Visionary Aquaponics with Maribou Latour: Recent Episodes
Maribou Latour
Visionary Aquaponics is a podcast created for you, the Aquaponics Entrepreneur, the Aquapreneur, and those who want to take their Aquaponics to the next level. This show delivers 3 episodes a week for you Aquapreneurs who want to learn more about the business side of Aquaponics. Each episode brings you a different Aquaponics expert with advice on various topics from backyard to commercial Aquaponics, passive solar design, integrated aquaculture, renewable energy, biochar, horticulture, fish breeding, organic hydroponics, farm design, systems thinking, the failures and successes of Aquaponics businesses, earth-sheltered greenhouses, and permaculture-integrated Aquaponics. We end each show with inspiration for future research and development, and the #1 tip for the Aquaponics entrepreneur.
Today's guest is Reid Larson, founder and chief science officer of PolyGuarden, a company offering full-spectrum protection for both residential and commercial aquaponics with the mission of global implementation of aquaponics.
Listen in as Reid talks about the products and services they're offering including eco-friendly pest sprays, proactive vs. reactive pest sprays, and Solution 3 plant supplements for root development. Reid further discusses neem extractions and dual root zone aquaponics where you get to plant on soil on top of the aquaponics media. Find out about certain products to stay away from, the use of macro and micronutrients, the need for water changes, and dealing with problems of readily available nutrients.
PolyGuarden has opened up consulting, designing, and monitoring systems. Reid further discusses the Google trends and the power of collaboration. More topics will be discussed including strengthening food systems, various systems they’re using, and some advancements in their monitoring systems.
Finally, Reid shares his insights into the best integration between aquaponics and permaculture with a touch on land restoration soil remediation.
In this episode, Steve Carrell, co-owner of Ponderosa Aqua Farm shares with us highly valuable information on setting up a commercial aquaponics system. Steve owns a construction company while his wife, Missy, is a long-time gardener. A dynamic duo, together they formed the Ponderosa Aqua Farm based in Spencer, Indiana. It was at that time when they started to question what's in their own food that sprung out their decision of living off of only what they ate. Transitioning from an in-home basement system to a commercial system, they went to Florida to attend the course at Green Acre Aquaponics.
While many commercial aquaponics growers recommend to start small, Steve takes the opposite direction believing that you have to have a certain scale in order to sell enough produce in order to be profitable. Listen in to what he has to say.
He also discusses things like underestimating the cost of going commercial (can be pretty overwhelming!) including labor and plumbing, the social impact of aquaponics, market research, as well as growing tomatoes, lettuce, and microgreens and dealing with clogged lines that brought death to their strawberries.
Steve talks about observing fish habits to know if your system is okay and discovering problems along the way. Other points of interest include gravity flow system, swirl filters, mineralization tanks, grow beds, as well as a look into their commercial system consisting mainly of deep water culture raft beds.
We also touch on heating issues, buying the greenhouse from Craigslist, and grow towers which they got from Green River Greenhouses in Indiana. Steve delves more into dutch buckets systems and how they actually work.
Today’s episode features an inspiring guest, Michael Kosko, a Science teacher at Al Raby School for Community and Environment in Chicago, Illinois. I got him on the show after being inspired by the article he was featured on, From Aquaponics to Robots: McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation disperses over 149,000 for school enrichment in the US and Sudan.
Michael has been teaching in Chicago public schools for nine years now. He currently focuses on teaching environmental science to freshmen and exploring it together for the past years. Receiving the McCarthey Dressman grant gives them the opportunity to expand the program and support their Career in Technical Education programs, specifically culinary arts, emulating a lab-to-table model where students grow their own food sustainably, learn how to prepare it, and eventually selling it in partnership with their Business Career in Technical Education program. They are the first school to combine horticulture and culinary model together in their programs,
Listen in as we discuss topics like nitrogen cycle education, instilling a love of science, and how his students are occasionally flooding the classroom. We also talk about bell siphons, classroom aquaponic units made from IKEA stands, plans for media beds and and systems cost.
We touch on things like system failures, filtration methods, and water testing as well as cycling duration and methods. Michael discusses business programs including business planning and marketing and integrating into the horticulture program and his love for science and kids! Lastly, get loads of information on bringing aquaponics in the classroom through funding and grants.
This is a fun episode as we chat with Diana Fitzsimmons and Amanda Jones from Wairakei Primary School in New Zealand, along with two of their students, Myles and Rose. Listen in as they talk about how they got into doing aquaponics, dealing with fish death, experimenting systems, getting ideas from Murray Hallam, and building an in-line system composed of media beds and clay beds.
They also touch on more related topics such as insulating tanks, solar water heating, and water testing using test tubes. Check out how they dealt with nitrite spikes and staying away from fish death.
Our guests today share about the teaching system in New Zealand, specifically focusing on aquaponics and how it addresses global issues where they intend to fit the aquaponic system setup into New Zealand's curriculum considering that aquaponics is a very new topic in the country so they hope to expand the knowledge on aquaponics throughout New Zealand.
More discussion on system maintenance during school breaks, the role of bacteria as the unseen good guys, as well as growing fish and experimenting things like raising eels, prawn, shrimps, and crayfish. Lastly, we talk about dealing with regulations, laws, and restrictions involving aquaponics.
This episode couldn't get any hotter as we welcome back Spencer Curry of FRESH Farm Aquaponics on the show. Listen in as he discusses TLUD stoves and all about the smokeless, double burn which is simply genius!
TLUD stands for Top-Lit Updraft Stove. Today's show is primarily on biochar, why TLUD stoves rock, and how to make one. We’re talking about TLUD stoves made out of paint cans, the concept of pyrolysis, the role of an oxygenless chamber, and creating biochar with tons of surface area for microbial habitat (whether you use biochar for aquaponics or soil). We also talk about how biochar works to adsorb nutrients and how that differs from absorption.
Listen in as Spencer comprehensively describes how a TLUD stove works, as well as some techniques to make it work properly. Other things included in the interview are rocket stoves vs. rocket mass heaters, liquid heat, chimneys, cinder blocks, how the combustion process works for the gases, and siphoning gas over combustion.
We also delve into the downsides of the TLUD stove, the cost of building it, eliminating contamination issues with pyrolysis, some various tests to check once everything is done, and observing safety measures. Get more biochar application tips from Spencer including combination materials and mixes, plants that like biochar and some pH changes with biochar.
Lastly, we touch on systems design including the use of biofilters, swirl filters, and pumps in deep water culture and vertical tower NFT systems.
