Hello everybody, thanks for stopping by to check out the blog! Seems I haven't posted anything here since 2015 so I should probably fill you folks in on what's growing on with my aquaponic garden experiments.
If you watch my YouTube channel (JT Bear) then you may be aware that I was sent a EuroGrower Garden and tried to grow in it with the standard hydroponic garden style they had in mind. Sadly this didn't work out well for either me, or my poor plants, so I made the switch back to what I know will work for me, and that's aquaponics. Converting the EuroGrower garden was as simple as adding a table for some lift and a few pipes to extend the plumbing that was already included. After adding a few cheap feeder fish into the new basement aquaponic set-up, it was ready to run! Which was a good thing since I was still trying to keep last years Aji Penec plant alive ...
Well, after our little feeder fish got comfortable and started eating, the garden perked right up, I got several more months growth from that chili pepper plant and we even managed to squeeze 6 or 7 pepper pods from it before the end! Tragically, hydro isn't going down as a high point in my gardening career ... life grows on. There have always been a few things about the standard hydroponic set up that didn't quite work for me anyway and really those are what lead me to aquaponic gardening in the first place.
With the EuroGrower now being an aquaponic based garden, I no longer am required to dump out 30 gallons, or more, of water each week just so I can mix up a fresh batch of nutrients and fill it up all over again. That has always seemed wasteful to me, I couldn't make myself do it with the hydro and my plants suffered the dearest cost. A moment of silence for those 8 fine peppers now gone to the great compost in the sky. Anyway, with the fish I simply need to remove 10% or so each week and only add perhaps 5 gallons of new water to the system instead of 30. Those 5 gallons get poured into many of our houseplants, who all seem to love it, and no water gets wasted from the system. I simply don't have enough houseplants to do that with 30 gallons ...
Now that I've made the switch, back in Feb of 2018, I feel a lot better about the basement garden that I've got running. Besides, who doesn't enjoy spending a little bit of time watching & feeding fish?
Showing posts with label sustainable living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainable living. Show all posts
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Thursday, July 31, 2014
What is Aquaponics?
Here is a quick look at the introduction to aquaponics that I have in the beginning of my little eBook. I hope to have a version I am happy to post on the FundRazr campaign as a 'perk' for peoples kind donations. How does this look to you? Please feel free to share any thoughts on writing style or general content. Thanks for your time!
What is Aquaponics?
Basically, aquaponic gardens and farms are attempting to re-create the system that nature uses. In an environmentally controlled area, such as a greenhouse, these systems are used with great success to raise both fish and plants in a closed loop waterway. As the fish live, breathe, eat and make waste their water can become quite toxic to them if left untreated.
Aquaponic gardens, however, clean and filter that water for the fish before it returns to them. As the water is pumped through a system, it will travel through both bio-filters and plant roots, each having a very important part in keeping those fish healthy.
The biofilter, aka your happy bacterial colony in the growing media, are a two part team. The first part converts the raw ammonias from the fish pollutants into nitrites and then the second part finally converts those into nitrates. Once these previously toxic elements have been naturally converted they become a healthy source of nutrients for the plants that are growing in the aquaponic garden bed. The plant roots are eager to get any source of extra nutrients that they can find, and as such, they will rapidly deplete them from the water rushing by.
It is by taking advantage of this natural bacterial cycle that aquaponic gardens are able to do so well for food production almost regardless of the gardeners personal skill level. It is my opinion, that aquaponic gardens might just be the much needed answer to providing food security for individuals as well as for entire communities.
When edible fish and plants are used they can provide more than enough food in return to cover the initial cost of setting it up. If you think of your garden as an investment, it’s the best returns you can find on the market without breaking the laws. Think about the price of a packet of seeds when compared to the price of some produce! It’s even more when you use the price of ‘Organic’ foods for your math and I feel that aquaponic foods are probably better for you anyway. Did you know that ‘Organic farms’ can still use fertilizers and pesticides as long as those products are ‘certified’? Using anything like that in an aquaponic system would cause massive damage because they are designed to use technology to simulate nature.
Nature doesn’t have those type of products … just saying.
