This should have "shipped" in April -

We really aren't teaching fish to read. We will, at some point, eat the fish in our set up ( have eaten some already, buried others, and released one turtle back to the wild). Being an English teacher, I am never one to give up a chance at word play or puns.

Our family's adventure in aquaponics actually started in March of this year but I have just now gotten to the blogging. A little background initially. I love the idea of gardening and growing my own food. I love the idea of it. The actually watering, weeding, harvesting or even the initial setting up of a bed and deciding on what plants is well past my skill set. Many a plant has met its demise at my hands.

My husband, however, is a doer and a maker. If there is a project that intrigues him he is on it and willing to make it himself. One of his great abilities and blessings for me. I am a lucky wife. :)

So back in March when he was diligently doing some kind of paper work( I think the taxes on turbo tax) on the computer he had various netflix shows and youtube videos on cycle as background distraction. One of the shows he told me had to do with hydroponics and the growing aquaponics culture. Being an AVID angler he was intrigued by the idea of home grown bait fish plus veg at the same time. This led him to many design ideas and some great websites...

This site in particular has very detailed information and downloadable youtube videos on how to make a set up, materials, etc
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/

So materials purchased initially... an IBC (intermediate bulk container-- used to ship various liquids, not too difficult to find if you look to craigslist)

There are other containers that can be used for a simple back yard set up that can be DIY or ready purchased ---just google it.

Here is how the rockstar, I mean the hubs, made it into the aquaponics container

He cut through the metal framing and plastic top. Flipped it over and set on top. this allowed us to keep the "drain"
We then filled in the bottom with water and went in search of "media" for the plants
Many types of media are available... expanded clay, rock, gravel. We went with gravel mostly because of the cost factor. Dirt cheap (pardon the pun).
Next post --- turtles are stinky and they don't play well with others--- or what not to put in a set up