tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60137950058038081502024-03-13T11:02:14.896-07:00family fish farms networkmicroventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-71547207189090769452014-08-13T10:16:00.000-07:002014-08-13T10:16:45.717-07:00Aquaculture and Aquaponics Work Well Together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Aquaponics and Aquaculture<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both Aquaculture and Hydroponics are becoming the latest
means to produce food in response to an increasing population and dwindling
natural resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aquaculture:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;">Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, (RAS) aquaculture is that fish
produce waste that has a negative impact when disposed directly into the
environment. Hydroponics also disposes salt-laden wastewater into the
environment. Hydroponics also depends on fossil fuels to generate nitrogen and
requires limited resources like phosphate so it is NOT as sustainable of a
technology.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Aquaponics, fish waste is constantly removed from the
system, and if we balanced the nutrient output of the fish with the nutrient
uptake of the plants, no water exchange is needed and only supplemental Calcium
and Potassium buffers and iron are required. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This equates to the use of 90% less water than normal
RAS-based fish farm systems<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This equates to the use of 90% less water than normal
RAS-based fish farm systems so it is more water and eco-friendly. It has been
clearly demonstrated by Lennard and Savidov that fish grow just as well as any other
fish system and plants grow at the same yield and at the same rate as they do
in standard hydroponics. In fact, plants encounter less disease than in a
sterile hydroponic environments because the 100s of beneficial microbes in
Aqiaponics that are present act more or less like a probiotic for plant health.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If one uses science to analyze the water chemistry it can be
precisely controlled and optimized. Unlike hydroponics, conductivity build-up
or drop-off doesn’t occur and instead it stays constant since the nutrients get
renewed every time the fish get fed and the plants constantly use those
nutrients and grow. Therefore since Aquaponics can yield fish and plants with
zero environmental impact (AND) with more efficient water use, it wins
hands-down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-78483611131456407712013-08-28T22:46:00.001-07:002013-08-29T16:38:59.615-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d9ead3;">
Green Urban Farming Will Save Our Planet</span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Aquaponics is The Future of Food</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;">
We believe Green Urban Farming is the
future of agriculture and that<i> recirculating growing systems</i> are the future of
food production globally. Recirculating farms reuse the precious water field
farming contaminates with nitrate fertilizers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Green urban farming could be the 21<sup>st</sup> century technology
revolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The argument against
traditional farming for common garden vegetables is persuasive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Hydroponics, Aquaponics - What's The Difference<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3>
</div>
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It is worthy to note that
Hydroponics and Aquaponics are both recirculating methodologies,.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hydroponics, however adds all plant nutrients
to the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aquaponics alone adds no
nitrate laden commercial fertilizer as it relies mainly upon the natural
effluent of fish to fertilize the vegetable field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition unlike its cousin Aquaponics
produces high quality protein containing B12 so necessary for human nutrition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Why Green Urban Farming?</span></span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Traditional soil based farming is
far too wasteful and environmentally unfriendly as it is carbon fuel dependent,
greenhouse gas producing, and environmentally degrading.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Traditional soil farming consumes critical
natural resources specifically clean fresh water.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Furthermore
long food supply chains are increasingly vulnerable to both natural and man-made
disasters. Recirculating farms are virtually impervious to such interruptions.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Green urban farms are highly efficient and
effective, as well as dependable and bio secure.</span></span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Beyond Sustainability <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Application of green sustainable
technologies for both renewable energy and storm water reclamation are
essential elements in the green urban farming paradigm. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Green urban farming is beyond
sustainability.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">It is potentially a
restorative technology that will return our small blue planet to health and
prosperity.</span></h4>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-7317104928118634072013-06-22T04:57:00.000-07:002013-06-22T04:57:10.474-07:00Aquaponics Is: The Major Problem We Solve<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the major problems solved by The Family Fish Farms Network, Inc is Aquaponics itself! In addition to this blog, I am moderator of the Commercial Aquaponics Group on Linkedin. The group is over a year old and we have around 800 members 40% or so are active growers. The membership is a global one and we have representation from most continents and climates, from Shanghi to Khazakstahn.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
In America There Are NO Profitable Aquaponic Businesses!</h3>
Our definition of Commercial Aquponics is a business that is profitable (if you''re not profitable you cannot by definition be sustainable) We define achievement of commercial success as making a profit from growing operations only with a profitable P&L and without consulting, training, or equipment sales and surely without subsidies of any kind.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
How Can This Be? Aquaponics is Cool and Hot!</h3>
Yes... Aquaponics is both Cool and very, very HOT! Aquaponics is the hope and the future of food on this planet. It is close to a permaculture solution to the food chain problem, It is a recirculating system it reuses all water. First, the availability of fresh, nutrition dense food problem (25 million Americans have no access to fresh food) the water consumption problem (70% of all water is used by agriculture) the nitrate pollution of streams and rivers problem, (aquaponics uses the natural nitrates produced by fish and then reuses the water) In addition, aquaponics provide both vegetables and high quality fish protein as well.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Aquaponics Does NOT Scale!</h3>
There are several problems but let's start with the simple one. Aquaponics does not scale from a small test system a, proof of concept, or learning system to a commercially viable food production system. They must be two separate processes. When you finish proving you can do it and understand the principles involved. You have to throw away the equipment and start again. Most people don't ever get it and never will!<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
It's Just Like Baking Cookies</h3>
If you want to bake a dozen cookies or so for your family, you buy or make a bowl of cookie dough, roll it, cut out the cookies, place them on a flat pan and put them in the oven in your kitchen. However, if you want to bake 5,000 dozen cookies for your neighborhood, it is an order of magnitude difference. One cannot buy 5,000 bowls and 5,000 cookie sheets and what will you do for ovens?<br />
<br />
The same is true for an aquaponics system. It is not like Leggos. You can't buy a small hobby system and then scale up by linking 50 or more of them together. To make a commercial batch of cookies one needs a large indusrial commercial mixer, a transfer line, hydrostatic cookers, packaging equipment, etc, etc. So, one problem is the erroneous assumption that scaling can be accomplished simply by growing the first system larger .... NOT.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Aquaponics is Not Profitable on a Small Scale</h3>
A small under one thousand square foot green house is not a profitable aquaponic operation. If you cannot sell to the large retailers in your community you will not be profitable by our definition. You can augment your income perhaps but you will not be able to sustain your family and employees on that income alone.<br />
<br />
To sell to the large retailers you have to be able to produce a high quality, cosmetically attractive, product on demand and with total consistency. If you fail once you will lose the contract and you won't get it back. There's more to it but that's it for now.</div>
microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-29268534763301412282013-06-16T07:19:00.000-07:002013-06-16T07:19:19.792-07:00Aquaponics a Tool for Community Economic Development<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Family Fish Farms Network, Inc. (The Network) believes that, in addition to providing fresh, nutrition dense, healthy local food, Aquaponics can also provide the lynchpin for urban revitalization and community economic development as well. It makes both environmental and economic sense to grow food closer to where it will be consumed, that shipping it thousands of miles from farm to table. The average head of lettuce for example travels 1,500 miles to get into your salad.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">All Food is Local Food</span><br />
Distributive production of local food is the answer to food security and job security. Instead of building huge food factories (Corporate Farms & AgriBiz) it makes better sense to build small focused farms within and around the inner cities! It is important to note that there exists a strong pent up demand for local fresh food and seafood. A recent study by Karp Associ in one small midwest city showed a $300 million dollar pent up demand for food grown within the city (local food)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How to Fund Development</span><br />
A network of urban aquaponic farms utilizing unproductive existing urban structures (even brownfield sites work (Aquaponics does not use the local soil to grow) City administrations can leverage federal programs (Community Development Block Grants, New Market Tax Credits, Industrial Development Bonds, etc) along with civil society and anchor private businesses to create a public private partnership that can provide the economic resources needed to fund the new enterprise.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Community and Worker Ownership</span><br />
There are several business models that can further leverage economic participation by the community and the workforce. One is the Cooperative, as this enables the company to extend the benefits of profitable operations to each and every member of the workforce and/or community. The second and most interesting is the ESOP where specific provisions in the tax code and ERISA laws enable an ESOP to borrow money from commercial banks and then, pay not federal taxes until the funds are repaid and each employee fully vested. Each worker an owner of the business!<br />
<br />
Now that's Community Economic Development! If you want to learn more leave a comment and I will respond!</div>
microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-79360039607330110102013-06-03T04:59:00.002-07:002013-06-03T04:59:16.415-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Thought Leadership from:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Family Fish Farms Network, Inc<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Triple Bottom Line<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">People, Planet, & Profit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>introduction<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Background<o:p></o:p></div>
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"People, planet and
profit" succinctly describes the triple bottom line and the goal of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability">sustainability</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Elkington coined the term Triple Bottom
Line in 1995.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The concept of TBL demands that a company's
responsibility lies with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stakeholder_(corporate)">stakeholders</a>
rather than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shareholders">shareholders</a>.
