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Ethels new balcony system
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Author:  faye [ Dec 20th, '11, 14:26 ]
Post subject:  Ethels new balcony system
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About 6 weeks ago I attended the Kelmscott garden clubs monthly meeting and told them about an easy style of gardening that meant they would no longer need to bend or dig in the garden and continue to add soil improvers. Naturally I showed them a few photos that I had collected over the years of fish harvests, home grown veges as well as an introduction to the good bugs that frequent our gardens. I have known Ethel for about 11 years now and we had spent many hours gardening together over those years. She had always been keen to hear what I was doing with aquaponics and never thought that she could have a large system like mine. When she saw the balcony system at the Garden Societies Fair in February, the seed was planted and played on her mind, until one day she decided "why not"? Once I got the phonecall, I told her that I would come and install it for her, she answered with "well I thought you probably would".
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I knew exactly where she had thought to place it which is under a light shadecloth, would get winter sun, bright light and afternoon summer sun. It is also almost under the patio and so she would be able to pick from it during winter without getting wet.
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Ethel has always been a keen gardener and is conscious about healthy eating and well being.
She is very excited to be starting out with an aquaponic system and is looking forward to getting it planted and stocked with a few silver perch.
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Author:  pancakes [ Dec 20th, '11, 14:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ethels new balcony system
She looks super happy.

The need to bend and dig is one reason my mom no longer actively gardens past her little window boxes and patio railing boxes. She is now open to a large scale system at her house in WI after seeing how its waist level. She missing playing in the dirt but next summer if all goes well she will be playing in the water.

I have a feeling the fish might get names and she will not want to eat them. I might have tell her I am going to release them in the lake but just go over to my uncles house and fillet them with him.
Author:  faye [ Dec 22nd, '11, 17:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ethels new balcony system
Note just in from Ethel! She emailed me a photo as well, there is certainly no stopping her now.
Quote:
Hi Faye

Partly planted - Swiss Chard, English Spinach. Carrots, chives and basil. What a job getting potting mix off (you didn't warn me about that or give any clues!) Still to get lettuce.

6 Silver Perch installed in bottom - look 8=10inch to me. Asian guy asked did I have Esky and aerating thingo with me so I bought a transportation esky sort of box and the back up battery pump. Neighbour's lawn man just leaving when I got home so asked if he could carry box through for me. Did a water swap (climatization) and then went for a fish net and managed to transfer fish - go me! So it is up and running.

Thank you - have a great Christmas and will catch up with you some time. Ethel

PS guy at Better Homes and Gardens was interested - I had pamphlet so I could show photo of system to make sure I got something I could use to transfer fish. He looked you up on net and you never know, he may be down there some time.

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"Go me" is quite right Ethel! Wow, just goes to show you what a can do attitude can do :)
Author:  DuiNui [ Dec 22nd, '11, 17:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ethels new balcony system
Go Ethel :)
Great stuff.
Author:  earthbound [ Dec 23rd, '11, 09:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ethels new balcony system
Great work Ethel....
Author:  faye [ Jan 27th, '12, 16:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ethels new balcony system
An update just in from Ethel.
Quote:
Just sending a progress report - those poor little seedlings that lost most of their roots eventually kicked off, with a couple do dribbles of seasol water, and once the fish decided to get hungry. The took several days to settle down, then one went to the bottom early last week. Found a punnet of tiny mixed lettuce and yes, they did just dunk the soil off.

Am using basil, tiny spinach, chives and eyeing off the silver beet!!
Author:  faye [ Jan 27th, '12, 20:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ethels new balcony system
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Author:  earthbound [ Jan 27th, '12, 20:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Ethels new balcony system
Nice going for 4 weeks growth from a new system Ethel... :thumbright:
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