Organic farm factory to yield 120 jobs

NEW WINDSOR ? Continental Organics plans to build a large plant here and create about 120 full-time jobs, the company and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today.

Continental Organics has been housed at the Orange County Business Accelerator, also located here, where it developed its plans.

The company will specialize in organic produce, fish and fertilizer using aquaponics to grow food in a nutrient-rich solution rather than soil. The farm will also sell tilapia, a fish, and organic fertilizer. It will also lease an adjacent farm.

The state is awarding it a $6.2 million incentive package through the Empire State Development Corp.

Continental said it expects to invest $49.8 million in a five-year project that includes building 900,000-square-foot facility.

Continental Organics CEO Michael Finnegan was quoted in the governor?s press release: ?I believe that organic food is the future of food production, and I am thrilled to be able to bring it to the Hudson Valley. We spent the past year operating out of the offices of the Orange County Business Accelerator. They were incredibly helpful in getting us started. We were the first client of the new Orange County Business Accelerator, and now we are going to be the first business to graduate to a new home in Orange County. I want to thank Governor Cuomo and Orange County Executive Edward Diana for their steadfast support.?

The veteran-owned company will likely hire many service veterans, the statement said.
"Small and medium size businesses are key to getting the state?s economy back on track,? Cuomo said.

The statement did not indicate a schedule for the project.

Cincinnati Aquaponics Project to Provide Fresh Fish, Produce in Nigeria-- and ... - San Francisco Chronicle (press release)

Cincinnati, Ohio (PRWEB) August 10, 2011

A Cincinnati aquaponics prototype built to bring fresh fish and vegetables to underserved Nigerians has potential commercial applications in greater Cincinnati.

Chuck Proudfit, president of SkillSource business consultancy and At Work on Purpose, the nation's largest city-wide, faith-at-work ministry, said the prototype is really a "big science project" that can serve both the first and third worlds.

Proudfit, also CEO of Self-Self-Sustaining Enterprises(SSE) at Grace Chapel in Mason, Ohio led 11 AWOP and SSE members and local business owners to Nigeria in March to install an aquaponic test operation capable of providing a sustaining source of fish and produce for the people of Kisayip village near Jos, Nigeria.

The 700-gallon cinderblock fish factory is now up and running, with the capacity to produce 1,000 pounds of catfish and a ton of fresh produce a year. Cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce are growing at the Nigeria site, and fish and vegetable crops are maturing at the prototype in Cincinnati.

"We are not only excited that we're working toward providing a self-sustaining food and income source for the people of Nigeria," said Proudfit, "but we're also very encouraged about the possibility of expanding the project locally to provide fresh, local fish and vegetables for restaurants, food co-ops, greenhouses, neighborhood co-ops, and farmers here in Cincinnati."

SSE is working with Xavier University's X-LAB entrepreneurship program to develop a business plan. This month volunteers will move the prototype from H.J. Benken's Florist and Greehouse in Silverton, Ohio to Grace Chapel. The group plans to pursue investment capital of about $20,000 to expand the project into a viable BizNistry-- a for-profit business that donates excess profits for ministry needs.

An aquaponics tank creates a river ecosystem. Fingerlings are placed in the tank, and their waste products-- mostly nitrogen and ammonia-feed plants on the water's surface. The plants, in turn, soak up nitrogen and purify the water.

The project merges aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (raising plants in non-solid mediums) into a closed-loop system, said Pete West, a P&G engineer who donated funds, helped build the Cincinnati prototype and led the Nigerian installation.

"This high-yield production system is perfect for Nigeria, which suffers from over-fishing and an often-contaminated water supply," said Proudfit. "But ironically, this is also perfect for the provision of fish and vegetables for greater Cincinnati, too."

If successful, the Nigerian aquaponics model can be scaled up to a level which can provide food for the local community as well as employment and income opportunities to meet ministry objectives. Nigerian profits will be reinvested in further community development projects such as the installation of wells in neighboring villages, where the availability of clean water is limited.

The project was sparked by the Rev. Jeff Greer, pastor at Grace Chapel Church in Mason, Ohio. Greer heads both SSE, a nonprofit aimed to provide self-sustainable ministry to the world's impoverished, and Back2Back Ministries, which operates in Nigeria, Mexico and India.     

While both nonprofits are independently funded and run, they work in partnership in Nigeria. SSE focuses on helping the underserved form microenterprises that create sustainable income streams and local jobs, while Back2Back concentrates on widow and orphan care.

Since 2007, the H20 Nigeria project, a freshwater drilling project operated by SSE and the Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati have increased the area's potable water supply by drilling over 100 freshwater wells in the plateau state of Jos.

SSE and AWOP have also guided Kisayip villagers to form and run poultry-raising, brick-making, dress-making, and well-digging enterprises.

Lobbyists get California schools to edit textbooks to include positive messages about plastic bags.

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Permaculture Internship at Estancia Ranquilco, Patagonia, Argentina

8-WEEK PERMACULTURE DESIGN INTERNSHIP ESTANCIA RANQUILCO, PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA TREEYO PERMACULTURE

Dates: January 3, 2012 to February 28, 2012
Web:
http://treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com/january-february-2012-permaculture-internship-in-patagonia-argentina/ Host site: Estancia Ranquilco, Patagonia, Argentina (www.ranquilco.com)

*The Internship*

This intensive permaculture internship will include over 100 hours of direct instruction through lectures, hands-on sessions, and design projects as well as immediate application of acquired skills through participation in the maintenance and management of the Estancia. The internship structure and curriculum reflects our commitment to Bill Mollisons philosophy by emphasizing the application of permaculture principles and the design process through thoughtful and protracted observation, implementation, monitoring, and re-evaluation. At the end of the 8 weeks, interns will have accomplished above and beyond the standard curriculum of a 72 hour, internationally recognized Permaculture Design Course (PDC) through TreeYo Permaculture, a thorough understanding of the application of permaculture principles on a working cattle ranch which also sports a substantial market gardening operation.

