Aquaponics Digest - Thu 01/29/98
Message 1: Introductions - Reprints Part 1 (long)
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 2: Introductions - Reprints Part 2 (long)
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 3: African project
from S & S Aqua Farm
Message 4: Re: African project
from Chad Kruger
Message 5: Re: African project
from S & S Aqua Farm
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| Message 1 |
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Subject: Introductions - Reprints Part 1 (long)
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 10:32:05 -0600
On request by several subscribers, we've reprinted below the introductions
we've been sent since the list began. Hope we have captured them all. We
hope this will serve as impetus to newer subscribers to post their own
introductions and give us a good idea of who is involved in the list and
why. Paula
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Geoffrey Stone"
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 22:49:20 -0600
We are Geoffrey & Susan Stone located in Ozark, AR. We have a small
integrated system in a 12 X 20 greenhouse. It consists of one 400 gallon
tank with 1 and 1/2 beds containing "block chips". It is a "green" system
in that the tank allows sunlight in which promotes algae growth. This was
deliberate as I understand the algae can be a significant source of food for
fish.
We obtained 50 Tilapia from S&S Aqua on Labor Day on '96. Since then we
have had good luck getting them to reproduce. First in a breeder tank and
then in the main tank. I used floating nets to confine and protect the fry.
While on vacation recently there was a power failure during which I lost
about 50 or so of my larger fish due I assume to oxygen depletion.
I use a 24V PV system for pumping the water back and forth between the tank
and the beds. I use an air pump on AC for extra areation as I'm not ready
to increase my PV system at this time.
We have year round "greens" for salads and occasionally tomatoes, cukes, and
peppers. We would like recommendations of veggie varieties that do well in
our area in a greenhouse.
Geoffrey
---------------------------------------
>Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 15:04:48 +1000 (EST)
>From: Nicholas JF Prentice
>Dear All
>
>My name is Nicholas and I am currently doing a Bachelor of Applied Science
>(Aquaculture) at James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland Australia.
>However, I actually come from and live in Zimbabwe (southern africa).
>
>My main interests are in the field of pure aquacuture, hopefully to
>specialise in algae production, hence aquaponics :). At the moment I am
>just a beginer to this aquaponic/hydroponics subject but would like to
>learn more and doing that!
>
>Looking forward to informative aquaponic reading!
>Nicholas
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D//=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D//=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>Nicholas JF Prentice Email addresses:
>University Halls of Residence 1) Nicholas.Prentice@jcu.edu.au
>James Cook University of N.Q. 2) sci-njp@jcu.edu.au
>Townsville, QLD 4811 3) umsasa@mail.pci.co.zw
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Harrop"
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 13:00:21 -0500
Hello all. Great to see a dedicated list for aquaponics! My wife and I are
in the process (near completion) of operating an aquaponics system near
Kingston, Ontario in Canada. Our pilot system is a heated 10 x 24 lean-to
greenhouse which is connected to our home. We have a 400 imperial gallon
tank and an NFT system. Much effort and resources have gone into building a
heating shed outside the greenhouse which contains a woodstove fitted with
an air-to-water heat exchange system. We expect to introduce Tilapia spp.
sometime in the second week in December...along with chives and catnip.
Hoping to talk with other enthusiasts....Bye for now. Rob & Jane :-)
---------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 08:35:22 -0600
From: Gordon Watkins
Organization: Rivendell Gardens
Hello Aquaponderers,
By way of introduction to this great new list, I'm an organic farmer in
the Ozarks of NW Arkansas and I've just completed an experimental
prototype for an aquaponics system that I hope someday to expand to a
commercial scale.=20
My 14 x 22 attached greenhouse is based on a design from North Carolina
State Univ which they call an Integrated Aqua-Vegiculture System (IAVS)
and it's a little different from other designs I've seen. I'm growing
tilapia (all-male hybrids which I produce myself) and a few Pacu in 4 x
22 x 2.5 ft deep, partitioned, concrete vat below a walkway of slatted
wood panels. The bottom of the vat is sloped for detritus accumulation
and 5 small submersible pumps on a timer distribute the waste to the
beds. The 2 x 4 black locust walkway panels can easily be removed to
observe or access the fish but feeding is done through the slats.=20
Adjacent to the walkway and above grade is a 8 x 22 x 1 ft deep bed of
sand and gravel in which crops are grown. The bed is atop a concrete
floor which slopes back toward the vat and the gravel is contained by a
concrete block retaining wall under which the water flows into the vat.=20
The beds are contoured in a hill-and-furrow pattern with plants on the
ridge to keep stems dry. Water-loving crops (chives, cress, etc) are
planted in the furrows. When the pumps cut on (every 2 hours for 15
minutes, 7 am-7 pm) the water and waste is distributed down the furrows
where it percolates through and flows back into the vat.
I'm taking a shotgun approach to crop varieties, growing a little of
everything including citrus, tomatoes, peppers, cukes, melons, lettuce,
spinach, mustard, chives, basil, aquarium plants, etc and I'm also
trying hard and soft wood propagation.
I initially stocked the system on 10/10/97 with 12 lbs (250 fish) of
tilapia and planted the beds 2 weeks later. Everything looks pretty
good, so far, and I'm ready to add more fish as soon as my fry are big
enough.
A big advantage of this system, IMO, is that it maximizes use of
greenhouse space by placing the fish underneath the walkway. My
greenhouse is a semi-solar design and is heated with a hydronic system
powered by an lp water heater. I hope to supplement it by connecting the
water jacket of my wood furnace and possibly adding a solar water panel.
I havent't used enough gas yet to see if this system is really cost
effective, an issue I'm anxious to analyse, but it does a great job of
maintaining water temp of 82 and bed temp of 65 so my tomatoes, cukes,
and melons are thriving and the tilapia are growing rapidly.
I look forward to hearing from others on this list, particularly anyone
who's working with the IAVS design, and I have lots of questions I'm
hoping some of you have answers to. Many thanks to Tom and Paula for
getting this list up and running.
Aquatically yours,
Gordon Watkins
Parthenon, AR
----------------------------------
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 21:36:16 +1100
rom: "H.Doelle"
>
>Hi everybody,
>It is very interesting to read all the introductions. Here is mine.=20
>I am basically a microbiologist, having specialised in physiology,
biochemistry and the application of microbes for process development of
clean processes. After 30 years teaching at the University of Queensland I
have now retired, but I am still active in teaching and curriculum
development in the framework of Unesco MIRCEN [Microbiological Resources
Centre]-Network. My main efforts at present are the education and
infrastructure teaching for integrated biosystems, whereby human and animal
waste as well as biological effluents [fish processing, palm oil etc] is
anaerobical digested to biogas for energy and the effluent being used for
algae [nitrogen and phosphorous scavengers], which subsequently can be used
for tilapia or other fish feed.
