Floating Farms
Aquaponics might seem like something new, but there are ancient versions practised by certain indigenous cultures.
Chinampa
Chinampa are a form of aquaponics that the Aztec people made used of extensively. A chinampa is a floating garden built on a freshwater lake, made by making a raft of woven reeds, with stakes to keep it in place. Soil was placed down until it was above the waters surface.
"The earliest fields that have been securely dated are from the Middle Postclassic period, 1150 – 1350 CE.” Wikipedia
This system eliminates the need for watering, and was successful in growing maize, fruit, tomatoes, amaranth, beans, chile, and flowers.
While some are still used today, they are lowering in number as lakes are drained or dried out.
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Himalayan Foothills
A raad is a floating farm found in Dal Lake in Kashmir.
When a location is chosen, a plant called “piyach” is added. The farmers tend to its growth for the next 2-3 years, ensuring it stays the proper length and width as the roots grow deep into the lake bed. 1
“A raad liven, that looks like a gigantic pincer consisting of two planks – each three feet in width – is lowered by two people in two boats into the soft sediment of the lake bed. A two feet thick slab of soil, held together by the weeds, is manually severed from the bottom of the lake with the help of the planks which are fitted with steel edges. The planks then float to the surface bearing a portion of the lake bed with them. More soil is added to the surface of the raad. The weed decomposes to become a natural fertilizer for the vegetables to be grown." DownToEarth 2
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#aquaponics #food #farming #gardening
About Aquaponics
Aquaponics is similar to hydroponics, but makes use of fish to create fertilizer-rich water (from fish waste) for the plants to thrive. In turn, the plants help clean the water for the fish.You can put the pumps, lights, and fish feeders on timers to automate them, and even use fish types people eat for fish farming.
Aquaponic Benefits:
- Can enable year-round growing.
- Reduce water usage (compared to conventional farming).
- No weeds.
- Can provide two income sources (plants and fish) [1]
- Can bring food options into food deserts [2]
Common Aquaponic Fish Mistakes
- Over-crowded tanks. Too many fish in a tank causes stress, poor water quality, and can increase the chance of disease outbreaks.[3]
- No Light. Fish need a cycle between light and dark to regulate their circadian rhythm just like people do,[4], so aquaponic fish either need artificial lighting, or a tank that gets sunlight.
- No Gravel: Gravel is not just for appearance, it can also help regulate the water quality for fish, provide enrichment, and reduce reflections. [5]
- No Hiding Spots: Having places to hide can make a fish feel safer and so less stressed. One easy option is driftwood. [6]
- No Bubblers: If you are not going to have water constantly flowing between your tanks and plants, then you will need bubblers to increase oxygen in the tank for the fish[7] and also reduce algae.[8]
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What's So Great About Aquaponics?“Ever heard of aquaponics? In urban areas, aquaponics helps combat barriers that come with farming in cities, like lack of access to space. “
How This Aquaponics Farmer Is Reinventing Urban Agriculture
“There are so many barriers in place when it comes to growing food in cities, but education and lack of access to space are the hardest to overcome. Yemi Amu has dedicated her life as a farmer to solving this problem, by starting the only Aquaponics farm in NYC. Oko Farms in Brooklyn is both a working farm which provides fresh food to surrounding neighborhoods, while also actively engaging the public in education on how to grow food for yourself in urban environments.”
#farming #gardening #greenliving #aquaponics #FarmingAndGardening
How This Aquaponics Farmer Is Reinventing Urban Agriculture
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