*Provisional Internship Schedule*

Week ONE: 30 hours of class time covering the core curriculum of a standard PDC including the introduction to permaculture, principles, ethics, applied community building techniques, patterns in nature and reading the landscape. This week will also include 10 hours of orientation to the land and the established systems as well as projects that interns will be working on during the program.

Week TWO through SIX: 10 hours of class time per week covering topics including soil, water, trees, natural building, gardening, Holistic Management, social system strategies, sustainable economies, aquaculture, animal systems, design process, climatic factors, appropriate technologies, and food preservation (pickling, drying, fermenting, etc.) plus 30 hours of directed systems management work per week (SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS).

Week SEVEN: 10 hours of class time focusing on intern final design projects plus 30 hours of implementation.

Week EIGHT: 10 hours of class and completion of any outstanding projects to help prepare the Estancia for the coming winter and goodbyes.

General weekly schedule:

7:00 11:00 Monday through Friday Morning Work Session
14:00 18:00 Monday/Wednesday/Friday Class Session
14:00 18:00 Tuesday/Thursday Work Session
8:00 10:00 Saturday Morning Work Session

*Directed Systems Management Work*

- Day-in-day-out tasks of gardening such as watering, planting, mulching, composting, weeding, and harvesting
- Establishing new gardens
- Repairing existing garden areas (using weed indicators for guidance) – Composting and soil restoration
- Laying out a stone foundation for a cob oven
- Food processing and preservation
- Natural building projects using locally abundant resources – straw, earth, stone, and wood
- Swale digging
- Sheet mulching
- Tree planting

*Other Exercises & Events*

To bring the material alive we engage numerous learning styles. To achieve this, the internship consists of various exercises and events that require students to immediately apply what they have learned. These educational segments include not only the hands-on sessions and the final design project but also design exercises and excursions. The design exercises compliment the lecture material by adding an element of fun to the learning process while the excursions (such as horse rides with the gauchos and Spanish language exposure) offer cultural understanding and observation practices. There is also a unique opportunity to glean an in-depth understanding of the successes and challenges that the Carritherss have experienced in the development of the Estancia as both a ranch and an eco-tourism destination.

And finally, the internship is a backdrop for strengthening and building community at the Estancia and beyond. Many nights will be filled with song, dance, and music of all types to relax at the end of the day. We also set aside time for interns to present about personal projects that they are involved in or need feedback on, which also allows us to get to know each other in depth. The community formation serves as a lasting network and is one of the most unforgettable parts of the experience.

*Facilitators*
Doug Crouch, Sara Wuerstle, & Eva Wimmer

Language used: English (with limited help to translate unknown words when necessary)

*Fees*

Base fee for the internship = $2000 per person (includes instruction and food only). Housing pricing is separate. See below for details.

*Housing Options & Rates*

The Estancia offers a variety of housing options. Choice will be given on a first sign up, first serve basis. Please choose from the housing options below (prices are per person for 8 weeks):

1. BYOT (Bring-Your-Own-Tent) Camping with outdoor hot showers & outhouses plus indoor kitchens.$500
2. Rustic Stream House (15 mins walk off site) with indoor shared shower & toilet plus a wood stove kitchen (double occupancy).$650
3. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (double occupancy).$750 4. Indoor housing with indoor toilet & hot shower (single occupancy).$850

*Transportation*

Due to the remote location and the challenge of transportation, interns should arrive in El Huecu by bus from Zapala (13:30 bus) on the agreed upon arrival day for pick by Ranquilco staff.

PLEASE NOTE: Interns are invited to come earlier or stay longer at a cost of $70/day. This includes room, in our basic houses, board, and plenty of free time to enjoy the bounties on our lands. Please make arrangements for extended stays when registering.

*Contact*

Ashley Carrithers (ashleykentc@hotmail.com – registration)
Doug Crouch (treeyopermaculture@gmail.com – course material)

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Permaculture Design Course in Patagonia, Argentina

16-DAY PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE ESTANCIA RANQUILCO, PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA TREEYO PERMACULTURE

Dates: November 15th to December 1st
Web: www.treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com/patagoniapdc
Host site: Estancia Ranquilco, Patagonia, Argentina (www.ranquilco.com)

*Introduction*

TreeYo Permaculture is excited to offer a 16-day Permaculture Design Course (PDC) in conjunction with Estancia Ranquilco in the mountains of Patagonia, Argentina. The 100,000-acre working cattle ranch doubles as an eco-tourism destination that utilizes permaculture design to continually progress the onsite systems towards overall community self-reliance. This new 16-day format is an expression of TreeYos commitment to providing the best educational programs possible. This extended course structure will accommodate more hands-on experiences to learn through the body, more interactive exercises to enrich the learning process, and a more in depth final design project to reinforce the classroom learning. This will lead us beyond the traditional 2-week intensive originally laid out by Bill Mollison that has one day off and a total of 72 hours of instruction.

