Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Coach, I really appreciate the advise, and I'm sure I'll ask for more if you're willing. It feels like Bennet might have quite a journey with tennis, and I'm looking forward to it.

Back to my system..we had a great big storm go through and messed my drainage system up. It actually floated..lol. Oh well, it went too well the first time, might as well do it twice....that way I'll appreciate it more when it's done..

Sorry to hear that. Better to have it mess up know, then 6 months from now. Look me up anytime, I'll help you out if I can. This is my website, gives you a better idea of what we do. www.StarRecruitingService.com
A few more years, if he stays committed and really wants to play in college. For now, good coaching, good training, and keep it FUN. Let him lead the way. From what I've read, you don't sound like the crazy sport's dad.lol Believe me, we see a lot of them...and mom's. They can surely work/train hard, as long as it's something that they're doing for themselves and not a parents who living their sports dreams vicariously through their children. We see that too often. The best sports parents are the ones who did it themselves. Not to say that you have to be a pro athlete to raise an athletic child, but it surely helps to have an athletic background so you understand the ups, downs, and pressure. That's why the emphasis on keeping it fun, even while getting very serious is very good advice. Make it about improving, gaining confidence, and getting better skills. Less about winning matches. Sorry, off my soapbox. It's something I'm very passionate about. Having coached for almost 2 decades and working with the recruiting business for the last 4, it's very close to me.

I was a wrestler through school, and really liked competing in USA freestyle. I really have learned to appreciate the independence and discipline you gain competing in an individual sport. Bennet tried wrestling, and quickly figured out it wasn't for him. We've encouraged him to pursue any sport he tries and likes, as long as he sees it through. He's played football for a few years but became concerned about injury after a few of his friends were taken away in ambulances...concussions have been a big issue. It doesn't seem that the risk is worth the reward. Tennis is a great sport for him. He's very coordinated, and has been learning technique and mechanics. We never concern ourselves with winning or losing as long as he remembers his coaching. His uncle (also his coach) is the head pro at a club near us and was an all American from Aquinas College. He was fun to watch through his college career. I was a farm boy wrestler, and my group of friends didn't play tennis back then...I think I missed out.

Coach, your site looks great too...I would love to stay in contact

By all means Benny. Having a few college coaches and former players around is also a big plus when it comes to recruiting. We'll keep in touch. I played some team sports also as a young athlete. Never really had a good team,, and hatred players who didn't seem tho care whether they won our lost. I gravitated toward individual sports as well, tennis and boxing. You get out what you put in, and you won and lost on your own. A lot like wrestling. As a 6' 170 lb err,I was much better suited for tennis and boxing then wrestling. Lol
Good luck with the system!

Some progress today. Sue and I have a very rare date night, but when we get home, I'll post pics of the days achievements. It was a great early autumn day.

Looking good mate!

Looking good mate!

Good progress today.

Here's an update on the plants. They're my timer...it's a race to get the greenhouse done before the plants outgrow their current home. I better hurry up!!! Winter is on its way!!!

Well, the plants have really taken off lately. It's time to drill some more holes in styrofoam. I did find one casualty, one of the tilapia jumped onto the grow bed to go tanning...and got tan...really tan..lol

After some reorganization, the plants have enough room for a week or two. Hopefully by then, I'm moving them to the greenhouse.

I'll update the greenhouse tomorrow, bunch of progress.

I buy a lot of material for my business from a local Menards hardware store. Yesterday I was taking a walk around the store with the commercial sales rep, who sold me all the supplies for the greenhouse. We stumbled across these hanging baskets on the bottom shelf in the gardening section. They listed at 34.99 each, and we're on sale for 9.99. I don't really care for the colors, but my wife won't let me paint them...bahhh... Anyway, I figure I could plumb these a bit, and save a bunch of money over buying grow towers. I figure it's worth a shot.

Here's the floor of the greenhouse. I installed the in floor heat, the boiler lines, water, and 2" insulation