Aquaponics is the combination of fish farming and of hydroponics. The fish create nutrient rich water that becomes fertilizer for the plants. The plants then use these nutrients and the filtered water is lead back to the fish. Natural microbes keep the fish and plants healthy. This whole process creates a sustainable ecosystem where the plants and fish thrive.
Aquaponics is an efficient way of raising food that uses limited water, space and utilizes waste. It can produce organic protein and vegetables.
For more information, please visit Nelson and Pade
2011 is the first year that our system has been running. There were many months of hard work and preparation in 2010. We decided to raise koi in our system. This koi will eventually be sold to local individuals and businesses for use in their ponds. We have been raising different varieties of lettuce and greens, basil and sprouts. We have been able to sell these wares at our farm stand, generating a reliable income for Wishing Tree Gardens.
We are also excited about the aquaponics becoming an educational resource as well. We have given tours to people interested in starting their own systems. This summer we will have our first group of school age children come to tour the system. We also hope to expand school group tours in the fall. This system is a green technology and we are happy to share it with youth and hope that it inspires them.