In this case, "stakeholders" refers to anyone who is influenced,
either directly or indirectly, by the actions of the firm. According to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stakeholder_theory">stakeholder theory</a>,
the business entity should be used as a vehicle for coordinating stakeholder
interests, instead of maximizing shareholder (owner) profit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We envision a new structure for a
sustainable urban ecology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our vision is
of a model that integrates social values into the cultural commercial mix of
today’s urban topology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guided by the
definitive concept of sustainability, it is our belief that any enduring
structure must include all three dimensions of the triple bottom line, socially
responsible, environmentally sound, and economically sustainable: People,
Planet, and Profit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Family Fish Farms Network Hub could
form the foundation of a much broader, Louisville centric sustainable business
center and a model for other cities here and globally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sustainable
EcoCampus</i> revitalizes city cores with sustainable focused start-ups powered
by the enduring P<sup>3</sup> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">people,
profit, planet</i>) drivers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Triple Bottom Line Project <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
It is our collective intention to build
an urban space that is an exemplary application of food, energy and learning
technologies but also reflective of the best possible collaborative human workspace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a new paradigm created by a melding
of justice based workforce management and an incentive driven equity expansion
model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This holistic approach uses
enlightened self-interest to eliminate the adversarial labor/management relationship
built into today’s workplace and unleashing the power of a totally engaged
workforce. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Conclusion <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
The overall intention of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sustainable EcoCampus</i> is to create a
destination venue that combines the production of locally grown, nutrition
dense food, innovative new green jobs, expanded worker ownership, and community
economic development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sustainable EcoCampus</i> is optimized to
conserve resources and energy, and to maximize economic impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Recommendation<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The first word in our model is
“Sustainable.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We recommend therefore
that we build the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">EcoCampus </i>using a
“sustainable design,” we start with a design centered around The Network
Hub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the food production facility
is operational and profitable, we move forward on sustainability triggers,
incrementally adding one sustainable element at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
</div>
microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-91242591747185062232013-02-06T09:24:00.001-08:002013-02-06T09:24:28.344-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Traditional Small Scale Aquaponics Cannot be Scaled Up!</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
If you want to grow some lettuce and tilapia in a small hobby farm and sell a few heads and a few fish - fine! But do NOT expect to make a profit</h3>
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All we have seen are failure after failure and still the
same myth persists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New aquaponics
systems, small, modular pre engineered NFT systems claiming that simply ganging
a hundred or more of these will give you a commercial aquaponics facility. <b>IT
IS NOT TRUE!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know about
Australia, or South Africa, or even the Caribbean islands but I can tell you
with confidence that no commercially successful aquaponics operation exists
here in America, nor have there ever been any!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRnoktrMFu5M17YCz3Pj8G9975fDB8wE8gnJBK_hC6R_y_87Nbq2jh39pS_PNLueOmBXxX502jJ-5KAOw_IjDmtXcQVyop_EZxv6C6TjXA7UcCW53Xd84lfx_-gIcsmSswqApLD1v7Pj7/s1600/FFF+Tomatoes+Dunling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRnoktrMFu5M17YCz3Pj8G9975fDB8wE8gnJBK_hC6R_y_87Nbq2jh39pS_PNLueOmBXxX502jJ-5KAOw_IjDmtXcQVyop_EZxv6C6TjXA7UcCW53Xd84lfx_-gIcsmSswqApLD1v7Pj7/s320/FFF+Tomatoes+Dunling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect Hydroponic Tomatos - This is the Model</td></tr>
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Why? Anyone with commercial farming experience knows why. How do they know why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they are not academic researchers,
they are professional growers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not come to this conclusion lightly. I preparing to invest 3 million dollars in the creation of a network of automated
aquaponics growing units across America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the last three years I have been studying, interviewing experts, and
comparing existing operations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
giving you a synopsis of that work here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though we have repeatedly told the tale on our Commercial Aquaponics Linkedin Group <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4121735&trk=hb_side_g">http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4121735&trk=hb_side_g</a> on this
group and still ... grower after grower, after grower keeps talking about how they plan to start with a 1,000 sq ft site and scale it up to a
commercial venture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WRONG !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to experiment with the chemistry
and reinvent aquaponics one more time, then that's fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a researcher in an academic
institution and you are doing research into growth issues, or plant ecology, or
aquatics, whatever -Fine!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just don't fool yourself into thinking you can build a small
system and scale it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a bit like making cookies for
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The recipe for baking a dozen
cookies is totally different, even the equipment used is difference from baking
10,000 cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is with commercial
aquaponics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are looking for a
model to emulate use commercial hydroponics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Look at the scale, look at the equipment. look at the automation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can do hobby, or backyard, or experimental hydroponics
but it is not the same thing as commercial scale!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not at all!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stevens Point, Murry Hallum, Dr.Racocy, Nelson Pade, Tree
Frog ...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one has been able to make a
profit purely from operations in the continental USA. No one has been able to
survive more than a few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of
the above have turned to seminars/workshops, consulting, and/or equipment
sales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe me if they could have
made money growing food, they would have continued to do so.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IF you cannot sell to
the large purchasers of greens etc, then you will NOT be profitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One more thing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Fish are not the profit drivers in
aquaponics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fish are a fertilizer
factory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep the fish alive but focus
on the greens!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots, and lots, and lots
of greens<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My advice: Automate to the max, not to save labor costs but
to assure, quality dependability, and volume!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is what we plan to do:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll
keep you posted on the outcome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch
this space and/or visit our blog at: www.familyfishfarms.blogspot.com<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-87771719267192359022012-11-12T10:56:00.000-08:002012-11-12T10:56:37.690-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOZTFpypTncJecReCVdsyxvX_YCrLq9JjMLfNz9Egr_pSlOJs55AvSju6zu1WpFbP9xck8SlF7BrAESRcUDmVpTBgRHiI4MU2S-F7cd_QkqTB3lnAoztAjWFUV1HCo2L8ynB9GVJNm-JO/s1600/20+oz+Oyster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOZTFpypTncJecReCVdsyxvX_YCrLq9JjMLfNz9Egr_pSlOJs55AvSju6zu1WpFbP9xck8SlF7BrAESRcUDmVpTBgRHiI4MU2S-F7cd_QkqTB3lnAoztAjWFUV1HCo2L8ynB9GVJNm-JO/s400/20+oz+Oyster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">20 Oz Oyster Mushroom Grown by Modular Growing Unit</span></div>
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These beautiful delicious and protein rich mushroom was grown using a proprietary system developed by Mike Duncan in Lake-fo-the-Ozarks Missouri. It was produced in ten days using a modular growing methodology called The High Tech Mushroom Growing System, (HTMGS)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Technology</span><br />
These wonderful mushrooms and many others can be profitably grown in an affordable modular unit. The HTMGS employs a monitoring and control system that senses light levels, humidity, PH levels, temperature, air exchange rates. The system also provides for feedback and self adjust various key elements like, light, temperature, and humidity. Application of these modern production and food growing methods are creating a revolution in the ability of small farmers to produce a wide range of healthy nutritious mushrooms. Presently we plan to offer Oysters Mushrooms (several different species) we can grow almost any of the popular like Bottons, Portabello, Shitake, and Morels among others. <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Applications</span><br />
Mushrooms have a wide range of application other than culinary purposes. Medical applications include immune system reinforcement, pain alleviation etc. Another application of these grand single cell organisms is bio remediation. Certain mushroom species can actually metabolized PCB's and Petroleum products.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Micro Farms:</span><br />
