Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hmmmmm....a tactful diversion spoken by the Tailor Aquaponics Worldwide Corporation super secret double spy?

jk GLR

Quote - "Just so you know I have no aspirations beyond getting something set up for my own backyard to happily grow me some veges and fish in a more sustainable way."

Yep, working on that model too, though it's going to have all sorts of mad R&D in it to get the right growing systems and plant combos for the owner/operator setup.

Someone else said here earlier, "you don't have to know the mechanics of a vehicle to drive it." I hope to make AP easy and affordable for others including lifestylers and retirement couples. They can drive their cars and AP systems and need never understand the words carburettor nor rhizosphere.

A couple of days ago I was up the north coast near Coolum and came across this great little Organic Shop that sold organic vegies etc, you know the type of place, complete with a skinny young lady one expects to find in such a place, with beads around her neck and wrists, a multi coloured scarf holding back her long brown hair, very bohemian and attractive.

She had not heard of Aquaponics, so I went ahead and "preached a sermon" on "how the world will be saved by Aquaponics"

She got so excited, (and so did I)

In short, she will purchase all and any vegies that can be produced by Aquaponics method.

There must be more of this kind of businesses, that find it hard to satisfy the growing demand for Organic type food products.

Don’t worry, “ If you build it, they will come”

Muzza

ok cutting back on the beers I'm seeing double.

Hey Murray,

There's an organic shop near Hendra (I don't kknow the address but my mate who took me there does ) and I suspect they'd be happy to buy any aquaponically grown stuff aswel (especially since they charge an arm and a leg for stuff).

I really like the idea that's being bounced around here of a co-op of small systems. In our case Brisbane Aquaponics. If we could get several people with working systems, then we could find the best prices for everyone and help provide top quality products and still be large without not looking after our own systems properly.

I also think it would be really really nifty if we could get our products into organics stores marked as "Aquaponically Grown" make it a new class of food that Hydrponically grown stuff can't get into. Maybe it has an environmentally Ethical component. Just an idea

Now that is an excellent idea D, crop and fish diversity with a coop as well.
Bah now I'm getting seriously jealous.

Donarto, Good idea, and I think it will happen even if we don't plan it. People are prepared to pay for organic stuff. We pay a premium for the factory produce, tasteless, hard as rocks tomatoes etc from the major chain stores.
The interest in organic produce is self evident just by the activity on this forum and other forums (permaculture) etc.
There is a large group in the community who are both working flat out who are becoming more health conscious and don't mind paying for good produce.

It was, at one time, not so long ago, thought to be “off-beat” or a bit “hippy” to think healthy, but not anymore !!!
The beer gutted overweight are on the way out !!! (they are all kicking the bucket early)

Loose those kilos, get fit, preach the Aquaponic Gospel !!!!
There are souls to be won !!!!
(maybe I have this post on the wrong thread ???)

excuse me
latest Dr's report:
blood pressure normal
cholestorol good
suger great
weight.......hmmn (diplomatically stated that I am 7 kilos too short for my height)

Ell

i'd be in a brisbane co-op
don't forget organic cafes like fundys in paddo which are after good produce
you might want to start at nthy st markets first?

EllK,
You must be worried to have responded !!! How many of the 7 healthy habits do you have ? You are same vintage as myself..........

My son-in-law who is 41 - Blood Press good, cholestrol good, sugar good, no family history, has only just survived 3 heart attacks !

Sit down mate, take it easy, breathe deep !!!

This should be on another thread. not for discussion here perhaps.

A very valid point there Besso. But I think selling fruit and veg at the markets is the wrong place to be (just my oppinion and now i'll explain why). With the relatively small amounts of fresh produce a small coop of the brisbane aquaponics members could produce, selling it at a premium to health food stores and restaurants should see a much better profit than trying to compete at the fresh fruit and vege markets. Play up the "Aquaponically Grown" (if we can't get organically certified) and make a council that determines what is and is not aquaponically grown foods. I'm sure this forum would be a great place to nut out some rules for it so that no-one can just use the term Aquaponically grown and sell inferior products (i.e: lots of cehmicals etc).

I sort of disagree D, the less middlemen the better. IMHO, the most profitable cottage style aqua operation would be a small volume high quality restaurant with aqua facilities on site. And I stress small volume high quality. Therefore getting rid of ALL the middle men. From Fingerling to plate, do it all. Just my thoughts

M_F - ~needs a furtive looking smiley~ LOL

AA- great idea, I'm sure there are more than a few more like me out there... especially technically clueless but with good intentions

Donarto, good idea but I bet the legislative issues are enormous... Might be worth checking out, I know that even saying organic is different to certified organic etc etc... (yeah, sure it's organic, it has carbon in it.... ). You could also start indoctrinating the would-be leaders.. the uni thing may not be such a bad idea, the enviro collectives at UQ and Griffith are really strong they run co-ops too and you might get some ideas that way... I'm not sure about QUT's student politics etc?

Monya, good points, I agree re: middlemen.

Donarto has good points too, re: regulation. For it to be a reliable 'industry', that people could depend on (whether small scale/cottage/niche/my gran grew it so it rocks, now you eat it), there would need to be some regulation. So often, 1 or 2 con-men kill the reps & livelihoods of people who are really out there trying their guts out (& probably succeeding, if they were permitted).