Garden

[jon carman]

Tomorrow I am starting my aquaponic garden utilizing the run off from my fish room. I am going to try and use PVC as a gutter system and have it flow at a 2% grade watering the plants along the way.

I could right a few pages on it, but I will build it and take pics as I do it. If it works, I will post, if it doesn't I will erase this thread and never speak of it again.

It should be organic, but I will not go through the hoops of certifying it. I am going to build my own soil using compost, earthworms, and sand. I am going to feed worms to fish, and also blend into a gelatin fish food I make, freeze and use later.

[ree123]

Jon,When you become famous and a rich man, don't forget your ole buddy Rick. I'll spell my name for ya so you get it right in the paperwork. LOL :-)
Seriously, this is a great idea !!! Pic's will be awesome !

[jon carman]

I got the grading almost done, but I didn't think about the 6' of mud the existing water outlet would make. So I am having to cut deeper than I wanted and I have to fill with rock/sand mix.

It is about to rain today, so I am taking it off.

The purpose of the experiment is to feed the veggies off the water/nitrates from the fish room making a natural fertilizer. The only soil will be just enough for the root clump so no weeds. The roots should find the water through the soil and expand. I will release a colony of lady bugs to control pests. If you mist them with coke, their wings will stick for a few weeks and they will stay put.

This also will keep me from just wasting 5000 gallons of water a week. If I can make enough off the veggies to pay utilities I am a step ahead.

If I can get this to work on a small scale this year I will expand with greenhouses next year. It is about impossible to be ecofriendly in this business, but I am committed to at least trying.

Lastly, the earth worm colony I am starting mixed with these veggies will be a perfect food for fish that I can blend. All I will have to spend money on would be the shrimp/krill to be added to mix. I blend it all together in a 25% worm 25% shrimp 50% veggie that is a great staple for most africans. For Fronts and Calvus I only have 20% veggie and for trophs I only have 10% of worm 10% krill. I also supplement with spirulina and reptile vitamins, but it is a small amount of each.

[davidtcb1]

Looking forward to seeing the progress Jon!

[glenoweth]

sounds cool, hope it works out for you man.