The truth about the Aquaponics Gardening Course

Here is a review of the course that I had taken this winter. Its a nice and easy course, yet very informative.  I would like to take further in depth training at one of these facilities to have hands on training.  This lecture gives all the basics that one should know before getting into the aquaponics. I think aquaponics is very rewarding at the end of the day when you sit back and see what you have done and how a well tuned your system is and can be.

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here is the link

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My Favorite Gardening Sites!

Below are a couple very handy sites.  This first site calculates when to plant 

http://awaytogarden.com/when-to-start-seeds-calculator/

This site sends you an email to remind you to plant seeds and tells you when its okay to transplant the seedlings.  There is also an option that shows you how many of each vegetable to plant in the garden.  Its easy to create a plot of your garden no matter what shape or size.

And as if that were not enough you can keep the seasons scheduled as plants are started and replaced!

http://www.smartgardener.com/

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Container Gardening

Wicking Barrels 

My plywood wicking beds

This is the best video Ive found about wicking beds

Soil-less Gardens - Aquaponics/Bioponics

The video above shows my systems.  Both have been through a variety of configurations over the past year.
Here is a link to my what I believe to be the Perfect Aquaponic System 


I have come to prefer Bioponics, and Hydroponics over Aquaponics, but they are all very similar.  

While the concept of fish and plants creating a symbiotic and sustainable nutrient balance appears to take care of itself; my experience has shown that it may take well over a year for Bioponic and Aquaponic systems to mature.   

My results were mixed, but the grand success of others keeps, and the ease of propagating in soil-less gardens keeps me in the game.  My experience has been documented on my Aquaponic Blog .

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12 volt lighting for Aquaponics Green house

This is my 12 volt lighting option that I am trying. It seems to work pretty good.




    The Camera didnt catch the lighting very well. but I can go into my green house any time and it is alternative power in case power outrages. It keeps all pumps going in my aquaponics.

lit  up more than enough to see by and feed my fish.The  12 volt lights and fans stay on all the time. so I never have to turn switches on or off.It is run off my solar panel back up system.  Its

    I have replaced most of the 12 oz bottles to the coke bottles without lables. seem to do very well.

The LEDs are bought off of ebay for $4.00  for 20 of them. I placed 5 in each bottle. Pretty sure you can buy lights already made for cheaper but It was an idea I had to see if it worked, and I am very happy with them, oh and there is different colors now so if you want to build grow lights the same way, I am sure it would work pretty good.

    My fish likes them ( or not lol) sometimes I come in late from work, and it is nice to just go in to check on things and feed them.

 I use pvc fittings to encase the wire and hold the mouth of the bottle. I will be running a long series of  pipe and fittings from the top of the green house.  Easy enough to glue or ziptie the bottles into the fittings.

Hope you like and share my post.
Thanks and remember, simple is easier and funner~!

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Green onions and Leeks for aquaponics

   Who doesnt like the onion class of vegetables?

   I first tried some cuts of green onions. It was soooo simple. I used the tops in what ever I was cooking that night and then I placed the bottom of the bulbs in a net pot with expanded clay and within the next day I seen growth. You amazingly cut the same green onions every 2 to 3 weeks. And even sooner if you like the small ones. The only problem that I have is they grow so quick and absorb the water also if you dont cut them in a reasonable time they will fall over. The green onions get very big around. I usually juct cut a few bunches when I harvest and what I dont use I cut and freeze.

 
   Then I tried the leeks the same way. And yes I know usually folks want the white part of the leeks.
Well maybe so, but try some of the green part diced up like a regular onion and you will see its a gold mine. Just cut what you want when you want. And they grow very fast too. I have bags full in my freezer so that when I need a lil onion, this is what I use. Does well in a dip too. Growing Leeks in Aquaponics is definitely one of my top to grow.

   And After doing an experiment with chives, Growing chives in aquaponics works pretty good too. They take a lil extra room, because they spread out, and if having the choice I prefer the net pots over the grow grips. The chives dont seem to get as wet on the bottom in the et pots. But all in all thay produce very well and after cutting it all back to put in freezer. I would say within just a couple weeks maybe 3 they are ready to harvest again.

     Growing all these onions is such a great addition to your basic lettuce and basil plants. And they are hardy in most temps. They do like a lot of light but if not they just stay a smaller version longer.

Give them a try. I think you will like it.

Oh and please support The ASC MAgazine. Its for sustainable foods for now and the future

   

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