In today's episode, we welcome Faris Farrag of Bustan Aquaponics who is stirring up an aquaponics movement in Egypt. A former banker turned aquapreneur, Faris is pioneering a movement in aquaponics while hoping to see a rising movement in the rest of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. His interest in aquaculture and food has led him to enroll at Dr. James Rakocy's course in the University of the Virgin Islands which further inspired him to stay in Egypt and break ground on the farm that he currently has today.
Listen in as Faris talks about the different produce they're growing in the system, how the market has responded to their aquaponic system, and keeping up with the momentum. Faris also brings into our discussion the ins and outs of organic certifications as well as reclaiming the language by putting the responsibility on producers using chemical products. We delve into the biggest issue concerning re-circulating fish farms and how to deal with it using biofiltration systems.
Faris describes the organic food movement in Africa in terms of traceability, the current trends affected by water scarcity, and a look into their permaculture-integrated farming, net-zero waste through efficient reuse and recycling of everything in the system through an amazing deep irrigation network
We also talk about renewable energies, passive solar water heaters, and heat diffusion system as well as the solar desalination process and purification through mirroring. Faris gives a comprehensive description of their actual UVI-based aquaponics system while using 80-90% less water than more traditionally land-based agriculture as a water-based system in the desert.
More topics on sand as excellent base media and composting, the need for integrating technology into natural farming systems, genetic modification and localizing seeds, sustainable fishing and value-added products, and having an al fresco dinner at Faris' pop-up restaurant which is just super cool!
Lastly, we talk about the marketing and the financial side of the business covering intellectual property design systems and online delivery service in Egypt. Really listen into some solid marketing and financial planning strategies and the importance of localizing the food movement amidst the challenges of logistics and bureaucracies.
Celebrating Episode 50!!! Creating a flourishing green space amidst busy Brooklyn, New York is just what Yemi Amu, co-founder of Oko Farms has successfully created. Established in 2012, Oko Farms is a commercial aquaponics and educational company. Its current biggest project is called the Moore Street Farm in Bushwick, a 2,500 sq.ft. farm where they raise a variety of fish such as channel catfish, tilapia, and goldfish as well as herbs like basil, shiso, mint, cilantro, and more and where they sell mostly to neighborhood restaurants. Education-wise, they have built solid partnerships with the Department of Education through a program that connects public school children to farms around the city as well as a partnership with a nonprofit housing developer, Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation.
Listen in as Yemi talks about her training with Morning Star Fishermen. Yemi illustrates their aquaponics system, initially growing plants in coir and later transferring them to rockwool as their growing media. Learn more about how Oko Farms is dealing with downy mildew issues through different techniques such as foliar spraying with compost tea. Other plants they’re growing include mint and the Japanese-herb shiso.
On the business side of things, Yemi talks about marketing and getting started in business with aquaponics, how they started small and getting funding through partnerships with different entities such as the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, Green Thumb, Home Depot, Build It Green, New York Restoration Project, and The Awesome Foundation.
Lastly, Yemi touches on creating value-added products, licensing (they actually only make products that don't require licenses), what products fall under the 20-C exemptions, and the value of developing relationships in the community to reduce your need for getting loans.
This is Part 2 of the interview with Dr. Nate Storey of Bright Agrotech, makers of the ZipGrow Towers. In this episode, Nate talks about the big impediments to newbie vertical farmers and why Upstart Farmers was conceived. He also talks about the UpStart University, a learning-based community that offers video courses to self-driven students as well as the Jumpstart Farmers Program, which offers entry-level mentorship. Nate briefly discusses the different courses they offer at the UpStart University including organic certification, lighting courses, business planning, and marketing.
Listen in to know more about farm planning & financing, grants, Kiva loans, and how much would you exactly need to get started. Learn about the importance of understanding your market and how to go through the planning process. Nate explains why ZipGrow towers are an answer to issues concerning live sales, robust farming, and light conservation. Check out why they also reduce smog in cities!
Dr. Nate further emphasizes the importance of understanding the money value of sunlight, addressing some light limitations, understanding the value of indoor growing based on local markets, and how LEDs can be cost-effective over time. Lastly, we talk about the role of live sales in food distribution and waste reduction, and why live sales totally rock!
Adam Brock is the co-founder of GrowHaus, a unique nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado. GrowHaus is a half-acre space encompassing different aspects of the food system under one roof including food production, food distribution, and food education, with a focus on revitalizing their local community through rebuilding food sovereignty.
Tune in to this episode as Adam takes us through the four-year process of building this unique community by connecting with the neighborhood as well as the different classes they have developed over time-- including Seed to Seed summer program for teens, micro business training, service learning, and even permaculture classes to the general public.
Adam walks us through the GrowHaus business model - its structure, the mission, and the funding of nonprofits. He gives us a brighter perspective on social entrepreneurship that combines non-profits & for-profits, in a non-traditional "regenerative" legal structure. Adam also describes the actual systems at the GrowHaus including a hydroponics farm, an aquaponics farm based on the UVI model of deep water culture system (DWC, or raft), and some of the crops they're growing, including a mini food forest with perennials and fruit trees.
Learn more about topics including the permaculture paradigm as key to their success, GrowHaus' community demographics, getting help from "cultural translators," and the permaculture application into their systems - the "Growasis," a tropical food forest, and a mushroom facility. Other things mentioned are the Permaculture Design Magazine, fertigation, and intersecting aquaponics with the food justice and permaculture movements as a powerful tool for food sovereignty.
A highly viable aquaponic setting right in the middle of the most polluted zip code in the entire state of Colorado - How has GrowHaus been able to successfully do this? Let's find out!
This is part 2 of the interview with Rebecca Nelson, co-founder of Nelson and Pade based in Wisconsin.
Nelson and Pade is currently working with the University of Wisconsin at the Aquaponics Innovation Center funded through an economic development grant to build a center for research. Along with Dr. Chris Hartleb of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (UWSP), they have developed a university level aquaponics course which is now running on its fifth year.
Listen in as Rebecca shares more about growing tilapia and walleye fish in their commercial systems as well as leafy crops, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, beets, cucumbers, and more! They grow tropical fruit trees too like bananas, limes, pomegranates, papaya.
Discover the challenges in designing aquaponic systems and growing an aquaponic business - combating misinformation and building your business upon validated research. Rebecca also shares some tips for successful commercial aquaponic farming including good business planning and understanding controlled environment agriculture as well as avenues you can take to get funding. Other topics include USDA regulation, Certified Naturally Grown, dealing with government permits, laws, and regulations, and things that curtail aquaponics as a viable business option.