The key is to become commercially viable, to be able to create and support a sustainable business for the small farm or urban micro farmer. In order to do this we are designing a unitized system that will be self-contained and come inclusive with all of the growing elements included. This will provide all growing units, monitoring systems, HVAC and environmental controls and be fully plug in to local utilities or, alternative power network.</div>
microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-48052769695466565952012-08-19T07:55:00.000-07:002012-08-19T07:55:18.067-07:00Urban Farming, Food Security, and Mushrooms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The Revolution is here - Who Will Lead?</h3>
Look around you ... Farmer's Markets populate the weekend editions of most major newspapers, Local TV highlights new urban farms sprouting from the trash heaps of decaying neighborhoods and dilapidated and abandoned old industrial sites. Food is growing everywhere ... community gardens, urban farms, and backyards across America are sprouting with local food! We applaud and support this effort to bring true food security back to our country. It is a matter of national defense and certainly homeland security!<br />
<br />
Our food supply chain is too long, too vulnerable, and too dependent upon a thin line of overworked and under supported inspectors and enforcement agents. These hard working folks are forced to rely upon information often supplied by those whose products are, in fact, suspect and whose partiality can not be trusted. America is too extended and too dependent. We import too much of our food. It is dangerous because it can be easily contaminated and wasteful because of the carbon cost of transport and the environmental cost of greenhouse gasses.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">The Opportunity and The Need - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Our cities are replete with abandoned buildings and large structures of the rust belt era of manufacturing. Grow here, Eat Here needs to become the watchword of local food purveyors. The US Department of Agriculture has a 250 mile radius for qualification as local food. Every day an ear of corn, or a head of lettuce travels, it loses both taste and nutrition. For example, Did you Know? Fresh peas can lose up to 50 percent of their nutrients within a week of harvesting. This is true of many vegetables like Broccoli. Food is often picked before it ripens to extend shelf life. It also diminishes its nutritional content. The average head of lettuce travels 1,500 miles from harvest to table.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">A Solution: Food Security and Food Sovereignty - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">We believe it is now necessary for ... we the people, to develop a solution. The government can barley run itself. Let's do this ourselves. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b>We can form A National Network of linked urban farms.</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><i>A National Urban Farming Cooperative that assures healthy fresh food available to every American </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">family. We can assure nutritional reasonably priced food that includes a variety of local harvests with both protein and carbohydrates in a balanced mix of local food products. Here is an example of what we have and what we can contribute to this solution.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">Mushrooms: The Wonder Food! - </span>The trend towards vegetarian and vegan eating habits brings up the old argument of protein and the issue of B12 deficiency ... I'm no dietitian but we have recently been informed about a food that has more protein than some meat and that can be grown virtually without fertilizer, a food that is fast growing and inexpensive to produce with the right technology. Oyster Mushrooms, for example have as much or more protein than many so called "meats." 31grams of protein per 100 grams of weight. Only braised eye-of-round steak has more with a rating of 40.62. A broiled t-bone steak (porterhouse) 32.11<i> and baked lean ground beef only 24.47!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
We have the technology and are willing to share it with every urban farm that will join in a national network to accomplish the universal American goal of Food Security and Sovereignty<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3e6775; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-27162224823044845092012-08-19T07:54:00.001-07:002012-08-19T07:54:50.604-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-58623892530804074852012-08-16T21:20:00.001-07:002012-08-16T21:20:57.098-07:00The Huffington Post Nails our Future (and US) to the Wall <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 20px; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #000001; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 25px; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">"<a href="http://link.huffingtonpost.com/4e73da62e018bee76c642eeclaz6.m0r/UC2cRqgvX0cmetcSBf823" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">How Climate Change Could Destroy Our Food Supply</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="http://link.huffingtonpost.com/4e73da62e018bee76c642eeclaz6.m0r/UC2cRqgvX0cmetcTBca55" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><img defanged_src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/733246/thumbs/r-CLIMATE-CHANGE-FOOD-600x275.jpg" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/733246/thumbs/r-CLIMATE-CHANGE-FOOD-600x275.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 510px;" title="Climate Change Poses Food Distribution Risks, Experts Worry" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #000001; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">OSLO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Downpours and heatwaves caused by climate change could disrupt food supplies from the fields to the supermarkets, raising the risk of more price spikes such as this year's leap triggered by drought in the United States." Huffington Post!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 12px; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000001; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Once the Supermarkets are empty ... all the food will be gone, then there will be no more food! What will we do? Well, if you have a Family Fish Farms Network Aquaponic urban micro farm in your neighborhood you will still be able to eat ... That's for Sure!</span></span></div>
</div>
microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-8668808854646200322011-11-20T10:58:00.000-08:002011-11-20T11:00:06.588-08:00How to Grow the Network?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Background<br />
In a recent MSNBC Green Planet piece, (see sep't 25th Blog) Sociologist Alphonse Morales noted that Aquaponics was twenty years away from being a practical food growing technology. This was because of two factors: a lack of effective business models, and an absence of trained personnel. The Family Fish Farms Network has a practical solution to both of these issues.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Business Model</span><br />
Through application of a distributive growing strategy that creates many small (micro) farms located in the urban centers where the majority of the population is centered, we can grow food locally. We can also present a national brand by controlling the marketing, standards, and training thorough a strong central organization. The urban micro farms will be locally owned and operated but will be marketed centrally. This will permit farmers to respond with agility to local consumer demand and it will eliminate the need for costly transport, while also eliminating the cost of a jobber or distributor, thus reducing the cost to the consumer. It will also assure a supply of high quality protein and organic vegetables if there is a national food distribution problem. In other words if gives control (sovereignty) and confidence (security) that the food will be nutritious, fresh, and available.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ffh7B9D4eSXJnRulr0HFzNHjY5NFa2IHvRcJnGnw78xLUiYwd7jpHIUug6WUeOFZvy6Zo43HW9bO5E_f1MruzmHTNGb1yBum27SkOCHM-_IT_uXi4uGrmpuc0VprmjJRqvIqvJXnUnEs/s1600/Deploy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ffh7B9D4eSXJnRulr0HFzNHjY5NFa2IHvRcJnGnw78xLUiYwd7jpHIUug6WUeOFZvy6Zo43HW9bO5E_f1MruzmHTNGb1yBum27SkOCHM-_IT_uXi4uGrmpuc0VprmjJRqvIqvJXnUnEs/s400/Deploy.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Staff Training</span><br />
We have a proprietary, highly efficient skills training model, that will permit us to provide focused performance based skills training, that will enable us to teach anyone to effectively manage and operate one of our network farms. Our skills certification program will allow us to provide a generation of competent aquaponic technicians who are capable of running operating any farm in the network. The Network will also apply sophisticated process control methods to assure quality. We will also apply technology to simplify and manage daily plant operations. Our centralized management system will support each urban micro farm through accounting, technical performance, and inventory control. Central ordering and national network operations through cloud (internet) connectivity will be a universal constant.</div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-7602515142082374812011-11-17T01:26:00.000-08:002011-11-17T01:26:36.970-08:00Creation of The Global Family Fish Farms Network<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
We have launched a global movement to establish <i>aquaponics</i> as a means to local food security and food sovereignty. Today at 12:00 PM (Noon, EST) we will host our first international conference call to that end. <br />
<br />
We have established a Linkedin Group named: Commercial <i>Aquponics</i>. If you have an interest in starting or supporting a commercial <i>aquaponics</i> food production program, then this is where you should be. The group has some 50 or so members and it was only started a month of so ago. This is a further indicator of the level of interest in <i>Aquaponics</i> in general and the larger issues of healthy food production and environmental husbandry.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What We Intend to Accomplish?</span><br />
<b>Background</b> - Although some well run <i>aquaponics</i> operations exist both here and in other countries, the technology is not well known and reliable technical information necessary to run a commercial <i>aquaponics</i> operation is still not codified. Understand that we neither refer to boutique operations that are dependent upon grants and philanthropy, nor do we include large scale factory operations. The Family Fish Farms Network supports and advocates a distributive network of urban, peri urban, and rural micro <i>aquaponic</i> farms that are highly efficient and optimized for local food production.<br />
