Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Somewhere on the forum I remember reading a comment (I think it may have been a post by Stevesmart) he thought it would be a good idea for his neighbour to have their own GB that could be plumbed to SS's FT. IMO an excellent idea that should be encouraged and utilised where possible (with the right neighbours of course) for the following reasons
# I think it is far easier to construct FT's than GB's (especially the gravel washing!!!) and it seems a lot of systems have undersized GB ratio to FT so encouraging neighbours to add GB's would be beneficial.
# Different crops could be grown and shared
# Set up costs could be lowered and even shared
# Would enable higher fish stocking numbers (and safer)
# Enables the system to be cared for by someone that has some knowledge and interest in AP if you want holidays etc
# Promotes and spreads the word about AP
# Improves your social capital
I'm sure there would be many other advantages and as previously stated it would only work with the right neighbours!
What do other readers think and has anyone tried this?
Unfortunately or fortunately I have no close neighbours

I think it is bloody brilliant
But my neighbours are to far away and I hate them...200 mtrs.
But if it were better or in the city/town

I have two close neighbors...... I dont offer a growbed, but I do give them produce when I have a little extra.....

they come by and watch the fish and check out the crops from time to time....they like to watch my progress on the re-building...

A few offerings make for good fence neighbors...

jT

My supply water AND my drain return, both run along my fenceline. I could supply three neighbors (or "outsource the nitrate processing" would be another way of wording it) easily if they are agreeable. And assuming I could explain it adequately.
I will have to start by producing from my own yard, and ringing the doorbell and handing over baskets of extra zucchini, eggplant & tomatoes... You know, start with the indisputable benefits and let them come up with the idea of asking for their own growbed... "Paging Dr. Sawyer! Dr. Thomas Sawyer please report to the fence line"

My plants won't grow cos my neighbours are stealing my nitrates.

i am just about to add on a few more troughs to my system, i need 3 but can only have them moulded in colour if i buy in multiples of 2's so i am going to offer it to the neighbour to put a trough on his side. he has older kids and his dad is forever pottering around their garden.... which then gets totalled by their 4 legged furry squealling ..THING. ... 2 holes in the fence... easily done i think.
my other neighbour loves the whole thing so i might push him in the AP direction. he is always leaving us bags of vege from his dirt garden and we are always hanging bits over the fence

What happens when the neighbour accidently sprays there gb with something bad. You come home to see all your fish floating.

my neighbours spoke to me 3 weeks ago regarding wanting to have their house sprayed for bugs etc... offered to buy tarps to cover my system just in case. they are more polite and smarter than the average bears, i am fortunate that they take everyone into consideration so them spraying something "bad" on the plants doesnt concern me. It wont happen.

You'll still have to take it into account if something goes wrong. Remember to check the other gb's etc. I've offered to fill the neighbours AP system with water from mine to kick start it but I like to have all the control over my system. Just remember to let them know what can be put onto plants in the AP system.

I think it's a pretty cool idea, I have some potted plant throwback from the 60's neighbors who may enjoy the antless dirtless, no stooping ap growbed stuff. Although explaining the fishless cycling may just slip my mind