Today's guest is Jennifer Boren of Noga Farms in Gordonville, Texas. A nurse by profession, she decided to be a stay-at-home mom to take care of her four beautiful children. Initially building their system from some recycled oil-filled equipment, she shares with us what they've done wrong with their first aquaponics system and how they fixed the issues along the way.
Listen in as Jennifer talks more about gravity-fed systems, ebb and flow vs. constant flood, using bell siphons vs. standpipes, as well as what's growing in their raft system and pea gravel media system. Discover how Nova Farms is growing peppers, strawberries, micro-greens, red lettuce, tomatoes, beans, eggplants, and edible flowers. Currently, they run an outdoor media system connected to the barn.
She also delves into topics like heat issues, lighting system, oxygen requirement, understanding water hardness or softness, off-gassing chlorine from water, cycling water; and salts and sodas for hardening the water. We also touch on filtration system (bio-bead filter, bird nets, and Matala filters) as well as valves for emergency measures and leakage issues. Lastly, learn about their business model primarily on selling tilapia for pond management.
Listen to this highly informative episode with Rebecca Nelson, co-founder and co-owner of Nelson and Pade in Montello, Wisconsin.
Their history in aquaponics goes back to the mid 1980s, beginning with commercial hydroponic production before transitioning to aquaponics in the early 90's upon learning about aquaponics from the University of Virgin Islands led by Dr. Rakocy. Rebecca partnered with John Pade and they've been building their business together for over 30 years now, with John's focus on the engineering side of things while Rebecca's expertise is in the science and biology.
In this episode, Rebecca shares her viewpoints on hydroponics vs. aquaponics as well as various aquaponic start-to-finish solutions including project planning services, the Aquaponics Master Class (people from 78 countries and all 50 U.S, states!), the Nelson and Pade Grower Program, and the Complete System Packages that meet every application from home production, research, and education up to large commercial projects. Rebecca and John are also the co-founding publishers of The Aquaponics Journal.
Rebecca additionally touches on science-based systems, controlled environment agriculture (CEA), integrated pest management (IPM), and fish diseases. Learn more about their systems as Rebecca talks about their raft system, Clear Flow Aquaponic System, ZDEP offline filtration, continuous loop raft system, clarifiers, NFTs, vertical spaces, and their partnership with University of Wisconsin Stevens Point at the 14,000 sq.ft. Innovation Center.
Tune in to Nate Storey of Bright Agrotech, the innovator of the ZipGrow Tower and a vertical farming expert. Nate started developing the ZipGrow tower while working on his Masters degree, and his PhD was focused on the equipment itself - developing it and testing it for production and for certain market models. Today, Nate sells towers all over the world reaching Australia, Africa, Asia, and all throughout North America and Europe.
Find out more about Nate’s brainchild including the ZipGrow tower design, his criteria for building it, the resulting components, and the learning curve for using it. He also talks about volumetric growing, aeroponic growing, some constraints to doing aquaponics, and understanding the ecosystem approach to red worms, mineralization and nitrification.
Nate also illustrates how to go about planting using the ZipGrow tower and harvesting methods as well as cleaning and maintenance of media. He additionally discusses growing cut & come again crops, live sales, integrating the ZipGrow tower into existing systems, and managing the system against mildew infestation (lighting, humidity, temperature, dark cycle-fruiting, biological products, burning sulfur, etc.)
Lastly, Nate talks about the other products they're developing at Bright Agrotech, and leaves us with a handful of great marketing tips (such as understanding our market, pricing, value of labor, and multiple income streams).
Let’s discuss sustainability education and grants! Lori de La Cruz is the Sustainability Project Coordinator at Mountain View College in Dallas, Texas where she provides hands-on learning projects and resources to the faculty to integrate sustainability into their curriculum across all departments. Listen in as Lori talks about her school’s Sustainability Program and how aquaponics plays a key part in it.
What started out as a community garden, the college fortunately received a federal STEM grant and a grant from Wells Fargo that allowed them to expand the whole food venture into building their aquaponics lab in an existing glass greenhouse in their campus.
Learn more as Lori talks about the challenges they encountered with their aquaponics system under intense Texan summer as well as closed loop hybrid systems, pillow stuffing as media for the vertical tubes, and other issues such as fungal infection and not being prepared for the enormous amounts of food that they grew. Other topics discussed are L-shaped tubes and air stones for constant aeration, water testing, off-gassing and other water treatment of city tap water, and the impact of our food system on the entire globe. Lastly, Lori gives us some ideas about grant funding.
Retired veteran Donald Holmes of Old World AquaFarm talks about growing root vegetables efficiently and how an efficient root system works, as well as his unique filter systems.
Donald currently lives on an 11-acre plot of land, 2 acres of which he’s built into the Old World AquaFarm. Aside from root crops, he is growing a couple hundred fruit trees, has a 2,100-sq.ft. greenhouse for research and a 2,400-sq.ft. barn for manufacturing. Established since 2008, Donald has been personally funding the Old World AquaFarm primarily for research and soon, taking on his plan to go commercial!
Listen in as we talk more about self-cleaning filters, systems and automation, fish tank system, "new nitrogen," and the advantage of using a long, narrow fish tank. He also discusses utilizing fish patterns to maximize their growth, efficient use of pumps to avoid clogging, aeration techniques, recycled plastic bottles as biofilter and PittMoss (an environmentally sustainable alternative to peat moss!). On the plant side, learn more about growing awesome tomatoes, honey coating for root growth stimulation, misting system, plastic rafts, and criteria for growing your own plants.
JD Sawyer, founder and CEO of Colorado Aquaponics and Flourish Farms in Denver, Colorado, talks about his business partnership with The GrowHaus, fusing a for-profit aquaponics farm with a non-profit food justice organization. Using what JD calls "business permaculture," Colorado Aquaponics operates Flourish Farms, a large aquaponic farm and workshops space inside the GrowHaus, an old greenhouse converted into a food access hub which is split between aquaponics, hydroponics, and a tropical indoor food forest. Additionally, Colorado Aquaponics donates 10% of the food produced at Flourish Farms to the GrowHaus, which then distributes affordable food baskets to the community, offers cooking classes in their community kitchen, sells to restaurants, provides flexible-use community programming space, composting, permaculture systems, education, and a mushroom-growing lab!
JD also talks about their systems design, what's growing in their farm, and risk management strategies such as decoupled systems and backup systems as well as monitoring systems, sensors, and devices for emergency situations. Learn about how they dealt with the Fish Apocalypse (aka "FishPocalypse") that struck their system! Other topics covered include nutrient solutions for plants (iron chelate, seaweed extract), feed rate, solid waste management, and the 3-stage filtration system and heat exchangers.
