permaculture Roofing materials and water collection

Thanks for posting this link, I wasn’t aware of this study. BTW all the test sites for this study were in the urban environment of Newcastle city, with lots of coal mines and coal fired power stations in the adjoining rural bioregion (Hunter Valley) so one would anticipate a reasonable degree of airborne pollutants.
Bill Mollison talked about positive effect of biofiltration processes in the watertank, good to see this researched and confirmed. Now I feel even better about my lovely fresh rainwater supply.
Robyn


On 27/05/11 9:29 AM, “Neil Bertrando” wrote:


> Here’s a link to a review article from Australia, which includes the concept > of the rainwater treatment train that occurs throughout the process from > collection to utilization (including drinking). I think it reinforces many > of the comments above.
>
> http://www.hydropolis.com.au/Papers/SIA_Coombes1.pdf
>
> We’re installing a > painted metal roof this summer from which we plan to harvest drinking water. >
> Does anyone have advice re: tanks for cold climates (we hit below 0 F (-20 > C) for a couple of days each of the past two winters)? My main concern is > freezing cracking the tank and interrupting our water availability. We’ll > have a groundwater well backup supply, so it won’t be devastating, but I’d > prefer not to have to rebuild or re-buy a tank due to their cost. >
> We’re looking for 1000 – 1500 gallon capacity. Currently I’m looking at > ferrocement or steel culvert style tanks as preferred options. >
> For site design, I’m considering putting it on a concrete pad or > underground. I would prefer not to have it underground for access and > maintenance issues. If on the pad, we’re considering putting it inside a > small passive solar storage structure to prevent freezing and utilize the > thermal mass, but this adds significantly to the cost. another option might > be to plum the downspout directly into the garage where we could insulate > the tank as well (no solar gain though).
>
> any thoughts or experiences with this type of scenario? references, etc? >
> thanks,
> Neil
>
> On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 5:31 PM, Gene Monaco wrote: >
>> Does anybody have any long-term experience with Galvalume. >> I have three concerns and no answers:
>> 1) Since it is 55% Aluminum-Zinc alloy-coated sheet steel, the aluminum >> might leach into the water giving us Alzheimer’s.
>> 2) How does it weather over time. There are a lot of raggy looking metal >> roofs out there. It might be good for a while, and I know that nothing >> lasts forever, nor should it, but what does it look like after 20 years? >> What happens as it deteriorates?
>> 3) Seems like a lot of embodied energy (high carbon footprint). Aluminum >> from far away…
>> -Gene
>>
>> Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 07:57:13 +0100
>> From: harry byrne wykman >> Subject: Re: [permaculture] Roofing materials and water collection >> To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
>> Message-ID: <20110514075713.59a55dbf@humilis>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>>
>>
>> Here’s a quote from a write-up of a recent study:
>>
>> Cockrell School faculty and students conducted an in-depth study — >> recently published in the academic journal Water Research -examining >> the effects of conventional and alternative roofing materials on the >> quality of harvested rainwater. The study, led by civil, architectural >> and environmental engineering Assistant Professor Mary Jo Kirisits, >> showed that, of the five roofing materials tested, metal (specifically >> Galvalume??), concrete tile and cool roofs produce the highest >> harvested rainwater quality for indoor domestic use. The study also >> showed that rainwater from asphalt fiberglass shingle roofs and >> increasingly popular “green” roofs contain high levels of dissolved >> organic carbon (DOC). Although other potential pollutants can be >> significantly lower on green roofs (turbidity and aluminum), the high >> DOCs are significant where these roofs would be used for potable >> rainwater collection.
>>
>> Source: Rainwater harvest study finds roofing material affects water >> quality : www.sciencedaily.com
>>

Home Aquaponics-You Can Set Up A Homemade Aquaponics System Easily

A lot of people seem to think that home aquaponics is a new thing but the truth is that aquaponic systems have been around for about 20 years. The great thing about these set ups is that they add a real decoration to your house because of the colourful fish and lovely plants.


Home aquaponics is dead easy to set up, basically all you need is a fish tank and some netted pots which allow the water to pass through and a little DIY knowledge. The most longest part of setting up an aquaponic system is waiting for the water to be ready for the fish, about 4 weeks.


The natural system works a bit like hydroponics but uses no chemicals at all, the plants get their food from the fish waste. The fish waste filled water is passed through the netted pots which filter the water and feed the plants before returning clean to the tank. If you have ever kept fish before then you will be amazed by the sheer clarity of the tanks water.


