Business Ideas

Creating a Sustainable Food Supply Through Aquaponics

By Bob Bongiorno

Aquaponics is the science of raising fish and growing vegetation within a closed water system that takes advantage of the natural partnership that exists between aquatic animals and plants. Aquaponics is considered a combination of two older approaches to cultivating fish and plants; aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (the growing of plants in nutrient rich water without soil.) By combining these approaches, many aquaponics fans around the world have experienced tremendous success in developing sustainable platforms that turn out organic produce and fish that can either be consumed or kept as ornamental accessories or wet pets.

Aquaponics is much more efficient than standard backyard gardening techniques and creates greater crop yields with less expense and effort. Most plants that can be grown in land based vegetable gardens can also be produced via aquaponics. Fruits can also be grown in aquaponic systems but generally require a higher fish density to provide additional nutrients. As stated above, the fish utilized in aquaponics can be raised as either an additional source of food or as pets. Tilapia, trout, bass, crappie, crayfish and prawns are all good options for fish that are eventually eaten. Ornamental fish such as koi and goldfish are good choices for pets.

Here is how aquaponics utilizes the partnership between plants and fish. Because they eat and grow, fish produce waste that adds ammonia into the water. Even at relatively low concentrations ammonia is deadly to fish. Through a natural process known as the Nitrogen Cycle, ammonia from fish waste is transformed by beneficial bacteria into nitrites, which are transformed again by different bacteria into nitrates. While nitrites are also harmful to fish at low concentrations, nitrates are not. However, high levels of nitrates in the water can cause excessive algae growth and are harmful to fish. Fortunately, nitrates also provide nutrients that are necessary for vegetation. By consuming the nitrates, plants filter the water and help maintain a healthy and balanced aquatic environment for the fish.
So by eating and growing, the fish provide essential nutrients for the plants and by eating and growing, the plants provide safe water for the fish. Aquaponics is the best answer for a fish enthusiasts need to dispose of excess nitrates, as well as a hydroponic gardeners need to feed nutrients to their plants.

Aquaponics does not require a great deal of space. It is relatively easy to build a system outdoors in your backyard, in a greenhouse or even in your basement. It is neither overly expensive nor time intensive to maintain the system once it is up and running. Costs for the system can be recovered by selling of the output or it can be scaled up to be a profitable business. Aquaponics provides a truly organic form of food and allows for a higher density yield conserving space. You can also locate an aquaponics system so you can grow plants and vegetables year-round. Even a small aquaponics system can produce 100 lbs of fresh fish and 200 lbs of organic fruit and vegetables every 6 months. If you are interested in owning a self sufficient food supply or just like growing plants and fish, aquaponics is the right hobby or business for you!

If you are interested in learning more about the practice of aquaponics, visit All About Aquaponics Fish.

If you are interested in Tilapia Farming or learning about other freshwater fish that can be used in aquaponics and aquaculture, click on this link Tilapia Farming.

Converting Existing Greenhouses to Portable Farm Aquaponics Systems

By Phyllis Davis

Co-Author: Colle W. Davis

You will find that each of these planned Eco Cities has started to realize that they are already facing a series of problems that are much tougher to solve than originally expected. The excitement to advance their particular project has blinded many groups to the hard realities of creating these wonderful 'intentional communities.' What has also become increasingly obvious is that the first Eco Cities will be inhabited by upper middle class people who can afford to live anywhere they want and they want (insist on) the amenities of modern upper middle class living. They may profess to be green, but they want to make sure their green choice is also buying them comfort, security, beauty and status.

Major issues for each Eco City to address:

1. Providing locally grown food for the residents
2. A safe place for people to live and work in the city or nearby in urban centers
3. Resilient and beautiful - lovely and long lasting with emphasis on biodiversity
4. Jobs onsite or very close by, so residents can provide a living for their families
5. Eco-friendly transportation within the community with biking and walking trails and a low emphasis on cars and motor cycles. Possible trolley or rail use.
6. Proper water, energy and waste management
7. Minimal governance

Eco Cities can be built, grown and nurtured by addressing all of these issues and making each of them a separate focus tied to the overall installation. The issues are addressed below in order of their impact on the overall plan. Portable Farms Ltd demonstrates how any dedicated group can begin with a plan and have the intended outcome be very close to the original expectation of the group's Eco City plan.

