Aquaponic Abundance with the ASC Magazine

Aqua Abundance and Spencer Curry

Spencer Curry is an owner-operator with Fresh Farm Aquaponics. He is also a writer for the ASC Magazine. Spencer's articles come with a lot of enthusiasm and love for this industry. We are very proud to feature this column in our magazine every month. Spencer is showing people of all ages what can be done with all of that youth and energy. We think he is quite a remarkable young man. 

Hi everyone welcome back to Aquaponic Abundance!

Article taken from the ASC Magazine March 2015

Last time we talked we went over the specific winter techniques that I’m using on my farm, FRESH Farm Aquaponics.  We're located in South Glastonbury, Connecticut.  

Currently we have more than a couple feet of snow piled up around our greenhouse.  Despite night temperatures well below freezing, our 25 koi are happily swimming in balmy 65 degrees water with daily air temperatures of 75-80℉.

We went over how we heat the water (with a Jacuzzi heater), our mini-greenhouses, and the lights we use to accelerate growth during the darker months.  Be sure to check out last month’s article for more information.

This month the light starts to come back and the days grow longer.  Our plants are starting to perk up and grow, little by little.  

The aquaponics system is a marvelous tool for season extension.  Even without using grow lights, there are a number of benefits to starting your season off early with an aquaponics system.

Season Extension with Aquaponics

There are many reasons aquaponics is so wonderful for season extension.  Aquaponics systems use heat more efficiently, the growing media is always workable and they make use of the little light available most effectively.

Most farmers in our region are busy hibernating at this time of the year.  Fields are under thick blankets of snow.  Greenhouses are expensive to heat the traditional way, most farmers around here use wood boilers or oil burning ovens to keep their greenhouse air warm.  

But as we covered in the last article, it is far more cost-effective to heat the water in the aquaponics system than heating the air in a normal greenhouse.  For one, the heat from the water eventually radiates up to the plants leaves.  

This is similar to how the heat of the Earth normally radiates up from the soil into the undercarriage of the plants.  By heating the water, you heat the roots and plants and the air, all at a fraction of the cost of heating the air by itself!

Eager to get planting but held back by a snowy March?

Luckily, aquaponics growing media is also always workable.  The growing medium never freezes.  There is no need to wait for soil to thaw out.  There is no need to shovel snow or wait for it to melt.  

No need to battle early spring weeds or any of the other headaches typically associated with working the land after a hard winter.  That means that you can get your plants in the ground as soon as the seedlings are ready.  

Finally, aquaponics provides such a rich environment to your new seedlings that they are able to best utilize whatever light there is available in these early months.  In normal soil conditions, plant roots must expend energy on extending themselves throughout the soil in search of nutrients.  

However in aquaponics, the roots are flooded with vital nutrients, water, and beneficial bacteria.

There is no need to expend resources on root growth, so all energy is directed to actual plant growth. When a plant has so much of its needs cared for, the only limiting factor is the light.  That means that whatever light is available, your aquaponics systems will make the best of it!

If you would like to read more about the Aqua Abundance Article...

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Best Seeds With The ASC Magazine

Whats the difference between Open Pollinated, Hybrid and Heirloom?

 

Taken from the ASC Magazine August Edition 2013

Tom introduced a discussion detailing characteristics of hybrid seeds. As we all consider varieties for the season, it is common to wonder about the difference between hybrid and open-pollinated varieties when choosing varieties that are right for you. First, let’s make sure we’re all speaking the same language. 

Open-Pollinated Varieties 

Are those, which if properly isolated from other varieties in the same plant species, will produce seed that is genetically “true to type.” This means that the seed will result in a plant very similar to the parent. Beginning in the early 1900s, plant breeders worked to develop new open-pollinated varieties, using techniques to create a more pure, and thus uniform, genetic line. 

Heirloom Varieties 

Are named open-pollinated strains which either pre-date or are unaltered by the earliest open-pollinated breeding work. If open-pollinated varieties are allowed to cross within the same species, the resulting seed will be a hybrid.  