Home aquaponics is not just about having a pretty indoor orniment though, it is about growing amazing tasting fresh organic food in the comfort of your own house. The system allows you to stagger the seed planting so that you have fresh vegetables all year round. Not only do these taste great but they also grow twice as fast because of the richness of the food they are getting.


So if you have heard about this fairly new way of using fish to grow food but think it is a bit complex then think again because any body can very quickly set up a DIY aquaponics system. You can buy aquaponics kits from local supplies stores but they are super expensive or you can build your own from scratch. The best way is to build your own because the cost is way lower, all you need is a fish tank, some fish and some netted pots and of course an aquaponics guide.


Home aquaponics makes sense as it is cheap, easy and above all gives you fresh organic food all year round.


 

Indoor Aquaponics-3 Reasons Why Indoor Aquaponics Gardening Makes Sense

Let’s face it. Old traditional ways of gardening sre becoming a thing of the past. Most forward thinking people look towards better ways of optimizing their time and efforts when growing food. And one of the best ways to do that is aquaponics. Aquaponics is becoming a very popular way to grow food plants in a sustainable environment. It relies on the tendencies of fish (discharge) and plants to help each other.


Aquaponics works well because it reduces waste when growing plants and food and it also lowers the amount of chemicals needed. Most people who want an easy way to get into aquaponics themselves is by practicing indoor aquaponics. Indoor aquaponics is a great way to start for several reasons. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to get started with aquaponics for yourself, here are 3 good reasons.


Read more articles
Advantages Of Aquaponic Gardening
Five Necessary Essentials For A Effective Aquaponics System
Aquaponics At Home
Grow Your Vegetables Indoors with Aquaponics


SAVES CASH


Instead of having the need for tons of resources for traditional farming, aquaponics enables a recyclable system that is purely self-sustaining. Besides the need to pay for the initial equipment expenses, there is no need to continually buy expensive chemicals and/or materials to maintain it.


EASY MAINTAINENCE


Fish typically discharge ammonia (waste) that in traditional farming is not reused. However, with aquaponics, that same waste can be reused for vital nutrients for the plants. Therefore, with your indoor aquaponics system, you’ll be surprised that upkeep of the system can be a lot easier than the maintainence of a fish tank.


LESS CARBON FOOTPRINT


Less land is needed to produce crops in an indoor aquaponics system. Matter of fact, an aquaponic farm can be constructed pretty much anywhere you have space. If you have a space in your home that you can place a fish tank, you can have an indoor aquaponics system. It’s a lot easier than you might think.


michael – About the Author:


http://www.diyaquaponics.org/


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


Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/indoor-aquaponics-3-reasons-why-indoor-aquaponics-gardening-makes-sense-4246320.html


 

permaculture Permaculture on the rez: Plant Tissue Culture Workshop

Cory Brennan; here is a recent post to the rarefruit yahoogroup which may be relevant to your work at Pine Ridge. Small woody plants from tissue culture need careful handling to grow them up but the technique may be useful.


See also


and


Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada


*****


On 26/05/2011 2:15 PM, cannonconsult wrote:
Special Announcement


Hi Group,


Many of you may remember that I have been trying to set up a plant tissue culture workshop. My first attempt, a few months ago, did not generate enough students. The location was fair but weekdays are not good as people have to miss work to attend. This time I have a better location and day.


I know that there are other events scheduled for the same weekend, something I could not avoid as our instructor had only certain dates available in July. All three events are worthwhile but I think that the TC Workshop stands out as unique:


I – New event – nothing here you’ve seen last year or the year before


II – All day hands on experience, lecturing is kept to a minimum and ‘doing’ stressed


III – Chance to learn a skill that can be used for hobby, profit, employment


IV – Educational credits may be available for completing the TC Workshop


For the workshop to ‘make’ we need 17 students. We have limited space, and do not want to have to turn people away so if there is enough demand a second session can be offered on Sunday. If a second session develops an adjustment to tuition may also be made.


Date: 9 July 1011, Saturday in Davie Florida (UF site on College Avenue). Indoors, air conditioned, free parking. As with all the Home Tissue Culture Workshops all TC materials will be provided and you will take home some supplies and cultures of your own.


The cost is still being determined, expect it to be in the $130 to $150 range. Besides increased costs for shipping our instructor, Dr. Carol Stiff will be flying in from the Pacific NW. I wanted to get this notice out so that if you are interested you can consider including the workshop in your plans as more information becomes available. Information will be posted here and on a couple of web sites as the workshop develops.

