Visionary Aquaponics With Maribou Latour

In this episode, Liz and I continue our conversation on topics such as seaweed or kelp extract, duckweed, snails, prawn, malabar spinach, and the rooting hormone in willow trees for easy propagation of diverse plants. Liz also goes into some depth about the differences among fish types like tilapia, catfish, rainbow trout, mosquito fish, goldfish, and koi. We also discuss easy plants to grow in aquaponics that are "cut and regrow" types such as green onions, watercress, celery, radish, strawberries, and others! Listen for more wisdom from the co-founder of Genesis Clock Farm!

Victoria Kelley is the Editor-in-Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Aquaponic Survival Communities magazine, an online magazine sharing the stories of other backyard and commercial aquaponics growers, scientists, and permaculturists. This interview discusses the health benefits of aquaponics and gardening for kids with disabilities such as autism and other health issues. We also talk about some cultural and legal issues surrounding sustainable agriculture and localized farming. A powerful conversation!

Mike Oehler is the author of The Earth-Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book: How to Build an Energy Free Year-Round Greenhouse. In this fantastic interview, we discuss how to design and build the perfect greenhouse dirt-cheap by using gravity to warm your winter plants, effectively capturing and storing the sun’s heat, and cutting greenhouse heating bills 75% to 100%. We also talk about underground houses, designing to increase access to sunlight in tandem with greenhouses and uphill patios, and how to keep water out. Mike is THE earth-sheltered greenhouse guru!

In this continuing discussion with Liz Kim, we talk about all kinds of things related to permaculture and aquaponics: Frugal ways to start building your greenhouse, the integration of aquaponics with your backyard crops, black soldier fly larvae, the importance of pollinators, how chemical pesticides disrupt biodiversity and ecosystem health, as well as human health, and so much more. Other topics include sustainable greenhouse design, creating wind resistance for plant health, oxygenation via gravity, ventilation, greenhouse management, system diseases, and kelp emulsion. Liz Kim is the co-founder of Genesis Clock Farm in California, soon moving to Oregon.

In this episode, Paul and I talk about marketing strategies, differentiating your Aquaponics brand, value-added industries, educating the consumer, and using cooperatives as leverage in the business of Aquaponics. Paul Van der Werf is an Integrated Aquaculture Designer whose focus is on sustainable food production systems. His mission is to inspire, engage and encourage everyone with a strong interest in fresh, high quality food to embrace their desire to learn and enrich lives. He has over 15 years experience in agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture design, project development, delivery and management.

Learn about organic pest management, working with fish densities,and how to integrate aquaculture and aquaponics into the larger scope of organic farming. We talk about connecting the dots in the industry, from energy generation to field crops and “run to use.” Jesse and Molly of Imagine Aquaponics continue to share open-minded innovation and bright ideas for the integration of aquaponics and hydro-organics in the movement for food freedom and organic agriculture.

Listen up as we talk about commercial aquaponics, design and marketing,  and the effects of aquaponic environments on health in Australia. Paul Van der Werf is an Integrated Aquaculture Designer whose focus is on sustainable food production systems. His mission is to inspire, engage and encourage everyone with a strong interest in fresh, high quality food to embrace their desire to learn and enrich lives. He has over 15 years experience in agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture design, project development, delivery and management.

Listen as we discuss backyard aquaponics in drought-plagued California with Liz Kim of Genesis Clock Farm. We talk about the lazy farmer's way of growing food, black soldier fly larvae, wicking beds, chickens, vermiculture, wheatgrass biofilters, and selling produce in CSAs. Liz Kim is the co-founder of Genesis Clock Farm, where she teaches sustainability and aquaponics, with the goal of spreading food and water security for all.

Listen as we discuss a different application for aquaponics using organic hydroponics with high-density aquaculture, decoupling, and permaculture design for field crops. Jesse Hull and Molly Stanek, of Imagine Aquaponics are designers, experimenters, and consultants in the aquaponics, organic hydroponics, and integrated aquaculture fields. Imagine Aquaponics consults both nationally and internationally.  