>I am very heavy involved in this area of so-called socio-economic
biotechnology.
>This is not not the only reason for my subscribing to your information
network. I also wan to learn how to establish a small auaponic system at
home as a hobby during my retirement.
>Finally I like to caution all those aquaculture people, who are using
animal manure for fish feeding to stop that terrible practice immediately,
as they only recycle pathogens and increase the prospects of very unhealthy
epidemics, particularly in the light of the ever increasing antibiotic
resistancy.
>That is all folks and I hope to learn from you, since learning never stops=
!
>Looking forward to our exchange of knowledge
Horst W.Doelle,D.Sc.
Director, MIRCEN-Biotechnology Brisbane
Chairman, IOBB
Hon.Member of Depts. Microbiology & Chemical Engineering
FAX: +617-38783230
Email: H.Doelle@mailbox.uq.edu.au
-----------------------------------------]
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 10:36:47 -0800
From: Gary Martin
My name is Gary Martin and I am an Agriculture Instructor at La Sierra
High School in Riverside California. We are currently exploring the
possibilities of having a working aquaculture program at our high
school. We will be attending a workshoop in New Orleans on December
5,6,7, 1997 and look forward to learning a great deal about aquaculture.
----------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 11:25:57 -0500 (EST)
From: GROMAXaz@aol.com
Dear Aquaponics Group,
As a new member of this discussion group I would like to introduce myself.
I'm the managing director of the Gromax Co. which develops farmland in
California, Arizona and Texas. We produce crops under contract to large
produce companies. Our properties are improved with pressurized irrigations
systems with subsurface drip in each field.
Several years ago, we purchased an established fish farm (growing tilapia=
and
catfish) that was in Chapter 11. We committed ourselves to a $500 K
investment and 1 year to generate profits. The operation failed to achieve
any of the financial objectives and was liquidated. The investment of
capital and experience cause myself in particular, to remain interested in
aquaculture with an eye to someday entering the business again.
It is my desire to keep in touch with the industry and I'm very happy to be
able to participate with this group. Thank you.
Ben Cloud
Gromax Company, LLC.
Chandler, Arizona
----------------------------
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 12:17:13 -0800
From: Rebecca Nelson
Hello aquaponics list members,
My name is Rebecca Nelson and I am the editor of the Aquaponics Journal,
a bi-monthly publication dedicated to people using the unique
technologies of aquaponics, hydroponics and aquaculture. The first
issue was August of this year and we are currently finishing the 3rd
issue. =20
So far our contributiong authors have included aquaponics researchers,
consultants, high school educators, professors, commercial and hobby
aquaponic growers. We encourage anyone who is interested to contribute
articles and information.=20
In addition to the Aquaponics Journal we have produced CD-Roms, videos,
a school curriculum and printed books on hydroponics and aquaculture.
Our sister company, Western Hydroponic Produce, grows hydroponic
tomatoes in a 7,000 sq foot controlled environment greenhouse. We have
set up a 400 gallon aquaponic system and have grown trout and crappie in
pond culture.
I look forward to interacting and sharing information about aquaponics
with everyone on this list.
Rebecca Nelson
Nelson/Pade Multimedia
tel 209-742-6869, fax 209-742-4402
http://www.aquaponics.com
Publisher of the Aquaponics Journal
Producer of:
- The Encyclopedia of Hydroponic Gardening CD-Rom
- All About Aquaculture CD-Rom
- The Hydroponics Curriculum
- How To Start and Succeed in the Hydroponics Business Book
- Hobby Hydroponics Video
---------------------------
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 17:02:04 -0500
From: "William S. Snyder"
Greetings to all,
I am the aquaculture professor at a small a&t college in central New
York.. Although I specialize in single pass culture of brook, brown,
rainbow and tiger trout, and chinook salmon, I have been working with
tilapia (aurea x nilotica) for about three years now in various
aquaponic setups. Most of my work is instructional, for my students,
but aside from that I am working in the technology transfer aspect of
aquaponics. Specifically, developing small, noncommercial, home-based
fish culture systems (cheap, simple, cheap, productive, and cheap).
I look forward to participating in the aquaponics listserv!
Cheers
Bill
William Snyder, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences
State University of New York - Morrisville
Morrisville, New York 13408
tel: 315-684-6237 fax: 315-684-6125 in%: SnyderW@Morrisville.edu
web: www.snymor.edu/pages/aquaculture/
-------------------------
Date: 2 Dec 97 11:22:11 EST
From: PeterJTheisen@eaton.com
My name is Peter Theisen, I live near Milwaukee Wisconsin. I have a small=
=20
system running at the present time in my basement. It is made up of a 40=20
gallon tank (the bottom 2/3 of a 55 gallon barrel) and a 2ft. times 2ft=20
growing bed filled with pea gravel (a single plastic laundry tub). The=20
system is controlled by electronic timers. A pump in the tank goes on=20
about every 15 to 20 minutes to distribute water over the top of the gravel=
=20
bed, it pumps for about 6 minutes. In the 6 minutes the gravel bed is=20
filled with fish water. It does not actually fill, we have an float switch=
=20
that shuts off the pump and keeps the water level in the gravel bed to a=20
maximum of .5 inches below the top of the gravel. This keeps the top of=20
the gravel dry and keeps the algae growth down. The water drains from the=
=20
gravel bed to the fish tank through a 1.5 inch drain pipe and ultimately=20
through an end cap drilled with a series of holes. This spray of water is=
=20
aimed in such a fashion to aerate the water in the fish tank and to cause=20
the water to flow in a circular fashion around the tank. This circular=20
flow keeps the tank clean and moves the fish waste and excess food to the=20
pump to allow it to be delivered to the gravel bed. This means that the=20
gravel bed is alternately filled with water and then filled with air. The=
=20
result is that when the water fills the gravel bed it forces out the carbon=
=20
dioxide that is the result of bacterial action and when the water drains=20
out, the gravel bed is filled with air and therefore oxygen which is=20
necessary for the bacteria to do their thing. A thin film of water remains=
=20
on the gravel to facilitate the bacteria action and to provide the plant=20
roots with the water necessary to not dry out. The water is held at 82=20
degrees, the optimum for the growth of the tilapia, using a submersible=20
heater.
