Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It's been a while BYAP'ers. I've gone from AP to Sustainable Urban Ag in a short time.
Anyway, I just made a Facebook page with a simple idea I just had. Just look up 'LAUAE Aquaponic system' on Facebook. I am computer illiterate so don't know how to link things or shrink my pics to fit here.
BYAP was the first place I learned about AP so I hope this idea helps. Although some have expressed that 55 gallon barrels aren't used for AP everywhere. The basis of the idea is very simple. Cut the top off a 55 gallon poly barrel and turn it into a growbed. This allows people to have fresh fish and some produce on hand. It also allows those with large AP systems to be the HUB of a network of Community Supported Agriculture through aquaponics.
I have no hidden agenda just wanted to share an idea that I think can help.

From Facebook page:

Aloha Everyone in the World,

This is the LAUAE Aquaponic system.
L.iving
A.loha
U.nited in
A.cceptance of
E.veryone

Aloha -is a hawaiian word that comes closest to being described as 'an all incompassing love'.
Aquaponics- is a system of farming that combines aquaculture and hydroponics.

The LAUAE Aquaponic system is a simple idea using a simple recycled container (55 gallon poly barrel) to address some complicated problems:
starvation, political apathy, disconnect of community, food security and awareness (health).
The solution to these problems is always the same. We need to come together as a community on a local, national, and global level. I hope this idea helps in bringing us one step closer.

The idea is to have those around the world with existing aquaponic (AP) systems build this simple Aquaponic system. Then they can build and sell them for supplemental income for themselves. They can also teach others in their community how to build them (charge/free of charge). But hopefully, in time, they will give back and build and give these systems to those in real need.

These pioneering individuals will become the hub of a network of aquaponic farmers who will teach their family, friends, and neighbors to build and grow their own food and, in turn, to build up their communities.

When you become aware of what goes into your food you begin to heal yourself. When you become aware of what it takes to build a community you begin to heal that community.

Please copy this simple idea. Let everyone know and especially tell them what it stands for. Because without all of us Living Aloha we can never be United in our Acceptance of Everyone.

The system:

The LAUAE Aquaponic system is meant to educate people in the principles of Aquaponics. Ask anyone involved in AP an they'll tell you. You start a small AP system and the next thing you know you don't have a backyard anymore. Now you have a sustainable urban farm. Where you feed your family and friends from and teach anyone willing to listen (and some who aren't) about the importance of food awareness.

The LAUAE Aquaponic system is meant to supplement your family's diet with fresh organic produce right from your home. I do have designs for connecting multipe barrels to build a bigger system but I have to build them and test them to get the kinks out first. But once I do I'll post them here free of charge.

I've kept (10) 1 lb tilapia in one of these. I don't eat more than that many fish in a week. But I wouldn't recommend keeping more than 6 in each system. So like a farmer's market people would need to visit their 'AP Hub' once a week or twice a month for fish.

As far as the produce this is meant to be a vertical system focusing on vining/supported fruiting veg. I've added trellis' to the system. Concrete wire (6" spacing) and wood have been used to build them. People need to be innovative. One person I buit a system for lives in a high rise in Waikiki and has his entire balcony trellised and roped.

As for profit this is not about profit. It is about supplementing your income/expenses and expanding food awareness and community with a simple effective design. This AP system only takes up 4 sq. ft. and is absolutely bulletproof (not literally just extremely durable).

I've been doing aquaponics for a while now and I know that there are thousands of AP'ers with fish and plants but no way of contacting potential customers. I've been there for years.

I have a simple design that costs less than $20 to build if you can get the barrel for free (plus pump +timer/autosiphon) .

Unfortunately I can't think of everything. To be perfectly honest people need to be innovative.

Setup a farm tour of your place on Craigslist. Hand out fliers locally and at farmer's markets or local events. Tell people about Aquaponics. Offer to teach them about AP and how they can build a small Aquaponic system to hold fresh fish right at their home. You can charge for the tour and the lesson. I'd offer them for free to build up a client base. Give back to these people and they'll give back to you by supporting your urban farm. That way you can start a CSA (community supported ag) and charge for the fish and vegetables that your new friend's need.

This is about freshness and food security + awareness. But more important this is about building relationships. All the popular food trends (Farm to table, Locavore, etc.) all focus on the need to build relationships between those with good healthy food and those who are looking for that. This is not about getting rich. It is about addressing complicated problems with simple solutions.

If you have a large aquaponic system and you would like to supplement your expenses this is a way to do it. Become an Aquaponic Hub in your neighborhood. There's no group to join just a simple idea. Build something, teach others, make connections, and help one another. It doesn't have to be complicated or approved.

If you can help to educate and feed your neighbors then that's what it's all about. Building communities through Aloha.

First, everyone wants pictures.

Second you say, "As for profit this is not about profit." But then you say in your post,

"Offer to teach them about AP and how they can build a small Aquaponic system to hold fresh fish right at their home. You can charge for the tour and the lesson."
Isn't that profit?

Third, you say in your post, "Because without all of us Living Aloha we can never be United in our Acceptance of Everyone."
yet you could not "accept" a few questions and critique on Sylvia's forum this morning. Those people were being nice to you. There are some serious AP people on this forum and I hope you can accept their questions and critiques.

Sorry to be so harsh, but after 3 comments on the other forum you asked to be removed. If you're going to put an idea out there be ready to hear about it, good or bad, without getting your feelings hurt.

Todd

Couldn't find anything on facebook, but found stuff elsewhere..

Ummm, it's all a nice idea and well, it's the kind of stuff that happens around here most days, except it just hasn't needed to have a new name...

Almost always... when a known concept or implementation... is given a new "name"...

It's for marketing reasons... a competitive advantage.... for potential profit...

Kind of runs contrary to an alturistic "save the world/poor peoples" declaration....

Take as an opposite example ...Travis Hughey's long standing "barrelponics" system... which he's been trying to push into aquaponics generally, and third world countries particularly... for ages....

And made the plans freely available accordingly....

I am kind of surprised that the poster of the thread, who's been around for some time... hasn't either seen examples of "barrelponic" or other barrel based systems....

Or hasn't seemed to grasp the basics of stocking densities, filtration, oxygenation... and the limitations that might be applied to one, or another, or all of those factors... especially in a "third world country"...

Rupert,
Still have that picture you shared on the other forum regarding the "stocking desities"?
I thought that was hilarious!!

Todd

So did I... but apparantly it was "insensitive"... even with the smilie face...

I'd post it again... but my "bruised-ego" couldn't handle any further criticism...