Growing in coconut husks: Damian Hinkson is the co-founder of Baird's Village Aquaponics Association in Barbados. Check out this episode and learn how Damian scaled his aquaponics system from a thousand gallons to 10,000 gallons in an effort to promote aquaponic food production to the community. Damian shares about doing aquaponics with very limited resources on an island, use of coconut husks as a medium for plant roots, and some challenges that he had to overcome. He also talks about seeding and how he basically set up the system in a way that prevents him from constantly flooding the system.
In this episode, you will learn more about the 3 categories of people doing aquaponics, circular tanks and sump tanks, drying time for beds, compost teas, molasses, venturis and low-density systems, wicking beds, water lettuce for filtration and more!
Check out the interesting things Damian is doing with no water testing and no aeration yet he still has managed to successfully run a commercial aquaponics system with low operating cost. Plus, know more about Damian's up-coming project to turning his 10,000-gallon system into a 30,000-gallon system!
This is part two of the interview with Damian Hinkson of Baird's Village Aquaponics Association in Barbados. Creating a 10,000-gallon aquaponics system supported by a U.N. grant, Damian openly delves into the topics of building connections as well as various aquaponics resources to help you get to the next level. He also talks about automating aquaponics systems, transporting modular systems, and open source systems. As our conversation flows, Damian shares his insights into solar power and windmills, bio-dome, society's sustainable way of feeding itself, raising fish in an urban setting, organic pest management through aloe vera and fermenting culinary herbs, fermented barley, decoupled systems, treating plant diseases, and rainwater systems.
Living in south of Brisbane, Australia, Murray started doing Aquaponics 10 years ago and up till now he continues to create aquaponics systems for people and give trainings in various places. Check out this episode to learn more about media beds, rafts, hybrid systems, and the challenges in building aquaponics in 3rd world countries.
He talks more about biofertilizers such as compost teas and vermiculture, chelated iron, seaweed extracts and giant kelp powder, growing tomatoes, handling nutrient deficiencies, calcium carbonate, dealing with pH levels, and potash. He also expounds on various systems like the INDY 23 system, decoupled systems, and CHOP 2 system. We further delve into the topics of self-sustainability vs. community sustainability, interdependence vs. independence, protective cropping, growing bananas, Jerusalem artichokes, grains, and fruit trees.
Lastly, Murray touches a discussion on aquaponics as a business, creating multiple income streams, and a few good reasons many commercial aquaponics systems fail plus the main reason small businesses fail and some ways to get funding. Watch out for Murray's webinars soon!
Growing lime in da coconut!!!! In this episode Damian shares with us how people are his driving force to pursue aquaponics, his own definition of it and how it has changed how his community thinks towards farming. He also talks about how he got a grant from the United Nations to create an aquaponics system in Barbados and how he uses coconut HUSKS as his organic media. Learn more about growing lime trees and get a better understanding of how decoupled systems work. Also find out how Damian categorizes people in aquaponics under three types, what beginners need to learn from about aquaponics, funding and setting up community aquaponics, and why Damian thinks farming is not for everyone! For a country such as Barbados that basically imports almost everything in to the island, getting the local people involved in aquaponic farming and getting the word out there are some of Damian's biggest contributions to the island.
This is an update on Maribou's aquaponic and podcasting travels, podcast publication dates, website development, ratings and reviews, blog, and hashtag contest! If you like the podcast and want to move aquaponics forward as a movement, please leave a rating and review in iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/visionary-aquaponics-maribou/id987950467 We love you! Thanks for listening to the Visionary Aquaponics podcast!
“What can you do today that’s gonna get you one step closer?” said Kate Wildrick--who used to own and operate a town in Oregon--to Aaron Imhof, a self-taught innovator…This is a truly inspiring story about how these two people met after the nightmare economic crash of 2009, the trials and tribulations of surviving while living frugally, and how this gave birth to an idea to create a center for sustainable solutions and whole systems education--all the while having only limited resources and pushing through the fear of “not knowing." This story isn’t just about aquaponics, it’s about innovations shared with the community, systems thinking, building connections, sourcing community knowledge and applying it in a mutually beneficial way, and finding ways to bring the dream alive for all. Kate and Aaron’s vision for Ingenuity Innovation Center at St. Helens, Oregon, is to be “a community-supported innovation center that is focused on building sustainable solutions using an open-source platform. We are about connection, creation, and collaboration. We believe that together we can solve our world’s most challenging issues by igniting our own inner spark of passion.”
Listen as they talk about what inspired them in this vision and how they got here, from Murray Hallam's CHOP-2 system, getting land they didn't initially have, and finally making a 1,500 sq.ft. greenhouse out of re-purposed materials and resources. Kate and Aaron also reveal how they became partners with Murray Hallam, the "Godfather of Aquaponics," as well as what's in store at the up-coming training classes, revolving around Murray's INDY23 system: a hybrid system with media beds, deep water culture, and wicking beds using the CHOP-2 method. They also share with us Murray Hallam's "legacy plan," a curriculum on aquaponics that is set to revolutionize aquaponics today. Part of that is building a new greenhouse with a bubble wrap-style covering that can last up to 30 years and which will be one of Ingenuity Innovation's two R&D sites. Learn more about the 4-day Living the Dream: Commercial and Small Farm Aquaponic Training Seminar, how they're weaving in B Corps into aquaponics, and how they're bringing in the change-makers together in order to build the connections needed to support other local aquaponic projects. More topics around cool technologies such as spa heaters, solar hot water cells, solar PVs, hydrosonic pumps, automation, and Raspberry Pi (a credit card-sized computer!) as well as community applications such as the Adopt-A-Grow Bed program. We also talk about a disaster that annihilated all their fish instantly, and unique business models that could change the future of aquaponics!