Above the gravel bed I have a 250 watt HID metal halide lamp. This=20
provides 1000 to 2500 lumens over the surface of the gravel bed. This is=20
sufficient for growth of most plants. I am primarily growing a variety of=
=20
lettuces.=20
I originally started raising Rocky Mountain White Tilapia that I purchased=
=20
from the Sperano's. My system is very much like theirs, in principle. At=
=20
present I am also raising some of the all male tilapia hybrids. =20
The system works well and I am planning to expand into a larger system. My=
=20
main concern about my present system is that I really should have made a=20
larger plant growing bed. the present one is too small to take care of all=
=20
the fish waste. This limits the amount of food I can feed my fish.
I am interested in learning more and trying new things in the area of=20
aquaponics. What really interests me about aquaponics is that it is a=20
larger biological system that can be continually optimized to generate the=
=20
maximum amount of output for the given input. The interactions among the=20
components of the total system are a pleasure to think about and experiment=
=20
with. I look forward to the interchanges that will come as a result of=20
this interchange of ideas.
Regards:
Pete T.=20
--------------------------
From: Mark Andrus =20
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 11:49:16 -0500
As a new subscriber I would like to introduce myself to the group. My=20
name is Mark Andrus and I live in the Knoxville Tennessee area. I am,=20
by profession, the director of a computer department.
Approximately 4 years ago I read an article in "Backwoods magazine",=20
about Tom and Paula and their interesting approach to fish farming and=20
hydroponics. This interested me enough to travel 13 hours one very=20
cold day (9 degrees), to West Plains. I spent time with Tom and his=20
wife asking many questions about their unique operation. I was=20
impressed with the Speraneos and what they had accomplished as=20
pioneers in this area.
About 1 year later I began building my 30' x 24' greenhouse. I=20
decided to take Toms recommendation to build a smaller greenhouse=20
initially. The completed cost of the greenhouse and everything else=20
involved to make it operational was approximately $6,000. I did=20
everything myself so I could keep the expenses to a minimum. The=20
first year of operation we paid off the greenhouse. I was amazed!=20
Almost at the start of operation people had heard about us and the=20
demand for the herbs was more than we could produce.
In February it will be 2 years in full operation. I learned a lot=20
over this period of time. We have had a few problems that were=20
frustrating at the time but have worked out most of them. My fish are=20
around 1 to 1 =BD pounds and very healthy.
In a nut shell that's a little about me. It's great to have this site=20
to talk to others about what we're doing.
Here's my first question I have for the group. Does anyone have a=20
"Drain Gnat" problem? These gnats don't hurt the system it's just=20
such a bother having them fly into your face, nose, mouth, and ears.=20
I have tried sticky sheets, fly paper & beneficial nematodes. These=20
have all made a dent but have not eradicated them. I've had them for=20
about a year now and would sure appreciate any help.
Question #2. Some how worms have found there way from the ground to=20
my growing beds and have turn my beds into there home and boy do they=20
love it. Any suggestions about what to do or are they fine living in=20
my system?
Thanks,
Mark M. Andrus
---------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 97 17:23:52 EST
From: "Christopher Miller"
INTRODUCTION ------
Since I'm on, I suppose I should do the introduction part. I'll be mostly
listening. I'm investigating getting into aquaponics, but don't do it right
now. I do have a mini (4x6) solar greenhouse to keep Thai Bird's Eye=
Peppers
growing year around. My day job is as Museum Director/Technology Planner/
Multimedia Developer at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. Basically, I'm an
overworked intellectual who likes to work with his hands, digitally or
mechanically. I'm looking for a career change in the next 1-2 years, but=
insist
on staying in little 'ol Berea. I love my Pepper plants, tend to succeed at
whatever I start, like the idea of integrated systems, know how to work=
hard,
and like to mix working with my head and my hands, so I'll just keep=
listening
to see if this might be it. I own an empty lot next to the one my house is=
on,
no trees, southern exposure.
QUESTIONS & INTERESTS -----
I'm especially curious about marketing. How do you set up your channels and
keep shipping costs low enough? Most of you seem to mention selling to=
local
stores. I don't know much such things. My only experience is in marketing=
an
attraction, not a product. I'm also curious about how to attract capital.=
=20
Having worked in the nonprofit sector for 15 years, I don't have any. =
Finally,
what about vacations? I'm used to getting a month off every year. You=
folks
ever get to leave town? Can you program down-time into your year? I read=
the
posting about the nephew whose Bass went belly up when he left for a short=
time.
Any thoughts or advice you will share will be appreciated.
Christopher Miller,
Berea, KY
-----------------------------------
>Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 09:42:51 -0900
>
>From: Hundra Percen Organic
>
>Greetings listmembers and Ms. Paula... let me introduce myself. My name=
is
>Jameson from rainy South East Alaska. I have a passion for botany. Let us
>say a consuming burning curiosity since I still have little hands on
>experience. I hope to learn alot from this electronic forum and will
>contribute what pathetically little I can. Anyone want some smoked salmon
>for Christmas? :)
>
>I am familiar with the basic concepts of hydroponics but I want more. I'd
>like to know what the garden of the future will be like. Could Aquaponics
>be an answer to epidemic conditions in remote communities... =20
>I am curious specifically as to the overcomming the hardships in=
maintaining
>a greenhouse in the varying and extreme low temperatures here in Alaska. =
=20
>We have nothing but trees here in Alaska. What do you listmembers reckon
>on the feasibility of an obviously well-insulated greenhouse/watershed
>running year round here in Alaska? I'm wondering if a wood furnace could
>be used as the sole means of heat. You know... be one with nature
>non-polluting eco-friendly. =20
>
>GRAD: Yes, I'm just a poor student.. I can hardly afford water. But, I
>value seeking sustenance from the Mother. =20
>
>It would be wonderful and satisfying to have a working fish/organic-veggie
>farm. But it will probably have to wait till I retire after hitting the
>lottery at age 32. Could I start a setup with my 20Gal aquarium?
>What I would need to know is, how many square feet of gardenspace would a
>20gal aquarium support.. Are some types of ornamental fish better then
>others for their fertilizer output?
>
>Thanks peace love and sleep boy do I need some.
---------------------------------------------
From: "Brad Estergaard"
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 16:20:57 -0800
Hi everyone, thought I'd give a short intro about myself:
Brad Estergaard
Undergrad - University of British Columbia
Dept. of Plant Science
My main area of interest is in root zone interactions that occur within
hydroponic/aquaponic systems. I have also been looking into the changes in
nutrient solutions with time and the feasibility of incorporating mycorhizae
into hydro systems. More importantly I just love all aspects of=
hydroponics.
Unfortunately, I do not have an aquaponic system of my own (apartment too
small) to play with yet but hopefully can get a small one started soon.
