The Future of Aquaponics And The Need For Certification

Trinidad State College And Future Aquaponic Classes

With the USDA now looking into the certification of classifying aquaponics an organic food, there are also other questions being raised whether or not the legalities can actually be changed. 

You see aquaponics is not just about growing organic foods but also raising healthy fish. While there are some fantastic teachers in the aquaponics industry how many of them actually have a certification in fish diseases and or the proper care and treatment for sick fish?

For many people this might seem like we are splitting hairs but if you do not go to school to get a degree-certification in aquaculture, the disease issue could become a real problem at some point.

Stress is still the biggest contributor to disease forming in fish and people in the aquaculture industry who are breeding, raising and farming fish are already aware of these problems.

USDA Taskforce

A task force has now been assigned from USDA and they will be looking into every aspect of the aquaponics industry. Does this mean there will be certifications, licensing and more restrictions once everything is reviewed? The fact is people might have to get ready for some big industry changes and once the new regulations are set in place, that could mean good news or not for current aquaponic farms. 

My thoughts are if the USDA was to give an organic certification to the aquaponics industry, it should include a good knowledge base concerning some of the diseases fish can carry onto humans. 

Picture Source Mad Fish Disease: 

http://journal.bdfish.org/index.php/fisheries/article/viewFile/28/53/246 

Fish TB (MYCOBACTERIUM MARINUM), also called fish tuberculosis, fish tank granuloma, swimming pool granuloma. Related to human TB and leprosy.

MAD FISH DISEASE ... caused by STREPTOCOCCUS INIAE.

Recently reported from handling tilapia. Infection via puncture wounds.

SALMONELLA... over 1600 serotypes identified.

Infection by ingestion. Carried by many types of animals.

ERYSIPELOTHRIX RHUSIOPATHIAE, also known as erythema migrans, fish-handler's disease, fish poisoning, fish hand, sealer's finger, whale finger, blubber finger, etc.

VIBRIO infections. Several species can infect humans: V. ALGINOLYTICUS (wound infections), V.DAMSELA (wound/systemic infections), V. PARAHAEMOLYTICUS (gastroenteritis/wound infections),V.VULNIFICUS (wound/gastroenteritis/systemic infections). 

Source for disease: http://www.fishlore.com/Articles/DiseasesTransmittedToHumans.htm

The below points are valid causes for concern for the USDA and why we believe that colleges will eventually play a more significant role in the certification and education process of aquaponics.

• Careful selection of sites for aquaculture farms. 

• Protection of adjacent ecosystems. 

• Active avoidance of conflicts with other users of the aquatic resources (e.g., fishermen) 

• Prohibition of chemicals (e.g.. as anti-fouling agents in net pens) . 

• Natural remedies and treatments in the case of disease. 

• Feedstuff from organic agriculture. 

• Fishmeal and - oil in feed derived from by-products of fish processed for human consumption (no dedicated "feed fishery"). 

• Prohibition of GMOs, neither in feedstuff, nor in the stock itself. 

• Processing according to organic standards. 

"According to a Consumer Reports magazine food labeling poll, some 74 percent of consumers are concerned about environmental pollution from “organic” fish. The poll also showed that 91 percent of consumers want contaminants in fish to be absent or present only at very low levels." See more information at the link below... 

https://afsic.nal.usda.gov/aquaculture-and-soilless-farming/aquaculture/organic-aquaculture

Trinidad State College

The Trinidad State College in Colorado has a fantastic aquaculture program running, where they offer a 2 year accredited degree. They now want to expand their curriculum into an aquaponics certification and the ASC Magazine has been asked to contribute coursework to this process. We have a team of great writers who will be helping out and making suggestions to aid in the perfection of this aquaponic coursework. 

http://www.trinidadstate.edu/programs/career-and-technical/aquaculture

We are proud and happy to help out the college and we believe this is the right course of action in furthering the education process regarding the future of aquaponics.

If you would like to join the magazine please check out our main subscription page below: 

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/aquanewsletter/

Cheers 

Victoria

Become an Affiliate for the ASC Magazine

Get Involved In The Future

Over the past 2 years the ASC Magazine has been delivering a monthly magazine to readers from all over the world. The magazine has grown to the point where we need more help from industry leaders, business owners and the public. 

We have been publishing stories from backyard growers, commercial growers and gardening fanatics. The magazine has also become more interested in publishing white papers and studies from universities, educators and people with experience in aquaponics, aquaculture, agriculture and permaculture. This is something our readers have asked us for so we are giving them what they want. 

