Are you thinking about diving into the world of aquaponics? We still have a few cold months ahead of us until the next gardening season. This time can be used to plan your first aquaponics project. In my blog you will find a lot of information about the structure, components and operation of systems. If you are still unsure or simply don't have enough information, I will give you ten reasons to help you make your decision.
1. You can produce your own food
Doesn't that sound exciting? You grow your own food in the garden. With aquaponics, you are no longer limited to fruit and vegetables, but you can also harvest your own fish in the future. Well, if that isn't tempting. You have 100% control over your food and always know what you are eating the next time you cook yourself.
2. You can simply eat healthier
Even if you already place a lot of value on healthy organic food, I would say that food from your own garden is simply unbeatable. This is partly because fresh vegetables and fish contain far more nutrients than products that lose their freshness just through transport. I also observe how cooking and eating habits change when you suddenly have fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs from your own garden always at hand. And if you want to throw a barbecue party at short notice, you will definitely prefer your own fresh fish to the grilled sausages from the supermarket more and more often.
3. You help save water
We are fortunate enough to have enough fresh drinking water from the tap. But we should always remember that this is not a given. We in the western world can (still) afford this luxury. But drinking water is a valuable commodity and should not be wasted unnecessarily. With aquaponics, you have a closed water cycle and only need to refill the water that evaporates. The water is continually freshly treated and cleaned by naturally occurring microorganisms. That is a great feeling and your contribution to the economical use of water.
4. You avoid long transport routes
Groceries from the store often travel thousands of kilometers before they end up in our refrigerators. Regardless of whether they are imported by sea or air freight or simply by long road journeys, every little food item causes CO2 emissions. So everything that comes from your garden helps to reduce these emissions. We must also not forget that vegetables, fruit and fish from the summer season can be preserved, frozen and stored at any time. So with every lettuce leaf you grow and every single fish from your garden, you can be proud of having reduced transport routes and the associated CO2 emissions. That just feels good!
5. You will enhance your garden
Garden design is currently very trendy. And for good reason. Raised beds or wooden garden houses convey a homely and natural charm. This makes spending time in the garden a really pleasant experience. When plants sprout and everything turns green, you feel safe and comfortable. Many have also discovered water landscapes with biotopes or natural ponds. An aquaponics system combines all of these things and conveys exactly this feeling with the pleasant rippling of the water, the fresh green vegetables and the wooden components. This automatically turns your garden into your oasis of well-being.
6. You learn a lot
It is not without reason that aquaponics systems are already finding their way into schools and other educational institutions. The insight into the biological and technical processes automatically imparts knowledge. This hunger for knowledge is reinforced simply by observing an aquaponics system. Regardless of whether you are dealing with the technical and physical processes that arise from gravity and hydropower, or with water biology. There are so many interesting and exciting topics coming your way. You want to understand the connections and remember a lot of things that you have already observed in the wild. This is not only fun, but also allows you to learn in a playful way.
7. You can be a role model for other people
And that happens at the latest when those around you start to bombard you with questions. The people around you become curious. All questions make you deal with meaningful and sustainable topics and share them with others. Do you have children? Then imagine what questions, what great interest and how much fascination your children will have. Think about how many values and knowledge you can impart to your little ones with such a project. If such thoughts and values find their way into society, then that is a good thing that will help us all move forward.
8. You will find it fun
Yes, you will! It's simply a hobby that's really fun. It motivates you and it lets you learn. A combination like that is always fun. And believe me, I speak from experience. I've been involved in this topic since 2014 and since then I've spent a lot more time in the garden than I used to. You just enjoy watching, you enjoy continuing to build and you love sharing this experience with like-minded people.
9. You don’t need to weed
Another practical point that distinguishes aquaponics from conventional (soil-based) gardening. And since weeds in the garden are simply annoying and weeding takes up a lot of time, I can now reassure you. Weeds are almost non-existent in aquaponics systems. Since it is usually a hydroponic system at working height, weeds have little to no chance of multiplying in aquaponics. In addition, it does not matter whether you cultivate the plants in flood and ebb planting beds, NFT plant pots or DWC (Deep Water Culture) systems. The time you currently spend weeding in the garden is already saved.
10. You can cultivate your garden at a comfortable working height
Another big advantage that we know about raised beds: We work at an ergonomic height that is healthier for our musculoskeletal system. Grow beds , NFT tubes and RAFT beds are usually on a higher level than fish or sump tanks. This means that the planting area is always higher than the ground. So aquaponics is in no way inferior to a raised bed and thus brings another positive aspect for our health.
Do you have any questions, comments or would you like to share your experience with aquaponics with us? You can find the comment box below!
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