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Furthering sustainable food production with aquaponics and a greenhouse

We’ve been covering a lot of topics under sustainability lately, the reason is that it enhances our capacity to live responsibly so that the planet can continue to support life extendably. Harnessing renewables, planting trees, cleaning up the environment and keeping pollution to minimal levels can have a great impact on the earth. But there are other factors that equally influence sustainability. Aquaponics is emerging as a feasible solution to sustainable food production systems. It involves a combination of aquaculture with hydroponics, the latter meaning to grow plants in water. But there are still other individuals, who try to fuse more components into the system to increase sustainability. Oma Richmond and a team of people recently constructed a greenhouse for aquaponics using recycled glass.

Building a greenhouse for Aquaponics

The project began by leveling an area and enclosing it in treated wood of 8×6 inches. Two inch thick foams were used as part of the insulation system. Water lines were dug into the ground while sand and pavers were installed over the area. The rest of the precut components were added in a mere two days including the recycled glass. The greenhouse is on the way to being completed, which will take another weekend for the solar exhaust fans and beds to be fitted in.

What we love about the project is its small scale, which virtually anyone can take up. The use of recycled glass and solar panels is especially admirable as the team was looking to make the greenhouse as independent from conventional fuel sources as possible. With so little time taken to set everything up, such a project can be easily be implemented by small towns and municipalities.

Aquaponics is still in the early stages, but it has huge potential for recycling and sustainable food production. The system reuses water that becomes toxic for fishes to promote the growth of plants. The cycle ensures that not many resources are needed in order for it to be sustainable so it works especially well for areas where water is a scarcity.

Via: Aquaponicscommunity

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