Located in Half Moon Bay, San Francisco Bay Area, California, Ouroboros Farms carries out its mission to partner with nature by combining the principles of aquaponics and permaculture to bring to customers the freshest, healthiest, chemical-free produce on the planet! Ken is the founder and owner of 3-year-old Ouroboros Farms. Jessica is part-owner of Ouroboros farms and working there since it started, with a background in soil farming and hydroponics on a hobbyist level. She also has experience with medicinal herbs. Listen up as they talk about how they started up with a 20,000-gallon farm! They discuss the different kinds of plants and fish they're growing, their various distribution channels, the online grocery store they sell through (a great tip for future aquaponic growers!!!). They also describe their use of channel catfish, their top-selling crops, hybrid UVI systems, biochar, and the constant drain method they use for growing and selling hops (which are drier-loving plants). Listen as we also talk about their market research process, starting with 121 varieties of lettuce to see what grew best under different seasonal conditions, how they found what people wanted, and what they could have done in hindsight in terms of sales! Also checkout other challenges they've dealt with: water quality, light, temperature, location, and marketing issues. They talk about what not to do when running a commercial aquaponic system, how you can effectively sell to your distribution lines, food processing laws, and permaculture practices they've integrated into the farm such as beneficial insect hedges, rainwater collection, vermicompost, wormcastings, compost teas, and EM (effective microorganisms!), as well as all the other value-added products they're selling in the retail space right next to their greenhouse! Check out more at http://www.ouroborosfarms.com
Listen to Part 3 of my talk with Rob Torcellini of Bigelow Brook Farm. What differentiates Rob from other innovators, how Rob responds to some negative comments, the cost related to setting up a backyard greenhouse and aquaponic system, expanded shale, liners, how to set up portable systems, deep water beds, and supplemental feeding such as salvinia, duckweed, scrap lettuce, and insects. We also talk about how Rob has automated his aquaponic system (which is a hot topic right now!) including automated 24/7 fish feeder, vents, and what type of cylinders you need to stay away from. He also talks about red wigglers, swirl filters, and mineralization tank for capturing and processing solids. Also find out how a swirl filter is different from a radio flow filter and discover which one is better. More topics such as longevity of lettuce with live roots on, food safety, value added products, and food safety laws. Subscribe to Rob’s YouTube channel on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnSxSWSpUWwHpr_2WKIF9Xg
An agriculture scientist turned urban farmer, teacher, and aquaponics entrepreneur in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. George Brooks talks about aquaponics as a disruptive technology, and how we’re now at a tipping point in the "diffusion of innovation." Find out how aquaponics can and should be used as a disruptive technology to change the world! Listen in as Dr. George talks about how inspiration from his parents, a preacher and a scientist, led him to become a leading expert on fish farming for the University of Arizona, traveling widely throughout the state showing people how to grow fish. He also talks about participating in a program called The O’odham Oidak Demonstration Fish and Prawn Farm on teaching kids how to grow food in a juvenile correction facility in 2001. Listen to his opinions on the cost of aquaponics technology and how it should be cost-effective as well as how aquaculture and aquaponics are really the same, giving us a closer perspective on what aquaponics really means and how similar they are to wetland filtration systems. Find out how Mesa Community College got the grant for environmental stewardship from the EPA where they are partnering with the Roosevelt School District and RighTrac for growing healthy food and using aquaponic techniques as a foundational model for STEM education. Also check out the different kinds of systems at the college including NFT, media bed, and deep water culture systems. See how aquaponics is helping these students not only learn about growing food, science, math, technology, and engineering, but also the business aspect of aquaponics so they can literally go and create small businesses in the future. Learn why we need to find a simpler and less costly way to build aquaponics systems on a larger scale while still being able to produce an abundance of food to supply the demand, and how generating more public data is essential to bringing about aquaponics as a disruptive technology that will change our food marketplaces, water consumption, health, transform food deserts, and re-skill jobless people! Lots of awesome resources for you in this episode! Please visit http://nxthorizon.com for more info on Dr. George Brooks.
Check out Part 3 of this interview with OU812 Aquaponics' Carlos Villamar. Never a dull moment with Carlos as he simply has a knack for unique experimentation. We talk about fish and prawn breeding accidents, behaviors, and habitat needs, along with catfish motels, and black soldier fly hotels! He has practically documented everything and taken an enormous amount of pictures and videos that cover every single thing he's done with aquaponics in the last 2 years. Tomatoes, peppers, kale, squash, corn, beans, zucchini, corn, BSF larvae, worms, mushrooms, catfish, tilapia, and prawn are all part of this delicious and fascinating journey! Listen in as Carlos and I talk about breeding tilapia, pregnant corn, sensors like Seneye and Osmobot for greenhouse monitoring, $20 underwater cameras, and building portable passive solar Chinese greenhouses. Finally, we discuss the many benefits of growing BSF larva (some will surprise you!), how you can turn BSF larva into biodiesel, and tilapia mating patterns. Also learn about some patent issues and protecting yourself from large companies! Subscribe to Carlos' YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcXGmO_1xthxQO3OXbL5Ug
Listen to Part 4 of my talk with Kieran Foran, co-founder of Fresh Farm Aquaponics in South Glastonbury, Connecticut, whose goal is to teach communities how to feed themselves. Kieran and I talk about expenses for greenhouse design, minimal viable steps to improve and grow better, budgeting and system limitations you need to consider, portable designs, and aquaponics systems as part of your income stream, agricultural zoning and other restrictions.
Listen up as we discuss things like growing fish, turtles, ducks, and other creatures, how aquaponics existed thousands of years ago, as well as topics like wicking beds, expanded shale, biochar materials, manipulating oregano growth for culinary and medicinal purposes, essential oils, building mini-systems that expand from there, and future smart houses!
