Build an aquaponics system

[Pat McCotter]

Faith and Sustainable Technologies (F.A.S.T) shows how to make and maintain a combination aquaculture and hydroponic (aquaponics) system.

It is used to grow fish and vegetables in one integrated self-sustaining system. The aquaponics page is here. The PDF manual is available there.

It is a good site to explore, especially the 20MB library on community development in the third world.

[George Donnelly]

Thanks for this. I just found out about this concept and hope to try it soon.

[Kat Kanning]

I did aquaculture in the peace corps...was fun.

[Pat McCotter]

It (almost) can't get more local than growing at the grocery store

Are farmers markets not fresh enough for you? Is the urban farm down the street too full of dirt? Do you love the experience of walking up and down aisles of artificially lit food which the grocery store can offer but cringe at the miles and minutes it took for your dinner to reach you?

Then Agropolis may be for you!

It's the soil-free, pesticide-free, and travel-free concept grocery store, urban farm, and restaurant, all rolled into one. Peruse the produce growing up the walls and pick what you like, while you have visions of tilapia dinners dancing in your head -- and swimming in the aquaponic floor tanks under your feet. The high-tech team behind Agropolis envisions "a world where your food is not transported a single mile to get to you." The only food-miles will be between the store and your dinner plate.

The concept sounds a step or two down the line from Gene Fredericks' start-up, Big Green Boxes, which also aims to aqua-, hydro-, aeroponically grow food but in abandoned K-Marts. And just like when the spaces were K-Marts, you'll still get what you want "Right Here. Right Now."

[Kat Kanning]

Er....sounded completely horrifying.  Been trying to avoid genetically engineered frankenfood.

[Pat McCotter]

Yes, that part was bad, but the idea of the in-store aquaponics system was pretty cool.