Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

My name is Beth. My Hubby Gordon are interested in making the best use of the Land and resources we have at hand. With the GFC and the setback in the economy, we are not going to retire at 55 as planned - but we would like to be more self-sufficient as we gear up for our 'golden years'.

We have an acre property at The Vines in the Upper Swan Valley - Just northeast of Perth. It's'stinking hot' outside so I'm inside with the A/C planing my outdoor projects, haunting Gumtree for goodies for the garden, and educating myself on topics that interest me... like aquaponics and backyard farming.

Our place needs lots of work outdoors - though I DO think I have the healthiest weeds in The Vines - ya can't eat weeds!

I got a lovely Kensington Mango from my son for Christmas - Now I just have to find a spot for it and my 2 fig trees.

Looking forward to chatting with some like-minded Urban Hippies.

Cheers,
Beth

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Hi Beth

Can relate exactly.

Firstly, I would be looking at chickens. They love weeds and will keep seedlings at bay, and I think they lay eggs. Home raised chickens, even though they are blue, taste out of this world. You could always add a few turkeys for special occasions, (like the one we just had.) Even though it has taken me along time to get my aquaponics established, I believe in all it's merits. Without sounding rude, one acre isn't that big and the compactness of an aqua phonics system will enable you to use space for chickens etc.

Next would be a worm farm, very easy to manage and helpful to soil or AP.

If my husband was answering this he would also say bees.

Again, without sounding rude, you would be old enough to remember the old days of bartering, works well

Happy New Year

Jane

Welcome to the forum and soon to be new adiction. Backyard Aquaponics is a fantastic style of gardening for all age groups and we here are more than happy to help you along your journey..

Happy reading and feel fee to ask anything you like

Hi
actually you CAN eat weeds. I've got sow thistle (sonchus) growing wild both in my soil and AP and after reading about them I tried some and they were good. I left a few growing in my AP as the aphids love them more than my "proper" vegies. I still pluck a few nice leaves now and then to add to salads. There's a thread about edible weeds on another aquaponics forum...do a search...

Peter Andrews likes weeds. Might be an idea to read his first book "Back from the Brink: How Australia's landscape can be saved".

Also, if I can have an AP System, chook pen, patio, lawn and garden beds (with orange tree and grapevine) on less than 600sqm then I think you can do a lot with an acre.

Thank you for the lovely welcome!

@ Wickham: Hi Jane, Chickens are on the list for sure. I have a spot all picked out for them but need to get a few things sorted for the little dears first - to protect them from the foxes. We cannot really do "free range" since there are no real fences on all sides of our property, but chook tunnels and/or a chook tractor look viable.

Worm farm is #3 on the list. I already have 'free range' bees living in one of the brick piers of the pergola - up high and out of the way- I didn't have the heart to kill them and could not get at the queen to move the hive when they swarmed last spring.

And no... you don't sound rude at all... I love being a gran. I have decided to take a leaf from Jimmy Buffet's book and grow older but not up! ( Where's the fun in that?) I EARNED every one of these grey hairs! They are my badge of survival

I'm always open to barter. (Anyone need computer repairs? - we own a computer store)

Re: Weeds... Hmmmm hadn't thought about eating them - don't even know if they are edible. Those succulent things with the pink and yellow flowers are certainly juicy looking, but the 'juice' when I weed whack them makes my skin itch and break out in hives... so I'm thinking... NUP!

I'm looking at this as a grand adventure. Hugh Fernley Wittingstall... Move over! You've got competition I may not have a river (or a cottage) but I think I can make a go of my little patch of land in the country (with a little help from my friends - both online and off).

Again, thanks for the warm welcome. Expect lots of questions and some progress reports. I'm off to clear some space from the garden "stuff" to get it out of the pergola area (rather unsightly).

Happy New Year!
Beth & Gordon

welcome NanaBeth
OH what I could do with an acre of land
As arbe said I'm also on 570sq meters and have my aquaponics 2 baths with vegies in 1 bath with worms 1 fig 2 plum 1 mango 1 lemon 1 macadamia 1 vanila icecream bean tree 1 weeping mulbery all trees
The kids still have plenty of room to play

sorry I forgot the 8 chooks

Oooooooh!.... have to remember that one!!

Welcome.......and enjoy the journey!
Have you joined the Backyard Farming forum also??