Open Source Ecology - User contributions [en]

Aquaponics

2011-06-08T20:09:36Z

Laconic: /* Resources */

{{Category=Controlled-environment growing}}
Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants using water rather than soil). It is an incredibly productive means of growing food, allowing a person to sustain themselves on less than 100m2. Some people with large systems growing 5000 plants a week have reported that, once their system is set up, they earn €1000 a week spending 2 hours a day at work. Aquaponics is ecologically sound and sustainable. Scalable designs for systems are available online.

==How aquaponics works==
[[File:Aquaponics.gif|center|850px]]
Edible fish are grown in a tank. Their poop enriches the water with nutrients. This enriched water is pumped into gravel beds with edible plants rooted in them. As the water flows through the gravel beds, the plants' roots and the bacteria that grow on the gravel take nutrients from the water. This both nourishes the plants and cleans the water. The water, now clean, flows back into the fish tank.

The system provides fish, vegetables and herbs for people. Some systems have grown fruit trees aquaponically, but this is still experimental.

==Feeding the fish==
*'''Commercially available fish food''' is the most common way of feeding the fish in aquaponics. The disadvantage is that your system then requires constant input of resources.
*'''Algae''' will grow endemically in nearly any body of still water. Fish will eat these, but in practice it is not possible to grow enough algae to sustain an aquaponic system. You can increase the fraction of the fish's requirements met by algae by providing a surface underwater for the algae to grow on. (Remember when you had a goldfish as a kid, and the little castle in his tank got covered with green stuff?) Use something with high surface area.
*'''[[Duckweed]]''', an extremely fast-growing high-protein pond weed, can be grown on the surface of the tank. There are species of duckweed adapted to nearly all climates.
*'''Insects'''. Herbs that attract insects can be grown in rafts on the surface of the fishtank. Mulberry and tea trees are used in aquaculture to attract insects as fish food.
*'''[[Worms]]''' from a compost heap can be fed to the fish. The worms can be fed with grass cuttings, food waste and other organic waste. Some of the compost from the wormery can be added to the water input to the gravel beds; this diversifies the nutrients the plants receive. Aquaponics combined with vermiculture is nearly a closed-loop system. Organic waste is converted into worms, worms into fish, fish into vegetables. The fish and the vegetables are converted into human life!
*'''[[Black Soldier Fly]] larvae'''. An integrated Black Soldier Fly and aquaponics system can turn 12kg of food waste into 1kg of delicious fish, plus the vegetables in the grow-beds.

Duckweed grows very fast and Black Soldier Fly larvae convert very efficiently. A system with a small duckweed tank, a wormery and a Black Soldier Fly bioconversion unit should have no problem getting by without buying fish food. This cuts operating costs to near zero. The more varied the fish's diet, the better they are likely to taste.

==System design==
A rule of thumb is that the volume of the gravel beds should be twice that of the fish tank. Gravel beds would typically be about 30cm deep.

Fish can normally be stocked at 2-3kg of fish per cubic meter of water.

The species of fish used depends on the climate.

==Water quality==
===Temperature===
The required temperature depends on the species of fish you want to grow. If you choose fish that are adapted to your local climate, you will save money on heating costs. The larger the tank, the harder it is

===pH===
pH needs to be tested every week or more. A pH of around 6.2-6.4 is best, though this varies somewhat depending on the species of fish.

If pH gets too low, it could be a sign that parts of the gravel bed have developed anaerobic bacteria, which produce acids. If this happens, remove any plants with very large root systems, as these create pockets where air cannot get to.

If the pH is too high, it is generally a sign that the plant biofilters are not keeping up with the fish's production of ammonia. Plant more plants.

===Oxygenation===
Aquaponic systems require an air pump underwater. Having the flow from the gravel beds falling from a height and splashing into the fish tank will help oxygenate it too.

It is very important to keep the aerator pump running at all times. If the oxygen supply to the fish is cut off for just 45 minutes, you will have dead fish. For this reason, it is wise to have a backup air pump that will kick in if your pump fails. There can never be too much oxygen in the water; excess oxygen will bubble to the surface and escape.

===Nutrients===
A lot of aquaponic systems require calcium, potassium and iron to be added about every two weeks. If you have a wormery and add a little of the worm-compost to the water flowing into the gravel beds, this should provide these missing nutrients.