For more info on Fresh Farm Aquaponics, check out http://freshfarmct.org
This is Part 2 of Carlos Villamar's journey into backyard aquaponics, which he started 2 years ago. Stay tuned as we talk about Carlos' replication of the radio flow separator design plus cone bottoms, stilling wells, geyser pumps, mechanical filters, biological filters, swirl filters, and other awesome aquaponic components! He also shares about growing duckweed, rye grass, and omega-3 fatty acids. We talk about greenhouse design using Thermashields, triple-glazed polycarbonate, PVC, and recycled structures. Discover how Carlos dealt with some overfeeding issues (this you've got to listen to!) as well as RFF going anaerobic, how the duckweed turned out as an incredible polishing filter, and how he makes sure that the babies are not being eaten by the adult fish. Thanks to the mushrooms for the micro-filtration! This is a super fun conversation filled with fun experimentations, freshwater crawfish, mixed martial arts, and automatic fish feeders. Find out why he came up with the name OU812 Aquaponics, how his entire aquaponics ecosystem is evolving and finally, meet Buddy the Goldfish! You can find his albums at OU812 Aquaponics here: https://www.facebook.com/Ou812Aquaponics or here: https://www.facebook.com/IAMJackal/media_set?set=a.10151910874281832.698581831&type=3'
Part 3 of my talk with Kieran Foran, co-founder of Fresh Farm Aquaponics in South Glastonbury, Connecticut, whose goal is to teach communities how to feed themselves. Listen as we talk about solids removal, media bed as biofilter, creating a third income stream, and biochar aquaponics and inoculation. We also discuss the business side of aquaponics touching on finding the right business partners, collaborating in business together, how they sell to restaurants, creating contracts and determining deliverables, and moving to a more wholesale model. Discover the importance of joining a business incubation program like the reSET and finding resources you can use for your business. Kieran explains the concept behind minimal viable product (MVP) and identifying an MVP for your aquaponics system. We also talk about how critical customer discovery is as well as building a test system before stepping up your scale. Listen up for more about aquaponically growing niche foods, flowers, and medicinal crops, the challenges of growing edible fish and ornamental fish, and more! For more info on Fresh Farm Aquaponics, check out http://freshfarmct.org
In this Part 3 of the interview series, we talk about choosing the right kind of fish to save energy during winter, energy-efficient greenhouse design for summer and wintertime, what crop to design your system around, Asian greens for commercial growing, and optimal temperatures for bacteria and certain plants. Discover interesting things about rainbow trouts, river chubs, and more! Find out which fish are more susceptible to diseases based on their scales, taking special care when moving fish, creating current in your system, what kinds of food should you feed your fish to boost the omega-3's, and more on the fish food industry and supplemental feeds. We also discuss about general ratios for your system, metabolic rates, and food conversion rates. Adam describes how easy aquaponics is yet how much artistry, detail, and practice should be involved in producing maximized results! Other topics include legal issues on fish growing, different states' white list and black list, licenses and permits. Discover what challenges Adam encountered in his system, how he dealt with it, educating and training classes, writing business plans, and how they still continue to flow along with the current of the aquaponics movement!
Part 2 of my talk with Rob Torcellini of Bigelow Brook Farm. We talk about cut and come again perennials, strawberry towers, wicking trays for seeding, and the massive die-off that happened in Rob's greenhouse that we can learn from. Hear about the rocket mass heater failure, growing banana trees aquaponically, using solids from mineralization tanks for fruit tree fertility, grafting, and the biggest barrier to mainstreaming aquaponics. Listen as we also discuss "Aquasheisters," aquaponics for drought and water conservation, Food Safety Issues and Organic Certification, as well as building customer relationships in your local community.
Adam Cohen is the founder of Green Phoenix Farms, an aquaponics business in Dallas, TX that offers aquaponics trainings to the public, YouTube videos, custom systems design and installation, and support for local non-profits and schools using aquaponics as a tool for both income-generation and education. This is Part 2, where we talk about crops and system design. Adam discusses growing for variety rather than volume, and how root crops don't grow well in heavy media beds. We talk about native fish and how tilapia are not going to save the world. "As long as you adjust what you're doing to match your conditions, your fish will always be fine." Other topics: greenhouse design, rainbow trout, river chub, and wicking bed experimentation for root crops. How to decide what to grow in what kinds of systems: media, raft, NFT, and vertical. Strawberries!!!! Best crops to grow commercially--what the local market wants! We also talk about market research and developing relationships with local restaurants. Food processing and value-added require permits. Energy efficiency, dissolved oxygen, and aeration. Learn why Adam doesn't use bell siphons anymore!
Adam Cohen is the founder of Green Phoenix Farms, an aquaponics business in Dallas, TX that offers aquaponics trainings to the public, YouTube videos, custom systems design and installation, and support for local non-profits and schools using aquaponics as a tool for both income-generation and education. Having a background in aquaculture and marine biology, Adam began his passion in aquaponics as a math and science teacher looking for project-based learning to give kids hands-on experience in problem-solving and "watch the light turn on" in their eyes. Green Phoenix Farms has helped 12 schools in 2 years adopt and build aquaponic systems as part of their curriculum development, in what Adam refers to as “STEAM” education, a phrase “shamelessly borrowed" from Glenn Martinez of Olomana Gardens in Hawaii. (Instead of STEM education, STEAM stands for Science Technology Engineering Agriculture and Mathematics). Green Phoenix Farms is also helping local non-profits adopt aquaponic systems as a way to generate 60 to 70% of the revenue they need to run themselves instead of being dependent on donations or outside grants and income. Vote to help GPF get a $100,000 grant from Mission Mainstreet Grants here: https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/b/43473 This will allow GPF to act as a 3rd party donor to the community and get more aquaponic systems built in schools, non-profits, and NGOs serving the local community with food, revenue, re-skilling and training for the homeless, and more! This is Part 1 of a series involving talk about aquaponics in schools, fish, greenhouses, system design, and business skills!
Carlos Villamar started his backyard aquaponics system 2 years ago and has a lot to share about his journey! An electrical engineer and patent attorney by trade, he had never been a gardener in his life before aquaponics. Listen as we discuss geyser pumps, designing for redundancy, external bell siphons, black soldier fly larvae composters, and how he got his system up and running from idea to plants in less than 6 months. We talk about his choice to make his system modular, his mistakes with overstocking the system with fish before it had cycled, problems with algae and how he solved them, and even sensor apps to collect data like pH, ammonia, and water temperature to your phone. He also discusses the lessons learned about building a greenhouse AFTER building his system, and how he converted a carport into a Chinese solar-styled greenhouse using Thermashield and triple-paned polycarbonate. Find out what tool he used to determine where to put his greenhouse to maximize Southern exposure for the best sunlight year-round. Finally, listen about how he grew pink oyster mushrooms in his aquaponic system! This is part 1 of his journey into backyard aquaponics. You can find his albums at OU812 Aquaponics here: https://www.facebook.com/Ou812Aquaponics
or here:
https://www.facebook.com/IAMJackal/media_set?set=a.10151910874281832.698581831&type=3'
