Aquaponics is a farming method utilizing a symbiotic growing relationship between fish and plants. In varying forms and cultures, it has been used for thousands of years. The basic structure is the fish waste feeds plants, and the plants clean the water and make a nice place for the fish to live. This basic relationship is working in every stream and lake in the world, and is critical to healthy bio systems, but it is sadly absent from most modern agriculture.

Over the last years, a number of farming voices have been shouting out the need to pay attention to and foster the natural biological systems working in soils. They have pointed out the many health and cultivation advantages of bio-diversity in farming as opposed to the typical mono-crop focus and artificial fertilization of industrial farming. Aquaponics exists in this biodiversity conversation. It is an intentional creating of a natural bio-system which allows for the year-round cultivation of extremely high quality produce and fish, fast growing due to the ability to create and control ideal conditions, and grown without any artificial hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides.

So why Aquaponics? ...

• Because food is the fuel for human bodies, and many of the health challenges of our day can be directly traced to our current industrial farming methods. We need to take seriously what it means to grow and eat healthy food.
• Because the premium protein of fish cannot be supplied by the oceans. Our current commercial harvest is at the maximum sustainable oceanic production. But if we farm fish correctly, we can have this amazing, healthy protein source available right outside our back door.
• Because really, it is just amazing and cool, and when your friends come over they will all say, “This is the coolest thing I have ever seen!”
• Because you need some peace in your life, and there is nothing quite like hanging out in the greenhouse listening to the bubbling water, watching the fish swim around, smelling the aroma of plants and herbs growing. Somehow it makes you take a deep breath as it stirs something deep inside of you that say, “Remember… this is how things are supposed to be.”