==Open-source systems==
* [http://farmfountain.com/howto/index.html Farm Fountain], an open-source, indoor, vertical aquaponic system.
* [http://www.fastonline.org/content/view/15/29/ Barrelponics] - Aquaponics in a barrel. Barrelponics definitely meets the [[OSE Specifications]]; it is a scalable, environmentally-friendly, open-source local food system.

==Work to be done==
Aquaponics is still in its infancy and is developing every year. More research needs to be done into polycultured systems that can grow more than one type of fish. (Different fish require different water temperatures and pH, so some species are incompatible. However, tilapia and prawns - which are both delicious - have been farmed together in fish farms [http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/tilapia/prawns.php].) Another avenue of research would be to use lights or herbs to attract insects to the tank where the fish can eat them; another step towards making a more diverse, more closed-loop system.

===Concept for compost-heated, compost-powered aquaponic system===
Say you want to set up an aquaponics system. You decide to grow tilapia, because they have many advantages for aquaponics. But tilapia like a water temperature of 28-30°C (82-86°F) and you live in a climate where it gets cold in winter. Using good [[Greenhouses|greenhouse design]], you are able to stabilize the temperature year-round, but there's no way you'll get it up to 28-30° without a heat source. This will require an input of power, in addition to the power needed for the pump.

There could be a way to kill two birds with one stone: build a [[thermophilic compost]] heap against one side of the fish tank. The heat from the compost will warm the water up. It is very unlikely that you will make it too hot this way, because compost won't go much above 30°. Secondly, for the pump you keep a [[Stirling Engine with Hydraulic Transmission|stirling engine]] at the compost heap. This is driven by the heat of the composting and is hydraulically connected to the water pump. Just an idea...

==Resources==
* [http://www.fastonline.org/content/category/4/15/29/ Aquaponics info at F.A.S.T.]
* [http://www.backyardaquaponics.com Backyard Aquaponics] - Includes a thriving [http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/ forum]
* [http://www.growingpower.org/ Growing Power] - a non-profit dedicated to educating people about growing food
* [http://www.friendlyaquaponics.com/ Friendly Aquaponics] - contains plans for systems
* [http://www.aquaponicsjournal.com/articles.php Aquaponics Journal articles]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics#Further_reading Wikipedia aquaponics article] - Further Reading section
* [https://www.aquaponics.com/aquaponics/aquaponicsoverview.php ''Aquaponics Information'' at aquaponics.com]
* [http://www.appropedia.org/Aquaponics Aquaponics on Appropedia]
* [http://www.windward.org/ Windward] - a self-sufficient community that uses aquaponics. They have an informative website.
* [http://socalfishfarm.com/fish/ SoCal Fish Farm] - a commercial aquaponics operation. Their website has good information on tilapia, shrimp, aquaponics and [[Greenhouses|solar greenhouses]]
* [http://passionforproduce.net/ Passion For Produce] - backyard aquaponics garden in Sarasota, FL
* [http://www.aquaponics-shop.com Aquaponics Shop] - Australia dedicated aquaponics shop with commercial assistance and research

Aquaponics

2011-06-08T19:43:24Z

Laconic: /* Resources */

Hydroponics

2011-06-08T18:46:09Z

Laconic: /* Links */

{{Category=Controlled-environment growing}}
[[Image:Hydroponics.jpg|right|450px|thumb|An example of vertically stacked hydroponics. A system like this would allow a person to be self-sustaining for vegetables in just a few square meters. This makes it particularly useful for urban settings.]]

Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in nutrient-enriched water rather than soil.

Hydroponics is incredibly productive and requires little space. For example, [[Factor e Farm]]'s experiments found that they could grow $1 of lettuce per square foot per week. And the [http://carbon.org/ Institute of Simplified Hydroponics] has found that they can grow 2kg of vegetables a day on 20m2 of space [http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ezRcpPE6EGwJ:www.carbon.org/senegal/india1.doc&cd=4&hl=en]. Indoor growing in a greenhouse greatly reduces losses to pests.

See [http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/blog/easy-to-build-hydroponic-system here] for free instructions on building several different hydroponic systems. N55 have a design for a vertical hydroponic system [http://www.n55.dk/MANUALS/HOME_HYDRO/HOME_HYDRO.html here]. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics Wikipedia on hydroponics] for more information.

[http://hmeter.sourceforge.net/ Open source software for automating hydroponic systems].