What is Aquaponics?
Basically, aquaponic gardens and farms are attempting to re-create the system that nature uses. In an environmentally controlled area, such as a greenhouse, these systems are used with great success to raise both fish and plants in a closed loop waterway. As the fish live, breathe, eat and make waste their water can become quite toxic to them if left untreated.
Aquaponic gardens, however, clean and filter that water for the fish before it returns to them. As the water is pumped through a system, it will travel through both bio-filters and plant roots, each having a very important part in keeping those fish healthy.
The biofilter, aka your happy bacterial colony in the growing media, are a two part team. The first part converts the raw ammonias from the fish pollutants into nitrites and then the second part finally converts those into nitrates. Once these previously toxic elements have been naturally converted they become a healthy source of nutrients for the plants that are growing in the aquaponic garden bed. The plant roots are eager to get any source of extra nutrients that they can find, and as such, they will rapidly deplete them from the water rushing by.
It is by taking advantage of this natural bacterial cycle that aquaponic gardens are able to do so well for food production almost regardless of the gardeners personal skill level. It is my opinion, that aquaponic gardens might just be the much needed answer to providing food security for individuals as well as for entire communities.
When edible fish and plants are used they can provide more than enough food in return to cover the initial cost of setting it up. If you think of your garden as an investment, it’s the best returns you can find on the market without breaking the laws. Think about the price of a packet of seeds when compared to the price of some produce! It’s even more when you use the price of ‘Organic’ foods for your math and I feel that aquaponic foods are probably better for you anyway. Did you know that ‘Organic farms’ can still use fertilizers and pesticides as long as those products are ‘certified’? Using anything like that in an aquaponic system would cause massive damage because they are designed to use technology to simulate nature.
Nature doesn’t have those type of products … just saying.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Avoid these 3 Easy to Make Aquaponic Mistakes
The easiest mistake to make with a new, or an old, aquaponic garden is over planting. What’s that? I hear you asking about how that can be if one of the advantages of aquaponics is it can grow so many more plants? Here, let me explain this thought a little better. Plants need a few basic things besides just water and nutrients. Light and air flow are great examples of this. Even though you CAN grow 50 plants in 16 square feet of garden, really doesn't mean that you should. Based on my own personal experiences, I would recommend using something similar to the square foot gardening method when it comes time to plant your aquaponic garden bed. Yes, it’s less plants but it’s also more nutrients for each plant so think about the potential for a bumper crop of whatever you plant in there.
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| Over Planted Much JT? |
The second super easy to make mistake is shallow garden beds. I have two grow beds that are each only 6 inches deep and I can honestly tell you, it’s not deep enough. Sure, I saved a few dollars buying the shallow bed and sure I saved a few more when I made the second one at that same depth. However, it’s just not a good idea. It may work, but it’s not a good idea. I think that ideally an aquaponic garden bed should be at least 12 inches deep to allow for proper water flow and bacterial function. Plus deeper beds allow for adding worms to help with any solids that might sneak past your filters.
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| An Excellent Example of a Bad Drain, sadly taken in my greenhouse today. |
So here you go, learn from my mistakes … don't repeat them.
Now go out there and get growing!
JT Bear
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Growing the Aquaponic Community aka Sharing My Passion
In society today, it has become so easy to be completely disconnected with our food supply that many of us don't even know what country it came from. That scares me a little bit. I would have to say that my passion is getting others involved in creating their own aquaponic gardens.
Knowing that all over the world, people are starting to grow food for themselves and re-establishing that connection is what drives me forward every day! I am delighted every time someone new asks me how to get started and I can't even pronounce the names of some of the countries ALL OVER THE WORLD where I have helped people to do just that. My friends, that truly is a happy feeling deep down inside.
Let’s face facts. The world today is so completely nuts that it will take something massive to make an impact at this point. Let’s take a quick look at how aquaponic gardens are beginning to make their mark, shall we? Every day thousands of trucks, trains, airplanes and cargo ships carry untold amounts of food, all over the world. On the surface this seems like a wonderful thing! We can grow food halfway around the world and still have it on our dinner plates. Great! Right? In some ways, sure … it’s an amazing thing that mankind can do that now, wonderful.