We are also including more stories and advertisements from greenhouse manufacturers, lighting specialists, solar panel companies, aquaculture suppliers, suppliers of all kinds of growing equipment and other similar companies. 

The magazine has reached a point where we are now sharing some of what we do with other interested people who want to help us spread the word and make some money on the side. 

We are inviting commercial growers, business owners and interested parties to become an affiliate for the ASC Magazine. 

The ASC Magazine is now offering the following incentives for Lifetime Conversions: 

• The magazine affiliate program will be offered through Clickbank ( a 3rd party verification company.  

• Your percentage of selling the magazine will be sent to you in the form of a check or direct deposit, directly from this company. They will let you know the options available to you.

• We will provide the banners and other tools (if need be) which will enable you to make money.

• The ASC Magazine will make up the pre-made E-Mails if you need help with that.

• The Minimum payout will be $20.00 per conversion of the Lifetime Subscription.

If you would like to learn more please E-Mail Us for more details:  Click Here 

This is a great opportunity to make money and help us spread the word to others. The ASC Magazine is going to keep on reporting the changes, advancements and industry leaders because Aquaponics is set to be one the futuristic businesses by the year 2030 according to Business Insider.

"Aquaponic fish farmer: In 2030, populations of wild fish are disappearing — so new production methods like aquaponics will step in to replace fish that we can no longer catch in the wild. Aquaponics combines fish farming with gardening, where plants grow over water to cover its surface, while fish live below. The plants return oxygen to the water, and the fish produce waste that provides fertilizer for the plants."

Happy Gardening Everyone

Victoria Kelley 

ASC Magazine Editor 

So What About BioFilters In Aquaponics?

Ammonia, Nitrates and Happy Bacteria

It's a known fact that very few plants like any sort of ammonia on them. As a matter of fact have ever seen how your lettuce looks after the family dog has urinated in backyard vegetable patch? A few days after Duke marked his territory on your lettuce, it looks all burned and wrinkled. Too much ammonia is very bad for those lovely green plants. 

The challenge in aquaponics is to reach the perfect balance between ammonia, nitrates and bacteria. I often see these questions asked in our Facebook community regarding ammonia, pH and water. 

The reason why I encourage people to read our magazines, is because we have writers who answer these very important questions people ask often.  I have picked some of the most clever and informative writers to answer reader questions. These people have some very cool ideas and know what they are doing when it comes to aquaponics.

Vlad Jovanovic is an excellent writer when it comes to giving answers to our readers. He is also a wealth of information in regards to aquaponics. Every month he handles the readers questions and answers them to perfection. Actually he goes above and beyond in his research and we are thrilled that people have been so pleased with Vlad's Column. 

  

In aquaponics systems plants do not need ammonia to be healthy. Plants need Nitrates to grow not Ammonia. Yet ammonia is still a problem many people have in their systems. Fish cannot handle a lot of ammonia because it is toxic to them.

So what can you do to make everything work better in your AP System? 

Some of the same principles used in aquaculture should be applied to aquaponics because fish health is important too. What we are trying to do in aquaponics is create healthy bacteria and have a system with very little ammonia in it. Having a biofilter installed in your system is crucial for the best animal and plant health possible. 

Making your own biofilter doesn't have to cost you a fortune to make. They can be easy to create and I have seen some great DIY creations on YouTube. Here is just one video below you can look at.

Another good thing about having a bio-filter is that it doesn't have to be a huge over the top design to be effective in your AP System. 

BioFilters have been called a couple of other names people may know like swirl filters, trickle filters and moving bed filters. You may have also seen a containment system working on a home backyard Koi Pond. For anyone who knows about breeding fish, filters are essential for maintaining their good health. This is pretty much the same principle that needs to be applied in aquaponics too.

For anyone selling AP systems they should be encouraging you to either buy a biofilter for your system or learn to make your own. If the person isn't suggesting a workable biofilter added to your AP setup, then find someone else who recommends this. If anyone says you don't need one, walk away and find an instructor who recommends this type of set-up. Even a small home aquarium tank, has a filtration system attached to it. This helps keep the ammonia levels down and provides cleaner water for the guppies or goldfish. 

Download this PDF for some excellent advice from the University of Arizona on a Biofiltration‐Nitrification Design Overview Overview by James M. Ebeling, Ph.D.

And here is another one you can read up on: Fish farming in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) by Louis A. Helfrich and George Libey, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Virginia Tech

Here is just a part of the read in this download on Biofiltration: 

The biological filter (biofilter) is the heart of the RAS. As the name implies, it is a living filter composed of a media (corrugated plastic sheets or beads or sand grains) upon which a film of bacteria grows. The bacteria provide the waste treatment by removing pollutants. 