[[Aquaponics]] is a kind of hydroponics that uses the water from fish tanks. This eliminates the need for an input of nutrients.

==Open-source hydroponic nutrient==
You can mix hydroponic nutrient cheaply using mineral salts that most chemical suppliers have. The necessary ingredients are:
*Monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4)
*Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
*Calcium nitrate (CaNO3)
*Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4)
*Boric Acid (H3BO3)
*Manganese chloride (MnCl2)
*Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4)
*Copper sulfate (CuSO4)
*Iron sulfate (FeSO4)
*Ammonium molybdate

==Links==
*[http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4874992/Getting_Started_Everything_You_Need_to_Know_-_Hydroponics ''Hydroponics - Everything You Need To Know To Get Started''], big messy 463-page book, covering everything: lighting, nutrients, suppliers, different plants and their requirements,
*[http://www.amazon.com/How-Hydroponics-Fourth-Keith-Roberto/dp/0967202612/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1307558672&sr=8-1''How-To Hydroponics, 4th edition''], a compact, practical book including plans for several systems
*http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/ An informative site. Also has forums.

===Open-source systems===
*[http://inventgeek.com/2011-Projects/General-Hydroponics-Drip-System/Overview.aspx general-purpose single-plant bucket drip system], [http://inventgeek.com/2011-Projects/DIY-CFL-Grow-Light/Overview.aspx CFL grow light cluster], [http://inventgeek.com/2011-Projects/Deep-Water-Culture-System/OverView.aspx simple deep-water culture system]from Jared Bouck's Inventgeek
*[http://www.howtohydroponics.com/ How-To Hydroponics kit plans]
*[http://members.mailaka.net/norm34/ Hydroponics free DIY plans]
*[http://www.n55.dk/MANUALS/HOME_HYDRO/HOME_HYDRO.html Home hydroponic system], open-source plans for a vertically-stacked hydroponic system designed by n55

One Month Project-Based Visits/Madden

2011-05-14T23:10:05Z

Laconic: Created page with "1. Name, age, gender, location, contact info (phone, email, Skype). Please include a photo of yourself.File:Jacob_Madden.jpg Jacob Madden, 29, male, Siesta Key, FL, 80538052..."

1. Name, age, gender, location, contact info (phone, email, Skype). Please include a photo of yourself.[[File:Jacob_Madden.jpg]]

Jacob Madden, 29, male, Siesta Key, FL, 8053805253, jacob.madden@gmail.com, jacobsmadden

2. Please list schools you have attended, degrees and/or major areas of study or training, and independent studies that you have done.

University of Southern California
MS in Computer Science with specialization in Intelligent Robotics
GPA: 3.96

Georgia Institute of Technology
BS Computer Engineering
GPA: 3.85

3. Please attach a resume or provide a list of work experience, both paid and volunteer.

TODO: insert

4. Please provide 3 References with email and phone number - 2 work references, 1 personal reference

TODO: insert
Work Ref #1:
Work Ref #2:
Personal Ref #3:

5. How did you hear about the program? Why are you applying for a Dedicated Project Visit? Why are you interested in our work?

I first heard of the program from the TED talk, but have been interested in starting / joining a similar project for quite some time. I believe self-sufficient, sustainable communities are the way of the future and want to develop my skills to live off the land in a positive way. Your work is aligned with this vision. My addition to the project could be beneficial for all.

6. Describe practical skills you may have - from agriculture, workshop, industry, organizing, hands-on, CAD, manufacturing, computer skills, etc.

TODO: insert

7. Have you designed and built anything that you use?

TODO: insert

8. Which of your skills are particularly relevant towards creating the GVCS? Please view the San Francisco Presentation of 2010 and recent update for the latest on our approach and on-the-ground work.

TODO: insert

9. Do you have any organizational skills and experience?

TODO: insert

10. Can you cook or grow food? Can you cover your food expenses?

I am a mediocre cook, but interested in getting better / helping as much as I am able. I can cover my food expenses.

11. Do you have resources to support yourself while volunteering with us?

I have a small nest egg at the moment that I am trying to build towards the purchase of my own land. However, I am willing to use portions of it for support at the farm.

12. Do you have any medical conditions or physical disabilities which may affect your ability to do physical work? Do you have any emotional, psychological, or mental issues which may affect your ability to act effectively and with good judgment?