This 16-day PDC will be an engaging combination of interactive educational opportunities for numerous learning styles including hands-on activities. This extended format allows students to delve deep into the theory of the design principles, directly experience the design process, and learn from past design and implementation work of others while actively progressing the Estancias sustainability objectives and enhancing the eco in its eco-tourism infrastructure. To learn more about our specific facilitation style and view the highlights of TreeYos past courses, please explore the following page: www.treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com.
Says Ashley Carrithers, who has owned the land since 1979, Ranquilco is uniquely situated and orientated to serve as a venue for these courses as well as inner journeys of personal growth. Many who have dedicated sufficient time to be on our vast lands, high and deep, in the cordillera of the Argentine Patagonia Andes, have experienced the magic, which seems to roam over the mountains, down the valleys, and through the crystalline river waters. Thus it seems to be an Earth power point, somewhat disguised as a traditional working cattle ranch, replete with hundreds of livestock and horses, gauchos, and high mountain landscape replete with stunning natural beauty. We have long striven for the benefits and blessings of self-sufficiency and have achieved notable progress in such fields as dairy, organic meats, bee keeping, electricity production, draft animal husbandry, leather working and more to come.

*Curriculum*

This 16-day PDC includes the 14 chapters of Permaculture: A Designers Manual by Bill Mollison. Some of the topics included are:
- Ethics, principles, and methods of design
- Pattern understanding: interpretation and application
- Water harvesting, conservation, purification, and revitalization ? – Tree crops, reforestation, and nutrient recycling
- Soil classification, biological interaction, and re-mineralization – Tropical, dryland, and temperate influences on vegetation, housing, and earthworks
- Nutrition, fermentation, and local food systems
- Transition Towns emerging and evolving approach to community level sustainability

*Facilitators*

Doug Crouch, Sara Wuerstle and Eva Wimmer
Language used: English (with limited help to translate unknown words when necessary)
Our aim as Permaculture trainers is to creatively facilitate a learning process that empowers people in Permaculture design through experiential learning and hands-on training. Each student completes the course with a site design and presentation based on the skills and knowledge accumulated throughout the 16 days. This reinforces the material presented and allows students to gain the confidence required to begin implementing sustainability initiatives into ones own growing space and community.

*Fees*

Base fee for the PDC = $600 per person (includes instruction and food only). Housing pricing is separate. See below for details.

PLEASE NOTE: An early bird discounted price of $500 plus housing applies if registered before October 1st.

*Housing Options & Rates*

The Estancia offers a variety of housing options. Choice will be given on a first sign up, first serve basis. Please choose from the housing options below (prices are per person, additional to the base course fee):

1. BYOT (Bring-Your-Own-Tent) Camping with outdoor hot showers & outhouses plus indoor kitchens.$400
2. Rustic Stream House (15 mins walk off site) with indoor shared shower & toilet plus a wood stove kitchen (double occupancy).$500
3. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (double occupancy).$600 4. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (single occupancy).$750

*Transportation*

Due to the remote location and the challenge of transportation, interns should arrive in El Huecu by bus from Zapala (13:30 bus) on the agreed upon arrival day for pick by Ranquilco staff.

PLEASE NOTE: Students are invited to come several days earlier or stay several days longer to join the estancia community at a cost of $70/day. This includes room, in our basic houses, board, and plenty of free time to enjoy the bounties on our lands. Horse riding outings/lessons can be arranged. Please make arrangements for extended stays when registering.

Hydroponic VS. Aquaponic

Hydroponic VS. Aquaponic

Article by Ethan Mills

Hydroponic gardens are already highly popular among people of all ages. They require little space, are easy to take care of and give satisfactory results. However, because you will need to supply the water with necessary nutrients, which are most of the times chemical, the taste of the crops is not quite the ones people expect. Also, people trying to switch to organic products have a hard time in coping with the chemical additions from the hydroponically-grown vegetables.

Fortunately, a new type of gardening is available. It is called the aquaponic system and can help you grow organic food in your home.

The aquaponic system is a mixture between the aquaculture, as it requires growing fish in a special fish tank and hydroponics, as it involves growing plants with water and nutrients. You will probably wonder what role the fish play in all this business. Well, things are quite easy: the fish excrements contain ammonia which is later decomposed in nitrites and nitrates. The latter substance is benefit for the plants, offering them enough nutrients to grow and develop normally. Thus, there will be no need to supply your plants with chemical substances as they will already have all the food they need.

This leads to the several advantages that the aquaponic system has over the hydroponic one. First, the vegetables will have a better taste as they will grow only with natural food and at their own peace. This will give them that delicious taste you love so much in veggies. Then, the system is simpler, as you will no longer need to feed your plants each and every day. Just make sure that your fish are in good shape and then let nature take its course. Last, but not least, with the aquaponic system you do not only grow vegetables, but you also have fish which you can use for decorative purposes or you can very well cook delicious meals for you and your family.

Aquaponics is an improved version of the hydroponic system. The crops are better and the process is easier. In addition to that you get to eat organic food! What more can you wish for?

Aquaponic

Aquaponics Is A Great Hobby For All Ages

Aquaponics Is A Great Hobby For All Ages

Aquaponics can be a great hobby for all ages. This is a hobby with a low cost of entry that can be done without a lot of effort. And the rewards that it produces will appeal to everyone. Everyone can appreciate food. Not only will this hobby not cost you much, it can save you money and time spent at the grocery store buying food.

A Great Hobby For Children

Aquaponics is a great way to give children hands on experience that will teach them about where their food comes from. It will give them sense of responsibility from a daily task in feeding the fish and checking to make sure the system is running properly. They will learn about how things grow and will be rewarded with tasty food. It can help children to appreciate vegetables when they grow them their selves.