The two primary water pollutants that need to be removed are:  

(1) Fish waste (toxic ammonia compounds) excreted into the water and 

(2) Uneaten fish feed particles.

The biofilter is the site where beneficial bacteria remove (detoxify) fish excretory products, primarily ammonia.  

So as you can see it is a crucial part of running a healthy aquaponics system. Smaller counter top AP systems can still have biofilters which would be more like the filters you buy for aquarium tanks. 

You have fish to care for and they rely entirely on your expertise to exist. Care for their health in the best way possible by installing a biofilter in your AP system.  Sign up for some of the most updated and best information around by joining the ASC Magazine today. Subscribe to the Lifetime Membership. It's a one time fee and then no more debits. 

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/oto/

Warmest regards 

Victoria Kelley

Editor of the ASC Magazine

Do You Grow Your Own Food?

The Dilemma Continues Over Fresh Foods

So many people have now become aware of the big corporations who are growing our food and there are way too many mixed results to ignore the problems anymore. There are all kinds of protests, demands for better labeling with consumers walking away from the big supermarket chains. This is definitely making big corporations pay more attention to what people want to see more of in the way of fresh foods.

Americans have always been backyard and community growers and were huge advocates for Victory Gardens from WW1 up until the mid 1960's. SO What happened to us at that point in time?

Big corporations took over the mom and pops farms that had been owned for generations, they introduced their own version of growing and promised to eradicate hunger and starvation within our world. Some forty plus years later we are still waiting for the starvation promise to be gone because if anything, it looks worse than ever before. 

What we now see in supermarkets are cans, packets, plastic containers and jugs all filled with foods that have questionable ingredients in them and consumers are now voting with their feet. 60% of Americans are now eating food that is not fresh but is actually placed in containers for supermarkets. 

Our water is contaminated, our soil is quickly becoming depleted of minerals, our oceans are being fished out and our food is questionable with things like GMO and additives. People are fed up. 

The Tide Is Changing

The big trends that seem to be making a comeback are Farmers Markets where the consumer can ask questions to the grower about sprays, pesticides and other things on the fruit and vegetables. People want to connect to local growers and farmers and support their efforts. 

Growing locally just makes perfect sense to most people. The food isn't trucked in 1500 miles away and tastes a lot fresher. Who wants to eat apples that taste like cardboard anyway? 

Co-Operatives are becoming huge because they promote local growers, farmers and proudly advertise natural organic foods. They encourage the people who are part of the Co-Op to keep on supporting local. 

Consumers are turning their backs on companies who will not take certain ingredients out of food like High Fructose Corn Syrup (Mercury Derivative) or Azodicarbonamide (found in bread and other products). People are quickly losing faith in big corporations and we are now taking the process of growing food more seriously. 

Forbes Magazine says this from a recent article they wrote "Consumers’ health is front and center for those who churn out the food products that will line supermarket shelves in the next year."

*The above article is referring to big companies like Campbells who have promised to remove some very questionable ingredients from their food and deliver a healthier product.

Another Trend On The Increase 

We are finding more consumers who want to try and grow their own food instead of having to rely on big agriculture and food corporations who tell us "It's all good, there is nothing in our food to worry about." People are finding that statement very hard to believe. Actually big profit losses with corporations like McDonalds proves consumers are paying attention. Seriously who wants to eat Chicken Nuggets with plasticized fillers in the food?

You can check out McDonalds website for more food ingredients.  Are your ingredients 100% pure? "Pure" is a word that means different things to different people. This is a direct quote from their site.

What the ASC Magazine is trying to do is ask colleges, teachers and people who are growing food to participate in our magazine. Share your stories, experiments and even your personal victories with growing food. We want to help you publish your experiments and home grown experiences. 

We don't care if you are doing this through aquaponics or permaculture because either way you are helping to educate other people who are desperately searching out more information. 

This is the link to sign up and receive your FREE Copy of the ASC Magazine. 

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/professional-membership/

If you would like to share a website or blog, let us know. We can share your information and Vice Versa. We would be happy to help out small businesses and professionals. Our magazine feels this is the best way to bring more people together by supporting other Professionals and Growers in the industry. 

Here is the link to writing an article for the ASC Magazine. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Happy Growing Everyone

Victoria Kelley

ASC Magazine Editor 

The Movement For Change

Membership For Professionals

Over the last two years the ASC Magazine has put out content that has been targeted towards aquaponics, soil science, sustainability and other methods of healthy growing.

