Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

You've been a busy girl there Joyce... so now that you've completed your little system... when ya gunna go big....

Water cress, a very healthy plant to eat.

I had to go to a quick meeting, so I'm back to post more pictures.
The second picture shows return water, nice and clear.

Newley planted squash started from seed. Out of 12 seeds only 2 sprouted

Growth of plants since April 6th.

Last but not least the 1,000 gallon tank ready to be set up. Maybe by next week I'll have time. This will have 10 barrel grow beds to it.

Ok... so that answers my question about a bigger system...

You've come a long way from a water garden Joyce...

Thanks Rup, This is our prototype. Since we are using this to feed the ministry, at least some, we are hopeing to purchase some land and go large. At that time I will need my expertise friends of the AP world to help plan a commercial growing set up. That is down the road some, so I am enjoying this set up. It has been hard since it is so hot here. I get out in the morning at 6:00 am while the temp is at 75F. By 7:00 am it is around 80F and I have to quit at 8:00 am as we are over 90. The evenings have not been much better, but the news says rain and alittle lower temps are coming.

Baton Rouge Bill, The growbeds for the 300 gal tank are hydroponic growbeds purchased at Sunshine Hydroponics out of Orlando. They have the best prices but were still expensive considering I only pay $10 per barrel. The hydroponic beds are shallow but make a great spot for free flow water and water plants, like the watercress.

Hi Joyce, some of your toms have a blush of colour - you can pick them now at let them ripen in a nice warm spot. It will encourage more fruit and later in the season they will ripen on the vine much faster

Less chance of rats, caterpillers etc getting into them too

Thanks Steem. I always waited until they were vine ripe, but these seem to be taking forever. However, there are many other small toms forming and I want them to get going.

A 1000 gallon tank can grow a lot of fish if oxygenated well and you have enough grow beds.

How many people do you need to feed?

How many square feet of growing space do you have in your grow beds?

If stocked well and carefully managed you can feed one person on 40 to 100 square feet of grow bed(best case and in growing season).

Hi Dan, this is why we will need more land. At the least we have 50 people, with 1/2 of them being small children and some of them being teenagers. I have 176 square foot of growing space. I will increase that a bit when I add a pipe with holes and net pots on the side of the other grow beds. Right now I am proving to our board and supporters that this is a way of the future. There are so many companies that used to give food to non-profits that are no longer allowed to by their corporate offices. We do not get the fresh fruits and veggies like we were a year ago, so the only way to help to feed our families is to grow it.
Of course when we get the land we want we will have 150 mouths to feed. A friend of mine said we reminded her of the old women that lived in a shoe.

Choose fast growing crops for most of your grow space; crops that mature in 6 weeks of less and you will maximize your production. Then vine crops for fruits that can be grown in the edges and up or away from the grow beds. All plants past their prime should be pulled out and you should already have new plants started and ready to go in. Learning to be productive with the space you have is the key to effective growing. It requires planing and record keeping on a larger scale. If growing power can raise a million pounds of food on 3 acres under greenhouse in the north west then there is hope for effective use of small spaces too.

Good Morning Dan,
Sounds great and this is what I want to accomplish in this space. Learning to grow the most so when we can get a bigger place I will have it ready to go.
Fast growing crops. I will have to do some research on that.
I am very pleased with how the plants are doing. I got 4 barrels set in place last night and hope to work on the next 6 tonight after the work day is done.
Thank you for the input. I need all the help I can get.
Joyce