Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Cool!

Are they for pets Ryan? They should be able to help keep the weeds down!

Yeah Charlie! Well, we got them for pets and milk. They're awesome! I'll post pics in a bit

uh oh, milk goats, no vacations anymore, some one has to milk them every day now.

Oh it won't be a problem TC! I've got plenty of family and friends

Here they are! The breed is a Lamancha

Who will mysteriously vanish when it's time for you to milk the goats.

"Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends" - Cicero
(be grateful I didn't quote Elton John )

Cicero was mistaken and it will be easy to count your friends by finding out who is still willing to milk the goats .

- The goats are great Ryan

Just read through the whole thread and just want to say thank you! You do great work!

You just got a coffee snort this morning. Now I must go clean my computer's screen.

Was wondering how many days of freezing you get up there that you have a greenhouse. How much of it is more of a shade cloth in the summer? We get about 1.5 days average of 32 degrees here in Charlotte county.

Also, do nematodes not reside in AP systems? Just moved here less than a year ago and still learning how to grow things here, but summer is mostly out for soil farming because of nematode, fungal and other humidity related issues with most plants. Not sure how much the INTENSE sun affects growing either.

AP is definitely high on our growing wants here and trying to figure out shade and other needs for our unique situations here on the gulf coast of Florida

Thanks
Bobby
http://hotrockacreshomestead.wordpress.com

Sent from my S2 using Tapatalk 2

Lmao Scotty
Thx two step!
Get ahold of yourself Jimbo! For the fish!!


Bobby-In our area it really is more for shading, wind protection and bio security from insects/pathogens/outside influences.

It isn't quite a controlled environment but it definitely let's me manipulate it. I think we got 3-4 freezes last year and it was real mild but I've already had my car get iced over this year and the weather is weird in Fl so I don't doubt we will get some hard winters in the next few years. Tilapia wont like that

I've never had a nematode problem in Aquaponics but I've never analyzed a sample for micro organisms so not sure.

I will say that I have operated outdoor systems for nearly 10years now and they are fine on the smaller scale, in fact most of the pics in my threads are all grown outdoors here in central Florida. The difference here is that I will have limited time to work the system as I still have a day job(in ap lol) and I am going for an ultra premium product with consistent production...don't need any swamp critters or weather issues damaging crops and messing up my production schedule.

Love the goats Ryan, I hope to get some eventually but we will probably not be doing milk goats. I think I have to start with sheep because my fencing isn't up to containing goats yet.

I agree about the greenhouse here in central FL. For small systems I've actually done better without a complete greenhouse but having a cover and something to support netting is really handy to deter squirrels.

I'm not sure a greenhouse will really control swamp critters though. Good Luck.

Thanks TC! Hope everything is growing good for you!

Thank you Ryan,
Things are doing ok. Some plants are recovering from a couple issues a while back but I think things are starting to settle back in. I'm now starting to pin down some planting schedules.

Some day I'm wondering if you would be interested in having an intern or something. I think there is plenty I would like to learn from you, your produce pictures always look soooooo goood.

Awesome to here TC! I'd have you out there as an intern in a sec if I could but currently they won't allow interns (I get about 5 requests a week now!) because of some sort of liability issue. Never know what the future holds though

I am always available to answer questions through here or email (or in person if im actually around!)though

don't really want to intern at Green Sky or even AES so much.
Maybe once you get close to starting planting your farm, maybe you would want some assistance.

One major question has been niggling at me though and I think perhaps you might have some inside to at least one take on it.

How does the moon calendar affect planting in commercial growing operations?

a-it's all bunk don't worry about planting by the moon
b-just plant weekly and try to stick to good planting days but can't really worry about above ground/below ground.
c-plant any and every day and haven't noticed any variation in germination or growth rates regardless.
d-have noticed some variation that could be explained by the moon but not so extreme as to change the planting schedules.
e-the moon calendar definitely has a bearing on germination/growth and yield and shouldn't be ignored.

I tend to plant by the moon ... when i remember, or have time....

But when you're doing commercial hydro or AP.... then you end up seeding/planting virtually daily once you're in production....