I am in excellent physical condition and have a naturally optimistic attitude.

13. Are you easy to get along with and can you get along with other people?

I am very easy going and get along well with almost anyone. I have worked in a lot of groups in various roles and in multiple cultures.

14. Do you have strong ideological views (political, religious, feminist, etc.)?

I have strong core moral beliefs but do not attempt to push them on others. I'm not much of a believer in organized religion, but that is a personal choice and I do not look down on others who choose that lifestyle.

15. Are you a team player - or someone who understands that the work we do at Factor e Farm is for a much greater purpose than for our own self-gratification, indulgence, or agenda? This implies a level of maturity in the participant which allows one to remain not only aligned with the long-term vision, but also to remain motivated in this work. Historically, this has been one of the key challenges for participants.

The whole drawing factor of the farm for me is that it is for a higher purpose. I'm a hard worker and when I feel that a venture is worthwhile, I dedicate myself completely. Whether it is on this farm or another, I am going to be pushing for this vision of the future. I believe it is humanities way forward.

16. Do you smoke? Do you have any dietary restrictions? Will you eat meat raised at our farm?

I do not smoke. I have no dietary restrictions. I will eat meat raised at the farm.

17. Do you have transportation? Will you be arriving by car and leaving the car on-site?

I have a car. If possible I would leave the car on-site, but can make alternate arrangements if necessary.

18. Documentation is key to moving our work forward. This includes video documentation. Can you produce a 1-3 minute video introduction to yourself and what you would like to accomplish in your Dedicated Project Visit? See sample video from WilliamCleaver from a former application. The video can be as simple as a clip uploaded to the web, or uploaded to a video viewer such as YouTube, Blip.tv, Vimeo, or others. If you are accepted, can you produce video updates on your work at least at 2 week intervals, starting with a video upon your arrival?

TODO: insert

I can gladly produce video updates on my progress at the farm. I strongly believe in tracking progress and looking where you have come from to help adjust and optimize the future work and learn from mistakes.

19. Can you work well as a pioneer under rough conditions, by taking the responsibility to create your own environment?

I've lived under simple conditions spending three months in Nepal and am quite flexible in my living situation. I'd relish the chance to create my own environment and look forward to doing the same on my own farm some day.

20. When would you be available for a Dedicated Project Visit?

TODO: insert

21. If you are accepted and things don't work out, do you have other options to pursue after the month?

I have other options that I am considering carefully. The alignment of the farm with my life goals makes it an enticing option. I have a solid work background and always have the opportunity to pursue other options if things did not work out.

22. List your goals and deliverables for your Dedicated Project Visit, breaking it up by each of the four weeks. Please write a one-page proposal brief summarizing what you would like to do, how you would accomplish it, and what resources you would need to do so.

TODO: insert

23. Are you willing to publish all the results of your work openly, and to make any of your contributions open source, consistent with our goal of creating Distributive Enterprise?

Yes, the open source nature of this work is one of the drawing factors of this group.

24. How does your proposed work contribute to the creation of the GVCS? How does your proposal contribute towards creating a world of post-scarcity economics?

TODO: insert

25. What are the metrics by which you could assess the success of your work? (prototypes built, documentation produced, resources or funding raised, infrastructure built, food provided, contribution to the community provided, True Fans recruited, presentations given, speaking tours organized, etc.) Note that we are looking for tangible and explicit proposals and results as opposed to 'I will help with whatever is needed' or other generalizations - unless we agree otherwise.

TODO: insert

26. What do you expect to get out of your Dedicated Project Visit?

TODO: insert

27. Can you visit us prior to your Dedicated Project Visit?

TODO: insert

28. Please share three interesting things about yourself.

1) I spent a year traveling internationally to explore how other cultures live and approach education and community with a desire to study alternate paths to a fulfilling life.
2) I have a passion for artificial intelligence and the development of socially aware entities
3) I have a vision of developing passive income streams to fund my farming efforts

29. Please share three things you think people should know about living with you.

1) I appreciate honesty and openness
2) I don't like game playing or passive aggressive behavior
3) I'm fairly neat myself, but not obsessive and am fine with others being a bit more messy as long as it doesn't get out of control / unsanitary

30. Are you considering other communities and options?

I am considering other options. I might work at an enriching job that pays well to save money for my own land. I might continue to work towards working independently to develop income streams.

31. Any other concerns or considerations?