Well I look forward to participating in this group. Talk to you later
Brad
---------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 20:50:54 -0500
From: Mark William McCormick
Hello everyone,
I am a graduate student (MS) in Environmental Engineering. I applied for a
Fulbright grant to join a project to build a municipal wastewater treatment
and biomass recycling system in Windhoek, Namibia. Since the system will
incorporate aquaculture, I subscribed to this mail group to learn about the
subject.
Also, if I don't get the grant, then I will be interested in an internship
at an aquafarm. If anyone wants to talk further about internships, please
email me.
regards,
Mark McCormick
--------------
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 09:17:34 -0600 (CST)
From: "ING. WALTER JORGE GOMEZ RUIZ"
Hello to everyone,
I am happy to belong to this group, the postings so far have been very=20
interesting. The subject is no doubt a great one and I congratulate=20
everybody for their participation. I am many times impressed by the level=20
of altruism found in forums like this oneand on the web in general where=20
surely, everyone must gain something.
I am currently a teacher at the University in San Luis Potosi, Mexico=20
teaching Agibusiness. My background is not related to aquaculture since I=20
am a Chemical Engineer with a Masters in Int. Business, but nevehteless,=20
life sciences have always been my main interest. (Don't ask me why I did=20
not major in that field).
My interest in aquaponics started in a very simple manner: I have has=20
tropical fish since I was a kid and always watered the plants with the=20
dirty water. Surfing the net... I found information about the Speranos,=20
contacted them, and I am planning to to something like that someday soon.=20
I am not sure it will be very economically profitable in Mexico though,=20
since market prices for tilapia are not very high (remember there is=20
mosly good weather here). There is a very large tilapia project here=20
where the water for irrigation is first used for tilapia since it is a=20
warm enough and thus the water has two uses. I am interested in ways to=20
feed the tilapia in a manner that is cheaper than the trout pellets to=20
try to make it more economically feasible
best wishes for everyone,
Walter J. Gomez
-----------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 19:09:07 -0500 (EST)
From: Jason Rochelo
I am a junior at Roger Williams University in=20
Bristol, RI, and currently enrolled in the Marine Biology program.=20
Hopefully I will be graduateing sometime within the next two years. =20
In the past year a new science building was completed containing a=20
Wet-Lab, for the moment there is space for projects. I am helping a=20
professor, an environmental chemist, to make a closed=20
aquaponics system. The professor recieved a grant for a thousand dollars=20
from the=20
school's research fund, tanks were donated and everything else that we=20
have was borrowed. The reasons for this are for show-and-tell, I mean=20
that it is set up as a display that hopefully will be a nice=20
demonstration model. Also possible research that could be done.
The other project that I will be working on is for a middle=20
school, to have their own little system.
Hopefully some day in the near future I will be working in a=20
third world country with some form of fishery and aquaculture.
QUESTION
For the larger system Tilapia would like to be used, but=20
rumor has it that they require a permit to raise them. If a permit is=20
required how does one attain it. The other thing=20
is how to get Tilapia in the North East, and Rhode Island in particular.
Also is there any place that I can get a hold of research that=20
already has been done in the field.
I have only been on the list-serve since the 30th of Nov. and I=20
am keenly interested. I am looking forward to what will come out of this.
--------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 07 Dec 1997 10:20:53 +0000
From: Donna Fezler
As a newcomer to this list, I appreciate the work you are doing. I would
like to get the old posts, is there an archive to this list?
I am especially interested in the feeding of animal wastes to the fish. I
raise rheas, South American ostriches, which have very particular
requirements including zero environmental toxin exposure for the first
three months. I would be using the fish as an unadulterated protein source
for the babies and the vegetables for personal consumption.
Can this be done indoors or is an outdoor greenhouse a necessity?
Can crawfish be raised as bottom feeders? (16 years as a resident of New
Orleans)
Do tilapia make good sashimi? (3 years as a resident of South Korea?)
How do you kill the fish? Cold water?
Please don't laugh. My questions are going to get worse before they get
better.
Donna Fezler
Healing energy in a bottle - Rhea capsules
Reply to gcr@rhealiving.com
http://www.rhealiving.com
(217) 243-7683 FAX (217) 245-2919
RR1 Box 97B Jacksonville, IL 62650
USA
----------------------------------
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 12:16:32 -0800
From: "Lloyd R. Prentice"
Many thanks for organizing this forum.
My name is Lloyd Prentice.
Many years ago I visited New Alchemy in Falmouth, MA. The founders,
Nancy and Jack? Todd, William McLarney, and others were, as I recall,
former Marine Biology Institute (Woods Hole) scientists who had become
tired of conducting a "death watch" on the oceans.=20
New Alchemy raised Tilapia and various food and flowering plants in
solar structures. Wind provided the pumping power. Their goal was to
develop low cost, environmentally integrated, low-maintenance food
production systems suitable for low-income and third-world families and
communities. Their efforts, heavily subsidised by enthusiastic
volunteers, centered around controlled experiments that were fairly
rigorously monitored and reported. They produced a number of handsome
publications. Last I checked New Alchemy had shut down its physical
operations and was providing consulting services to municipalities
concerned with better ways of managing effluents. I don't know if they
published an ultimate finding regarding the feasibility/practicality of
their food production efforts.
I also visted Integral House in Berkeley. They had a bee hive over a
fish pond to provide a protein source (dead bees) for their fish. I'm
not sure if they were raising enough fish to make a serious contribution
to either diet or income, but the concept of biologically integrated
cultural systems really captured my imagination.
I've long fantacized about creating and maintaining such a system for my
own family, but my demanding business (editorial services and creative
software development) has, over the years, soaked up most if not all of
my discretionary time and money. Groundhogs torpedoed my efforts the one
year I was able to get a garden started. The best I've been able to do
is collect information as it's drifted my way. And each year I hope that
maybe I can squeeze out enough time and energy to get started on a sound
footing.
Several years ago my nephew, with a fresh degree in agricultural
management from Cal Poly, and with backing from my sister, started a
30-acre aquaculture operation in northern California. His goal was to
raise golden carp for the Chinese market in the San Francisco Bay Area.
He'd done some amount of research before he started and had the guidance
of several aquaculture professionals to draw on, including a biologist
with many years of experience in aquaculture operations. The market was
strong, willing to pay $3.00 or more per pound for his product.=20
The property was a former catfish operation, so most of the
infrastructure was in place. He cleared the brush, filled the ponds,
shipped in a truckload of brooder fish from somewhere in the south, and
started feeding massive quantities of expensive, high-class fish food.
