Overview

Aquaponic farming-raising fish and vegetables together commercially-is the most promising innovation for a sustainable, profitable, localized food system. Until now, systems have largely focused on warm-water fish such as tilapia. A lack of reliable information for raising fish and vegetables in the cool climates of North America and Europe has been a major stumbling block. The Aquaponic Farmer is the game changer. Built around a proven 120-foot greenhouse system operable by one person, the book distills vast experience and complete step-by- step guidance for starting and running a cold-water aquaponics business. Coverage includes: A primer on cold-water aquaponics Pros and cons of different systems Complete design and construction of a Deep Water Culture system Recommended and optional equipment and tools System management, standard operating procedures, and maintenance checklists Maximizing fish and veg production Strategies for successful sales and marketing of fish and plants As the only comprehensive commercial cold-water resource, The Aquaponic Farmer is essential for farmers contemplating the aquaponics market, aquaponics gardeners looking to go commercial, and anyone focused on high quality food production. Adrian Southern is steeped in all things aquaponic. After years of urban farming and system perfection, he co-founded Raincoast Aquaponics and raises trout and vegetables for a living in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, BC. Whelm King is a business manager, project manager, and entrepreneur who has worked in the arts, agriculture, publishing, media, and law. He is co-founder of Raincoast Aquaponics and lives in Nanaimo, BC.

Full Product Details

Author:   Adrian Southern ,  Whelm King
Publisher:   New Society Publishers
Imprint:   New Society Publishers
Dimensions:   Width: 20.30cm , Height: 1.60cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.789kg
ISBN:  