For Busy Working Adults

Many adults would love to be able to grow a garden, but don’t have the time to care for one. But with aquaponics, there is not much time needed to take care of the system. Even if feeding the fish is too much, there are automatic feeders that will do this. While a person is busy with daily life, they can know that their hobby is there and growing on its own. It can also save some time in trips to the grocery store when they produce their own vegetables at home.

A Hobby For Retired Seniors

Aquaponics is a great hobby for retired seniors. It is an activity that is rewarding but doesn’t require much effort. There is always something that could be done, making improvements, expanding, etc. But there is not much work that HAS TO be done, or work that takes much physical exertion. Gardening is a common hobby with a lot of seniors, but eventually working with the soil becomes too much work. With aquaponics, none of that is needed. Grow beds can be placed at comfortable levels to minimize bending over. It can also be a great hobby to get the grand kids involved with.

For any age group, this can be a great way to spend your time and to reap the rewards from it. It is simple to set a system up and give it a try. After you do, you probably won’t want to be without it.

Get started with your own aquaponics system with this aquaponics guide. Learn how to set your system up and put it to work for you.

5 Important Aquaponics System Requirements

5 Important Aquaponics System Requirements

Aquaponics is exploding in popularity, and for good reasons. It can be simple to set up an aquaponics system, but there are a few essential things you will need to know if you want to get good results. With these five key ingredients, you can have spectacular results from your aquaponics.

1. Your System’s Location

Where you place your aquaponics system is very important. Choosing a sunny location is very important, unless you are only going to grow shade tolerant plants. If you are building a structure like a greenhouse for your system, think about nearby trees that may some day become a problem by growing up and shading it. If you are in a windy location, shelter from wind can be helpful. Make sure it is not in an area where there will be exposure to chemicals, for the safety of both the fish and plants.

2.Choosing the Right Fish

There are many types of fish that will do well with an aquaponics system. But in some parts of the world many species of fish are not allowed. Growing fish in areas where they are against the law can get you into big trouble with hefty fines. Some fish are more suited to different climates. If you are in a temperate climate, there are some species that will not do well and will even die if you don’t have a water heater to keep the water temperature high enough.

3. Provide Plenty of Oxygen

Just like us, fish need oxygen and will quickly die without it. If they don’t get enough oxygen they will not grow as fast and can become sick and die. Too much oxygen is better than not enough. You can’t give them too much.

4. Nutrient Additives

There are cases where the fish won’t provide enough nutrients for the plants. In some cases you may want to add additional nutrients. Nitrogen, iron, calcium and potassium are common nutrients that you may need to add. Many of these can be added from organic or simple mineral sources. Your plants will tell you when they are lacking nutrients if you learn what to look for.

5. Planter Position

You will do yourself a great favor by placing your planters at a comfortable working level, usually waist level. This way you can work without bending over.

Aquaponics systems are an excellent way to grow both fish and vegetables. It has only recently started to become popular and we have yet to see what the future will hold for this revolutionary way of gardening.

permaculture U.S. Policy in Africa

Following is an article that I wrote in fall of 2009. It gives some good background to current U.S. involvement in Africa.

U.S. Policy in Africa: A New Beginning?

Sept. 18, 2009
By Brent McMillan

The Center for American Progress recently hosted a conversation with Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in Washington DC.

The Obama administration has made Africa a priority in U.S. foreign policy. With the recent trips and speeches by both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, they have emphasized that progress in Africa requires partnerships built on shared responsibility. The meeting was an important discussion regarding Africa and yet, where was the major media?

Opening remarks were delivered by Rudy de Leon, Vice President for National Security, Center for American Progress. He spoke about the 3D approach, Diplomacy, Defense and Development. He then introduced the Ambassador.

Ambassador Johnnie Carson spent his entire professional life working on and in Africa. It has been four months since he became Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. With respect to the Africa Bureau in the Department of State the Ambassador shapes and guides policy. The Ambassador emphasized President Obamas commitment to Africa. He accompanied Secretary Clinton on the seven country, eleven day trip through Africa in August of this year.

There is a UN General Assembly meeting next week. President Obama will be hosting a meeting of the leadership of the African nations. Theyre paying attention to the uneven preservation of the earths resources in regards to African nations. Its people are disenfranchised by poor government, poor infrastructure and a harsh environment in which to survive. So far so good.

Policies will emphasis mutual responsibility. How can we build partnerships so that we can transform and reduce the need for support over time? There are five areas of focus:

1) Partnerships to strengthen democratic institutions.

2) Work for sustained economic development and growth over time.

In regard to agriculture, what they mean by development is a Green Revolution, not unlike what we saw in Latin America 20 to 30 years ago. This is a petroleum based model. Fertilizers and pesticides that are petroleum based, big tractors, etc. As we move further into Peak Oil this will lead to an even greater crisis. Look to what happened to Cuba during the special period to understand how devastating this dependence can be. Cuba probably bought into the Green Revolution more than any other country in Latin America.

3) Maintain a historical focus on health issues, particularly public health.

The US has little credibility on this topic. With the influence of the health insurance industry and pharmaceutical industry we have a broken delivery system. The for profit health-care delivery system in this country has been a disaster. Is this the model that we will be promoting?

Ambassador Carson elaborated that this includes the commitment to carry on HIV programs.

4) Continue to work with the International Community to resolve interstate conflicts and disputes such as Sudan, Somalia and East Congo.

5) The Twenty-first century has brought new transnational challenges to Africa narco-trafficing, climate change, exploitation of resources, etc.