The first year he thought his only problem was birds, because the fish
took to the ponds like fish to... well. Indeed they procreated like
crazy. Into his second and third years, however, he began to realize
that he had a serious problem. The fish were so busy eating and
procreating that they they were neglecting to grow. He could get them up
to three-quarters of a pound or so, but the market wanted one pound and
larger. They were also back-breakingly difficult to catch, even with
seine nets. But they did love to eat.
My nephew was able to capture a small chunk of revenue by raising
minnows and bass in a couple of his ponds. But the market was limited.
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
Subject:
Aquaponics Digest - Thu 01/29/98 2/2
One summer weekend, however, a week or so before he planned to harvest
his annual bass crop, he decided to go hunting. The pump that raised
water from his deep water well blew out an hour or two after he drove
out the gate, stopping the flow of fresh aereated water into his bass
ponds. By Sunday, when he returned, his $10,000 bass crop was floating
on the surface of the ponds, seriously depreciated in value.
Unfortunately, as a result of disappointment, guilt, and heavy financial
losses, the aquaculture field lost a bright, energetic young man that
day.
I had urged my nephew, when he started the venture, to carefully list
all the possible risk factors and to develop contingency plans. I'd also
urged him to conduct some controlled experiments to develop a growth
model for the specific fish he was trying to raise. But I think the
enthusiasm of the new venture, and the back breaking effort once he got
under way, kept him from thinking carefully and creatively about the
venture.
Sorry to go on so long, but I think the cautionary tale illustrates how
important a forum like this can be in helping novices get off on the
right foot. If my nephew had had a group like this to call on perhaps he
could have avoided the obvious mistakes, or at least turned his
operation around in time to avoid disaster. As it was, I think he was
heavily influenced by commercial trade sources that were advocating an
industrial model of fish production - every solution cost more money
than he had. All he could understand once he got into trouble was to
continue doing more of the same thing - feed the fish expensive ration
and wait for them to grow. Aquaponics, it seems to me, forces focus on
the total cultural environment. Am I right in assuming that it also
forces you to walk before you run?
Here are some of the questions, aside from time and money, that have
stopped me from moving forward:
1) What assumptions are necessary to create a reasonable cultural model?
2) What assumptions are necessary to create a reasonable business model?
3) Where can I find the most pertainent scientific knowledge to avoid
making
stupid mistakes?
4) What's the minimum infrastructure needed to say,
- supplement family diet
- supplement family income
- sustain a small business?
5) In our Boston, MA, climate, does aquaculture really make sense at
all?
6) Are Tilapia the best fish to raise in our Boston, MA, climate?
7) Where do you obtain Tilapia?
8) How do you keep energy costs from killing you?
9) Are there local, state, federal regulations that one must be aware
of?
I hope, as the discussion unfolds, that these are among the issues that
will be tossed around. Here are some other questions:
I have been reading about S&S Aqua for awhile now and it sounds like
they have developed a practical cultural model...=20
- How well does this model scale both up and down?=20
- How well does it travel to other climates and conditions?=20
- Who has alternative models? How do you evaluate competing ideas short
of investing serious time and money?
Hope you guys don't mind Micky the Dunce asking, perhaps, obvious (to
some) questions. But its the best I can contribute to the group at the
moment.
Best wishes,
Lloyd
-------------------------------
From: "Laura M. Phillips"
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 18:52:54 -0600
Everyone -
I'm very impressed with this group - such a wealth of experience and
knowledge. My own credentials aren't impressive - I'm a hobbyist, home
gardener, and writer. I don't have my own greenhouse or aquaculture system
yet - we're hoping to manage that in the next year or so. In the meantime,
I'm trying to learn all I can in the hope of avoiding expensive mistakes.
The writer in me also is intrigued by some points mentioned here. Rather
than clogging up the list and irritating those who are here for straight
information, I'll keep those queries to private e-mail.
laurap@sky.net
Laura Phillips
Holt, Missouri
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
.------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------.
| Message 2 |
'------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------'
Subject: Introductions - Reprints Part 2 (long)
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 10:32:29 -0600
From: YankeePerm
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 10:08:45 EST
Hi, I don't think I ever introduced myself to this list. I am mainly
interested in aquaculture outdoors in semi-natural to natural conditons. We
are in wetlands (swamp) and have an artificial pool in which some idiot
released water hyacinth and also have a canal and lands that are often, but
not always flooded (well really every imaginable degree of wetness from
permanently well-drained to permanently under water). I want to learn about
1) harvesting and, perhaps promoting, crawfish and 2) any food fish=
acceptable
to the somewhat authoritarian state of Florida that are tolerant of low
dissolved oxygen. I have limed one isolated (artifical) pool, which of=
course
gives a bump to CO2 for a while, as water pH runs about 5-5.1. (Frankly,=
I've
not remeasured pH after--used chunks and coarse pieces to slow the rate of
change and last longer.)
All water is water table water, when the water table goes down, all water
levels go down. I want to work with what I have. I have no interest in
liners, plastic ponds, etc., in this setting. Zero, zero, zero. I need=
plans
for an EFFICIENT crawfish trap. I'm using minnow traps and getting 3-8 per
day per trap. =20
OK, for the rest of introduction, I'll just past in the text from our basic
flyer.
SOLUTIONS THROUGH PERMACULTURE DESIGN
Permaculture design brings our lives back into participation with the Earth.
Permaculturists and other environmentalists warn of global destruction=
unless
we learn to live with the Earth rather than continuing to prey upon her.
Permaculture trusts that the Earth shows us solutions to halt the=
destruction
of the biosphere while sustaining ourselves in wholesome and fulfilling=
ways.
We offer the following services, programs and tools as part of these
permaculture solutions:=20
=95 Elfin Permaculture: lectures, workshops, direct and correspondence=
courses,
training on the Internet, advanced training, consulting and permaculture
design. Most programs are hosted by individuals or groups who invite us to
their region. =20
=95 Yankee Permaculture: Publishes The International Permaculture Solutions
Journal, PROD (Permaculture Review, Overview and Digest), The Resources of
International Permaculture (International Directory), The Permaculture=
Design
Course Pamphlet Series, about 35 Permaculture Papers & reprints, scores of
unique documents available on special order, and slide/script shows from the
Elfin Permaculture Design Course. Yankee Permaculture also distributes key
books and pamphlets relevant to Permaculture, especially those difficult to
obtain elsewhere. =20
=95 Solutions Network: Work on many of the projects described here is done=
by
volunteers worldwide. We are evolving a way to work together to reduce
hierarchy and integrate our efforts in a lateral system. =20
=95 Barking Frogs Farm: We recently purchased land and buildings for our
permaculture outreach, education, research and resource center. Internships
and advance training are available here. One of our main projects is the
adaptation of chinampas gardening methods.
