| Home | About | Training Program and Curriculum Development | Website Development | Consulting | Aquaponics and Hydroponics | Contact |
Aquaponics and Hydroponics
Hydroponics is simply growing plants without soil. In a typical hydroponic system, the plant roots are immersed in a nutrient-rich solution or the solution continually flows past the roots. This nutrient solution is comprised of a precise mix of water soluble fertilizers that provide a balanced diet of elements to the plants. Hydroponic methods are known for producing very high quality crops in high volume. The disadvantage of traditional hydroponic systems is that they are not organic. The potential of an organic hydroponic system is enormous - food that is grown without pesticides and herbicides, grown in a natural manner without manufactured fertilizers; food that is safe, locally grown and healthful for you and your family! Because of this, hydroponic growers have been trying to refine an organic hydroponic fertilizer solution that provides all of the nutritional needs of the plant. This has proved to be very challenging and the organic hydroponic fertilizers commercially available tend to be very costly and often lack some of the essential elements to plant growth.
So, how do you achieve organic hydroponics? Aquaponics, which mimics the natural dynamics of all of earth's water ways, is the only organic hydroponic method that has proven to be commercially viable. And, as an added bonus, you produce two crops - fish and vegetables. The fertilizer in an aquaponic system comes from the fish waste. Microbial activity converts the waste into nutrients that the plants need and, as the plants consume the nutrients, they help to purify the water the fish live in. This all happens in a recirculating system that uses less water than traditional agriculture. Aquaponic systems from Nelson and Pade, Inc. are highly developed and refined for food production. Whether you want to grow safe, healthful food for your family or you want to start a new, profitable, organic farming enterprise, these systems give you all of the tools you need. Aquaponics technology has been developed and refined by Universities, commercial growers and back yard enthusiasts. The Agriculture Experiment Station at the University of the Virgin Islands, led by Dr. James Rakocy, has contributed the greatest volume of work in aquaponics, with ongoing research for over 25 years. The Crop Diversification Center in Alberta, Canada has embarked on new and innovative research in aquaponics and many other Universities around the globe continue to refine techniques. Rebecca Nelson and John Pade have been in the hydroponics and greenhouse industry since 1986 and began building aquaponic systems and growing fish and plants together in 1996. For the past 10 years they have published the Aquaponics Journal, books, videos and school curriculums in aquaponics and offered their consulting services to individuals looking for assistance in planning and design both hydroponic and aquaponic projects. In 2008, Nelson and Pade, Inc. began offering the first complete line of fully developed aquaponics systems - with models and production levels to meet every budget and space. Visit www.aquaponics.com for details. Aquaponic systems from Nelson and Pade, Inc. come complete with all of the tanks, equipment, plumbing and pumps you will need, plus detailed assembly and operational manuals. Nelson and Pade,
Inc. Nelson and Pade, Inc.
|