We believe that aquaponics is just one solution where people can get involved more in backyard growing, community gardens and school education. We also believe there is room for agriculture and Universities to promote their white papers, thesis and other education related to growing food.

The magazine has decided that for the benefit of everyone we have broadened our horizons and we now encourage people from all walks of life to become involved in the home-grown and organic movement towards food.

If you are a professional who would like to have your papers published, then contact us. We would like to hear from you. We also want to hear from other associations and community growing clubs who are experimenting or just have some really great ideas to share with other people.

We encourage EVERYONE to join our Professional Trade Membership and receive a FREE COPY of the ASC MAGAZINE.

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/professional-membership/

If you are a science junkie we try to deliver different types of university studies to cater to people who need more answers. We also have a team of great writers who give the readers information they may not have. Some of the articles are simply written and others are filled with great resources with more involved information . 

Here are just a couple of comments we see a lot from happy and satisfied readers 

"The magazines are highly informative." -John Valsan 

"Thanks for a great magazine." -Kerry Bill

So if you would like to read some great information about growing food then why not sign yourself up on the Professional Trade Membership List?

If we don't have a lot of what you want to read more of, then contact us and let us know. We often send out surveys where we involve the readers in the type of content they want to see more of. We will listen and do our best to provide YOU the reader more of what you want to see. 

Happy Growing Everyone! 

Victoria Kelley

ASC Magazine Editor 

There Are No Magic Pills and Quick Fixes

People who are ‘awake’ can’t deny that our world is in a real mess. This mess wasn’t created overnight and it won’t be fixed overnight. It has taken decades for us to reach this critical point in history. It takes real people working together and taking the action needed to reverse the effects of what some very nasty, greedy and evil people have done to this planet. http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/aquanewsletter/

The only way to reverse these effects is to revive community spirit and spend your money locally. It’s time to reconnect with the people around you and stop buying from corporations who only care about your money. Remember barter and trade, it was once the life blood of thriving communities.

Rejuvenating the land and reviving communities isn’t a magic pill or a quick fix. Magic pills and quick fixes come and go and rarely bring real change with them. It will take people who are dedicated and determined to help one another, do the hard yards and really care about the world we are leaving for future generations.

We can’t bury our heads in the sand and hope someone else will come up with a solution that will magically change the world overnight. The only magic that will work is for us to remember the power of our human spirit and the ability for infinite change when we all work together. We hope that you will join us in creating some of that magic and getting involved in our community. https://www.facebook.com/AquaponicsSurvivalCommunities

Diversity is the Key to Our Survival

One of the key philosophies of the Aquaponics Survival Communities is the importance of diversity. Without diversity the world would be a very boring place to live. The community welcomes people from all walks of life and encourages them to share their information and experiences with others. http://educatorsforaquaponics.com

There is more than one way to reach a goal, grow food, build homes, create energy and live in a sustainable way. The Facebook fan page is just one example of the ingenious, smart, kind and caring people that are involved in the ASC community. There is no shortage of good quality information on the site. 

There is always something new to learn and so many good people to learn from. It is wonderful to see how members of the community will take a simple idea and adapt it to their specific needs. It is this kind of ingenuity and creativity that will help move the future of food production out of the hands of big agra and back into the hands of the people. http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/aquanewsletter/

You almost forget that it is an online community. With so many wonderful people helping each other, sharing information and encouraging a spirit of freedom and independence to live a healthier lifestyle it is no wonder that the community is growing daily. We invite you to join us at https://www.facebook.com/AquaponicsSurvivalCommunities

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Teach Their Students The Benefits Of Aquaponics

Learning New Skills 

In the November issue of the ASC magazine Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy were our featured educators of the month. The academy decided to introduce Aquaponics into their curriculum in 2011. The students learned how to grow food in their environmental science class with their teacher Dr Savage.

Since that time the students have grown bell peppers, hot peppers, leafy greens, kale, basil and lemon balm. Aquaponics is used to teach the students about aquatic ecosystems, basic microbiology and chemistry. This is exactly the kind of education that the Educators for Aquaponics site hopes to integrate into all schools. http://educatorsforaquaponics.com

One of the most important skills we can give to the next generation is the ability to grow their own food. Growing your own food gives you the freedom and choice to decide what ends up on your dinner plate. Too many of the foods that grace our supermarket shelves today are depleted of nutrition and full of nasty chemicals. http://www.chca-oh.org/TempDocuments/24_Feature_Article.pdf

A backyard aquaponics system can provide for a family of four and uses very little water compared to conventional farming. With space, water and environmental problems plaguing our planet, aquaponics provides solutions to these problems. When theory is put into practice the classroom comes alive. It is this kind of interactive teaching and student participation that helps students enjoy the science of growing food.

