Friendly Aquaponics

Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines aquaculture (raising fish in tanks) and hydroponics (growing plants in water) so that both grow better. Waste products from the fish feed the chosen crops.

Susanne Friend and Tim Mann own a farm in Hamakua on the Big Island of Hawaii where they raise and cultivate all their organic produce.

http://www.friendlyaquaponics.com

Filmed and Edited by: Paul Csige

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Fish
• Organic
• whole foods
• costco
• food

[nervousordo]

Will aquaponics turn me gay?

[Bloodavenger3200]

@jetle25 Black soldier flies/duck weed/worms - So far this has seem to have been my observation as I am sifting through the information.

[jetle25]

Is there a way to grow your own fish feed instead of relying on buying bags? Sort of like growing your own compost.

[JohnLeeMD]

What with all you hear about the environment, the price of oil, the water drought (in Southern CA that they've said for years... people still water their lawns and hose off their driveways), I wonder the future of something like aquaponics. Is it just another fad like anything else? Or is it really something that we will see in this next decade, considering all the things I mentioned above.

[MsDrapper]

Great people, great vision, and they share it freely with everyone. God bless these folks!

[slfriend]

@fishhead00 - We drink our water all the time. We also test for salmonella, generic coliforms, fecal coliforms, generic E. coli, and E. coli serotype O157:H7. We have never had a water test that showed any dangerous or unacceptable level of any of the above.

Our systems are being fully fenced, as you bring up legitimate concerns about the introduction of foreign pathogens from mammals. Fish are not dangerous to humans, but other mammals certainly are.

[fishhead00]

Don't drink the water like the owner did. Since fish are cold blooded they do not carry the E. coli bacteria, but the system is out doors and warm blooded animals (rats, dogs, cats, humans) can introduce the bacteria to the culture system. Is it enough to harm a person... perhaps not, but I would bet the system still would test positive for E. coli. The fecal E. coli is the concern and I would guess level would probably be similar to acceptable levels for public swimming areas.

[mrfoltz]

Can this be done inside? I live in Canada we have a very short growing period, but I though if someone had a big Quonset with skylights?

[FriendlyAquaponics]

Backyard version is available on the website, for $50 instant download: requires 12'x12' space, $500 in materials, and about 16 hours to build. The backyard system will produce 40-60 pounds of organic veggies per month in warm weather, with about 2 or 3 hrs work per week, so it pays for itself completely in three or four months.

[FriendlyAquaponics]

WOW! Thank you Paul! Excellent vid short - very well done, and unbelieveably fast! YAYAYAY!