<br />
<b>Vision</b> - It is our inention to create a framework, or network of highly efficient aquaponics micro farms.and in addition <i> to foster, support, and invest in those who share our vision</i>. The internet provides a common communications vehicle with which to establish such a network. Our Linkedin Group has given us the sense of need and purpose necessary to this task. <br />
<br />
<b>Inception</b> - We will start by building a common sense of purpose, sharing technology, and business models and then by group sourcing a funding mechanism. We intend to do this In close association with <i>The Recirculating Farms Coalition</i> <a href="http://www.recirculatingfarms.org/">www.recirculatingfarms.org</a>and as a member of that organization. The specific details of the network are yet to be defined but the need is clear and the will obviously exists. This is the first such conference call. There will be others and we are also planning a Webinar to further share our model and vision.<br />
<br />
</div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-32660451305238310832011-11-01T07:33:00.000-07:002011-11-01T07:33:20.364-07:00Food Security, Sustainablity, and Sovereignty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our Food Supply Cannot be Placed At Risk</span> </b></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We import 45 Million pounds of Tilapia from Ecuador and Double that from Asia Upwards of half of our winter produce is imported from Mexico.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Clean water, more critical than food is being depleted at a rate faster than the planet can replenish it. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The average head of lettuce travels 1,500 miles from farm to table. Carbon costs are a major factor in the food chain in the production of commercial fertilizer and in food transport. </span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>Present Conventional Farming Models Place Us At Risk</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We, as a nation and a planet can not afford to use antiquated and costly food production methods. It is also a<i><b> national security issue</b></i>. Interdiction of the food and water supply could bring us to our knees faster than any number of terror bombers. Remember, when the supermarkets are out of food (and waiting for the trucks that will not come) there will be NO FOOD LEFT! In addition<i> we have significant exposure due to long supply chains</i> with a number of steps that could either be interrupted or where food is vulnerable to intentional or unintentional contamination</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Aquaponics - Best Hope for Food Security and Sustainability</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Our model for a distributive network of <i>local food production micro sites provides the best strategy for maintaining food security and sustainability</i> through local control and supply. A distributive food production method has a much higher survivability profile than a large centralized system. For example, almost half of our winter produce could be knocked out by hitting one transfer center near Nogales Mexico.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>Food Sovereignty</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">If we maintain local control over major segments of our food supply, we maintain control over our nutrition. We can limit or eliminate contamination and pollution. We are no longer at the mercy of the large retailers and distributors who control what we can eat and when we can eat it. This is true<i><b> food sovereignty</b></i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
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</div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-26687568863460543352011-10-26T15:44:00.000-07:002011-10-27T05:58:51.203-07:00Vertical Growing & Aquaponics - A Marriage Made in Heaven?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>A Short Lesson in Commercial Growing History</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>The take away from this piece is that we can incorporate these principals into our urban farming aquaponics model to dramatically increase commercial yield and the production of each distributive micro farm.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">We used to sow tomato seed into a seed tray then prick the seed out into a planting tray grow these on and then plant by tearing the plants roots and hand planting into soil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">We used to grow a winter crop of lettuce then either planted up with Cucumbers or Tomatoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">At the end of the crop we used to “flood” the soil to remove excess salts from the land so we could plant Lettuce, which We used to thinly sow into seed trays then put a line or string down to keep straight lines and have a piece of cane 8ins long for the distance between the plants. Most growers used to get one / two crops of lettuce and one crop of Tomatoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Or they planted two crops of Lettuce and then two crops of Cucumbers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Tomato yield used to be 30 tons per acre <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Ventilation used to be done by hand and done by lifting each vent on its own.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Then along came a pulley system on a winch where we could wind the vents up and down from one end of the glasshouse. All this was open the vents when it got warm and close them when it got cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Take the common Glasshouse we had the English House with a three foot brick wall and a sloping roof to the centre, then came the Dutch Light Glasshouse built of wood with wooden gutters and each pane of glass enclosed inside a wooden frame and every third “pane” used to be a vent. Then along came the Venlo with its problems, How many remember the amount of Lettuce crops that where lost through Mildew, and why? Because the Venlo was very well sealed for heating and crop control and did not have the air flow (natural air gaps) of the Dutch light glasshouse. Growers had to learn how to grow again. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Then came along automatic vents, heating, irrigation, and the use of co2 and the birth of mono crop nurseries, and computer control which allowed us to control every aspect of the growing. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">We then started to take the Co2 of the boiler and use this during the day for the plants, we could only run this when heat was needed or waste heat by venting the excess heat but this also lost Co2.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Now We Can Control The Variables in Growing</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Along with this came computer control which brought the advancement of the modern Glasshouse Nursery, We found we could now control everything the plant needed to grow a better plant and be more efficient. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Then we progressed to Heat storage so any heat used during the day to produce Co2 was stored and used on a night therefore saving energy.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">So we have progressed from planting by hand and letting nature grow the plants and using the glasshouse as a cover against the elements right through to sophisticated computer controlled glasshouse complexes with automation that most people do not know exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Today’s Glasshouses are computer controlled growing facilities completely sustainable using renewable energy, recirculating all water and nutrients and even using the rainwater not a drop is wasted the plants are watered by sunlight measurement and moisture measurement only receiving water when they need it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #e30000; font-family: Arial;">Yet if someone were to propose to a grower in the 60’s that he could achieve at least seven times more production per square metre without any compromise on quality or yield, he would probably assume you were a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Imagine if you had said as a grower you will not spray chemicals but use beneficial parasites to control whitefly, leaf minor and Red Spider mites. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">So let’s get back to Vertical growing most people think Sky Scrapers costing $1.5 billion with plants growing inside on every level and some even think chickens , pigs etc. on several floors . Well they may be right but this is in the future. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">You hear all the claims “Our system makes use of recirculation of nutrients” and use sustainable energy</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">. WOW aren’t they years behind us professional growers we have been using these for decades. Let’s take it one step at a time and learn and improve on what we know. We are not saying you can grow every crop in a vertical situation but most crops can be, yes we need a light source but look how that has improved in the last four years. Indeed our own company is doing lighting trials that will cut down the number of lights you need. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">If you said to me I want to grow Tomatoes, Cucumbers inside a warehouse in a vertical growing system I would ask WHY? For now we have the most efficient system there is, a long season crop grown with heating, oil, gas, bio, CHP and the list goes on. Co2, lighting, anaerobic digestion, so why would you grow this type of crop inside a warehouse.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">In large commercial growing operations we now see sophisticated moving bench systems, hydroponics, irrigation systems, environmental control, artificial lighting systems, and state of the art greenhouses to maximize the potential of the natural environment and reach levels of production unheard of in past decades.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">While efficiency in production increases so does the viability of the whole business model. You only have to visit Thanet Earth in Kent to appreciate just how big and important this expansion is, and how far it has come already.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Yet to believe that productivity has been maximized and every optimum reached is to ignore the progress already achieved. Commercial growing never stops improving and sometimes those improvements are far beyond what we thought possible</span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">With land pressures set to increase in the coming decades the question that needs a solution is not how to expand our existing growing space but instead it should be about how we produce more from the growing area we currently use.