There is nothing quite like planting a seed, nurturing it and then be able to eat what you have grown. There is a sense of pride, achievement and fulfillment involved in that process. Our children need to feel as if they can contribute to their world in a practical way. Aquaponics fills that gap and we are very proud that schools like CINCINNATI HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY are leading the way. 

What’s Happening in the Aquaponics Survival Community Today?

ASC Community Sharing

With over 15,000 fans sharing their knowledge and skills it’s hard not to learn something new every day. The ASC community distributes information on every conceivable way to save money in a world where consumerism has taken over.

In one of today’s posts our community learned that it is possible to integrate soil grown plants into an aquaponics system.This is quite ingenious and hasn't been done before. People who have an aquaponics system have had problems growing plants that require higher levels of acidity. This problem has been solved and gives growers even greater flexibility. http://www.instructables.com/id/Hybrid-Aquaponic-soil-indoor-winter-garden/

There are so many interesting stories, articles and real life experiences from people all over the world. We invite you to Join our community http://aquaponicssurvivalcommunities.com/ and share your knowledge and skills too.

In our community we cultivate an atmosphere of friendship by respecting each other talents and giving credit to those who contribute. Our community grows daily and we are so grateful to have so many smart and helpful people here. 

Many of our community members are also readers of our ASC magazine. Every month we get great reviews from our readers who like to have the information they need in one place. You can check out the magazine at http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/aquanewsletter/ We look forward to connecting with you soon.

Growing Food Through Beautiful Sounds

Chooka Parker And His Contribution To Our Community

I have the great privledge in knowing an amazing young mind. Chooka Parker was only 17 years old when he became a finalist in Australia's Got Talent. You see Chooka has never had any formal training in playing the piano and creates the music as he goes. He won an award (The People's Choice Awards) as a pianist and composer in 2012 for his beautiful music. This is his website: http://chookaparkermusic.com/

He sounds like a combination of Mozart and Beethoven mixed up with some Jazz. Chooka has those amazing qualities that leave us with our mouths open and wondering how this actually happens. There is no doubt in my mind that he is a prodigy. The first time I listened to his music it bought tears to my eyes because it touched my soul. The sounds have this healing effect when you close your eyes and just listen. The judge on the show had the same effect when she heard him play in front of the audience too. He was 16 when he played this piece of music, watch and be amazed... 

A few months ago I asked Chooka if he would consider creating a piece of music for the ASC Community. He said "Yes" and it was one of those moments you never forget. Did he just agree to create some music for us?

Chooka's mother Kerry asked me "Victoria what do you want him to think of as he plays?" 

I replied "Think of water, fish, food growing and the sun shining." 

The music is almost 10 minutes long but worth the listen. I am still amazed and proud to share this amazing creation of sound with people. If you have some stress today, close your eyes and just listen. Let the sounds wash over you. Hear the fish swimming, the water moving and the food growing. 

The Vision

The vision we now have is to educate children and adults worldwide about sustainability and growing their own food. The Educators site will be up and running in 2014 with a twist on education regarding farming and all kinds of sustainability. Adam Cohen will be the director for education materials that come into the site. Adam has a degree in Marine Biology and runs his owns aquaponics business (Green Phoenix Farms) so we know he will do a great job with the site.

What we want to encourage other people to get involved. 

If you have a business or know something about farming with aquaponics, permaculture, DIY, and other forms of sustainability let us know. We want to involve regular people in the education process too. This is an opportunity for the educator / business owner to earn some extra money while promoting their own business in the process.

It is a way to enhance teaching in a school like environment while being in the comfort of your own home. The student will be able to benefit from your experience and knowledge too. Whether the student is 10 or 70 years old there is room for everyone.

We also believe our kids desperately need to know more about how food grows and everything involved with science, biology, Eco-Systems and where it all fits into their future. Teaching more education like this to schools globally can change our world. We need more farmers for the future and our kids are the key.

Interested? 

Let us know if you are interested in becoming a part of the educators site. We are looking for educators, business owners, farmers, gardeners, DIY, experience in solar, wind, aquaponics systems, thermal mass heating systems, etc. You can drop us an E-Mail at:  venusrizing@gmail.com

Have a great day everyone!

Tune in to the magical sounds of Chooka Parker today :-)

DIY Aquaponics Systems For People

Learn To Do It Yourself

Yesterday in the ASC Community we proposed a question to people because we like to guage where the average thinking is. Many people come to the page because we post all kinds of information on sustainability and DIY projects. I think some of the info we post will become more valable as the days and months go by in the USA. 

