Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Construction has begun on a greenhouse at Lynwood Senior High School with funding being granted for an aquaponic mega system. Further details will unfold as the project progresses, but this space is one not to be missed.
Part of the project involves students from the high school being introduced to a workshop at the Backyard Aquaponics Display centre in Jandakot, where they were able to see and hear aquaponics explained. Some of the students had never heard about hydroponics and were amazed and excited to hear how the fish are such an important part of this growing system.

Teachers from the high school Chris and John are really excited to be able to involve this group of students from the ground up and teach them valuable skills which include building the greenhouse themselves. Students will be making the frames for the growbeds and installing the systems.
Students standing in front the the Backyard Systems which includes a 2000 litre fish tank and three growbeds. This is what they will be setting and at the rate they are progressing it could start to happen before the end of this term.

These students are really keen and were one of the best behaved groups that have attended our workshops.


We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with this group and share our love of aquaponics and the benefits and rewards that it can provide. We know it ticks all the boxes, and we just want to help people to do it.
We provided all the students and teachers with a presentation folder containing 6 magazines and some notes on fish species and basic information which they can look at over time, a great resource for anyone starting out and learning about aquaponics.

that is fantastic, i would love to assist my local schools with systems like this... give the kids something practical that they can take home and implement!!

I wish my school did something like this when i was at school.

I'm with you Iceman, I reckon if they did aquaponics when I was at school I would have like science a lot more too.

i have always been a bit of a green thumb, add that to farming that flows in my blood (grandparent run big sheep/wheat farms in western victoria) and all the electronics i did at school and i would've had so much fun!!

A couple of weeks ago we delivered the system components minus the galvanised stands that we normally supply to the High School as they had finished the structure housing the six systems.
The students and staff have been the ones cooridnating and building the structure and the students have made all the stands for the aquaponic systems.


The most commonly asked questions is what is this stuff? And the second most common thing that children like to do is play with it, immerse their arms in it and throw it around and yep that is just what kids do until the teacher catches them about. At $40 a bag they do not want to see it covering the floor, I can tell you.

John has been looking at aquaponics for years now. I remember him coming to the shop a couple of years back asking questions and he is really looking forward to see the project finally completed.

The students were busy today securing the mesh enclosure as it is the last day before school holidays. They all worked industriously until the bell rang and they disappeared in a shot.
The systems are laid out and some still to be levelled and adjusted. Most of the pipe work is cut and just plugged together awaiting final fixing with glue. They wanted us to run our eye over the layout and construction just in case they had missed anything that would cause issues. They need not have worried as it looks pretty good. Apparently they watched the install videos and read all the instructions You don't hear that everyday.

Chris with the eager year 9 students, who had lots of questions.

There is still a fair bit of construction going on but they are well on their way to getting all the systems finished. I did have the pleaseure of commissioning the first system to the point of flowing water and overflowing standpipes. A very exciting moment for them.

Still under construction.

woah

I never got to do anything as exiting as that when I was at high school - just boring science, English and maths.

I may have put more effort in and passed.

Does this mean Faye's gourmet, fresher than fresh lunches will soon be available at the school canteen?

I cant believe I missed this one. That is so fantastic. What a great learning tool for the kids on so many levels.

Thanks for all the pics Faye

It is really great to see it all coming together, finally. It has been a long process from the first time they visited here. They plan to have a market and sell produce from their systems and are , naturally expecting big things. They also have vegetable gardens that seem to be thriving, you can see them in the background of one of the pics. So I don't think the canteen will see the food, just the customers.

Absolutely tremendous that BYAP equipment is installed like this in a high school for educational purposes and also as a possible income source for the school. Many future appers will be inspired by this system (not just students but teachers as well)

Great to see projects like this happening. Are you doing anything at rossmoyne high school?
All they have when i walked past were 3 very neglected bone dry wicking beds

Haven't been contacted by them Gorotsuki. It often seems to be dependant on the input and enthusiasm of certain teachers, as well as support by the headmaster. Passionate teachers are a great asset to our students but require the support of their peers too, and then they still need some ap know how to manage a school system.

Awesome stuff BYAP.... and congrats to the staff at Lynwood for making it happen...

looks great!!!