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Present productivity per square metre in intensive commercial crop production is already remarkable compared to previous decades, but you can only force the growth of a plant so far to reach its maximum yield or production level. Just the same sort of reaction his father before him might have had to Hydroponic Growing and to what is being achieved today in intensive commercial horticulture. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Well there is no madness to the claim of such an increase in production. Taking the very best of the hydroponics and mechanized advances of recent decades and combining that with 21<sup>st</sup> Century lateral thinking we have a viable working solution that ushers in a new way of growing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Our system does not look at plant production simply as in </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">what yield you can generate per square metre, instead we look at what production is per cubic metre</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">. If plants could grow one on top of another at the same time we would all think in terms of plant growth per cubic metre. Now stack one cubic metre upon another and you start see where we are going with this? </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">A lot of advanced technology and investment has gone into creating moving growing benches and robotic control to allow commercial production to maximize its use of space. Using automation and advanced technology to move plants around a growing area without human effort is now a standard, and sizeable growing operations can be run with staffing levels lower than most other production industries.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">So we have progressed from stationary plant growing too commercial set ups where plants are almost in constant motion to maximize the use of space and control. So why stop at moving benches?</span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">The principle of using automation to move plant stock is a commercial success in every sense, but there is a basic principle in this idea that is still to come and will transform such growing operations into truly incredible production spaces.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Our system doesn’t just move the plant stock to make production easier from a human perspective. We have considered the demands of plant growth itself and the uniformity and growth control required to achieve a level of quality production and yield that makes the return on capital investment viable from every commercial aspect. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">Our system even allows for staged integration to allow existing operations to transfer through a modular staged build program. This allows capital investment and commercial return to be optimized both in short and long term planning without effecting the basic infrastructure already in place in most commercial growing operations.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">In effect the grower can start at almost any level of transfer without the worry that a partial implementation will result in duplicate infrastructure costing for later expansion. Investment at any level does not deter from future expansion because this is a modular system designed for complete or staged integration. The production on this system is also at such a significantly high level that projected return on investment supports both a fully or partially committed investment approach. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">So Vertical Growing inside a building is a reality and it is a commercial viability.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-91722023665037437632011-10-26T02:58:00.000-07:002011-10-26T02:58:18.135-07:00Progress Update: What's Happening NOW.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b>Web Presence Grows as well</b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;">As many of you know, I have been busy on the Net ... the website (landing page) is now active on all our social media now. You can get to Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and our blog all from the bottom right hand corner of the site. Our blog continues to be active as we are posting regularly there. Let me give you the link once more. ow that the website is moving towards being an effective tool for us. Here is it: <a href="http://www.thefamilyfishfarmsnetwork/">http://www.thefamilyfishfarmsnetwork</a>.com Also, while I'm at it, here's our National Capital Jobs Coalition blog as well: <a href="http://dcfirstsource.blogspot.com/">http://dcfirstsource.blogspot.com</a> and finally, our drumming website: <a href="http://www.drumminganendtopoverty.org/">http://www.drumminganendtopoverty.org</a></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"> </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b>A Growing Partership</b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;">Under alliances and contacts etc ... we have reconected with an organization we worked with in the beginning. They are an Aquaculture, or fish farm oriented group that has refocused on Aquaponics. The United Network of Aquaculture Producers. or UNAP. This is run by an Engineer turned community economic development activist. They are well connected in PG county MD. and have a facility there that includes a 13 tank installation. The facility is not yet operational and we can still have significant input into the process. The business relationship is under consideration as this email is being sent. This will give our brand a home base and a resource pool to support ongoing development.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"> </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;">Rawn Tarrant formerly a program manager at Covenant House, a well known community development NGO here in the District and and former assoicate of Mayor Vincent Gray has joined our team as program manager. We also have networked with Mike Tabor a former hippie and sixties hell raiser now a dedicated and experienced organic farmer. He is well connected in the affluent organic food community. Mike has made several key introductions for us including the Rouse family of Reston and Columbia fame.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b>Recent Connections</b> </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;">As part of our community engagement program here in DC we are partnered with Rob Ransom proprietor of the Dupont Hotels (3 small boutique hotels) here in DC. Rob brings a unique community perspective and a passion for economic development, as well as, deep relationships in the community and local municipal government to our program... <i>Another recent connection is the pastor of a large church near us here in the NE DC area</i>. This is part of our community involvemment with faith based organizations as potential partners in a cooperative development strategy. The Pastor has expressed interest in building on the property adjacent to his church. We are presently discussing engegement of a minister as laison to the churches</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"> </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b>Money Talks ...</b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;">I am working also on our Equity Plan for attracting social investors on Linkedin. Our "Commercial Aquponics" group there has over 30 members and in one month only! We have attracted top aquaponics production and technical experts and all have expressed a serious interest in our distributive business model. Look to the Blog! Try once more, if you are not getting emails on updates ... there are two steps to the process. One is the register, the second to get email notices on posts. Amanda et al ... I would like to hear from you folks who are still engaged and want to support us. Let us know you're still out there ... it gets lonely here sometimes.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"> </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;">Look for an announcement on funding shortly. I feel we are getting very close here</div></div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-42171031375573062852011-10-22T15:24:00.000-07:002011-10-22T15:24:04.541-07:00What is a Disruptive Food Technology?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">First Question - Define Disruptive Technology?</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here is a quote from Wikipedia, </span></span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">"A disruptive technology or disruptive innovation is one that helps create a new market and value network, and eventually goes on to disrupt an existing market and value network (over a few years or decades), displacing an earlier technology there. The term is used in business and technology literature to describe innovations that improve a product or service in ways that the market does not expect." </span></span></blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Second Question: - Define Disruptive Food Technology</span>. </b><br />
This sounds like it was written to describe The Family Fish Farms Network. We are the very embodiment of a "disruptive technology." We have the potential to fundamentally change the existing markets and, by extension, the entire food value chain. Our approach (technology) will de facto improve the quality and availability of food. The above definition goes on to state, once more our exact predicted impact on food markets nationally. Once again to quote Wikepedia to wit:<br />
<blockquote><i>"...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">first by designing for a different set of consumers in the new market and later by lowering prices in the existing market."</span></i></blockquote>By building a network of distributive aquponics urban farms located in the inner cities where the population exists, we bring high quality, nutritious food production to the market. By removal of the distribution step from the value chain we change (disrupt) the costly transport costs and the hidden carbon costs as well. Through our planned national network (through economies of scale) we can drastically reduce food production costs as well.<br />
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"...</div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-30923740894885911452011-10-19T22:29:00.000-07:002011-10-19T22:29:53.625-07:00We Are a Disruptive Food Production and Distribution Technology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>It is Time to Re Think the Food Value Chain</b></span><br />
The Traditional Cost of Food - A confluence of natural and man made events has opened the door to a shift in the conventional food production and distribution model. The Family Fish Farms Network is about to introduce a disruptive new technology bundle that will revolutionize our food system.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">End The Industrialization of Food</span></b><br />