This is the question we asked: 

"Can we ask how many people here would purchase an Aquaponics Set-Up off a distributor from $4000.00 to $10,000 if you could buy all the parts and do it yourself for about $500.00? Do you think the DIY Skills you would learn from doing it yourself would be far more valuble?"

We got an outstanding Do It Yourself and learn from the beginning. 

Here is a great comment from one of our community members: 

Chris said:  $500? I built my first system for a little under $200. and that included $120 for the 1000L tank. Since then I've expanded and rebuilt (bigger or more efficient or both) about 3-4 times, and I still dont think I've hit $500.

The trick is looking at what you have and being a little creative. 

I have a stand alone solar power system that generates more power than I can use so I brought 12v pumps from a boating shop, so my bilge pumps run about 750 Gal/hr, and I used 20L plastic containers from a local honey and health food outlet (Saved them from going into land fill) as my planter pots and a time clock to control when my pumps run and for how long.

Depending on your DIY skills and your creativity and initiative when sourcing materials you can build a system for anything from a few $$ for a really basic system up to as much as you want to spend.

Eg. a 'micro system' would only need a 20L bucket(or aquarium), an aquarium air pump and fittings, and a plant tray on top. You setup the bucket like an aquarium, and install the air pump so that is used ventury effect to drag water above the top of the bucket and into the plant tray. The water is filtered by the plant tray and drips back into the fish tank - bucket. Now feed the fish and let them feed you!

DIY For A Cheaper Aquaponics System 

You will need at least 3 IBC containers: 

One IBC for the fish tank, and the other 2 cut into grow beds and a sump tank. Buy FOOD GRADE tanks, second hand ones are obviously cheaper. You might want a 4th IBC for extra grow beds as the system matures. 

One big roll of HDPE piping 1.5 inches wide, along with some connectors and elbows, a good pump and some clay, gravel or other type of  growing media. 

IBC containers can be bought from anywhere $60.00 to $100.00 a piece. We got ours for $60.00 each.

Our pump cost us about $100.00 and we actually bought a bigger size than needed, so we had more water flowing to help create oxygen content back into the water. 

Our roll of HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) or (PEHD - Polyethylene High-Density)  piping cost us about $45.00 and we still have a ton of it left. 

The joints, elbows and extra's needed cost up to $50.00 for all kinds of things

We got a small load of gravel delivered which cost us about $100.00

So we actually spent close to $500.00 for a 1 tank, 1 sump and a 3 grow bed system.

There are a couple of other things you will need like: cinder blocks, old bricks or thick wood beams to sit the grow beds on. These can be free if you are smart and hunt around, maybe they are already in the backyard! Become a scrounger because junk yards, garage sales, habitat for humanity stores and other similar places can become great resources for building materials.

Free DIY Instructions

For those of you wanting some instructions on how to build your own system we have these plans you can try: This is the barrelponics system and the structure is a little different than IBC containers but still worth the effort of putting it all together and learning from scratch. 

So now I have to ask why does it cost $4000.00 and up to buy a similar system from a distributor? That's a pretty hefty markup!

Sure, anyone can go and buy a ritsy system with a nice set up and all you have to do is plug it in BUT many of our community felt that in the long run a person wouldn't learn that much. What will you do if there is a problem with the system, how will you know what to fix and of course the added COSTS. In this day and age when prices are becoming more difficult to live with, who can afford to invest $4000.00 plus dollars in a system that can be done for less than $500.00 at home?  

It seems to me that anyone who wants to learn how to grow with aquaponics will gain much more benefit by starting from scratch. If you still have two good hands, a brain and want to learn something, then YOU are the best teacher you will ever get to know. 

I know of a company who has a top range of $10,000.00 for an aquaponics system. Eeekk...run away people, thats just way too much money. For that hefty price I would expect the greenhouse, fish, food, start up nutrients and plants too. 

The problem we have is, Americans have become a nation of consumers. Many of the distributor aquaponics systems are specifically built on the premise that you will not want to build one for yourself. Building your own system is an opportunity to save some money for other things you may want to become sustainable.

Solar panels can create energy and help run the pump in the tank. You can make your own greenhouse for a couple of hundred dollars, so there's a nice home for your aquaponics system. Save your money for these kinds of items.

So why not build your own aquaponics system for 1/8 th of the cost?

As things become financially harder for many Americans, I can forsee huge numbers of people going back to DIY anything. I think this is great because it means the self taught experts, will soon become very valuable people to their community once again. 