It is clear that the peoples that have had the least to do with causing Climate Change are suffering the most as a result of it. Read: The Anatomy of a Silent Crises a human impact report on Climate Change put out by the Global Humanitarian Forum headed up by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Also, whats new about the exploitation of resources in Africa?

The seven countries that Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Carson recently visited are Angola, Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Africa.

They did not visit Zimbabwe. According to Ambassador Carson, Zimbabwe is moving towards a new constitution. The US is committed to encouraging progress, to restore democracy.

Nigeria is without a doubt the most important country in Africa to the US State Department and to the Obama Administration. Nigeria, of course, is the largest oil producer in Africa. Were engaged in Nigeria. We are setting up a bi-national commission to advance the relationship, said Ambassador Carson.

In Liberia, the US is helping to provide development assistance.

In Kenya, Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Carson saw an opportunity to show strong support for the president and for getting their democracy back on track.

The reporter from Pacifica asked about the African Diaspora and what the State Departments relationship is to them. Ambassador Carson said that he would be traveling to the Midwest, to Minneapolis, to meet with leaders of the Somali community.

The administration is also focused on Sudan, with the intention of realizing the full completion of the peace agreement, combined with an ongoing policy review in the State Department regarding Sudan. Ambassador Carson considers that insuring of the peace agreement in its full implementation is the most important goal there. He went on to say that in regards to next weeks event in New York there is no intention to have any contact at the White House level with the leadership of Sudan.

There was absolutely no mention of Chinas role in the region. This is revealing given the fact that when we have visits from representatives of African nations they always talk about the presence of China.

# # # #

Brent McMillan, Steward of Woodhaven
Avilla, IN USA

What is aquaponic farming

What the heck is aquaponics and aquaponic farming?

While “Aquaponics 4 You” explains this, I figured a little additional information would be helpful in building a good foundation of knowlege to start with.

Aquaponics is a new way of approaching farming. Unlike traditional agriculture where you need plants to grow vegetables, with aquaponics you need water and fish in order to have healthy food on your table each and every day. Basically, aquaponics relies on the interdependence between fish and plants: the fish produce bio-nutrients for the plants, while the plants clean the water the fish mess up, creating a perfect environment for the fish to grow and develop. It is a blend of aquaculture and hydroponics that has plenty of advantages.

Here are some of the advantages your own aquaponics system can provide for you once you get it assembled:

First of all you will have fresh organic food on your table each and every day, regardless of the hour when you decide to cook your meals. You simply take your tomato, cucumber or your basil from the aquaponic garden and use it for your meals. It is as easy as it sounds, and of course, as fresh as it comes.

The second best thing about it is that you not only grow vegetables, but you also have plenty of fish. Whether you want them for cooking tasty meals or simply for pets, they are a great addition in your home! They also have a practical purpose, as you will never have to use chemical fertilizers on your plants, because the plants are fed off the fish waste. This way you are obtaining real organic food.

When asking how difficult it is to get the system together, the answer is that it is not difficult. You will be able to assemble the entire system all by yourself, without the help of your family or neighbors, and you can also put it wherever you want. If you move from one house to another, then you simply disassemble the system and take it with you. What can be easier than that?

Another great advantage of aquaponic farming is that you will no longer depend on the market as your source for your organic vegetables.

Last, but not least, it involves no dirty hands (mostly) and clothes, no bending and digging, no land and little maintenance time, so it will be almost like your veggies and fish grow all by themselves once you have the system started.

If this is sounding good to you, then why not give it a try? It could be the start of a great new hobby.

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

What is Aquaponics and why Is an Aquaponic System Better than a Hydroponic One

What is Aquaponics and why Is an Aquaponic System Better than a Hydroponic One

Hydroponic gardens are already highly well-liked with folks of all ages. They require little room, are simple to take care of and produce very good results. However, since you will Have to Provide the water with essential nutrients, which are the majority of the times made from chemicals, the taste of the food produced is not quite what you would expect. Also, folks who wish to make the switch to organic foods have a difficult time in coping with the chemical additives from the food produced hydroponically. Fortunately, an innovative type of crop growing is accessible. It is known as the aquaponic method and can enable you to Produce organic crops grown in your own house.
The aquaponic approach is a combination of the aquaculture, as it Involves Raising fish in a special fish tank and hydroponics, as it involves producing plants with nutrients and water. You may be wondering what part does the fish perform in this enterprise. Well, the concept is very simple: The fish excrement Produce ammonia that is soon after decomposed into nitrates and nitrites. These organic elements are very beneficial for the plants, supplying them an adequate amount of nutrients to develop normally and produce healthy crops. Therefore, there will not be any reason to expose your plants to chemical nutrients, as they will already have all the natural organic nutrients they will need.
This means there are several advantages that the aquaponic technique has over the hydroponic method. Primarily, the food will enjoy a better taste, as they will grow naturally and at their own pace. This will produce that incredible mouth watering taste you love so much in vegetables. Next, the approach is easier, as you will not be required to feed and water your crops each and every day. You just have to make certain that your fish are in satisfactory Condition and then all you have to do is let nature take its course.
Last, but certainly not least, with the aquaponic method you do not just grow vegetables, but you in addition have fish which can be used for decorative reasons or you can also prepare very delicious meals with them.
Aquaponics is an upgraded version of the hydroponic technique. The food is better tasting and the process is simpler. In addition to that you get to consume healthy organic food! What more could you want?