This is Part 3 of my chat with Tim. Here we talk about systems thinking, nutritional content and freshness of aquaponic produce, soil remediating services, permaculture applications, effective microorganisms, and tomatoes! Tim Mann is the co-founder of Friendly Aquaponics, in Honokaa, Hawaii. Friendly Aquaponics is one of the leading pioneers in the Aquaponics movement and the development of commercial, Deep Water Culture aquaponics. As the technical writer, builder, and developer of the Friendly Aquaponics farm, website, manuals, and greenhouse trainings, Tim is a wealth of information in commercial aquaponics, passive solar greenhouse design, tilapia breeding, and appropriate technologies that are energy-efficient and highly productive.

Sundown Hazen is a founding board member of SchoolGrown, Inc., a non-profit in Monterey, CA, dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture through advocacy, education, research, and service. Sundown works closely with founder Jon Parr to develop the organization and build a platform for communities and schools to enrich education, while providing pesticide-free produce to their local community. Listen up as we discuss social entrepreneurship through the makings of a blended non-profit providing food and educational services to students and schools, fundraising techniques, and practical aquaponic systems design.

Connor Jones is the founder of East End Eden, a Permaculture farm showcasing sustainable farm design and application in the east end of the Ojai Valley. Listen up as we talk about aquaponics and its applications to permaculture design, “closing the loop,” animal fodder, and propagating riparian trees. The folks at East End Eden seek to educate and inspire through their examples of landscape restoration and succession into abundance using permaculture ethics and principles. The farm offers a look into a future that can meet all the needs of humanity and the rest of the community of life by creating a cultivated farm ecology. With “earth care”, “people care”, and “fair share” in our hearts, minds, and all designs we can go forward indefinitely!

Tim Mann is the co-founder of Friendly Aquaponics, in Honokaa, Hawaii. Friendly Aquaponics is one of the leading pioneers in the Aquaponics movement and the development of commercial, Deep Water Culture aquaponics. As the technical writer, builder, and developer of the Friendly Aquaponics farm, website, manuals, and greenhouse trainings, Tim is a wealth of information in commercial aquaponics, passive solar greenhouse design, tilapia breeding, and appropriate technologies that are energy-efficient and highly productive.  

Gary Koffler is on the SchoolGrown Board and the official “Aquaponics Evangelist.” He first started with aquaponics as an aquarist and automation expert who was pleasantly surprised when the overflow from fish tanks going to plants in the ground created an unexpected result, over 20 years ago. Listen up for info on the SchoolGrown project in CA, Ag-bots, and tips for both beginners and entrepreneurs!  

Jesse Hull and Molly Stanek, of Imagine Aquaponics are designers, experimenters, and consultants in the aquaponics, organic hydroponics, and integrated aquaculture fields. Imagine Aquaponics consults both nationally and internationally. 

Tim Mann is the co-founder of Friendly Aquaponics, in Honokaa, Hawaii. Friendly Aquaponics is one of the leading pioneers in the Aquaponics movement and the development of commercial, Deep Water Culture aquaponics. As the technical writer, builder, and developer of the Friendly Aquaponics farm, website, manuals, and greenhouse trainings, Tim is a wealth of information in commercial aquaponics, passive solar greenhouse design, tilapia breeding, and appropriate technologies that are energy-efficient and highly productive.  

Maribou is a backyard aquaponics grower, permaculturist, and serial entrepreneur who seeks to spread information about integrating aquaponics and permaculture for the most productive, sustainable, healthy, and regenerative food and water systems in the world. In this podcast, she interviews the pioneers, activists, and entrepreneurs in the Aquaponics and Integrated Agriculture movement for food and water security. Her mission is to teach people, particularly aspiring entrepreneurs, how to start, grow, and profit from an aquaponics business while creating a huge impact in the world. That is, improving access to affordable, organic foods, increasing food security in urban food deserts, increasing water security in high mountain deserts, improving community health, and creating streams of income that didn't exist before. She envisions helping schools, hospitals, health centers, cruise ships, retreat centers, permaculture farms, ecovillages, kids camps, backyards, Native American reservations, and many types of o

FRESH Farm Aquaponics in South Glastonbury, Connecticut started with a vision Spencer Curry had for high-quality, organic, and natural food grown locally, all across the world. He believes the urgency for food and water security is dire and that aquaponics presents the best opportunity for us all to have a secure food and water supply, free from pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and other chemical taints. Listen in as we discuss aquapreneurs, growing the growers, “Build-Alongs,” and biochar!