PERMACULTURE DESIGN
Permaculture design integrates people into Nature's design for the=
bioregion
as a whole so that it is respected, enhanced and strengthened. People=
receive
shelter, energy, food, water, income, community and aesthetic as well as
spiritual fulfillment as part of the permaculture design, all within a
balanced biological community. Permaculture design students learn to make
practical recommendations to develop the natural potential of a site. They
also learn to identify the source and availability of every resource=
required
to implement the permaculture design. A time table for orchestrating the
unfolding of the design and using each stage of implementation to prepare=
for
the next helps to assure practical and efficient results. Thus the design
integrates the goals of the Earth and the people in that place.=20
Workshops, Courses And Other Training
Elfin Permaculture offers a variety of formats as learning experiences in
permaculture. Workshops include weekends in which participants begin a
permaculture design and intensive 10-day and two-week programs where the=
group
develops a first draft permaculture design for the site at hand. The=
three-
week Permaculture Design Course includes more than 100 hours of instruction
and field work and a very intensive group design project. We certify=
graduates
of the courses as Permaculture Trainees. Further training is available=
through
Elfin Permaculture's Advanced Permaculture Training (APT) individualized
program in which the student uses permaculture principles to design his/her
educational experience. Elfin Permaculture offers a Permaculture Design
Correspondence course online for individuals or groups unable to attend a=
live
course. You can get more information by requesting an information sheet,=
using
the form on this flyer. =20
INSTRUCTORS
DAN HEMENWAY, founder of Elfin Permaculture, is recognized among the most
innovative and effective teachers of permaculture. He has taught workshops,
design courses and advanced programs from Mexico to Canada and in Europe,
Asia, and the Pacific, and now offers an internet Permaculture Design=
Course.
Dan is also founder, editor and publisher of The International Permaculture
Solutions Journal, highly regarded among permaculturists and PROD
(Permaculture Review Overview and Digest ). He is program director of APT
(Advanced Permaculture Training), founder of the Forest Ecosystem Rescue
Network (FERN), and active in related movements such as remineralization. He
contributes to the development of permaculture with ongoing work on=
principles
of transformation. Dan holds five diplomas in various aspects of=
permaculture
from the International Permaculture Institute. He received the annual
Conservation Award from Friends of Nature in 1983 and the Community Service
Award from the International Permaculture Institute in 1984. In 1991, he was
named as a delegate to "Roots of the Future," a conference of NGOs in Paris,
France, to prepare input to the UN "Earth Summit" held in June, 1992. More
recently, Dan was cited in Swathmore's Who=92s Who in America for 1996-97.
CYNTHIA BAXTER HEMENWAY, CNM, is partner in Elfin Permaculture and Associate
Editor of The International Permaculture Solutions Journal. A founding=
member
and former director and officer of the Planetary Project Foundation (Kansas,
USA), Cynthia is a Certified Nurse Midwife and wholistic health practitioner
with particular emphasis in working with women during the childbearing year.
Presently, she teaches RN and advanced practice students in the obstetrics
rotaton at the University of Florida, Gainesville. She brings experience in
leading workshops on health and spiritual matters to permaculture as well as
the intention to expand the practice of permaculture in these areas. Because
of the demands of her university work, Cynthia is available to co-lead
workshops on an occasional basis.=20
INTERNS, APPRENTICES AND VOLUNTEERS
Dan and Cynthia have designed a variety of opportunities for interns,
apprentices (Advanced Permaculture Training) and volunteers, particularly in
association with the development and work of Barking Frogs Farm. Information
is available on request.
For more information contact Permaculture, P.O. Box 52, Sparr FL 32192-0052
USA, email Permacltur@aol.com
--------------------------------
Date: Wed, 03 Dec 1997 13:05:35 -0500
From: John Gingras
My name is Maggie Gingras. My husband John and I raise sheep, poultry
and market vegetables in the little finger of the Michigan
mitton...Leelanau County. John has a degree in Management Intensive
Grazing...I'm just an old hippie from the seventies.
John did an internship in aquaculture at Rodale Resources and I did a
research project in urban hydroponics back in our college days. We have
ever since been aquaculture and hydroponics enthusiasts, but so far
these two projects have not climbed far up the priority list. How ever,
since this area has become the "Gold Coast" of the mid-west, and the
growth pressures on our 80a grow worse and worse, a change of venue, and
a change of focus, seem more and more attractive. We are desperately
trying to live up to our ideals of sustainable agriculture and sensibly
cope with real issues of food safety and still remain economically
viable. Perhaps we are asking too much? I hope not.
Well, that is the low down on Compass Mountain Farm. I shall revert now
to my former lurking state and see if this list can perhaps contribute
some solutions to the problems we are currently facing. Already I see
many possibilities.
Maggie Gingras
Compass Mountain Farm
Suttons Bay, Michigan
-----------------------------
From: Jacky Foo
Subject: INTRO: Jacky Foo (Sweden)
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 10:29:45 +0100
Hi Everyone
I joined the list from the start but due to my pre-occupation on my move
from the United Nations Unversity, Tokyo to Stockholm I havent interacted
with this group yet. I like to start by introducing myself and then inform
you of some activities that might interest many of you too.
I am educated and trained as an agro-industrial microbiologist (1973) but
developed my expertise since 1983 in providing support for computer
conferencing and human networking in various biological subjects (nitrogen
fixation, anaerobic digestion, lactic acid fermentation, ecological
engineering and integrated bio-systems). I manage a good number of mailing
lists and organize different types of activities.
A subject of interest to this group is "=EFntegrated bio-systems" and at the
United Nations University, this was elaborated into a human network in 1995
with an Internet Resource Web site on Integrated Bio-Systems.
(http://www.ias.unu.edu/vfellow/foo/ibs/index.htm). Network members
communicate via a number of LISTSERV mailing lists, depending on their
interests.