The fantastic detail concerning this type of crop growing is that you will not be required to bend down get on the ground to tend to the plants. Placing the netting pots and fish tank at waist level means that all the activities you need to accomplish in order to take care of the fish and plants very easy and accessesable. You can say goodbye to bending over, stretching to reach across wide areas, digging, and crawling on your knees to weed your garden. Everything you need will be within your reach.
The aquaponic method is fitting for any age as well as for folks with any type of interest. It requires little time and produces terrific results. As long as you take satisfactory care of your fish, your plants will grow better and larger, will develop normally and you will be able to harvest the finest veggies you have ever tasted!

Indoor Aquaponics System

Indoor Aquaponics System

Article by JessiLee Parker

Aquaponics is a hybrid gardening formula combining aquaculture and hydroponics which grows your vegetables two times faster than conventional gardening methods. It is also dead easy to do.

Ok let’s get straight to the what you need to start your first indoor aquaponics system.

1. A fish tank, how big the tank is depends on how big your room is and how much space you have allocated to your set up. The important thing is that you do not add any fish to the tank until it has been up and running for at least three weeks to allow the natural bacteria to grow.

2. A filter, this is needed to take the solids out of the water before it reaches your crops. It is essential that this is done because if the solid waste reaches the grow beds it will fester and start to smell bad.

3. Plastic piping, this is what the water travels through to reach the grow beds. The water is pumped through the pipes and it is best to place the intake at the bottom of your indoor aquaponics tank to get rid of the waste that naturally sinks, this keeps the tank much cleaner.

4. Grow beds, these are best placed higher than the fish tank so that gravity can take the water back into the tank. A shelving unit is ideal for this and use netted pots so the water can pass through.

Ok now you have all the things you need to set up your first indoor aquaponics system so let’s get some vegetables growing. The first set of pipes go over the grow beds and should have small holes in them to allow water to drip onto the plants. This water then seeps through the media in the grow beds. This water has every single nutrient that your plants need in order to prosper and there is no need for any chemicals, this makes your crop truly organic. The second set of pipes is under the beds and angled downward to allow the filtered water to return to the fish tank, the cycle is then repeated over and over.

Obviously some of the water will be lost due to your plants feeding on it and due to evaporation so regular top ups are needed to your tank. The cool thing about indoor aquaponics is that water top ups is probably the hardest work you need to do to maintain your system. Other tasks include feeding your fish and harvesting your crop. The harvesting is great with an aquaponics system because the grow beds are on raised shelves so you do not have to break your back to harvest them.

That is a simple guide on how to set up an indoor system but it really is simple and boy does the food that you grow with aquaponics taste good.

Requirements For An Aquaponics System To Produce Fresh Vegetables And Fish

Requirements For An Aquaponics System To Produce Fresh Vegetables And Fish

If you are considering setting up an aquaponics system, you are probably aware of some of the benefits this kind of system has to offer. There are many questions people often have about how the system works. Here are some of the basics about what aquaponics is and how it works.

Aquaponics takes some of the principals of aquaponics and blends it with hydroponics. This allows you to grow both fish and plants, while utilizing the same space and resources. This creates a system that is much more efficient than growing either plants or fish on their own. In this system there really are no waste products, everything is utilized. You can grow crops with only around 2% of the water as traditional farming and in a fraction of the space.

Fish are a key component to this system. They are the ones that go to work and provide all the nutrients for your plants. Healthy fish will result in healthy plants. The right temperature, PH, and plenty of oxygen will be needed to keep the fish in good condition. This is generally easy to accomplish. These water conditions are also important for the bacteria in the system. These play an important role in cleaning up fish wastes and turning them into usable plant nutrients.

If the fish are healthy and well fed, growing plants shouldn’t be a problem. The fish water will supply them with all the nutrients and water they need to grow. Just keep an eye on the leaves and look for any signs of nutrient deficiencies. In some cases you may have to add some supplemental nutrients to the system. But for the most part that is usually not necessary.

One of the great advantages of this way of growing, is you can position the grow beds at a comfortable level for you. This means no more bending over and working on the ground. When building your system, choose a height for the grow bed that is going to be the most comfortable to work with. This is a system where you are in control. Unlike the gardening in the ground where you are fighting against nature.

Aquaponics does take some effort. But when you consider that you are eliminating all the soil preparation, constant watering, weeding, baiting slugs and snails and fighting all the other garden pests, this form of gardening is a walk in the park compared to growing plants in the ground. Plus you get fresh quality fish out of the deal!

Start your aquaponics garden the right way with this aquaponics guide. Set up your system the easy way and produce all the fresh fish and vegetables you can handle.

Aquaponic Plans – DIY Aquaponic plans, training and construction

Aquaponic Plans – DIY Aquaponic plans, training and construction

Article by Caroline H Zigah

The DIY Aquaponic Plans, training and construction are a firm foundation for a successful business venture. The size and scope of these plans can serve the needs you have planned from feeding your family to creating a successful business.

When venturing into this Green way of farming, there are several things each person needs to understand and decide on. The first thing is to understand what an Aquaponic farm really is and how much money you plan to inject into your system.

While there are many DIY Aquaponic plans and kits available, they are not the first thing you should invest in. These are generic in form and might not be the right ones to suit your needs. By understanding this new form of farming in detail, you can make a better decision on just which path to take.

The first step before you acquire your DIY Aquaponic Plans, training and construction equipment is to decide on just what your budget it. This is a scalable venture in which the more money and room you have, the greater the production of vegetables and fish can be. Knowing how to maximize both in the smallest amount of room is the most profitable path which needs information on the subject before you jump in with both feet.

