadvantage of indoor growing is the possible lack of sunlight. This is where a large sunny window or sun room are great.

A great approach is to have more than one system. An indoor system, an outdoor system, and a greenhouse system. This allows you the ability to grow crops in each system that are appropriate to the climate they provide. This situation is not available to many growers, but for those who can do it, it is a great way to experiment and provide diversity in production and growing conditions.

The most important thing is to enjoy the system. With the simplicity and lack of labor involved, this kind of gardening can be a more enjoyable experience than traditional gardening. It eliminates the sometimes frustrating parts of gardening like the back braking work, the weeds and other pests. And the fresh organic fish and vegetables it produces is a great pay off.

Download this aquaponics guide and learn all the details you need to know to set up an aquaponics system.

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aquaponics guide

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aquaponics system best location

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A good introduction to the world of aquaponic farming

In  creating this review of “Aquaponics 4 You“; a written and video progam; which gives you step-by-step instructions and information on how to build your very own aquaponics system, my aim is twofold. First to discover if the ‘Aquaponics 4 You’ program has merit and second to determine if it will provide you and me with enough information to get a good start with an aquaponics system which is marketed and designed with the newcomer in mind.

I can tell you right off this program: e-book and video, is NO SCAM. The system provides the information, resources and materials lists to build a good starter aquaponics system. Aquaponics itself, is a proven method to grow plants and is in use by many people the world over. ‘Aquaponics 4 You’ does not muck around with the science behind the aquaponic method, it simply shows how anyone who is interested can economically assemble and use such a system and removes some of the mystery about what an aquaponics system is and how it works.

After I had finished reading the entire book through and watched the video, which details the assembly of the plumbing and setup of the fish tank and grow bed, I learned several things that would be helpful to share with anyone looking into building their own aquaponics system. My honest review will be an unbiased look into determining if the “Aquaponics 4 You” program materials meet the needs of folks new to this type of vegetable gardening.

But first, here are some of the reasons you should consider for starting a aquaponic farm in the first place:

The system does not require a large amount of money or time to setup and use.The system is designed to be easy to setup and can be placed anywhere that space and proper lighting will allow.You can plant almost all types of plants in your aquaponic garden, to be harvested on the spot, just when you need them.You will have fresh ORGANIC produce available to you and your family for a fraction of the cost you would normally pay for it.

Well, if this is sounding good to you, you are off to a good start. I hope you enjoy reading the rest of my review. Thanks again for stopping by!

Where to Put Your Aquaponics System

Where to Put Your Aquaponics System    Article by M Wilson

One of the advantages of aquaponics is how versatile it is. Unlike a traditional garden, there are many places that would be suitable for your system. To grow food this way, don’t need a large tract of land or fertile soil. All of these things that have long determined where and how people can grow food, are no longer factors.

The ideal location to place an aquaponic system would be in a greenhouse. But many people don’t have a greenhouse or the space to put one. Getting a greenhouse can also be a significant expense. If this is feasible for you, then by all means, put it in a greenhouse.

For small systems, many people put them inside their home. In a garage or even in a spare bedroom or living room, as long as there is enough light. Next to a sunny window, or if you have a sun room, that is an ideal place. The advantage of having your aquaponic garden indoors is moderate temperatures. Since you keep your home at a comfortable temperature for you, this also creates an ideal temperature for many plants and fish.

If you can have it outdoors, or preferably in a greenhouse, this will give you the most sunlight and space. The problem with growing plants and fish outdoors is extreme temperatures. If you have cold winters, a greenhouse would be a must in order to grow year round, and it may need to be heated. If it gets hot in the summer, a greenhouse may need to be shaded, ventilated or even air conditioned in extreme heat.

The type of fish you grow will determine the temperature tolerance. Tropical fish like tilapia can not handle cold water. Most garden plants don’t grow much if at all in cold weather, and will be killed if they freeze. Outdoors can be tricky, depending on your climate.

This is one reason why growing indoors is becoming so popular. Plus having a garden and fish in your home can be very decorative and provide a wonderful indoor environment. This is why house plants and aquarium fish are so popular in homes.

With the simplicity and low cost of aquaponics, I would suggest having both indoor and outdoor systems. If you are in an area with a cold climate, keep temperature tolerant fish outside, grow warm weather plants in the summer, and cool weather tolerant plants in the winter. The best thing is to just get started and experiment until you find what works best for you. With aquaponics, mistakes you may make along the way, are typically not very costly.

Get a great start in growing your own food or growing commercially with this aquaponics how to guide. Learn the easy way to set up your system and have it quickly producing fresh fish and vegetables.
This aquaponics how to guide will tell you all you need to know to get your aquaponics system set up and producing fresh food for you.

http://www.yournetideas.co.uk/aquaponics.html   Where to Put Your Aquaponics System

Fish and plants, which ones are best for aquaponics farming

Aquaponic farming offers you great harvests of tasty, cheap vegetables as well as healthy fish all year round. But, I know you have questions about the best plants and fish to consider for your aquaponics system. Well, here are a few suggestions:

This is a review site. Click here to visit the official “Aquapoincs 4 You” website

Fish

As you can see by now, the fish you select for your aquaponic system play a major role in the success of your vegetables. This is why, you need to take good care of them and at the same time pay attention to what type of fish you choose. Basically all types of fish are suitable for an aquaponic system, but there are states in which different species of fish are not allowed to be grown inside the house. So, before populating your tank with fish, please make sure that you are allowed to grow the type of fish that you desire.

The species of fish which are recommended for an aquaponic system are Small mouth Bass, Crappie, Chinese Catfish, Tilapia, Koi, Large mouth and Bluegill. However this list is not an exhaustive one and according to the area and state in which you live, you can always try different types of fish. As long as you take good care of them and your fish are happy, your chances for success with your new aquaponic farm will be greatly increased.

Plants

Nowadays traditional farming is starting to lose ground in favor of the new ways of growing plants. Most people have directed their attention towards hydroponic farming which enables them to grow vegetables in their own house or their garage just using water and some specially designed pots. Yet, the drawback of hydroponic farming is the fact that you will need to use chemical substances to feed the plants and make them grow normally. This significantly affects the taste and the quality of your crops. With a aquaponics system this does not happen. As you have learned, aquaponics relies on the symbiosis between plants and fish. Because of this, you will rarely need to use any type of chemical substance, resulting in tastier and healthier crops.

I am sure that you are wondering what type of vegetables you are able to grow using an aquaponic system. Well, to be honest, almost any plant you can think of, excluding, those plants whose fruits grow inside the ground: Like potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic and so on. (Depending on the depth of your grow bed and the depth of pot you use, you can try radishes, green onions, small carrots and the like). I think that some folks even use a barrel method for a grow bed to be able to grow the standard varieties of these tasty tubers and the like. Now, fruity vegetables like cucumbers, strawberries, tomatoes, squash, okra, peppers, melon; herbs like basil and oregano; different types of beans and peas as well as green leafy vegetables grow very well in this type of system. So you really do have a lot of choices that will work just fine.

Keeping It All Organic

What will amaze you even more is the great taste your veggies and legumes will have. You won’t believe that something so good can be grown at home. They have a far better taste than the veggies you buy from the market because they are all natural, organic and have no other chemical “improvements” to them. Your meals will be healthier and tastier! Also, I suggest that you use only organic seeds, so that you know that your crops are 100% organic. What can be better than that?

This is a review site. Click here to visit the official “Aquapoincs 4 You” website