Aquaponics combines aquaculture, the gardening or farming of aquatic organisms, with traditional soil gardening.
In the best examples of aquaponics, each system supports the other in a symbiosis -- materials from the soil garden go to feed the aquatic life, and the nutrient-rich water from the pond is used to fertilize the soil garden. Unlike straight hydroponic practice where nutrients for plant growth are often provided by a chemical mix, in an aquaponic system most of the nutrients come from the creatures living in the water -- "dirty fishwater" becomes a valuable fertilizer!
Aquaponic systems may also be used for greywater purification -- the plants in the system loop provide filtration and oxygenation.
Aquaponic systems have been successfully used around the world for thousands of years, on all scales. A sustainable aquaponic system may be surprisingly compact, and operate even in a small yard.
As a city dweller, you may have dreamed of one day growing your own vegetables, raising a few egg-laying chickens, and maybe even going off the grid with environmentally friendly forms of energy. Your dream is closer to reality than ever before!
The urban homesteading movement is growing and flourishing in cities large and small all over the country. Even if you're an apartment dweller with little or no outdoor space, this helpful guide gives you everything you need to know to get the taste of the "country life" in the city.
An award-winning food journalist examines alternative food systems in cities around the globe and chronicles a game-changing movement, a rebellion against the industrial food behemoth, and a reclaiming of communities to grow, distribute, and eat locally.
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