Before you know what size the fish tanks and bedding platforms will have to be, you need to know what you plan on growing and their nutrient requirements will be. The nutrient requirements will be the information that is necessary for what type of fish and how many will be needed to fill this need.

For those of you that are going into this business venture in order to develop an herb garden to supply the needs of the global market will find out you have the lowest nutrient needs of any aquatic farmer. These could be paired up with omnivorous fish varieties very easily.

The omnivorous fish waste is only 64% of the protein that is contained in the carnivorous varieties. This will allow you to have more fish that require a less expensive feed and still have a healthily fish population. In most instances the lowest number of fish you should have is 16 so you can have a health line of breeding stock.

When starting out, you can start with full size fish so the waste supply is at its maximum level or start with fingerlings. These baby fish will grow up and fill your nutrient needs, but until then there are ways to introduce waste into the water to fill the needs of your plants naturally.

Remember the makers of the DIY Aquaponic Plans, Training and Construction equipments and kits are in business to make money. In many instances they might have what you need, but their top priority is to create a revenue stream for themselves. Know what you need by acquiring information first before you make that large financial investment so the money spent will be done wisely is advisable.

About the Author

For more information on Aquaponic Plans for your Aquaponics Business, starting your own Aquaponics at Home and or general knowledge about Fish Aquaponics, visit www.fish aquaponics.com and grab your FREE mini course.For a limited time only!

Before You Build an Aquaponics System Know These 5 Things

Before You Build an Aquaponics System Know These 5 Things

By: AM Wilson
It is very easy to build an aquaponics system and the results from a well planned system can be amazing. You can build a very productive system with simple and inexpensive materials. Although these systems are easy to build and operate, there are some key things you should know that can make all the difference between a system that is productive and one that is not.

1. Selecting a location

Choosing the right location for your aquaponics system is very important. One of the most important ingredients in growing plants is light. Choose a place where it will get plenty. If it will be indoors, you will need a sunny window or you will have to add artificial lighting. Make sure the temperature will be right in the location for the fish and your plants. Also avoid locations with extreme wind and weather conditions.

2. Provide plenty of oxygen

It is very important that you provide plenty of oxygenation for the water. Oxygen is just as important to your fish as it is to you. Without oxygen your fish will die and if levels are too low they will not thrive an can become sick. The healthier the fish are, the better the whole system will work. You can not oxygenate the water too much. It is far better to give the fish more oxygen than they need than not enough.

Read more articles
Easily Build Your Very Own Aquaponics Greenhouse – How To Guide
Aquaponics Made Easy – How To Easily Build Your Own Aquaponics System
Aquaponics Supplies – What Supplies You Need To Build And Maintain Your Aquaponics System
Aquaponics Plans – Successfully Set Up Your Own Aquaponics System

3. Choose the right fish

Just about any type of fresh water fish can be grown in an aquaponics system, but some are easier to keep than others. Some are also more appropriate for different locations. Most fish require water of a certain temperature range. Before choosing a fish make sure that you will be able to maintain the proper temperature. Also make sure they are allowed in your location. Some types of fish have been banned in some locations.

4. Placing the planting bed or pots

One of the great advantages of aquaponics over traditional gardening is you don’t have to work on your hands and knees or bend over to work with your plants. That is if you locate your planting beds at waist level. So choose a comfortable level to place your growing beds.

5. Providing supplemental nutrients

When you first set up your aquaponics system, you are not yet going to have the healthy balanced system that you will have after your system matures. You will not be able to grow healthy plants if any at first. It may take a few months for the nutrient levels and the bacteria that convert the nutrients to get established. Until then you may have to add supplemental nutrients to the system. These may include nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and iron. There are organic sources of these that you can add.

All of these things are very easy to accomplish. With just a little work at first, you can soon have an aquaponics system that will pay off in a short amount of time with delicious organic vegetables and fish. This is one of the easiest ways that you and your family can become food independent.

Get an aquaponics how to guide and get your system up and running with the simple step by step instructions.

 

Aquaponics System – An Organic Farming Alternative

Aquaponics System – An Organic Farming Alternative

An aquaponics system doesn’t take a prominent sum of money which pretty much signifies you have almost nothing to lose. What you will be searching for is a few containers for the fish and the vegetables, an oxygenizer for the fish tank and another small number of materials to execute the configuration of the aquaponics system, all pretty reasonably priced. Furthermore, the time you’ll need for sustainment of the system is pretty low and won’t have an impact on your day to day activities. There is merely a need to feed the fish, put the seeds and then be patient for them to develop and harvest your crops.

By having an aquaponic farm and involving your kids is a fantastic way to teach them responsibility. They would need to take care of the fish each and every day and ensure that the air pump is running correctly which allows the fish to get enough oxygen. Also, they need to watch over the state of the crops and the moment they turn yellowish they have to notify you concerning this stage in development. These are not self explanatory chores, but are going to give them a sense of responsibility and they will recognize that someone depends on them. Also, they may be able to observe how fish and plants develop during their lifetime, which will improve their comprehension in regards towards the vegetal and animal world.

Vegetables are essential for a good nutrition and balanced diet, nonetheless you can expect to not always get hold of fresh, organic vegetables at your neighborhood food market. With an aquaponic garden at your home you will have fish and vegetables for your family without having to depend on the shops.

It’s fairly easy to plant almost all species of crops, which means that disregarding of what veggies you’d like for your meal, you have the ability to take them right from your aquaponic garden, without any hassle. The best thing is that they are completely natural, organic crops which are going to taste a lot better and be less expensive compared to crops coming from the market.

