Deborah Ori

Thank you! Now I discovered tiny white bugs flying around the plants. I will try soapy water.

What are these things and what can I do against them?

Jim, thank you for the input. I will definitely ask the store, I would love to save all these stuff they would throw away otherwise. I'm glad it worked out for you, I was afraid they won't give stuff away because what if I get sick from the rice that is one day past it's expiration date.

I know there are organizations who try to do that to feed the poor. My question is, how can the average family get some of the food for their own consumption to reduce grocery bills without going through an organization? Thinking about things like going to the farmers directly and asking for the good but not so pretty vegetables that couldn't be sold because the consumers are picky, or getting expired frozen meat from the grocery store to feed the dog. Or buying animal parts from the butchers that nobody likes to eat, but fresh and edible. Do you have any tips that you tried and work for you?

I think I will still use some kind of a soil to give extra nutrients and keep them in one place. I just found on a new aquarium forum that many people use kitty litter as soil for planted tanks. It's a good idea to use cheap fish, I will try a few guppies first.

chip sanft wrote:Interesting idea! I used to have aquariums and love the look of a heavily planted tank. Since those tanks need a lot of light, I think growing useful plants in conjunction with ornamentals is doable. But I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're planning: Do you mean to grow mint etc. directly in the water of the tank? I think that only plants evolved for an aquatic or semi-aquatic life would do well in that situation. Are you thinking of combining the fish water with an aquaponic type medium for the plants' roots? I think that could work well, provided you don't need to dose your fish with medications.

The water itself would be only 15 cm deep, so herbs could grow out of it. I think several herbs would do well in water if they have the chance to grow out of it, for example mint in nature grows next to or in water. Mint, stevia and basil can all grow in a cup of water, but that doesn't provide enough nutrients to keep them alive for a longer period of time.
The whole thing would look like a paludarium. This is the closest to what I have in mind:
http://interfaze.ch/DSC01111.JPG

Hi, I'm planning to set up an aquarium with ornamental fish which I also would like to use as an aquaponics system, growing herbs. However, the fish I would like to keep (Everglades pygmy sunfish) needs heavily planted tank, so the aquatic plants would compete with the herbs. So instead of growing them separately, I would make a tank that's only around 15 cm tall and grow the herbs out of the aquarium. I'm thinking about mint, basil and stevia. What do you think? Would it work?

Thanks for your input, Wes!

Thank you for all the answers. I've heard some people sell them on farmer's markets. I can't imagine how do they manage to keep them fresh all day on the market? I