How much fuel goes into transporting those crops thousands of miles around the globe? How much time do those crops spend slowly decomposing once they have been picked? That’s okay though because we have all kinds of chemicals we can spray on it to ‘keep it fresh’ for the journey. Fact is, NO! IT”S NOT OKAY!
Aside from those chemicals seeping into our food supply, building up over time in our bodies and generally taking away our sense of good health & aside from all the fuel being consumed in the process, it’s not so bad right? Well, there is all the food that get destroyed because it doesn't ‘look’ good enough for the grocery stores once it gets there, and there is all the food that gets thrown into dumpsters because it sat too long on the shelves. Oh, let’s not forget all the ‘amazing’ stuff they put into those foods before they hit the shelf too! (so they can last longer…)
Why am I passionate about sharing how simple aquaponic gardening can be? If you really need to ask that still, I suggest you reread the last couple of paragraphs. Why aquaponics over soil gardening? Well, that’s a whole different topic.
What I hope to do, is to help grow the global aquaponic community, so that we can all have healthier foods, grown locally. The amount of water required for an aquaponic garden is only 2-10 percent of what it takes for soil based crops, that means fresh food for a lot of dry areas where people right now are starving. ANYONE can grow crops with aquaponics, I know because I've made a lot of mistakes along the way and it still works! Sure, maybe you don't have a big yard and can't grow all of your own food, so what? I don’t grow all of what I eat yet, but when I eat what I grow … I feel pretty darn good about it!
I personally have made an aquaponic garden as small as 18 inches across by 32 inches in length and it still grows. It’s great when we can afford the time, cash & space to build a really large and beautiful aquaponic greenhouse but don't wait until that point to get started. Make a garden from a storage tote, make one out of from a 18 gallon water bottle, convert an old fish tank, run garden beds to filter that old koi pond out back … just get started!
If you need any advice, I’m always happy to lend a hand. Subscribe to me on YouTube @ JT Bear and check out the video library. If you still have any questions just send me a message or comment under one of the videos and I‘ll get back to you as soon as I can! Blessed be & many happy harvests to you!
Friday, June 06, 2014
Are Aquaponic Gardens the Answer for Sustainable Living?
First off let me just say that anybody involved in gardening for food production gets a big ‘thumbs up!’ in my books. Taking that first step towards producing your own food is, in my way of thinking, one of the most important steps for anyone to take on the journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Now, you may life in a tiny flat or apartment and be reading this saying, ‘JT, I’d love to but I just don't have the room…’ Believe me, I feel your pain. Not too long ago however I built a super basic aquaponic garden for a friend of mine to keep in his tiny apartment. Sure, it’s not going to produce all the vegetables that he needs but it will save him a fortune in fresh herbs for the kitchen!
Steps towards sustainable living don't need to be huge, as long as you are making progress towards your goal it’s still progress! So, how does aquaponics fit into all of this? Well my friend, it’s quite simple really. As with my friend from the last paragraph an aquaponic garden can be made to fit almost anywhere. Every day people from all over the world are getting involved and adding their own way of doing things and solving problems. Not only is this helping to create a friendlier global community based on helping each other to succeed, it’s also providing us with new and better ways to build our aquaponic gardens. Ways that use even less power and water than ever before. That’s what this is all about really. Water.
Do you have any idea just how much fresh water goes into the growing of a single days worth of food? It’s really quite staggering just how much is required. It’s even more if you wish to enjoy meat in any of your meals. With aquaponic gardening, the water use is cut down to a range of anywhere from 2 to 10 percent of traditional farming. That means up to 98% less freshwater could be used to produce that same amount of food! Imagine that on a global scale … it’s truly awe inspiring.
