Aquaponics

This past weekend SLI hosted an Aquaponics course, led by Max Meyers from NorCal Aquaponics. It was one of the most packed classes I've seen - every intern + a full classroom of students!  Looks like word is getting around about what an incredible growing system Aquaponics is.

Aquaponics merges Aquaculture, the cultivation of fish/aquatic animals, with Hydroponics, the growing of food in water (no soil).  The result is a closed loop system generating one of, if not the most, efficient and sustainable food production systems in the world.

How does it work?  Simply speaking, with the help of numerous bacteria living symbiotically with the fish in the tank, the fish byproducts (ammonia, excrement), are digested by the bacteria and ultimately converted into nitrates - nutrients plants need to grow. The plants absorb the nitrates, which also cleans the water for the fish.  A lovely system living in harmony. It's incredibly energy and water efficient too - much more so that conventional farming.

Since this system doesn't require soil, it can easily be implemented in urban areas - and with the demand of food ever increasing and prices going up, it is an excellent way for families with limited backyard growing space to produce their own food.

Bok Choy grown via Aquaponics

What I found fascinating is that this growing method was used centuries ago ... by the Egyptians!  They used natural water ways thought, not water tanks or a controlled environment.  But it was the same principle.  With our advancements since then, we can now have much more control over the process, managing water pH levels and nutrient density, and get even more bounty from our (relatively minimal) efforts.

Because of it's flexibiilty and efficiency, there's no telling how far we can take it - Max shared photos and videos with us about setting up aquaponics in skyscrapers, building the grow beds vertically, or growing in typically unused spaces such as flat rooftops or warehouses (my old apartment in SF would be perfect).  Imagine having your own "farmers market" upstairs? 

Plants up top, fish tank below

Vaughn has been super excited about Aquaponics since he discovered it a few months ago and got SLI a "starter kit".  We have everything that we need to set it up.  Now that all the interns have taken the course, it's next on our to-do list!