One of the largest ecological detriments of the industrialization of food in the last 50-years is the cost of transporting food hundreds of miles from where it is produced to where it is consumed. Government subsidy of food production, as well as major petroleum subsidies have made it feasible to transport food economically from places as far away as China and Chile to North America for American consumers. Events of the last few years have exposed the inherent un-sustainability of this kind of food system, and the interest in local food in America has skyrocketed. The numbers of farmers markets and community gardens continue to increase from year to year, and more and more of the population is seeking ways to reduce their dependence on industrialized food and its deep dependence on subsidized fossil fuels.<br />
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</div><strong><a href="http://vodaplan.com/2011/10/sustainability-means-local-food/">Sustainability Means Local <b>Food</b></a></strong><br />
Many people easily associate sustainability with energy efficiency, recycling, biking, public <em>transportation</em>, solar power, hybrid vehicles, and even shopping at local businesses, but few readily associate sustainability with <em>food</em>. <b>...</b><br />
<b>Publish Date:</b> 10/18/2011 13:00<br />
<span>http://vodaplan.com/2011/10/sustainability-means-local-food/</span><br />
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</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>A Disruptive Technology - Changing the Growing and Distribution Model</b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Our production and business models are disruptive and revolutionary in that they turn the present system around. Instead of large centrally located farms located hundreds or some times thousands of miles from centers of population, we envision a national network of urban micro farms located within the inner cities. Ours is a sustainable food production and distribution system that will disrupt and restructure how America produces food...local food, locally grown. Many people easily associate sustainability with energy efficiency, recycling, biking, public transportation, solar power, hybrid vehicles, and even shopping at local businesses, but few readily associate sustainability with food. How and what we eat as a community has a major impact on long-term sustainability. “Eating locally” is more than just a pleasant aphorism for the wealthier among us, it is an absolutely essential goal for any community wishing to encourage a healthier population, create local jobs, and support local business.</div><br />
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</div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-83137364694676079032011-10-18T14:55:00.000-07:002011-10-18T14:55:11.822-07:00Aquaponics: Scale up, or Scale Down?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Argument for Small Scale Local Food Production</span><br />
If you serve a salad using lettuce harvested today from a local source it will <i>taste measurably better</i> that one<i> harvested last week!</i> Given that the average head of lettuce travels 1,500 miles to market ... ? Our argument is for a network of small micro farms circling a large city. New York, Phil, DC, Atlanta, Chicago ... etc etc.<br />
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<blockquote>This will provide for security (one down system does not end production) Flexible consumer demand (each unit can produce 2 different products) and freshness (a local site can provide food that is hours not days from harvest)</blockquote><br />
The argument that large scale production is necessary to amortize plant and equipment is illusory in the<br />
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And ... it creates community economic development possibilities as well. More jobs, more opportunity for ownership and community prosperity. A national network of <i>Reciriculating Aquaponics Systems</i> (RAS) will provide an attractive opportunity for fresh local food, enhanced nutrition, and local engagement in the production of staple foods. Scaling down in this case beats the scale up model every time. Availability (12 months a year) Freshness (taste is the test) and Nutrition ( time erodes nutrient content of food)<br />
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</div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-49589939832107961462011-10-11T21:30:00.000-07:002011-10-12T14:35:27.448-07:00Can We Make Commercial Aquaponics Work?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No Question - Aquaponics is the Future of Food!</span></b></div><b>Key issue</b> - Before aquaponics can take its place as a viable alternative to bland, empty corporate food, it must be able to secure <i>substantive funding</i>. How do we get the investment needed to make this happen? The Agribiz folks won't do it. Why should they? This goes against their "better living through chemistry .." model of massive fertilizer and pesticide application. Why? Because they sell fertilizer and pesticides ... duhhhh! It just ain't down their alley. We have few successful examples of profitable aquaponics. One reason is because of the boutique nature of the business at present.<br />
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Most aquaponic farms are demonstration and training facilities run by talented tinkerers, or a social entrepreneur. Also, many farms exit on subsidies, grants, and/or are being deficit funded by the owner. Aquaponics funding at the professional investor level is critical to solving the commercial business model.<br />
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Amy Crawford an Aquaponics Farmer from Northern California speaking at the 8th Annual Engineering Conference on Aquaculture, Amy made the following address. This highlights just how important professional funding is to the future success of this most promising technology.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://theaquaponicsource.com/aquaponicgardeningblog/2010/08/29/an-interesting-challenge-for-aquaponics/">An Interesting Challenge for <b>Aquaponics</b></a></strong><br />
The majority of <em>funding</em>, of course, comes from the “industrial” corporations at the university research centers. Think CAFO … ie confined animal feeding operations… feed lots (cattle, hog, chicken, etc) that can maximize profits on the <b>...</b><br />
<b>Publish Date:</b> 08/29/2010 18:14<br />
<a href="http://theaquaponicsource.com/aquaponicgardeningblog/2010/08/29/an-interesting-challenge-for-aquaponics/">http://theaquaponicsource.com/aquaponicgardeningblog/2010/08/29/an-interesting-challenge-for-aquaponics/</a><br />
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What our community needs is a well funded Aquaponics driven business model.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li> A dedicated, investor funded, stock corporation with a significant profit motive in addition to a social purpose. </li>
<li>... a professional management team with modern process manufacturing and agricultural engineering abilities. </li>
<li>Aquaponics also needs to be optimized as a healthy, food production and distribution model!</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A National Business Model and Roll Out Plan</span></b></div><div>The Family Fish Farm Network has an evolved, well thought out business model. We can all participate. Let's put our knowledge and experience together. It is the only way we can overcome the combined interests of Agribiz and not permit this technology to be turned to no good purpose. Join us here and help work towards a common goal. Go to our website: <a href="http://www.thefamilyfishfarmsnetwork.com/">www.thefamilyfishfarmsnetwork.com</a> and join our team. Then sign-in link is at the bottom of the site. </div><div><br />
</div><div>As Peter Drucker, the father of American management once said, <i>"... if you want to control the future, help participate in its design."</i></div><ul style="text-align: left;"></ul></div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-45678991299423526712011-10-08T08:38:00.000-07:002011-10-11T03:17:31.646-07:00FFF Team Meets with City Council Staff in DC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Strategic Program Support for City Government</b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Today a team from MicroVenture Support and our <i><b>Family Fish Farms Network</b></i> met with Mr. Mark Long, Director of Constituent Services for Councilman at Large Vincent Orange. This was our first meeting as a team. I have known Mr. Long from other community activities and the mayoral campaign here in the city. Present at the meeting: J. Peloquin, L. Yahr, R. Tarrant, and Rob Ramson. Mr. Tarrant is a former program officer at Covenant House (when our mayor was its executive director) and Mr. Ramson is a local businessman and community development advocate.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Public Private Sector Enterprise - NEW Green Jobs</b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The meeting was a great success in that Mr. Long (a former investment banker) really understood The Family Fish Farm Network model for bringing decent green jobs and economic prosperity to our communities. This is a first step in engaging the city as an active supporter of our community economic development strategy: The Family Fish Farms Network. We will advise as contacts and discussions continue.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Social Media Grows Fish</b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We have been active on Linkedin on our Family Fish Farms Group and others as well. I am beginning to see more and more interest. One of my recent contacts, a builder of trash stream recycling systems is working on an aquaponics development proposal at the request of a nearby mayor. We are to draft an engineering specification and feasibility study in support of the eventual award and to build out the system as well. I will advise as more details become available ... that is if this actually matures into a real project.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We also continue to blog and refine our social media strategy. We are still limited by resources and skill but we will persavere and solve the minor issues that exist. As you can tell we are making real progress.</span></span></div></div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-44055301757932805872011-10-07T12:06:00.000-07:002011-10-07T12:06:35.000-07:00A Repost from Linkedin's "Aquaponics Sustainable Farming Forum"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><span class="comment-body" data-li-comment-text="Yes, I agree with all of the above except for the "heavy hitters," part. When it comes to food production, even the largest scale aquaponics farms are lightweights compared to the Agribiz giants. If we are to have a real voice at the table we need two things. A national commercial success and a vocal, well funded advocacy effort here in Washington.
