Aquaponics!

One of our very first aspirations here on our urban microfarm was setting up an aquaponics system. Basically, it is the reconceptualizing of waste water into an edible food source. The fact that we can lower our impact on the earth and provide fresh organically grown vegetation at the same time is not a new idea. The ancient Aztec and Egyptian cultures have been utilizing integrated vegetable and fish farming polyculture long before us. 

An aquaponic home-cultivation system is a symbiotic relationship between fish and plants in a recirculating environment. Think of it as a large fish tank coupled with a hydroponic vegetable crop. The nitrogen produced by the fish waste is recirculated and consumed by the plants who, in turn, filter and clean the water for the fish. Oftentimes, Tilapia fish are used and harvested as another food source. Both fresh water and salt water systems can be implemented. 

We have been playing around with a few different designs and are planning to integrate this wonderful concept to our daily lives.