ET-W1 Integrated Bio-Systems - General Forum
ET-W3 Integrated Sustainable Aquaculture
ET-W5 Integrated Bio-Systems for Eco-breweries
ECOCT-01 Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries
ECOCT-P Solid Waste Management in Low-income Communities
To join any of these lists, send the message=20
SUB listname your firstname yourlastname
e.g. sub et-w1 Jacky Foo
to listserv@segate.sunet.se
(see archives of earlier messages in http://segate.sunet.se/archives)
A forthcoming activity in 1998 is the Internet Conference on Integrated
Biosystem (http://www.ias.unu.edu/vfellow/foo/ibs/icibs/index.htm), this
will be a conference where authors can present papers (5-10 pages text with
pictures, diagrams, etc) on the web and discussions via mailing lists on
various topics related to integration of systems for food production, waste
water treatment, ecosystem management and in-house environments. So
aquaculture and hydroponics as well as aeroponics are all covered since
these often integrate sub-systems to treat and utilize nutrients from water
in hydroponic plants as well as the solid biomasses for e.g. earthworm
production, composting for heat generation, etc.=20
I take this opportunity to invite all of you to present your system at this
conference. All you need to do is to prepare something descriptive with
pictures and some basic data on input/output of the system. Please send a
max 1 page summary or abstract of your contribution to
et-zeus@segate.sunet.se - the summary should include a title, name of
author(s), full postal and electronic addresses. Deadlines: 31 Dec for
presentations between April and June 1998 or 31 June for presentations
between Oct and Dec 1998. Abstracts will be reviewed by a planning group and
upon approval, you will be required to submit a manuscript for discussion on
an agreed date. Assistance will be provided for scanning of pictures if
required. I have applied for funds to cover communication costs of authors
in developing countries and when approved, this will also be made available
suitable applicants.
=20
more on my research work later.
regards
jacky
P.S. Congratulations Paula for gathering this highly interactive group.
----------------------------------------
From: mdsenger@webtv.net (Michael Senger)
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 13:57:15 -0700
I would like to introduce myself to the group, describe what I am doing
with aquaponics and ask the group for help locating an electric valve. I
am currently setting up an aquaponics system here in sunny, Apache
Junction Arizona. Due to our mild winters, and hot summers my tanks and
beds will be placed under a fully enclosed shade structure.
Supplemental winter heating will be provided by circulating solar heated
water through a soil cement insulated "slab" that the 450 gallon tanks
sit on. (This is similar to hydronic heating of cement slabs in
residental homes). Tank "jackets" made from 8" straw and field fencing
to hold the straw jackets in place will insuate the tanks on cold
nights. These jackets can be opened on sunny days to expose the tanks
to direct solar gain.=20
The system will be composed of nine 450 gallon tanks connected to nine
6'x6'x20" deep gravel growing beds. The 6x6x20 containers I am
adapting for this use are some type of spill containment vessel for
another tank. This will provide about a 1/1 ratio of filtration to
water volume.=20
I plan to raise Tilapia, Red Claw Crayfish and Fresh Water Shrimp in the
tanks and a variety of crops in the growing beds. =20
One thing I would like to try, as my tanks are elevated above my growing
beds, (on the hydronic pad) is gravity flowing the water from the
tanks to the growing beds.=20
What I can not find however is a low-cost normally closed 1 1/2" 120
Volt AC Solenoid Valve. By low cost I mean $50.00. I have located a
very nice 1/2 HP sump pump complete with relocatable float switch for
$74.00 . This pump is a Campbell Hausfeld Pit Boss model PBT12 that can
pump . 3150 gallons per hour. This pump draws 9 amps and when you get a
whole bunch of these pumping pack and forth you can really start drawing
some amps.=20
The electric valve I am searching for would be connected to a sump pump
float switch ($23.00 at Home Depot) and would open when the tank is full
to allow 50 gallons or so to flow out and then shut off. All the valves
I have found so far either cost $200.00 or are diaphragm types that must
have some water pressure on both sides to operate. Anybody know of a
$50.00 valve that would work?
There is a low cost mechanical "surge tank" dual float system that I
am aware of that would work, but I feel the fish would bump into it and
cause unreliable operation. However there may be some type of reliable
mechanical system I am not aware of.Any ideas?=20
Sincerely,
Mike Senger
Earth Services LLC
Apache Junction Arizona
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 06 Jan 1998 13:01:44 -0800
From: John Greer
To the group,
My name is John Greer. I am an agriculture instructor in Pleasant Hope
Mo. I have a background in dairy and beef cattle and crop production.=20
Somehow I end up at a school with a greenhouse 5 years ago. Since that
time I have come to greatly enjoy horticulture and now have built an
additional greenhouse that houses an entire aquaponic system like the
one at S&S aquafarm. For a farm boy that has never had a horticulture
class in his life I am learning fast. I never thought I would be
involved in horticulture of any kind. And I sure never thought it would
be my favorite thing to teach.
What I am really interested in is seeds and plants that work well in
both a conventional 22 X 48 greenhouse and a nonconventional aquaponics
system. =20
With working with high school students we get the chance to kill plants
at an alarming rate for one reason or another. We also have a chance to
discover strange things that I never thought I would see.
Each year in my conventional greenhouse we grow impatiens, begonias,
various hanging baskets and other bedding plants. Then in the spring we
sell these plants here to community members. Now that we have the new
aquaponics lab we also grow these same plants in there. Usually using
them as stock plants for cuttings. Some do well and some not so well.
The ones that do well seem to grow and reproduce faster than we can keep
up. For example yeaterday we took 550 cuttings in one class period that
have grown since the 10th of December. Now I have impatiens running out
of my ears in the middle of January. Oh well better than everything
dying I suppose.
Well I don't want to bore everyone so I'll sign off.
If I can be of any help let me know.
Thanks
John Greer
P.O. Box 387=20
Pleasant Hope, Mo 65725
----------------------------------------
X-Sender: curly@popmail.millennianet.com
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 22:47:50 -0800
Hi Paula!
I just can't tell you how valuable this list is to my sanity. This is a
call out to all of the rest of you innovators.
Does anyone else have full tank diasaters on experimental work that looked
really promising?
I just had a 1,200 gal tank of Pacific Calico Bass go south on me in one
evening. I didn't consider the nitrate load might become too much for my
macro algae scrubber to handle and now I have a tank full of dead fry...
OUCH
Paula, our operation is like no other that we know of in the US. We are
privately funded and work on the illusion that poverty is cool. We have
propogated several species of semi endangered Pacific Ocean invertabrates/
shellfish. Our primary focus is on the cultivation of assorted marine macro
algae inorder to determine if salinity can be gradually reduced by
cultivated marine, brackish and salt tolerant vegetation that has food
value. We can find fish and inverts that will thrive under all of these
conditions if we can stabilize the matrix. Our goal is something profound
and invaluable to the fresh water starved.
Send me some info on yur program and I'll Privmail you our mission
statement and our pubdata for you to share with the rest of the list if you
feel that it worth sharing.
Living on Crumbs...
Donald W. Trotter Ph.D.