9780865718586

ISBN 10:   086571858
Pages:   304
Publication Date:   09 October 2017
Audience:   General/trade ,  General ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Preface: A World Without Weeds Introduction: The State of the World Chapter 1: What Is Aquaponics? A Primer on Aquaponics A Very Brief History of Aquaponics Aquaponic Ecomimicry Aquaponics, Permaculture and Sustainability Aquaponic Plant Systems Deep Water Culture Systems Drip Tower Systems DWC or Drip Towers - Our Recommendation Plant Sites and Light Availability Bacterial Surface Area Available Oxygen Filtration Our Conclusion Backyard vs Commercial Systems Chapter 2: The RCA System The Purpose of This Book Avoiding Our Mistakes A Note on Reading Before Building A Note on Metric vs Imperial A Note on Currency A Note on North Property Considerations Zoning Sun Exposure Characteristics of the Land Access to Power and Water Prevailing Winds Waste Disposal Long-term Land Rights Living On Site The Greenhouse Size New vs Used Types of Covering Recommended Features Heating the Air Cooling the Air Heating and Cooling the Water Heat Pump The Raincoast Aquaponics Greenhouse Greenhouse Layout Troughs Trough Design Principles The RCA Troughs Rafts Fish Tanks Filtration Systems Mechanical Filtration Biological Filtration RCA Filtration Systems Radial Flow Separator (RFS) Combination Filter Box (CFB) Ultraviolet Sterilization Supplemental Lighting Germination Chamber Seedling Area Water: The Lifeblood of the Farm Water Temperature pH Water Quality Management Aeration Pumps Tower System Pumps Effluent The Sump The Drain Down Effect Workbench Cistern Power Consumption Chapter 3: Principles of System Design The Golden Ratio of Cold-water Aquaponics Cold-Water vs Warm-Water Aquaponics Using the Golden Ratio Step 1 Step 2 A Note on Tower Systems A Final Design Note Chapter 4: Constructing the RCA System Site Preparation Greenhouse Construction Foundation Installation Arches Installation Endwall Installation Covering Installation Roll Up Sides Installation Hanging Components Installation Circulation Fans Installation Heater Installation HID Light Installation Electrical and Internet Installation Internet Installation Sump Construction Sump Construction Waste Tank Excavation Trough Construction Ground Preparation Trough Construction Side and Middle Wall Construction Endwall Construction Assembling the Walls Final Placement of the Troughs Trough Liner Installation Trough Plumbing Installation Inlet plumbing Drain plumbing Side to Side Plumbing (U-turn) Estimated Parts List for Trough Construction Raft Construction Painting the Rafts Source Water Installation Aquaculture Subsystem Installation Layout Installing the Main Waste Pipe Installing the Fish Tanks Building the Standpipe Assemblies (SPAs) Installing the Radial Flow Separator Installing the Tank Manifold Connecting the Tank Manifold to the Radial Flow Separator Constructing the Combination Filter Box (CFB) Installing the Moving Bed BioReactor (MBBR) Installing the Filter Screens Installing the Combination Filter Box Installing the Underground Plumbing (Trough Side) Installing the Aeration Pipe Aeration Blowers Installation Air Stone Installation Pump Side Plumbing Installation Installing the UV Sterilizers Installing the UV to Fish Tank Plumbing Calculating the System Head Selecting the Pumps Heat Pump Installation Cistern Installation Seedling Table Construction Workbench Construction Walk-in Cooler Installation Germination Chamber Construction Chapter 5: Tools of the Trade Shade Cloth Backup Oxygen and Power Monitoring System pH Controller Dissolved Oxygen Meter Water Testing Kit Seedling Trays and Domes Substrates Dibbler Plate Net Pots Totes Packaging Salad Dryer Scales Knives and Scissors Fishing Nets and Tank Covers Cleaning Brushes Washing Machine Chest Freezer Hot Water System Stainless Steel Counter/Sink Constructing the Wash Down Sink Feed Storage Chapter 6: Managing the Ecosystem Bacteria Nitrifying Bacteria Mineralizing Bacteria Bacteria and UV Mineral and Nutrient Content Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates Other Plant Nutrients Chemical Testing Sample Water Location Plant Observation Nutrient Recycling Water Quality and Management pH Two pH Management Methods: Buffering vs Hydroxides pH Management Water Temperature Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Optimum Water Quality Parameters Chapter 7: Cycling the System Filling the System with Water Cycling the System The Importance of Calcium in Cycling The First Cohort of Fish The First Year of Operation Full Capacity Chapter 8: Raising Fish Fish Species Feed Conversion Ratio Fish Sourcing Record Keeping Fish Transport Fish Tempering and Quarantine Tempering Quarantine Fish Feed Feeding Your Fish Sampling Feeding Technique Fish Tank Rotation Tank Cleaning and Sterilizing Fish Health Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment Salt Bath Treatment Lab Analysis Purging Before Harvest Harvesting Fish Chapter 9: Plant Production Plant Selection The Plants We Produce at RCA Seeds The Growth Cycle Direct Seeding Multi-stage Production Planting Seeds Germination Seedlings Transplanting into the Troughs Raft Placement and Rotation Transplant Schedule Thinning and Spacing Plants Maturing Plants Plant Inspection Watering in the Greenhouse Harvest, Packaging and Storage Harvesting Methods Washing Plants Salad Mixes Portioning Packaging Harvest Clean Up The Production Cycle Nutrient Deficiencies Nitrogen Calcium and Potassium Iron High Ammonia Chapter 10: Plant Diseases and Pests Pythium Powdery Mildew Fungus Gnats Aphids Cabbage Loopers Earwigs Pill Bugs Slugs Birds Rats Mink and Marten Bears Plant Disease and Pest Management Cultural Controls Environmental Controls Heating/Ventilation Cycle Sticky Traps Predatory Insects Using Pesticide and Fungicide Sprays Lethal Concentration Calculation Re-entry Interval Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Foggers Chapter 11: Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols Daily Log Weekly Tasks Notes for Phase 3 Weekly Seeding Chart Crop Log Fish Sample Log Cohort Log Monthly and Seasonal Tasks Replacing UV Bulbs Logs and Protocols Chapter 12: Marketing and Sales Aquaponic Advantages Year Round Production Ethical Plants Ethical Fish Aquaponics is Sexy Potential Markets Farmers Markets Restaurants and Retail Stores Wholesale Distributors Farm Gate Sales Market Comparison The RCA Sales Model Promoting Your Farm Chapter 13: Creating a Business Plan Construction Costs Property Acquisition Labor Costs Site Preparation Greenhouse Power List of Initial Costs Ongoing Operational Costs List of Ongoing Operation Costs Income Estimates Income Estimate Table Final Thoughts Resources Sources Glossary Acronyms Index About the Authors A Note About the Publisher

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Author Information

Adrian Southern is an aquaponic farmer and entrepreneur from the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, BC. After founding and operating an intensive urban farm and managing a local farmers market, he is currently steeped in all things aquaponics. After years of system perfection, he founded Raincoast Aquaponics and raises trout and vegetables for a living. Whelm King is a business manager, project manager, and entrepreneur. He has worked and consulted in a wide variety of fields including the arts, agriculture, publishing, media, and law. His pursues his passions of food sustainability, ethics, and rock climbing in Nanaimo, BC.

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