This site is dedicated to Greenhouse design, Aquaculture, Aquaponics, Aeroponics systems and general plant/animal husbandry when grown in a sustainable organic manner.
A Green Project Challenge
The intent of this project is to see if being more green is viable given the cost of materials vs. the Return On Investment (ROI) for operating my own greenhouse aquaponics/aeroponics system in our backyard. The challenge is whether I can design, build and operate an aquaponics/aeroponics based greenhouse system in a sustainable manner with a small carbon footprint while providing food for the table at a reasonable cost over conventional methods such as purchasing fish/vegetables at the local grocery. Join me on this journey of discovery while I forge a new chapter in my quest for a better tomorrow.
Here's where my system is at going into mid May, I just got finished placing some of my left over expanded shale into the area around the pump house and barrel filters. I placed some above ground plastic edging at the boarder of the ground tarps over to the greenhouse , and then used about 3 wheelbarrow's full of shale to fill it in about 2" inches deep. I was in jeopardy of losing the weed block as it was beginning to deteriorate from the sun.
It turned out rather nice and provided good drainage for any rain water coming off the greenhouse.
I have also included a few pics of the raft system plants to show some of the growth that is going on.
I have five varieties of lettuce, which include Romain, and bibb. Just wish I had more growing.
I also have squash and cucumber plants in the raft systems which seem to being doing "Just OK", but really haven't taken off yet.
Here is a quick overview video of the entire greenhouse setup, inlcuding the DWC Raft and new nursery plant rafts.