Educators For Aquaponics Coming In 2014

Education Tempered With Ecology And Growing The Future

Over the past few months the ASC magazine has been contacted by a few different groups wanting to work with us in the Aquaponics industry. The ASCommunity really loves the idea of being able to contribute to the further education of people worldwide and helping them to grow their own food. 

Many of our experiences have led us to believe that if you want to really move ahead with something beneficial, then you just have to do it. No big debates, voting, waiting on others to come around, procrastination, ums and ahhs, just get it done! That's how the ASC Magazine came to be and it's turning out to be hugely successful because we just moved ahead with it. 

The Educators For Aquaponics Site would like to educate people the way most of us use the internet these days. You Tube Videos are fabulous but they still lack that classroom atmosphere that many people need to focus and learn from. We propose a virtual online school where someone who wants to teach aquaponics can do so through slide show presentations, online graphics, information packets that can easily be downloaded, one on one conversations, audience interaction and teaching videos. 

Join us here for updates: http://educatorsforaquaponics.com/

A business owner can also gain benefit by presenting his aquaponics or other type of sustainable business in a way that educates and inspires other people. This business owner would then become an authority in their local or state area which is always good for any business. People will continually to come back to a business if they see that what you are doing can help them too. 

A school educator can teach classes that will inspire and change the curriculum for many other schools worldwide. The ASC Magazine has been investigating aquaponics and farming being re-introduced into schools. From what we have seen with articles contributed from educators, this kind of learning is very beneficial to children and students alike. 

Online classes can be easily accessed by school students as many of the classrooms these days have computers in each room. We want to encourage more education programs within different USA states to help children use a great teaching program. This can benefit kids in a way where they have a better understanding of  biology, ecology, science, sustainability, technology and economics all rolled neatly into each other through the Educators for Aquaponics site. 

Learn at home in your pajamas if you wish. While travelling to conferences is a great resource for learning, the truth is that for many people the cost alone is no longer feasible. We have actually heard this complaint from many others in the community. People do not have the monies available for expensive hotel accomodations, extra food expenses, plane trips, fuel costs and time away from home. However with a virtual learning facility as close as your keyboard or other mobile device, you can learn in your home, in the park, at the beach or in the backyard.

The cost is minimal and therefore the learning experience is more effective to most people. We will also keep people up on upcoming classes and who will be hosting them.
You can sign up here: http://educatorsforaquaponics.com/

Educators for Aquaponics is a new way to teach and educate all people back into farming and sustainability.

Hope to see you in 2014... 

Joel Salatin in the ASC Magazine for November

Joel Salatin and Educating Our Kids

This November the ASC Magazine will be highlighting an article written by Joel Salatin. Joel is a best selling author, international speaker and owner of Polyface Farms.

After meeting up with Joel at the Aquaponics Association Conference I asked him if he would be interested to write an article for our magazine.

Joel said "Yes I think I can do that," and wrote us a fantastic article about creating a bio-mimicry food system. He is a very friendly man and some of his E-Mails back and forth, had me laughing really hard. I love that down to earth, keep it real in people...

I have been a longtime fan of Joel's because many of his methods for growing food and raising farm animals I personally agree with. Heck, I grew up with chickens, ducks, horses, cows and sheep. We had a creek filled with Yabbies that we often caught and bought home for dinner. We had an abundance of wild rabbits that helped put food on the table too.

Looking back on my own childhood, I think I can honestly say these were some of the best educational years of my life. That's why in the November ASC Magazine we have asked a couple of schools to show us what they are doing in the way of educating kids about aquaponics and farming.

When you think about it, a child can learn very important lessons in regards to old fashioned farming and aquaponic growing. Below are just a couple of good points in favor of educating children this way:

Biology...learning about physical make-up of fish and animals.

Science...The understanding and importance of microbes, nematodes, oxygen, nitrogen, soil, water, plants, ammonia and how everything works together in nature.

Technology...water pumps, water flow and all kinds of electronic devices for aquaponics and farming equipment.

Mathematics...children learning how many seedlings they may need to plant in a square foot area. How many fish will someone need to grow produce in their aquaponics systems versus fish tank water volume. Sounds like math to me.

English...Learning to write better by keeping a diary of daily events and happenings. Keeping a record of agricultural endeavours can be very fulfilling. This can teach kids to write great stories and even turn out to be authors. Now imagine that...

Our kids can reap the rewards of better education through teaching them about simple things that many of us may have  forgotten. In just one generation most of us have become unaware of how to farm and grow food. What our parents and grandparents once did out of neccessity is now almost unheard of. We absolutely have to bring that back to our children and education is the key...