Diy Aquaponics – Very easily Create Your Very Own Aquaponics System

If you want a test Aquaponics Pattern that you could follow then I am going to place you in the proper way. There are many regarding kinds of aquaponics tanks & gardens, therefore you must determine what kind you intend to select. The easiest way to accomplish this should be to make use of a DO-IT-YOURSELF manual that will walk you over the whole processHow utilizing a DO-IT-YOURSELF guideline will allow you to with your aquaponics designEach person carries a different living space, plus you desperately want to be able to ensure that you could use to the max out of your space that you have. For example, if you were to use an ordinary aquaponics style as well as a system in that case you might not be capable to make the most from the room that you might want to be able to change into your aquaponics garden.   That’s why the DO IT YOURSELF guide that will assist you to to create the exact kind of aquaponics design that you might want for your presented space.Do not buy an aquaponics kit – here is whyA large amount of people today have been assuming that the best way to get into aquaponics is to get hold of a kit that was premade by a company. However, this is not the most effective move because you can certainly spend a lot of money to get a little something which wouldn’t take you very long to create on your own while using counselling coming from a guidebook. I don’t think kits are for everybody, however they are for some people. In case you come across one which you really like then really feel free to take a look and decide if it’ll fit into your own area.This is the best DO-IT-YOURSELF aquaponics design guide that can walk you through everythingIf you’re serious about starting up using aquaponics then Aquaponics4You will be the finest guide that I can easily recommend. Simply just take a look at these folks today and study over the front page, you will learn plenty – and then download the guide to get started.
Why not check out the following step by step guide?
Within a short time you will be developing the crops as well as having your home transform into a fantastic aquaponics natrual enviroment. Best of luck!
So, would you like to get started on creating your special aquaponics system? Take a look at:Diy Aquaponics


 

Discover Organic Gardening The Easy Way With Aquaponics

Discover Organic Gardening The Easy Way With Aquaponics


Most of us have been taught that planting in the ground is the way to grow food. That is how we have been growing food for thousands of years. Mostly because up until now, that is the only way we have know how to do it. Growing plants in the ground is actually a difficult way to grow food and in many ways we are working against nature.


From soil conditioning, digging, tilling, it can be back breaking work. And the weeds, pulling weeds is an endless task. Then there are the garden pests like gophers, slugs, snails and insects. And most garden plants need a lot of water to be dumped on the ground through the whole growing season, in order to get the small percentage of it that they actually use.


No matter how you look at it, gardening in the ground is a lot of work. And most of the work is down on the ground in dirty conditions. But there is an easier and more efficient way to grow plants that eliminates all of that. More and more gardeners are switching to aquaponics, and more non gardeners are becoming gardeners, since aquaponics makes it so much easier and practical for more people to grow their own food.


Aquaponics is a growing system that is similar to hydroponics, but is all organic and eliminates the major problems with hydroponics. Aquaponics does this by combining hydroponics with aquaculture (raising fish). The major problem with aquaculture is what to do with all the waste material that fish produce. Aquaponics solves that problem.


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It just happens that fish wastes are full of the nutrients that plants need to grow. And plants are great at removing these substances and filtering the fish water. With the filtration taken care of by the plants, fish are very easy to grow, and are very efficient at producing protein. With aquaponics, you can produce both fresh organic fish and produce, with much less work than traditional gardening alone, and in much less space.


In this system, fish are kept in a tank, very similar to the way people keep fish in a common home aquarium. Instead of pumping the water through a mechanical filter, the water is pumped through the grow bed. Roots can be grown directly in the water or in a medium, such as gravel or clay pellets. With the water, rich in nutrients from the fish wastes, delivered directly to the roots, plants can put on amazing growth. And it’s all organic so the vegetables they produce are known for being garden quality.


No soil is used, so you eliminate the digging, tilling and need for fertile soil. Since you are not dumping water on the ground and wasting most of it, this type of system uses only about 2% of the water used in traditional farming. There are no weeds, no gophers or most of the hassles of ground gardening.


Just keep the fish fed, the water circulating and the aeration flowing and the system will mostly take care of itself. It is common to power the air and water pumps with solar panels, And many people like to grow their own fish food. A great advantage of growing tilapia is, they will eat just about anything you feed them.


If you want to eliminate all the extra work and expense of growing plants in the ground, aquaponics is the way to go. You can grow more in less space and in less time, and it is all organic.