The good news is that we have logic on our side. All the primal indicators are with us. ... most of which are economic. We are also a triple bottom line business: Economically Viable, Environmentally Sound, and Socially Responsible. We have a fledgling national organization (it supports both Aquaponics and the more traditional Hydroponics) the organization is called: The Recirculating Farms Coalition. (www.recirculatingfarms.org) Marianne Cufon is the Exec. Dir.
We believe in small ... we believe in commercial. Our preference is for a distributive system of aquaponics micro farms all commercial and branded under a single name. The is what we intend The Family Fish Farms Network to achieve. We do NOT feel competitive with anyone and will open our minds and resources to anyone who wishes to pursue this most elegant and logical solution to a number of societal problems." style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Commercial Aquaponics Needs a National Voice</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="comment-body" data-li-comment-text="Yes, I agree with all of the above except for the "heavy hitters," part. When it comes to food production, even the largest scale aquaponics farms are lightweights compared to the Agribiz giants. If we are to have a real voice at the table we need two things. A national commercial success and a vocal, well funded advocacy effort here in Washington.
The good news is that we have logic on our side. All the primal indicators are with us. ... most of which are economic. We are also a triple bottom line business: Economically Viable, Environmentally Sound, and Socially Responsible. We have a fledgling national organization (it supports both Aquaponics and the more traditional Hydroponics) the organization is called: The Recirculating Farms Coalition. (www.recirculatingfarms.org) Marianne Cufon is the Exec. Dir.
We believe in small ... we believe in commercial. Our preference is for a distributive system of aquaponics micro farms all commercial and branded under a single name. The is what we intend The Family Fish Farms Network to achieve. We do NOT feel competitive with anyone and will open our minds and resources to anyone who wishes to pursue this most elegant and logical solution to a number of societal problems." style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="comment-body" data-li-comment-text="Yes, I agree with all of the above except for the "heavy hitters," part. When it comes to food production, even the largest scale aquaponics farms are lightweights compared to the Agribiz giants. If we are to have a real voice at the table we need two things. A national commercial success and a vocal, well funded advocacy effort here in Washington.
The good news is that we have logic on our side. All the primal indicators are with us. ... most of which are economic. We are also a triple bottom line business: Economically Viable, Environmentally Sound, and Socially Responsible. We have a fledgling national organization (it supports both Aquaponics and the more traditional Hydroponics) the organization is called: The Recirculating Farms Coalition. (www.recirculatingfarms.org) Marianne Cufon is the Exec. Dir.
We believe in small ... we believe in commercial. Our preference is for a distributive system of aquaponics micro farms all commercial and branded under a single name. The is what we intend The Family Fish Farms Network to achieve. We do NOT feel competitive with anyone and will open our minds and resources to anyone who wishes to pursue this most elegant and logical solution to a number of societal problems." style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When it comes to food production, even the largest scale aquaponics farms are lightweights compared to the Agribiz giants. If we are to have a real voice at the table we need two things. A national commercial success and a vocal, well funded advocacy effort here in Washington.<br />
<br />
The good news is that we have logic on our side. All the primal indicators are with us. ... most of which are economic. We are also a triple bottom line business: Economically Viable, Environmentally Sound, and Socially Responsible. We have a fledgling national organization (it supports both Aquaponics and the more traditional Hydroponics) the organization is called: The Recirculating Farms Coalition. (www.recirculatingfarms.org) Marianne Cufon is the Exec. Dir.<br />
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We believe in small ... we believe in commercial. Our preference is for a distributive system of aquaponics micro farms all commercial and branded under a single name. The is what we intend The Family Fish Farms Network to achieve. We do NOT feel competitive with anyone and will open our minds and resources to anyone who wishes to pursue this most elegant and logical solution to a number of societal problems. The list of benefits runs down the left hand side of this blog. Read 'em and Cheer!</span></span></div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-74742292290368289722011-10-02T21:31:00.000-07:002011-10-02T21:31:09.372-07:00Vote for Investment in Aquaponics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">White House Petition Initiative Go to: <a href="http://wh.gov/4uO">http://wh.gov/4uO</a> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> PLEASE send this link out to your networks ...PLEASE!</span><br />
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We just launched a petition on the white house web site asking for favorable tax incentives for investment in aquaponics systems to offset the cost of pollution, the carbon cost of food and as Marianne Cufone just published on the Recirculating Farms Coalition facebook page ...<br />
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<blockquote>U.S. PIRG put out a piece on childhood obesity, subsidies and growing commodity crops like soybeans and corn for sweeteners and high-fat oils. "Between 1995 and 2010, $16.9 billion in tax dollars subsidized four common food additives - corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, and soy oils." Would be great if recirc farms got that kind of help from the feds to provide healthy fresh food! http://www.uspirg.org/home/reports/report-archives/tax--budget-policy/tax--budget-policy--reports/apples-to-twinkies</blockquote><br />
Our Petition could go a long way towards getting the attention of policy wonks in the White House ... well, it might?</div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-2842098834680610782011-09-25T13:15:00.000-07:002011-09-25T13:15:28.362-07:00Aquaponics Urban Farming - 101<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i>"We plan to develop the business models and operating standards for the next century food production - Aquaponics Farms"</i></blockquote><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt;"><b>The Family Fish Farms Model</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt;">Our company employs aquaponics, a combination of intensive aquaculture and hydroponics to grow different varieties of seafood and vegetables. Our business model includes distributive production with small local operating units. In consumer terms this means a wide choice of fresh local food options in both vegetables and seafood. The resulting diversity in product mix gives us the flexibility to be responsive to local and regional consumer demand.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHWTkwoegMBapn19vuEPxyseWNJWYEXMqZqs9jtQ35I_EA0NFZUzKZfKORKtCIfgui6hlXOtlI6Y1v4-ZfIzJKTC_IZz0WS-0q24ljNrjlG-zmKyRfBrAXtCQiEL26w0_kQ1m28E_8dn6/s1600/FarmMod.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHWTkwoegMBapn19vuEPxyseWNJWYEXMqZqs9jtQ35I_EA0NFZUzKZfKORKtCIfgui6hlXOtlI6Y1v4-ZfIzJKTC_IZz0WS-0q24ljNrjlG-zmKyRfBrAXtCQiEL26w0_kQ1m28E_8dn6/s320/FarmMod.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Aquaponics works like this</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">The technology is at least 500 years old. It uses natural processes to brow both high quality protein (seafood and fish) as well as organic quality vegetables in a closed loop system. The fish effluent is filtered and bio digested to permit only the nutrients to flow into the plant growing subsystem (see graphic) The fish are kept happy in clean clear water that is exchanged every three hours. Fish are sized to eliminate competition for food and the water is oxygenated and carbon dioxide removed. Fish are also fed with organic vegetable based protein to eliminate contamination.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwLiKk8JHjpeZ0NTTvtrhwyxnTgwPpG0STZlLE39aYCrDFVau4h3P3lWeA0NjhDLNr9JgyQ0oOY0IuleWK5tg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">MSNBC Green Planet with Brian Williams explains how Aquaponics can solve the twin problems of feedign a growing population while treading lightly on the environment. Ann Thompson interviews a subsidized aquaponics site that also provides training for young people who will operate and maintain the future growing needs of our planet.</span></span></div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-48070244783329805212011-09-22T23:09:00.000-07:002011-09-22T23:38:12.343-07:00Urban Farms: A Growing Idea!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan; font-size: large;">Food Security? Urban Farming to the Rescue!</span><br />
Environmental, Economic, Social, and Nutritional concerns augur well for the mass application of urban farming and we believe that Aquaponics will be the wave that brings Food Security and nutritious local food to cities and towns all over America. Traditional farming in urban lots will prove a problem. For example DC's soil is so polluted that present crops must be grown on raised beds. DC is relatively untainted by big heavy industry. What about the rust belt? Our model requires no soil, or fertilizer at all. This piece from The Smart Planet Blog makes the point, that using urban agriculture cities could become self sufficient, without reliance on Agribiz or commercial fertilizer.<br />