With aquaponic gardens comes another food source as well though. It’s not just fruit and vegetables anymore! Once you switch to aquaponics you have the chance to begin growing your own fresh, clean & healthy freshwater fish. I know plenty of fisherman who will only eat fish if it’s less than 10 minutes out of the lake, I think this would solve that problem! How could you get fresher fish than from your own backyard? Not to mention the bonus of stocking your favorite fish & being guaranteed a catch every time out! The wild fisheries just aren't what they used to be anymore. Our worlds lakes, rivers & oceans are getting more polluted every day and those fish are just not that safe to eat anymore. It’s sad, but a fact all the same. Anyway …
When you are growing your own fruits and vegetables, no matter how you garden, you are helping to reduce your overall carbon footprint as well. How endless are the miles travelled by the vast majority of grocery foods? How much fuel is used? How about all that packing for shipping? Wow, it’s disturbing how much of a mess you can see from the produce section going straight into the landfills. Every head of lettuce you grow, every tomato you eat from your own plant, every savoury bite of fresh grown herbs … it all helps to reduce your overall carbon footprint in a pretty massive way once you think about it.
So the question again then was, ‘Are Aquaponic Gardens the Answer for Sustainable living?’ I'm just going to go ahead and say an enthusiastic YES! Let’s summarise shall we? Up to 98% less water used, that’s a good thing. Aquaponic gardens can produce two sources of fresh healthy foods in your backyard, yup … that’s a good thing too! With the added bonus of the overall reduction of fuels consumed & packaging required it seems to me that aquaponics is a clear winner!
Get started on your own aquaponic adventure today! Come visit the YouTube channel and check out some of my assorted videos as I have learned about aquaponic gardens to keep our small family in fresh produce all year long! Now go get growing!
JT Bear
Steps towards sustainable living don't need to be huge, as long as you are making progress towards your goal it’s still progress! So, how does aquaponics fit into all of this? Well my friend, it’s quite simple really. As with my friend from the last paragraph an aquaponic garden can be made to fit almost anywhere. Every day people from all over the world are getting involved and adding their own way of doing things and solving problems. Not only is this helping to create a friendlier global community based on helping each other to succeed, it’s also providing us with new and better ways to build our aquaponic gardens. Ways that use even less power and water than ever before. That’s what this is all about really. Water.
Do you have any idea just how much fresh water goes into the growing of a single days worth of food? It’s really quite staggering just how much is required. It’s even more if you wish to enjoy meat in any of your meals. With aquaponic gardening, the water use is cut down to a range of anywhere from 2 to 10 percent of traditional farming. That means up to 98% less freshwater could be used to produce that same amount of food! Imagine that on a global scale … it’s truly awe inspiring.
With aquaponic gardens comes another food source as well though. It’s not just fruit and vegetables anymore! Once you switch to aquaponics you have the chance to begin growing your own fresh, clean & healthy freshwater fish. I know plenty of fisherman who will only eat fish if it’s less than 10 minutes out of the lake, I think this would solve that problem! How could you get fresher fish than from your own backyard? Not to mention the bonus of stocking your favorite fish & being guaranteed a catch every time out! The wild fisheries just aren't what they used to be anymore. Our worlds lakes, rivers & oceans are getting more polluted every day and those fish are just not that safe to eat anymore. It’s sad, but a fact all the same. Anyway …
When you are growing your own fruits and vegetables, no matter how you garden, you are helping to reduce your overall carbon footprint as well. How endless are the miles travelled by the vast majority of grocery foods? How much fuel is used? How about all that packing for shipping? Wow, it’s disturbing how much of a mess you can see from the produce section going straight into the landfills. Every head of lettuce you grow, every tomato you eat from your own plant, every savoury bite of fresh grown herbs … it all helps to reduce your overall carbon footprint in a pretty massive way once you think about it.
So the question again then was, ‘Are Aquaponic Gardens the Answer for Sustainable living?’ I'm just going to go ahead and say an enthusiastic YES! Let’s summarise shall we? Up to 98% less water used, that’s a good thing. Aquaponic gardens can produce two sources of fresh healthy foods in your backyard, yup … that’s a good thing too! With the added bonus of the overall reduction of fuels consumed & packaging required it seems to me that aquaponics is a clear winner!
Get started on your own aquaponic adventure today! Come visit the YouTube channel and check out some of my assorted videos as I have learned about aquaponic gardens to keep our small family in fresh produce all year long! Now go get growing!
JT Bear
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