Jennifer Parker

Here are few benefits I get from my organic garden (but as others said, it's important to mention which kind of 'organic' you refer to):

- food has better taste, and it's chemical-free (GMO-free as well)
- healthy soil
- healthy environment for farming
- harmless pesticides

As for disadvantages:

- requires some more knowledge compared to traditional farming to do it at max efficiency
- some organic fertilizers are still harmful for the soil

Here's a more detailed list that you can filter to get what you need: https://greentumble.com/pros-and-cons-of-organic-farming/

Good luck with your essay!

Chris Kott wrote:Hi Jennifer.

The reason the system you describe is less sustainable in my opinion is because it relies on solar panels and pumps.

This isn't intended as criticism, just to explain what I understand as the difference between the two terms in a specifically permacultural context, where one of the key ideas is that the most sustainable systems are self-sustaining, without human intervention.

Yes, panels and pumps and everything else will last for a while, perhaps paying their costs off several times over a lifetime. But keeping them running requires either human effort or more complex controls. The more contrived the infrastructure necessary to support a system, the more potential for something to go wrong.

Which is definitely not to cast judgement on aquaponics, just to point out some strengths of systems that are closer to natural ones, designed to operate without humans once established.

-CK

Now I understand your point. Sorry, I understood it wrong first time :)

The only thing that works for me is physical exercise. A lot of it. I do trail running, cardio workouts, etc. Try it for a week and see if it will help.

Peter VanDerWal wrote:

Jennifer Parker wrote:What about an aquaponics system instead. It's cheap to build, you don't need to use fertilizers once the system is balanced (usually it takes few months), water is cleaned and filtrated by plants and the water remains in a (more or less) closed loop. This way you don't consume too much water and yet, farm as long as you want.

It is extremely difficult to make large scale aquaponics profitable, in fact the majority of commercial aquaponics companies make more money off the side streams (teaching, selling supplies, etc.) than they do off the fish and produce, that is among those companies that actually make a profit.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848614004724

Thanks for the link. I will read the study as well. I don't really have experience with large-scale systems...but I don't get why they wouldn't be profitable.

Chris Kott wrote:Hi Jennifer.

I do apologise, but I believe you have it backwards. Aquaculture is the term for systems that can function in a closed loop, where biological actors (plants and animals) are performing all the necessary functions of an aquatic system. Aquaponics refers to the less-sustainable version, where you're running a relatively conventional hydroponic system, but using the dirty fish water as your nutrient solution.

-CK

I own a small aquaponics system at home, that is almost 100% self-sustainable. I use few solar panels and a battery for the pump. Water evaporation is very small compared to any other system. The plants and fish do all the work. Why is this a less-sustainable version?

I shared the kickstarter campaign on facebook and twitter. Good luck!

What about an aquaponics system instead. It's cheap to build, you don't need to use fertilizers once the system is balanced (usually it takes few months), water is cleaned and filtrated by plants and the water remains in a (more or less) closed loop. This way you don't consume too much water and yet, farm as long as you want.