Aquaponic
🌿 What Is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water instead. It allows plants to grow faster, use less space, and conserve up to 90% more water than traditional gardening. Our system uses vertical towers and grow beds to maximize production within our dome.
🐟 What Is Aquaculture?
Aquaculture is the farming of fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic organisms in controlled environments. In our garden, fish like tilapia or catfish are raised in tanks where their waste helps fertilize plants in the aquaponics system—creating a natural cycle of nutrients.
♻️ What Is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a sustainable fusion of hydroponics and aquaculture. Fish waste provides nutrients for the plants, and the plants naturally filter and clean the water for the fish. This closed-loop system mimics nature and eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers or waste discharge.
🌍 Why We Use These Systems
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Sustainability: Zero waste and minimal water use.
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Education: Volunteers and students learn hands-on eco-farming.
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Local Food Production: Fresh vegetables and fish, grown on-site.
Aquaponic gardening is a fascinating way to grow two food products—vegetables and fish—together in an organic, symbiotic ecosystem.
And while growing vegetables is a familiar process for most of us, growing game fish for food is unfamiliar to many gardeners and can be a somewhat intimidating activity for most Australian's.
Even for experienced aquarium hobbyists, growing a plate-sized tilapia is a whole different kettle of fish.
The Aquaponic Cycle