A well-known pioneering aquaponics innovator, hobbyist, and Youtube contributer, Rob Torcellini is the founder of Bigelow Brook Farm. Listen as we discuss Rob's journey, trials, inventions, and experimentations: why he chose a geodesic dome for his greenhouse, or why a rocket mass heater, and topics including his modified bell siphon, greenhouse heating, and the different kinds of wood stoves he uses. We discuss his video series on YouTube, his experience with solar energy, and what the biggest barrier is from being a pioneering hobbyist to becoming a commercial producer, such as licensing, planning your greenhouse systems, and running your numbers. He talks about why you should diversify your business, the benefits of Grow Grips and why Rob invented these and other innovations, and his use of expanded shale for media beds. We discuss why he chose to grow Koi fish, the winter nitrogen cycle, and what crops grow best in his systems, including various types of tomatoes, culinary herbs such as thyme, oregano, sage, and parsley, as well as vegetables like green beans, celery and cucumbers. Discover which plant grows surprisingly well in an aquaponic system! Understand Rob's motto: "Slow and steady." Finally, learn what kind of beneficial bacteria he uses to deal with caterpillars, why he chose to grow June-bearing strawberries instead of ever-bearing strawberries... and which type of system is most ideal for growing strawberries! This is part 1 of a series with Rob. Keep your ears flexed for more! Check out his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/web4deb/videos
Part 2 of my talk with Kieran Foran, co-founder of Fresh Farm Aquaponics in South Glastonbury, Connecticut, whose goal is to teach communities how to feed themselves. Listen as we talk about the customer discovery process, vertical farming and hybrid systems, and finding specialty crops that make you stand out as a small producer in your local marketplace! We also talk about how to train crops growing out of your system onto the ground or on trellises like squash or beans, and what kinds of culinary herbs are most demanded by chefs in their local market research. We also discuss jacuzzi heaters, plumbing, and the quality of aquaponics produce. Bonus: Listen to discover which epoxy works for wood, plastic, and PVC!!! For more info on Fresh Farm Aquaponics, check out http://freshfarmct.org
Kieran Foran is the co-founder of Fresh Farm Aquaponics in South Glastonbury, Connecticut, whose goal is to teach communities how to feed themselves. Although both Kieran and Spencer had zero experience in farming or business 5 years ago, as fresh college graduates, they were inspired to make some personal life changes that then transformed into a successful aquaponics business. Listen as we discuss the lean startup approach to business, the "customer discovery" process, minimal viable products, and more! We talk about how to get into farmer's markets, what questions to ask your local market if you're getting into business to sell your aquaponics produce, state laws and zoning to research in your area, and designing systems for school curricula! Kieran is a fantastic resource, and this is just part ONE of a four-part series with him! For more info on Fresh Farm Aquaponics, check out http://freshfarmct.org
This interview is packed with hydraulic sex appeal! Eco-Machines are integrated ecosystems engineered to treat wastewater effluent, purify polluted waters, and harvest nutrients through a series of biodiverse aquaponic matrices. John Todd of John Todd Ecological Design is the son of Dr. John Todd, co-author of the book, From Eco-Cities to Living Machines: Principles of Ecological Design... an amazing book that sparked my journey through sustainable water systems years ago, before I ever knew what "aquaponics" was. In this interview, we talk about the evolution of Solar Aquatics and Living Machines (now called Eco-Machines) from the development of aquaponics to an integration of multiple systems using floating island Restorers, mycelial networks for mycofiltration, and value-added Nutrient Harvesting systems. This interview also touches on some case studies the John Todd Ecological Design company has worked on to restore contaminated rivers, ponds, and watersheds using their integrated biomimicry engineering. Eco-Machines removed 97% of the petroleum hydrocarbons in the Fisherville Canal in Grafton, MA... and 19 out of 20 pharmaceuticals, personal care products, antibiotics, and other contaminants from the waste-water at the Omega Institute! We talk about the importance of wetlands as hurricane buffers and natural aquaponic systems, our "planetary kidneys." And lastly, we discuss the power of polycultures, the multiple functions of algae, wastewater treatment on Sir Richard Branson's island, value-added nutrient harvesting, fertigation, and low-impact development strategies for dealing with drought in California. Packed with content on water filtration, absorption in the landscape, biodiversity, and watershed management!
From Age 6, Jean Paul "Beans" Nageri was already growing beans; thus, the nickname. Today, he is an Agripreneur in Uganda integrating different forms of sustainable agriculture, from dairy farming to agroforestry and growing organic foods, fodder and fruit trees. We speak about his current transition from aquaculture to aquaponics in a unique way that combines drip irrigation to plants grown in the ground, much like the ancient Egyptians used to send fish water to plants in ditches. We talk about creating value-added products, doing market research, the industries of cut flowers, smoked fish, and fruit spreads, and even how to make yogurt! This young agripreneur is thinking BIG in Uganda!!!
In a world where massive drought emergencies and soil degradation are striking communities at a rapid pace, aquaponics holds the keys to some amazing life-generating solutions. Listen to Esteban Garcia, Founder of Aquatech Food Support Systems. Wow. We talk about how aquaponics can jumpstart ecosystems, communities, and economies by creating more jobs, generating clean food, fish, and water, (using WAY LESS water than conventional agriculture) and even producing ENERGY! Vortex lighting systems, waterwheels, biofiltration, oxygen creation, underground aquaponics, survival, and the Prepper movement all fall into this amazing conversation!
In this episode, Liz and I continue our conversation on topics such as seaweed or kelp extract, duckweed, snails, prawn, malabar spinach, and the rooting hormone in willow trees for easy propagation of diverse plants. Liz also goes into some depth about the differences among fish types like tilapia, catfish, rainbow trout, mosquito fish, goldfish, and koi. We also discuss easy plants to grow in aquaponics that are "cut and regrow" types such as green onions, watercress, celery, radish, strawberries, and others! Listen for more wisdom from the co-founder of Genesis Clock Farm!
Victoria Kelley is the Editor-in-Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Aquaponic Survival Communities magazine, an online magazine sharing the stories of other backyard and commercial aquaponics growers, scientists, and permaculturists. This interview discusses the health benefits of aquaponics and gardening for kids with disabilities such as autism and other health issues. We also talk about some cultural and legal issues surrounding sustainable agriculture and localized farming. A powerful conversation!
Mike Oehler is the author of The Earth-Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book: How to Build an Energy Free Year-Round Greenhouse. In this fantastic interview, we discuss how to design and build the perfect greenhouse dirt-cheap by using gravity to warm your winter plants, effectively capturing and storing the sun’s heat, and cutting greenhouse heating bills 75% to 100%. We also talk about underground houses, designing to increase access to sunlight in tandem with greenhouses and uphill patios, and how to keep water out. Mike is THE earth-sheltered greenhouse guru!
In this continuing discussion with Liz Kim, we talk about all kinds of things related to permaculture and aquaponics: Frugal ways to start building your greenhouse, the integration of aquaponics with your backyard crops, black soldier fly larvae, the importance of pollinators, how chemical pesticides disrupt biodiversity and ecosystem health, as well as human health, and so much more. Other topics include sustainable greenhouse design, creating wind resistance for plant health, oxygenation via gravity, ventilation, greenhouse management, system diseases, and kelp emulsion. Liz Kim is the co-founder of Genesis Clock Farm in California, soon moving to Oregon.