With the aquaponics how to you will be able to have your system installed in no time and you will no longer have to pay a lot of money to cook your meal based on organic ingredients. You will have them readily available at any time.

This novel kind of farming is straight up easy to get to function, absolutely straightforward and sometimes even profitable in means of money. There are not too many things you will require in order to construct it, things which are also mostly reasonable priced, so you are deprived of spending a whole lot of money on expensive equipment. In addition to that, it is also an easy job to construct and start the aquaponic system. You will need only a short amount of time to comprehend the basic principles and another few to put them in practice. Within a short time you will have erected your aquaponics system and are able to start growing your fish. Their role will be producing the bio-nutrients for the plants. Once there are a good amount of nutrients in the water, you are able to plant the seeds and then wait for them to develop. In the meanwhile you will have to take good care of the fish, so that they keep producing nutrients for your vegetables. The good part of this is that you will not have to clean the water for the fish yourself, because this is what the plants will do in this continuous cycle we have just produced.

Peter Malice is a fanatic organic farmer who puts to practice the aquaponics system with great success.

 

Shocking Way To Grow Vegetables In Containers

Shocking Way To Grow Vegetables In Containers

Article by M Wilson

The ability to grow vegetables in containers opens up a lot of possibilities for growing your own food. With containers you can grow food where you might not otherwise be able to. You can grow food where there are not fertile ground conditions or take advantage of patio space or even a sunny indoor space. But you haven’t seen the ultimate in container gardening until you have seen this.

Most of us have learned to grow plants in some kind of soil, whether it be the ground or potting soil. People have been planting this way for thousands of years. But there really are better ways to grow plants. Plants don’t really need soil. It is the nutrients and water that are in the soil that the plants need.

For thousands of years people have worked hard and put a lot of time and expense putting water and nutrients into the soil, just so plants can work to get the water and nutrients back out of the soil. So why not bypass all of this and just give the plants what they want?

This is what people are starting to do and it is creating spectacular results. Hydroponics is one way to do this but it comes with a few problems that most people don’t want to deal with. That is until someone solved those problems with aquaponics. With both hydroponics and aquaponics, the plants are grown in containers without soil. they are given a constant supply of nutrient rich water, sometimes with a growing medium like gravel, and sometimes without.

With hydroponics, you have to add fertilizer and monitor fertilizer levels in the system. With aquaponics you put fish and natural bacteria to work doing this for you. Aquaponics is a system where fish and plants are grown together. The fish produce wastes that naturally occurring bacteria turn into an excellent source of organic nutrients for the plants. At the same time, the plants filter the water to keep the fish healthy.

This is really no more difficult than maintaining a common aquarium. Actually it is easier since the plants clean the water for you and there is no need for a mechanical filter to maintain. It is also easier to grow plants with this system since you don’t have to fertilize or water the plants.

In this kind of system, the plants can be planted directly in the tank with floating pots or a raft, or the water can be circulated into a container or grow bed where the roots are. This is a system where you are working with a complete system and working with nature. Unlike traditional gardening where you are trying to be nature and tale care of the plants yourself.

No only will you get fresh organic vegetables with this system, you will also get fresh fish. You can grow fish to eat, or just raise them as pets. Or you could even sell them to others for their aquaponics systems, to aquarium owners or for stocking ponds. If you eat them or sell them you can more than cover the cost of fish food and get free fertilizer in the process.

You can get started with a low cost simple aquaponics system with this step by step aquaponics guide. You can learn how to grow vegetables the easy and fun way and supply yourself with all the fresh organic vegetables and fish that you can handle.

Aquaponics 4 You Review – Aquaponics 4 You Bonus

Aquaponics 4 You Review – Aquaponics 4 You Bonus

How often have you attempted expanding stunning flowers but your efforts are in vain? Have you actually wondered why other people might have bunch of gorgeous flowers creating within their backyard even though you don’t even when you use the most beneficial fertilizer or present them having a appropriate atmosphere? Properly, the solution might be discovered in an e-book known as Aquaponics 4 You. With technologies much innovative, creating crops could be accomplished scientifically. Why problem yourself as well significantly when you might have a gorgeous backyard by just basically seating down.

Click Here Get Aquaponics 4 You Bonus Now.

Keeping a backyard is truly tiresome specially if you will also be concerned with other functions or you are employed. Envision acquiring to drinking water them, prune them and pull out the weeds that surround. All of those could be a great deal of operate but having a small assist from Aquaponics 4 You, gardening has in no way been produced simpler. It might sound unattainable but you can in fact develop a backyard by just sitting down performing absolutely nothing. Just when you believed that only planes have car pilots, you will likely be shocked to understand that your backyard as well might be managed by an automated gardener who will virtually do all of the gardening for you.

two. Mixed Technologies And Performance.

This age of technologies has absolutely produced lives less difficult for everyone that even in terms of expanding backyard, 1 doesn’t need to soak beneath the sun for several hours simply to make certain that crops have already been watered and grasses pulled out accordingly. In Aquaponics 4 You, all of the strategies about this aquaponics technologies will lastly be uncovered. A long time of examine have produced researchers think that expanding vegetation might be simply accomplished by combining the science of hydroponics and aquaculture. In this particular type of gardening apply, harmony with nature is advocated.

three. Sit Back And Take pleasure in The Flowers.

Hard function has no far more location in gardening if you possess a duplicate of Aquaponics 4 You. As an alternative, you will only sit back and get enjoyment from the flowers. It is going to educate you the method to create your backyard and get from them a lot of rewards performing absolutely nothing. Quickly soon after all, the most effective points in daily life are totally free.