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/cities/could-cities-rely-100-on-urban-agriculture-for-their-food/915">Could cities rely 100% on <b>urban agriculture</b> for their food <b>...</b></a></span></strong><br />
A recent study finds that cities could use vacant lots, rooftops, and backyards for <em>urban agriculture</em> to become self-reliant in basic food needs.<br />
<b>Publish Date:</b> 09/13/2011 21:38<br />
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/cities/could-cities-rely-100-on-urban-agriculture-for-their-food/915<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan; font-size: large;">Urban Aquaponic Farming: The ANSWER to Many Problems.</span><br />
Urban Aquaponic Farming is enormously productive and it produces both protein AND carbohydrates. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px;">Our company employs aquaponics, a combination of intensive aquaculture and hydroponics to grow different varieties of seafood and vegetables. Our business model includes distributive production with small local operating units. In consumer terms this means a wide choice of fresh local food options in both vegetables and seafood. The resulting diversity in product mix gives us the flexibility to be responsive to local and regional consumer demand</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px;">The new mayor of Chicago thinks so and Detroit, and Baltimore, and many, many, others. It's time to take off the blinders and see that Urban Farming, Aquaponics, and The Family Fish Farm Network can bring new green industry, provide needed jobs, save precious fresh water, cust the cost of food transport, and eliminate farm source pollution. Let's do this folks ... go to our Facebook page (like and/or subscribe) We also Twitter @famfishfarms</span><br />
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</span></span></div><strong><a href="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/07/26/emanuel-turn-eyesores-into-urban-farms/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Emanuel: Turn Eyesores Into <b>Urban Farms</b> « CBS Chicago</span></a></strong><br />
Green acres could be sprouting up all over the city of Chicago if Mayor Rahm Emanuel has his way.<br />
<b>Publish Date:</b> 07/26/2011 14:55<br />
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/07/26/emanuel-turn-eyesores-into-urban-farms/<br />
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Stay tuned for more on this and watch our website: www.thefamilyfishfarmnetwork.com for more information on this critical development in Urban Agriculture.</div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013795005803808150.post-34118149919752500092011-09-17T04:24:00.000-07:002011-09-27T14:17:01.889-07:00Urban Aquaponic Farms - NEW Green Jobs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 22px;">Will Aquaponics and Urban Farms Yield a Green Job Harvest?</span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">By Charles Redell</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Published September 16, 2011</span></h1><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">"In addition to Green jobs, <i style="font-weight: normal;">The Family Fish Farms Network </i>will generate revenue back to the communities and neighborhoods where it is so desperately needed." - FFF</span></blockquote><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the wake of President Obama's jobs speech last week, the national conversation is intently focused on growing jobs -- and particularly green jobs -- in the weak economy.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This week, we saw a new twist on green jobs, and one that promises something of a Holy Grail of sustainability: Creating jobs to grow sustainable food products at an economically viable scale that will be consumed in the local foodshed.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's the pitch from the Recirculating Farms Coalition (RFC), which launched earlier this week. The group says the type of farms and farming it promotes can achieve those goals and more, including urban job creation.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The coalition is promoting sustainable, closed-loop farms that grow local, fresh food and, it says, create green jobs using clean, recycled water in place of soil. The farms can produce plants, fish, or a combination of both -- a method called aquaponics. In its first year, the group aims to increase public awareness of recirculating farms and their benefits, help develop better technology and approaches for the 30-year old practice and work with policy makers to make it easier for new farms to start operations.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Recirculating farms reuse as much as 99 percent of their own water and recycle organic waste from fish into nutrients for other crops. They are endlessly customizable so can be placed in just about any underused, or otherwise unwanted urban environment,</i> according to the Coalition's executive director Marianne Cufone.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">"These farms are scalable," she said, speaking after touring one covering just 1/20th of an acre located behind a strip mall in Orlando, Fla. "I've seen some the size of a desktop growing herbs and goldfish and I've seen ones covering acres and acres."</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><img align="" alt="rooftop farm" border="3" class="caption" height="225" hspace="3" src="http://www.greenbiz.com/sites/default/files/inline/110916-farming-fig1.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;" title="Bail and mint growing in towers on the rooftop of Bell Book and Candle restaurant in the West Village (Manhattan), New York." vspace="3" width="300" /></span><br />
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">Bail and mint growing in towers on the rooftop of Bell Book and Candle restaurant in the West Village (Manhattan), New York.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The crops grown on recirculating farms can vary widely. On the small Florida farm she'd just seen, Cufone said lettuce and herbs were being grown alongside Tillapia. Other farms grow produce like tomatoes and eggplants and a variety of higher-end fish stocks. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bail and mint growing in towers on the rooftop of Bell Book and Candle restaurant in the West Village (Manhattan), New York.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Urban farms are taking off across the country. Will Allen, whose Growing Power farm is a model of green urban farming discussed the "good food revolution" on GreenBiz.com in 2009, and Leanne Tobias profiled the rise of urban farming this summer.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the biggest hurdles for commercial recirculating farms is permitting. Some jurisdictions view them as labs while others view them as traditional agriculture operations, Cufone says. Neither one fits the bill, so RFC is working to change permitting and to develop a checklist for potential operations to help smooth the permitting and inspection process.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the federal level, RFC aims to convince elected representatives and government agencies [PDF] that recirculating farms are economically better, safer environmentally and healthier than ocean-based aquaculture.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">From a sustainability perspective as well as an economic perspective, advocates of recirculating farms have some strong numbers to back them up.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">While Cufone wasn't able to give me an ROI on an aquaponics system, the manufacturer of a home-based aquaponics kit conducted a study [PDF] that found they can pay for themselves in 2.5 years. And taking the raw production numbers from one well established farm, commercial-sized farm shows what kinds of returns might be possible.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The farm, which has been operating at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) for the last 20 years, costs $40,000 annually to operate its four fish tanks and six 100-foot vegetable beds. It produces 1,400 cases of leaf lettuce and 11,000 pounds of fish annually. Just using back-of-the-envelope calculations based on food prices at Safeway.com, that's at least $99,000 in retail value of fish (if it's tilapia) and almost $73,000 in lettuce (if it's romaine lettuce, at 18 heads per case).</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Financially, a farm like this earns its keep, and environmentally, the story is much the same. The UVI aquaponics farm produces all that food while using just shy of 19,000 gallons of water. One head of lettuce produced there requires about 7.5 gallons of water. On a traditional farm, it would need just shy of 16 gallons to grow, according to RFC.</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The job-creation potential of recirculating farms, which RFC is promoting, is a bit muddier. The idea is to "go back to where we once were," Cufone said. "We used to farm and grow food for ourselves and maybe for our neighbors who were good at other things. We're moving back to creating our own jobs."</span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Photos courtesy of the Recirculating Farms Coaltion.</span></h1></div>microventuresupport.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655549093204325814noreply@blogger.com0