Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I just noticed that LB mentioned that he is a draftman, or has at least used autocad for many years. I thought it would be interesting to know what some people on the group did for a crust...

I'm a horticulturalist by trade, but spent the last 13 years working as an electrical drafty come network supervisor come office manager type person. And now I guess I'm an aquaponicist.....

How about the rest of you?

I spent 10 years in the hospitality industry in various forms after doing a dip hopspitality management. Hated the hours- no good with kids. Now I work as an administrator for my folks, and we do some commercial property stuff, some renovating (current project will be our last as my back is stuffed) and we fix light aircraft instruments. (I don't actually fix em, used to when I was a kid, but lost interest)
I love building stuff, especially out of recycled materials such as stone and timber.

Monya.

EB, what a strange mix, sounds like me!

First trade : Process control instrument maker

Come self taught I.T. man, tried to run my own biz in this, domestic work killed me and i only had a few commercial clients, one of which was the main income source.

Come workcover investigator, qualified as both the "spy on people" one and the factual "take statements type" the latter was the one that i worked as.

Then finally found my home doing a refrigeration apprenticeship after doing summer work with a friend who has his own business.

Oh you can probably add the "science/biology/physics knowledge freak" in there as a past time on the net till the wee hours of the morning


And here i am, trying to grow fish and veggies

I have worked in the fire protection industry for 21 years designing fire sprinkler systems for commercial buildings..Currently working from home for various clients.
Also studying Natural medicine (Naturopathy) part time..slowly
Also studied permaculture(PDC) and Renewable energy systems (for a short time)...
Goal is to setup sustainable systems for food and energy production..
LB

My first real job after leaving school was the Navy - with 3 years as a submariner. I've spent much of the past 25 years as a small business operator.......restaurant supply, fast food, craft gallery, restaurateur, hotel, small business consultant.

My partner Jan and I moved onto our first rented small farm in 1977. We operated the first purpose-built game bird processing operation in our home state of SA and we bred meat rabbits about 25 years before it was legal to do so.

I'm currently the Manager for Technical Training and Support with the RACQ.

I've maintained a lifelong interest in self-sufficiency and we are currently developing our 3000 square metre Creek Street Micro Farm. I'm a wood turner in my spare time.

I'm a writer for the longest time of all jobs. That's seen me as a Journo, Editor, Poet (even used to get toured about what a lark) songwriter and comedian. Comedian took me on to be a Producer and then ran small company touring comedians. Great lifestyle till I'd had enough.

I'm kinda bored with 'art' now. I still write.

Recently gone Aquabeserk and supplementing income as a Roadie. It's only rock and roll but I like it.

Future - Assisting Industry.

Is it me or

QUICK REPLY DON'T WORK!

Or only some times?

I will repost my details soon ... Grrrrrr

In the meantime .. this is how I feel about my country! (Sorry about the out of tune singing!)

Click on the red arrow!

http://www.mp3.com.au/track.asp?id=35311

ME, I'm a teacher, trained to become one as soon as I left school and have done it since 1997... I have worked in the best and the worst of schools, and the richer and the pooreast - and I got a lot of satisfaction out of the poor rural schools in South Africa - I taught the year 7 kids about permaculture and how to make tools, fences etc out of everyday and recycled objeects (we even made a 6 foot fence totally out of wattle (NO nails, screws or wire) which was both dog and cow proof)...
I have always been an aquarium freak (my dad is to blame for that), which is what got me into aquaculture (through a string of odd, yet well timed, mistakes and wrong bookmarks on the PC) Aquaculture fits in well with my school's dedication towards being a Reef Guardian School, which is why I am trying to get a large system established on campus!
As for past times and hobbies - making stuff, fixing stuff, poetry, gardening, aquariums, fishing, camping... too many things realy!

Interesting mix of people.....

Just be sure you hit the submit button and not the 'post reply' button at the bottom Johnnie, I've done that a few times and it's a little frustrating.

I have been working as a software engineer for a company in Maryland since 1994. This is/was my first job out of college - I worked since 16 mowing lawns, bussing tables, and delivering pizzas before then. Most of our users are architects so I have gotten some experience in what is involved in that just from osmosis. My specialty is rendering. Aquaponics is similar to me in that there are so many interesting facets to it that it will probably never become boring. A few years ago I reflected on my life and career and thought if I could do anything else I would like to be a fish farmer (I also wanted to do aeronautical engineering). Since then I found aquaponics, bought some pumps a couple of years ago, and just recently put a system together.

What a great source of information joined together.

I majored in printing from type setting to press in my last 2 yrs. of vocational school. Went to work for 4 yrs. at a college library, loved the work, but left if for a printing company. Only stayed 1 yr. did a few odd jobs and joined a hometown bank. Stayed there 7 yrs. until my husband and I started our own company doing wood working, mostly made childrens rocking horses. This is what led us to Florida. But for the last 20 yrs. we have operated a home for women with or without children to help them get set free of addictions and overcome life problems. I have had tropical fish since 1981. A missionary came to our home 14 yrs. ago and introduced us to the idea of aquaculture, never left my mind. We house 55 residence with us, our goal is to have a home for 150 and to be self sufficient. We will us the system to feed our folks and the homeless. I left alot out, but not trying to write a book.

Wow Joyce, you sure do a lot of good! Well done and keep it up

My resume ..

Worked in Overseas Aid .. on food and fuel resurces. Qualified as an Engineer. Then moved to a Nuclear Energy site , Responsible for maintainance operations and Energy Management.

Moved to Australia. Became teacher. I teach Science , math and upper school Chemistry.

While I was doing all this I have been involved in music in one way or another - gigging from 1972 - 1988. Since 88 I choose not to gig anymore .. I prefer to write songs and collaborate with musos all over the world .. and enjoy the weather and beautiful beaches that this country has to offer.