1. Food: Here is the one area where most projects have a hard time with reality because most sponsoring groups have no idea the huge effort required for growing and providing raising a constant supply of food for a community of any size. There is a great deal of talk in each Eco City group about having community gardens and what most people do not understand is that even in a community garden; individual plots are the only way they will work. Very often, when the idea of a 'community' garden or project is brought up, the vision of the hippy communes from the 60's and 70's rears up and puts people off. Some people are willing to live and work in a community, but do not ask them to donate their personal time or sweat to keep it up for others in the group. Research the phrase 'tragedy of the commons' to see how well people in a community take care of shared property. (If you've ever lived in a private area with a Home Owners Association you'll see the problems that arise when people don't have their expectations met. Think law suits, feuding neighbors, and vitriolic meetings to resolve issues that need to be handled.

Now for the real answers to this serious dilemma: Installing Portable Farms™ Aquaponics Systems (PFAS) to raise the majority of green vegetable to be consumed onsite, plus the tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and peppers everyone loves. The PFAS installations have a huge impact in providing an unending food supply for the village. The PFAS is so effective at growing vegetables that 25 sq ft of Grow Tray space is all that is required to feed each adult year around, plus providing them with two four ounce fish fillet each week for protein.

Then each Eco City can add in some orchards, some land for growing starchy foods and an animal raising component for chicken, goats and whatever else the residents want to consume - all within walking distance of the homes. Maybe even some vineyards and berry patches are wanted by people willing to tend them.

Oh, wait, this will mean that these 'cities' have to be fairly small, like satellite suburbs, or ecoburbs. Yes. Small really is beautiful and doable.

2. Sustainability: Today the energy necessary for an ecoburb can come from solar power or other forms of onsite energy production. The careful construction of the living structures and utilities can reduce the overall energy requirements of the project. Locating an ecoburb in a warmer climate also helps. There must be a reliable, unending water source located onsite and all water recycled to the last drop. With today's technology this is actually very easy to accomplish. By using building materials throughout that have very long useful life or from renewable sources means not 'using up' or using non renewable resources or having to import them.

Creating enough jobs for the inhabitants in the 'outside world' either as telecommuters or assemblers of components or assemblies to have a steady income is as important as having a constant food supply. All of these items can be provide today plus there must be easy access to markets and entertainment for the residents. No one wants to be stuck out in the country away from 'real' stores, restaurants, doctor, dentists and all the other modern conveniences necessary for a nice life.

3. Safe and Resilient: Safety can be designed-in because the Eco Burb is out of the city (generally near major urban centers and cities) and there is no overt accumulation of wealth to attract looters, plus not having roadways to haul loot really discourages them. The Eco Burbs are small enough so people are aware of their neighbors and the flow of foot traffic at all times. All of the structures are built to withstand the worst weather and natural disasters in the area.

A 'legal' system that is guided by the idea, "If it is not strictly forbidden, it is permitted." There needs to be very little government or governance of any kind beyond safety and building code requirements for safety. This single facet of people's need for safety usually kills the best idea based group efforts because if you have ever dealt with a homeowners association you know what a group can do when give even a whiff of power. Remember that safe include being safe from the other resident's belief and biases.

4. Beautiful and walking friendly: The very easiest to accomplish and this aspect of an Eco Burb is being done all over the world already. Fun and easy and affordable are easy to build into an Eco Burb.

Portable Farms is a food solution for Eco-Cities to raise their own food.

There you have it. The formula for a viable Eco Burb where you can live, have a job, raise a family, retire, own property, sell your property, be a community member or a recluse and enjoy the best a small self contained community has to offer. Portable Farms Ltd is available to any organization for consultation and help in setting up the all important food component of your Eco Burb.

President, Portable Farms Ltd
pdavis@portablefarms.com

Co-Inventor, Portable Farms™ Aquaponics Systems Dean, Aquaponics University

Phyllis Davis' primary initiatives include developing institutional marketing campaigns, and working with media to bring attention to Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems in both the United States and global markets. Her ultimate goal is to bring awareness to aquaponics and to demonstrate that Portable Farms are the solutions that are needed to provide fresh, healthy and affordable food to stop the cycle of poverty and end world hunger. She also works diligently to improve high yields and rapid growth for the food grown in Portable Farms and continues to experiment with seed varieties and excellent fish care to maximize the efficiency for the farms.