2007 Annual Report for FNC06-627
Micro Solutions for Urban Agriculture
Summary
WORK ACTIVITES
We began the aquaponics system the last week of June by attending three days of instruction at Growing Power in Milwaukee (www.growingpower.org). Here we spent one day touring the facility with and networking with a group of farmers from around the world (they were there with Oxfam). We spent the second day working one on one with their aquaponics specialist, Rick Mueller. He took us through each of the seven or eight aquaponics systems explaining the design and function differences between each. We spent the second part of the day roughly designing our own system and then going through that system design with Rick (and asking him the endless number of questions that we came up with while designing our own system). We spent day three disassembling and repairing one of the existing aquaponics systems at Growing Power.
Construction of the aquaponics system has been slow due to the necessity of other farm work and the beauties of urban farming (of building infrastructure on top of old home foundations). Chris Olliges has been the primary designer and builder of the system while receiving help from Joseph Black and Stephen Inman. The aquaponics system is being constructed in an 11' x 8' pre-existing greenhouse. The system includes 4 raised growing beds, a fish tank, and an in-ground 11' x 36" x 4' filtration bed (which will be filled with lava rock and aquatic plants). Initial construction was delayed when a buried concrete foundation the length of the filtration bed and a foot thick was discovered. We then had to rent a jackhammer to remove the foundation and dig the rest of the filtration bed. The structure of the system including the raised beds, filtration tank, and fish tank were built and installed in the fall of 2007. This winter Chris has been researching pond pumps and photovoltaic solar systems. In preparing to get the system running this spring we have been studying aquaculture, tilapia, sprouts options, nutrient and bacteria requirements, and passive solar technology. This past week we installed the pond liner in the growing beds and ran the drain lines for the system. This week we ordered the solar system and pump and should begin installing it in the next couple of weeks.
We intend to but have not yet purchased sprout seeds, scales, a heater, produce bags, and more potting mix. Tilapia will be purchased later this spring. We will also begin recording and reporting labor as soon as sprout production begins.
RESULTS
The majority of the results from this project will manifest themselves when the aquaponics system is completed and operating. One result of building this system was our trip to Growing Power. Trish Grim, Joseph Black, and Chris Olliges were able to visit Growing Power (GP), a leader in the urban agricultural movement. Here we were able to see working examples of large scale vermicomposting, numerous aquaponics setups, beekeeping, animal husbandry, sprout production, and a local food distribution cooperative. We were able to make important contacts with Rick Mueller who has been building and operating aquaponics systems for decades. Another result of this trip was getting red wiggler worms from GP. Since then we have been actively vermicomposting our discarded sprout trays. Before, when sprouts were harvested the potting mix was composted with other plant material. By using worms we can now compost this material more quickly, reuse it as potting mix, and reduce our dependence on buying commercial mix.
Our knowledge of aquaponics has increased exponentially. Although we do not have the system up and running, we do know how aquaponics systems operate, how they mimic a natural river ecosystem, the differences between aquaponics, hydroponics, and aquaculture. We have received hands on experience repairing an existing system and extensive experience designing and building a new system. This is an important learning process in and of itself. Since we hope to become a resource for potential aquaculturalists, designing and building this system will enable us to give experienced consultation to new comers. This ability will greatly increase when we have observed our own design over time and can advise people to think about certain considerations based on our own experience.
This system has enabled us to familiarize ourselves with photovoltaics and passive solar heating and storage. Finding the appropriate photovoltaic system has enabled us to do research and networking with regards to solar electric systems. Raising fish is new for all of the farmers here at New Roots. Learning what fish need to live is especially important to the success of this project. Since Tilapia is a tropical fish species, consistent and fairly high water temperatures are important. Passive solar heating and storage is something we have been researching and planning for our aquaponics system. Since spring temperatures are well below the preferred temperature of 85 degrees, we are learning the principles of heat storage and transfer. We are learning how a tank of water can act as thermal mass to regulate night time temperatures. We are brainstorming how to use compost to heat the greenhouse during the night and maintain a constant temperature.
Although it is a fairly simple lesson, we have all experienced how building infrastructure, such as an aquaponics system, is labor intensive and time consuming. This system can potentially provide food and income for the farm but it does take labor away from growing food and our other programs.
WORK PLAN
Our solar system and pumps have been ordered. As soon as they come in (hopefully in the next week or two) Joseph and Chris will begin installing the solar electric system which includes two 60 Watt solar panels, a charge controller, and battery. The solar system will operate two small pumps and an aerator. We will then install the two pumps and plumbing to pipe water up to the growing beds. According to plan we will have these installed by the end of March. With the pump and solar panels installed we can get the system running. We will order the Tilapia in late March or early April according to weather conditions and progress on the system. During the month of April we hope to troubleshoot any problems with the system, develop consistent sprout production (finding which sprouts work best for us, planning and testing harvesting cycles, etc), and begin networking with restaurants and groceries. We will be producing and selling sprouts and micro greens May through October to restaurants, groceries, and at least two farmer’s markets. We will harvest Tilapia in late October.
OUTREACH
Although the aquaponics system is still under construction we have already shared the idea of aquaponics and our trip to Growing Power with others. Chris wrote an article in our farm’s summer newsletter explaining our trip to Milwaukee and the farm’s new aquaponics system. The newsletter is sent out to our shareholders, volunteers, donors, friends, and a sign-up list. A second way we have shared information about aquaponics was to show our visitors (CSA shareholders, fieldtrip and tour groups, and neighbors) the construction of our system and explain the design and ideas behind it.
Next year the primary way we will share the aquaponics system with others is by having the system running when our shareholders, tour/fieldtrip groups, school groups, neighbors, gardeners, and farmers come to the farm. Being located in an urban setting enables us to have many visitors (100’s per year) through our farm. We will integrate the aquaponics system (and its components such as fish, bacteria, water, water quality, cyclical relationships, etc) into their experience at our farm.
We plan to create an information packet including basic concepts, definitions, simple designs and drawings, pictures, and resources. This will likely be completed a couple months after the system is running so it can include our experience in maintaining the system over a period of time. We plan to share information through our website in the appropriate technologies page and again through our newsletter this year. If enough interest is generated we would like to do a 3-4 hour workshop based on our experience thus far; discussing the basic principles, design features, and possibilities for the participant’s own application.