Full Circle and the Rhythm of Life

Humanity has just about gone full circle with the back to basics for living, eating and educating. There are many people deciding to go back to the land because they see the long term benefits. 

When we are gone who will be there to show children how to grow their own food? I have a beautiful little grandson who is 4 months old and I want him to know how to look after himself when I am no longer here. Aren't our kids worth it?

Most people are waking up to the fact that growing their own food is once again a neccessity for living healthy. So why not join the every growing array of people from every corner of the earth, who are learning, growing and enjoying the magazine every month?

The ASC Writers

We have a great team of writers who do an amazing job regarding their articles. I have been very proud of the different writing styles. These are dedicated people who are trying to make a difference with their own form of educating the public. We write on alternative growing, organic foods, education with aquaponics, permaculture and solar.

The ASC Magazine can now stand on it's own merits for helping to educate and informing a whole new generation of people.

Subscribe Here to the magazine. If you choose not to subscribe but would like to purchase back issues of the magazine you can do so here: Get The ASC Magazine Back Issues

Warm Regards

Victoria

Real Sustainability For The Future

Start Growing Your Own Food Now

As things really start to degrade across the USA, one thing becomes apparent; people need to make sure they have their own healthy food supplies readily available. 

I read somewhere that Monsanto is about to receive this years  “Nobel Prize of Agriculture.” 

How can this be? The way Monsanto creates seeds makes the very protein inside of the seed toxic to everything, including the human gut. 

If you haven't seen Dr Thierry Vrain's  video on this subject about gene mutation I suggest you watch it. He should know about seeds because he was once a scientist himself who studied nemotodes in the soil and the genetics of seeds.   The video is about an hour long but well worth the eye opening education he teaches. 

The only way people can really make sure their family are eating better foods is to grow their own. No matter what you see labelled in the stores, USDA Organic labels can mean just about anything now. I'm not trying to scare anyone but rather give people the facts. 

Just because you hear something from an official representative, doesn't mean it's true. How many times have we been told something from our local, state and federal representatives only to find out we have been lied to? Think about what is being told to you, do some of your own research and then draw upon a conclusion you feel is right for your family. 

Check out this site directly from the Federal Register about the National Organic Program-Sunset Process: Click Here

So what can a person do to make sure their food is safe? 

Aquaponics is a fantastic method of growing,  where a person can feel safe in knowing they are eating healthy foods. There are some things upfront you should know before spending money. 

I would strongly encourage people to educate themselves first about the biology and technology needed to maintain a succesful system. Too many times people jump in head first and quickly become frustrated with the process of aquaponics. 

It's not hard to manage aquaponics but don't spend wasted money, you  may need later for purchasing kits and fish. You don't need to spend a fortune to have a successful system either. Aquaponics can be interesting and educational for everyone. For the most part you can make the set up process fun for you and the kids. 

Figure out where you are going to be keeping the system first like a greenhouse, basement or garage. Then ask yourself some of these questions before setting up any system:  

• How many people in the family will you need to feed?
• How many grow beds and fish tanks will you need to sustain the family?  
• What are the average temperatures in your area? 
• Does it get really cold or hot where you live? 
• What fish species will you be raising?
• Can you get a healthy supply of local fish? 
• Do you understand the science, biology and basic health care for fish?
• What is the right sized water pump needed?  
• Will you be using PVC or HDPE and what's the difference? 

If you haven't already read the Essential Fish Care In Aquaponics I suggest you take a look. The book gives readers a good understanding of the basic science and biology needed to raise healthy fish. It also goes over subjects like natural feeding, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, water and oxygen which are also important. There are 13 good reviews and many people have found it to be a very useful guide to have around. With about 65 pages it's not a long read but a rather a worthwhile one. 

We also encourage people to sign up to receive the ASC Magazine each month. We will send you a  great online E-Magazine filled with information and stories from people who are growing food in the aquaponics industry. 

We also have a regular staff of people who are teaching others about natural products, permaculture, technology and other ways to grow food. 

The ASC Magazine is dedicated to teaching people how to become more sustainable. It is a good deal at $2.97 a month. The cost alone, makes this magazine an awesome price.  It will cost you less than one cup of coffee at Starbucks.  

You can subscribe here: Click this link 

Start growing your own food now. It is the only real way you can be sure of what you are eating. Take a look at some of the information on the community website when you have a free minute. Read some of the other information there we encourage all people to know about GMO and building real sustainable communities. 

Warm Regards

Victoria Kelley