Amy Middleton Loves New York

I have a lot to learn about water conservation and usage, from in-home recycling systems to swales and keyline planting. Today I chose to study aquaponics which combines aquaculture with hydroponics. The term seems to have different meanings to different communities, but essentially it’s a system that uses the nutrient-rich waste material from fish to feed plants, which in turn act as filters for the fish pond. You can grow leafy plants such as spinach or lettuce relatively easily.

In my grandest visions and schemes for sustainable living, I haven’t yet designated any “aquarium” space- mostly because I don’t eat fish, so it would seem more ornamental than functional. The aquaponic systems that I saw pictures of are rather inspiring, and it seems like a great way to be recycling water. Whether it ends up being an immediate requirement, a long term goal, or just an impressive option that I don’t ever end up implementing, it’s still nice to know about.

Here are a few websites for actual information and examples:
Aquaponics
Backyard Aquaponics
small home-systems