The modern era of plant breeding started when biologists rediscovered Gregor Mendel’s study of genetics. By the 1930s, many hybrid sweet corn varieties were available in the US. 

Hybrids

In commercial seed production, hybrids come from the careful and deliberate crossing of two different parent varieties, each with traits desired for the offspring. Seed from a hybrid variety can be saved, but will not be true to type.

At High Mowing Organic Seeds, we are of the opinion that both open-pollinated and hybrid varieties deserve a seat at the table. As discussed below, each has its benefits: 

The Benefits of Open-Pollinated Varieties

Save your seed: The most obvious benefit to using open-pollinated seeds is the option to produce one’s own seed supply. Some crops, including beans, peas, tomatoes, and lettuce, are self-pollinating, and thus do not even require much isolation for seed saving. Furthermore, by selecting the best plants from which to save seed, anyone can adapt specific variety strains to their region or microclimate. 

Less Costly: For a number of reasons, open-pollinated seeds are invariably less expensive than hybrid varieties. For every hybrid, there are actually two distinct lines of genetics that must be maintained, not to mention the careful task of production, which can get quite costly.

Flavor: Few can ignore the superior flavor of many open-pollinated varieties. Many breeders who specialize in creating hybrid varieties for large-scale commercial growers tend to focus on qualities other than flavor, such as storage ability, uniformity, and characteristics more pertinent to processing. Suffice it to say that since the onset of modern hybrid plant breeding, flavor has not been a priority. 

If you would like to read more about this article...

You can purchase all the back issues of the ASC Magazine here:

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

Or 

Subscribe to the magazine by purchasing a lifetime subscription here: 

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

ASC Aquaponics Magazine And Evergreen Aqua

Evergreen Aquaponics With Sasha Grove

Many people in our society are just beginning to acknowledge the detriment the industrialized food system has been to our health and food security. Foods grown in depleted soils, from suspect seed, treated with chemicals and preservatives, trucked enormous distances to the final destination on the family table, are contributing in unfortunate ways to the health of our nation. The current economic climate is restricting the choices of the average family by limiting their available resources for quality foods.

A widespread economic crisis could lead to mass food shortages. Aquaponics can be part of the solution for access to quality food and will enhance health and food security of the family and local communities.

While there are many proposed solutions to the ever increasing threat of obesity and chronic disease, the greatest impact can come from the food we feed our families. Many families are seeking to know what steps to take to become healthier. An obstacle to deciding on a course of action is the conflicting agenda driven information about nutrition coming from so many directions. 

Yet, it is generally agreed that sugar and other refined carbohydrates such as white flour are a major culprit leading to obesity. Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and moderate amounts of meat based foods are necessary for a healthy diet.

The plan to avoid many nutritional pitfalls it derailed as we realize the near impossibility of avoiding canned and other prepackaged foods at the supermarket, which often list sugar or even corn syrup as one of the top ingredients, as well as numerous chemicals and preservatives. We assume that purchasing as much fresh food possible will be enough. Yet, even this can be and inadequate solution. The average distance food travels to get to your dinner table is 1800 miles. Much of this produce has been treated with chemicals or other preservatives, for the purpose of enhancing its ability to stay firm and colorful long past its normal shelf life. The nutrients that were in the plant when it was harvested have been significantly reduced.

As families become more and more concerned with the quality and availability of their food supply, home gardening is making a comeback. Home gardening has always been an American tradition.

If you would like to read more about this article...

You can purchase all the back issues of the ASC Magazine here:

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

Or 

Subscribe to the magazine by purchasing a lifetime subscription here: 

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

Technology With Aquaponics ASC Magazine

The  APDuino Project Written By András Schreiber

In agriculture the quality and quantity of crops greatly depend on the environmental conditions. In traditional agriculture we can make little impact on most factors. Even if we can make an impact, we often make things worse: just think about all the unnecessary fertilization poisoning underground waters or pesticides poisoning all the bugs most likely playing an important part of the natural cycle.