The Organic Gardener's Resource Centre
Encinitas,CA.
voice 1.888.514.4004
fax 00.760.632.8175
Email curly@mill.net or gdngods@mill.net
---------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 14:37:58 +0000
From: Roy Yamakawa
Thank you for getting me into your mail-list. I'm a county agent with the
University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
I've been involved in NFT hydroponic systems since the early 1980s and
built a 30'X96' NFT lettuce production system on Kauai (yes, the island
where Jurassic Park was filmed, and the recent Grand Slam Golf Tourney was
played), as a demonstration information and technology transfer project.
The system which I set up was a culmination of my experiences and travels
to various hydroponic facilities in Ohio, Canada, California and Japan.=20
I'm interested in aquaponics more from the academic side, however, there
may be some real grant $$$ possibilities from the water quality/sustainable
agriculture angle. =20
Thanks for providing this service. Happy Thanksgiving!!! Aloha, Roy.
---------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 07:42:58 -0700
From: Ceila & Jeff
I wanted to introduce myself to the list. My name is Jeff Schahczenski
from real cold Montana. I have just finished building our families
strawbale house and am planning a greenhouse construction (probably on
on an earthship design(pounded tires)) and am thinking about aquaponic
growing. One of my biggest concerns is maintaining water temperature.
The other is the desire (value?) to keep the operation certifiablly
organic (ie organic hydroponics). It seems to keep an aquaponic
operation truly organic one would have to find a feed source for the
fish that was also organic. I have caught earlier postings on organic
feed, but am wondering whether anyone knows of feed mixes from organic
grains or legumes(lentils,peas)? From previous work I have good contacts
with quite a few organic wheat, pea and lentil growers in Montana.
------------------
Hope I haven't missed anyone. What a wide variety of talents we have on
this list! Hope to hear from the rest of you soon. These intros sparked
some wonderful exchanges, and I'm certain it will continue.
Paula Speraneo
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
.------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------.
| Message 3 |
'------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------'
Subject: African project
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 10:37:57 -0600
At 04:29 PM 1/28/98 -0800, Chad Kruger wrote:
We are presently consulting an ecologically-based food
>raising project in the African nation of Zambia.
>
Could you comment further on this project? Does it involve multiple crops,
methods, and what is the primary purpose?
Just curious.
Paula
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
.------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------.
| Message 4 |
'------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------'
Subject: Re: African project
From: Chad Kruger
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 10:44:53 -0800
Our project in Africa has been incorporated as the Zambia Ecointensive
Project. We are located about 3 km. outside of Kitwe (in the Copperbelt region
of Zambia, very close to the southern border of Zaire). We are presently
working on land provided by TransAfrica Theological College, and we have plans
to expand onto an additional 25 acres adjacent (pending the grant money for a
99 year lease from the government).
Our goal is three-fold: (1) There are nearly 250,000 people living in 5
different shanty towns within a 2 km. radius. A vast majority of those people
are unemployed, and have no resources to purchase or grow their own food. The
average wage for those who do work is about $30 - $40 per month. Considering
that an 50 kilo bag of corn meal (their staple food) costs about $25 - $25, and
will last less than a month on meager rations for a family of four, there is a
real problem. Zambia is also the 2nd leading nation in the world of people
infected with HIV/AIDS per capita. Projections are that out of 9.5 million
people, there will be between 700,000 and 2 million orphans by 2000 AD due to
AIDS. So our first reason for being in Zambia is to provide instruction,
resources, and opportunity for the people from the shanty town to grow their
own food. (2) The second reason that we have started the project is to
operate a training center for interns and students from Northwest College, who
have completed a degree in Ecointensive Biology. (3) The third reason is a
research venture in cooperation with the Zambian Department of Agriculture. We
are planning to research native species of vegetation, and attempt to restore
those species to garden production. Most of the native species have been
replaced with Western species during the British colonial occupation. Many of
these Western species have depleted Zambian soil and are adding to the
environmental destruction of the country and the poverty and starvation of its
people.
Our "ecointensive" technologies are a spin-off of John Jeavons and Alan
Chadwick's biointensive gardening. We employ the double-dig process, with
organic ammendments for soil structure and fertilization, complementary
planting, integrated pest management, water conservation techniques, etc.
Further, we include tilapia and livestock production for integration with the
gardens. One development that I made this past summer was the utilization of a
30 foot high termite mound. The veins of termite waste are incredibly rich in
nitrogen, so we restructured the termite mound creating a moat for tilapia and
gardens on the termite mound, on the edge of the moat, and projecting from the
mound. It looks sort of like a wagon wheel from the air. It caught a great
deal of attention from the people there, and we had an excellent response from
the people wanting to participate in the project. It has also proven to be
quite handy, in that we water and fertilize the garden from the fish pond, and
we feed the fish straight from the garden waste. We are in the process of
developing a chicken coop. We will let the chicken loose during the day to
take care of the insects in the garden, as chickens will eat up to 50% of their
diet in insects. Enough said.
Any questions?
Chad Kruger
S & S Aqua Farm wrote:
> At 04:29 PM 1/28/98 -0800, Chad Kruger wrote:
> We are presently consulting an ecologically-based food
> >raising project in the African nation of Zambia.
> >
>
> Could you comment further on this project? Does it involve multiple crops,
> methods, and what is the primary purpose?
>
> Just curious.
>
> Paula
> S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
> Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
.------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------.
| Message 5 |
'------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------'
Subject: Re: African project
From: S & S Aqua Farm
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 19:44:49 -0600
At 10:44 AM 1/29/98 -0800, Chad Kruger wrote:
> Our "ecointensive" technologies are a spin-off of John Jeavons and Alan
>Chadwick's biointensive gardening. We employ the double-dig process, with
>organic ammendments for soil structure and fertilization, complementary
>planting, integrated pest management, water conservation techniques, etc.
>Further, we include tilapia and livestock production for integration with the
>gardens. One development that I made this past summer was the utilization
of a 30 foot high termite mound. The veins of termite waste are incredibly
rich in nitrogen, so we restructured the termite mound creating a moat for
tilapia and gardens on the termite mound, on the edge of the moat, and
projecting from the mound. It looks sort of like a wagon wheel from the
air. It caught a great deal of attention from the people there, and we had
an excellent response from the people wanting to participate in the project.
It has also proven to be quite handy, in that we water and fertilize the
garden from the fish pond, and we feed the fish straight from the garden
waste. We are in the process of
>developing a chicken coop. We will let the chicken loose during the day to
>take care of the insects in the garden, as chickens will eat up to 50% of
their diet in insects. Enough said. Any questions?
>Chad Kruger
Bravo!!! - Please let us know how the project continues - what a wonderful
use of integrated systems.
Paula
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
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