In this episode, Paul and I talk about marketing strategies, differentiating your Aquaponics brand, value-added industries, educating the consumer, and using cooperatives as leverage in the business of Aquaponics. Paul Van der Werf is an Integrated Aquaculture Designer whose focus is on sustainable food production systems. His mission is to inspire, engage and encourage everyone with a strong interest in fresh, high quality food to embrace their desire to learn and enrich lives. He has over 15 years experience in agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture design, project development, delivery and management.
Learn about organic pest management, working with fish densities,and how to integrate aquaculture and aquaponics into the larger scope of organic farming. We talk about connecting the dots in the industry, from energy generation to field crops and “run to use.” Jesse and Molly of Imagine Aquaponics continue to share open-minded innovation and bright ideas for the integration of aquaponics and hydro-organics in the movement for food freedom and organic agriculture.
Listen up as we talk about commercial aquaponics, design and marketing, and the effects of aquaponic environments on health in Australia. Paul Van der Werf is an Integrated Aquaculture Designer whose focus is on sustainable food production systems. His mission is to inspire, engage and encourage everyone with a strong interest in fresh, high quality food to embrace their desire to learn and enrich lives. He has over 15 years experience in agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture design, project development, delivery and management.
Listen as we discuss backyard aquaponics in drought-plagued California with Liz Kim of Genesis Clock Farm. We talk about the lazy farmer's way of growing food, black soldier fly larvae, wicking beds, chickens, vermiculture, wheatgrass biofilters, and selling produce in CSAs. Liz Kim is the co-founder of Genesis Clock Farm, where she teaches sustainability and aquaponics, with the goal of spreading food and water security for all.
Listen as we discuss a different application for aquaponics using organic hydroponics with high-density aquaculture, decoupling, and permaculture design for field crops. Jesse Hull and Molly Stanek, of Imagine Aquaponics are designers, experimenters, and consultants in the aquaponics, organic hydroponics, and integrated aquaculture fields. Imagine Aquaponics consults both nationally and internationally.
This is Part 3 of my chat with Tim. Here we talk about systems thinking, nutritional content and freshness of aquaponic produce, soil remediating services, permaculture applications, effective microorganisms, and tomatoes! Tim Mann is the co-founder of Friendly Aquaponics, in Honokaa, Hawaii. Friendly Aquaponics is one of the leading pioneers in the Aquaponics movement and the development of commercial, Deep Water Culture aquaponics. As the technical writer, builder, and developer of the Friendly Aquaponics farm, website, manuals, and greenhouse trainings, Tim is a wealth of information in commercial aquaponics, passive solar greenhouse design, tilapia breeding, and appropriate technologies that are energy-efficient and highly productive.
Sundown Hazen is a founding board member of SchoolGrown, Inc., a non-profit in Monterey, CA, dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture through advocacy, education, research, and service. Sundown works closely with founder Jon Parr to develop the organization and build a platform for communities and schools to enrich education, while providing pesticide-free produce to their local community. Listen up as we discuss social entrepreneurship through the makings of a blended non-profit providing food and educational services to students and schools, fundraising techniques, and practical aquaponic systems design.
Connor Jones is the founder of East End Eden, a Permaculture farm showcasing sustainable farm design and application in the east end of the Ojai Valley. Listen up as we talk about aquaponics and its applications to permaculture design, “closing the loop,” animal fodder, and propagating riparian trees. The folks at East End Eden seek to educate and inspire through their examples of landscape restoration and succession into abundance using permaculture ethics and principles. The farm offers a look into a future that can meet all the needs of humanity and the rest of the community of life by creating a cultivated farm ecology. With “earth care”, “people care”, and “fair share” in our hearts, minds, and all designs we can go forward indefinitely!
Tim Mann is the co-founder of Friendly Aquaponics, in Honokaa, Hawaii. Friendly Aquaponics is one of the leading pioneers in the Aquaponics movement and the development of commercial, Deep Water Culture aquaponics. As the technical writer, builder, and developer of the Friendly Aquaponics farm, website, manuals, and greenhouse trainings, Tim is a wealth of information in commercial aquaponics, passive solar greenhouse design, tilapia breeding, and appropriate technologies that are energy-efficient and highly productive.
Gary Koffler is on the SchoolGrown Board and the official “Aquaponics Evangelist.” He first started with aquaponics as an aquarist and automation expert who was pleasantly surprised when the overflow from fish tanks going to plants in the ground created an unexpected result, over 20 years ago. Listen up for info on the SchoolGrown project in CA, Ag-bots, and tips for both beginners and entrepreneurs!
Jesse Hull and Molly Stanek, of Imagine Aquaponics are designers, experimenters, and consultants in the aquaponics, organic hydroponics, and integrated aquaculture fields. Imagine Aquaponics consults both nationally and internationally.
Tim Mann is the co-founder of Friendly Aquaponics, in Honokaa, Hawaii. Friendly Aquaponics is one of the leading pioneers in the Aquaponics movement and the development of commercial, Deep Water Culture aquaponics. As the technical writer, builder, and developer of the Friendly Aquaponics farm, website, manuals, and greenhouse trainings, Tim is a wealth of information in commercial aquaponics, passive solar greenhouse design, tilapia breeding, and appropriate technologies that are energy-efficient and highly productive.
Maribou is a backyard aquaponics grower, permaculturist, and serial entrepreneur who seeks to spread information about integrating aquaponics and permaculture for the most productive, sustainable, healthy, and regenerative food and water systems in the world. In this podcast, she interviews the pioneers, activists, and entrepreneurs in the Aquaponics and Integrated Agriculture movement for food and water security. Her mission is to teach people, particularly aspiring entrepreneurs, how to start, grow, and profit from an aquaponics business while creating a huge impact in the world. That is, improving access to affordable, organic foods, increasing food security in urban food deserts, increasing water security in high mountain deserts, improving community health, and creating streams of income that didn't exist before. She envisions helping schools, hospitals, health centers, cruise ships, retreat centers, permaculture farms, ecovillages, kids camps, backyards, Native American reservations, and many types of organizations increase their impact through integrated passive solar aquaponic systems.
FRESH Farm Aquaponics in South Glastonbury, Connecticut started with a vision Spencer Curry had for high-quality, organic, and natural food grown locally, all across the world. He believes the urgency for food and water security is dire and that aquaponics presents the best opportunity for us all to have a secure food and water supply, free from pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and other chemical taints. Listen in as we discuss aquapreneurs, growing the growers, “Build-Alongs,” and biochar!