Fortunately there are new growing techniques (some may be ancient or rediscovered), hydro-cultures, such as Aquaponics that are pointing towards a possible solution for several problems and beyond...

Greenhouses and urban growing conditions (window farms, growing cabinets, etc) are getting more and more spotlight and gaining popularity across the globe, especially as there is an exponentially increasing awareness of global problems. Hydro-culture could also answer challenges of places where water is the most precious resource of all.

In closed systems, however, specifically, it is possible to have a tight control on the environment. Theoretically it is possible to maintain an ideal environment for the exact flora and fauna hosted in the closed environment.

Maintenance of an optimal environment takes effort, tedious execution of checks and prompt actions is needed to balance out changes in the external and or internal conditions and ensure avoidance of stressful imbalances.

Project Goal

The APDuino Project aims to provide aid in automation for the pioneering aquaponics and hydroponics farmers, enthusiasts, researchers in a way that even less technical knowledge is required to build a microcontroller-based automation system than before, whereas unlimited complex computing power is fitted to it through the ubiquitous computing already present: the Internet.

Project output, high-level technical overview

The project produces free, open-source binaries for the popular Arduino Mega 2560 + W5100 EtherShield (or equivalent clones) hardware combo, as a basis for any Node. 

Nodes can host many kinds of sensors and actuators, making it possible to monitor environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, light, conductivity, pressure, water quality, etc. and to interact with the environment by controlling appliances like lights, pumps, heaters, coolers, etc. 

Nodes can be wired and configured according to the individual needs and specifications, within the constraints of hardware datasheets and software support. The reference hardware is low cost and widely available and known to aquaponics + arduino enthusiasts. Already several systems have been created based on them prior to APDuino Project, but in a less flexible (if open at all), less adaptable design and implementation.

Besides the official Arduino site and forum, there are tons of blogs, how-to’s, forums and companies providing excellent, reliable documentation on how to wire up the hardware components. 

Again, the key difference with APDuino Project is that those programming parts can be skipped; supported hardware can be configured using APDuino Online.

Nodes provide a web-based graphical user interface with charts and interaction with the device; switch between open and closed-loop control, change actuator states, etc.

Key Features:

• No-coding needed to fit supported sensors, actuators

• Closed-loop control (automation) based on custom, user provided logic

• Offline and online data logging

• HTTP API for LAN applications

• Free, open-source

If you would like to read more regarding this article...

You can purchase all the back issues of the ASC Magazine here:

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

Or 

Subscribe to the magazine by purchasing a lifetime subscription here: 

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

Aquaponics Photo Contest

Aquaponics Backyard - Commercial System Contest

This is a MONTHLY contest and our aim is to raise awareness of people just like you, creating all kinds of aqua systems, and sharing real people and their Aqua growing experiences.

From the smallest to massive commercial set ups, we want to share your hard work with our subscribers. 

SIGN UP HERE: http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/monthly_contest/

It is EASY to enter - just send us your snapshots of ANY water based system you have been involved in creating. Include the following:

1. your 5 best pictures of the system (use DROPBOX to attach images over 5mb -we need good quality pictures so massive photos should be shared this way) https://www.dropbox.com/

2. Your full name and state as well as your city

3. 2 to 3 paragraphs about your system

4. A link you want to add (i.e. Facebook, your business link etc. This is not mandatory but we want to reward people who want some traffic or to promote their business). 

There will be more details soon so keep an eye on your email box and be sure to OPEN EVERY email we send. Thanks again and we look forward to your great set ups!

SIGN UP HERE: http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/monthly_contest/

If you a question regarding the contest please contact us at info@venusrizing.com for more information. Remember this is a great way to get some exposure to you, your business and you can win some great prizes!


P.S. Not a lifetime member yet? Please consider joining here for all the perks, benefits and other great goodies:

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