Indoor update and outdoor update

Here is the update of my indoor aquaponics system. I probably should have STARTED with this indoor system before the greenhouse, but go big or go home I guess. This system is a trial to see if we could grow inside. Lesson 1 learned, stock small and grow up not stock big then go down. This system cost us around $50. Clearance fountain pump $30, wash tubs from Goodwill $1, lava rock free from damned people who landscaped before us at our house, fish $1, seeds clearance 0.10, light fixture clearance $10 Menards, $ 10 grow lights using rebate from other purchases, tank was free with trade from guy at work. We are growing romaine lettuce and spinach. Within 5 days this is what the system looked like. We also have a water hyacinth from out outdoor pond, and feed the goldfish duckweed, again from our outdoor pond. The oldest of the girls caught some crawfish and added to the system. They clean left over food, and interesting to look at.



Outside we harvested cantaloupe and watermelon from the greenhouse. We didn’t think this was possible from all that we read, so we planted more. And honeydew and anything else we could think of. We started more tanks for duckweed to feed the growing goldfish. We will soon be adding minnows to eat the mosquito larvae (cant have goldfish in those tanks, will eat duckweed). Neighbors now wanting to but duckweed and water hyacinth from us. Our water chestnuts are multiplying like crazy and can’t wait to add to our stir-fry once we harvest. To date we have successfully grown in the greenhouse;


· Basil (more than we can ever use) Sweet and Greek
· Romaine lettuce
· Cucumbers
· Cantaloupe
· Watermelon sugar baby
· Chives
· Tomatoes (Cherry and Roma)
· Chamomile
· Chinese Water Chestnuts
· Papyrus
· Duckweed
· Water Lettuce
· Water Lilly
· Broccoli
· Swiss Chard
· Spinach
· Marshmallow Root
· Echinacea
· Grean Beans
· Morning Glory
· Honeydew
· Rosemary
· Marigolds




This was in a 10 x 12 foot space, plus about 50 goldfish, 6 frogs, crawfish and at least 4 of each of the above plants, some we have 15 or more of, all growing at the same time. The benefits of vertical gardening.

We have now met with Purdue extension office and SCORE, along with SBA and hope to take this project larger in the near future. This spring we hope to add new species of fish which we can eat. We will hope to get more pics of the greenhouse as it continues to grow and develop.