Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Bit late in the day to be adding to this, but that's what happens when you browse!

John Seymour (from UK, now sadly deceased) once wrote in his famous Self Sufficiency book, that 5 acres of well drained land would suppply ALL needs for a family of four. He was, of course, factoring in the cow, sheep, pigs etc as providing meat and manure for the land. AP can't quite do all of that!! but you may be able to extrapolate from there and guesstimate accordingly.

BTW the book itself - if still available - is a wonderful way to spend those quiet evenings contemplating what might have/will be!!

This wouldnt work in my climate. The only system I have producing at the moment is the trout system. The other two are doing very little because it is constantly cold and the fish are not eating.

Since were adding to this old thread -

By extending the season with a greenhouse I've read that you can increase your vegetable production about four times what it would otherwise be. Even with a high tunnel you should add about a month on either end of the season.

Yea that term "self sufficient" really messes up trying to figure out how big a system needs to be.

If Self Sufficient means growing enough in season veggies to avoid ever having to buy in season veggies at the market and also providing enough fish to be happy with the amount of home grown fish you get to eat, then I would say Rupe's recommendation of the "Family system" is probably a good starting point.

If Self Sufficient means growing enough to provide for all your family's food/fiber and Feed needs as well as enough surplus to sell or trade to buy what else is needed and pay taxes, electric bills, other assorted bills, and insurance then I'm sure you need 5 acres at least (not that all of it gets used all the time since you have to have space to turn around and have a house and all.)

good point TC

Increase production by 4 times sounds a little extreme.. I guess it may depend on what area you live in, you would have to be in a pretty bad area weather wise.

I have to agree with you EB. On the other hand, some crops only begin producing near the end of the growing season so I suppose it depends on the crop/crops you are growing as well. You could get a lot of tomatoes late in the season and even more if you extended it in both the Spring and Fall. I live in a relatively mild but cool climate and I think I could way more than quadruple my tomato production using a greenhouse. Squash and melons might be similar. Any crop that can keep on producing and doesn't require you to harvest the entire crop then plant again would be this way.

Another thing to think about is how the increased temperature affects the growth rate of the plants and their potential yield.

In regards to food gluts when things are in season and then going without during the non-growing season I think the smartest thing to do is learn those old fashioned techniques like water bath canning for the higher acid foods and pressure canning for low acid and dehydrating.
This is also good if you live in a place that's prone to power cuts because there is nothing worse than losing a freezer full of hard won produce.

The Americans, it seems, have these techniques down pat but thankfully there are shops here in Australia where you can buy Ball canning kits, jars and Presto pressure canners and all the accessories.

I also love the idea of incorporating rabbits and worms into a system to convert green waste into to protein for the family and the fish.

Yes Qld and rabbits do not mix which is a shame, they allow mining companies to destroy good farming country but will not allow you to raise rabbits which run wild through most of the state.

When I am finaly set up even on a house block there will be chooks for eggs and meat, quail, rabbits and of course the fish. Fresh season vegies and fruit. May still not provide all that is required but will provide most. Bit of excess can be traded for other produce or preserves.

If I'm going to stay in Queensland then I'm thinking of guinea pigs instead of rabbits and Red Devils instead of taliapa to get around some of these restrictions.

I like the thought of producing my own fish fry and growing them out for the plate.