tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115595492024-03-06T00:24:27.441-05:00BRATTLEPONICSAquaponics & FishingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-22311655139868753402016-03-07T16:47:00.001-05:002016-03-07T16:47:04.279-05:00Stuck in the MudFebruary fishing was very slow and unproductive. I caught only a few fish which I released, like this shrimp-loving Flounder<br />
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as well as some Black Drum at Edisto Beach State Park, South Carolina.<br />
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After Edisto Beach, we traveled north up the coast and camped at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. I fished the jetty at the beach last year <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2015/01/tight-lines-yall.html">with some luck</a>, but this year got skunked completely. The water was still too cold.<br />
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Disappointed but not defeated, my friend, Rick Lopez, and I took another approach and tried our hand at harvesting shellfish instead. Since there was a non-commercial clam and oyster bed at Murrells Inlet, we took our boots and digging tools and ventured through the mud at low tide. His wife, Barbara, joined us too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Murrells Inlet clam / oyster beds (photo by Rick Lopez)</td></tr>
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Within a couple of hours, we harvested a 5 gallon pail of clams and another of oysters. Not bad, considering we were all complete novices. All of us got stuck in the deep mud, but were able to eventually pull ourselves out. We celebrated my birthday with them - yum!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oysters in the cooler / Clams in the pail (photo by Rick Lopez)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw oysters with hot sauce, horseradish, lemon and cocktail sauce<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWOEXw4DeJ2SbU6z4QIqpq8Kk2jUBGdP6Lwu8un5dR1WMmDAJ0w3w3wa2aRzg0fuE7uVFEGCz7lFcwexruHxFZeke9KQLx5E8TEUlquKX-JeR1Mbs8iFRdJ7c4WD7_azkgSSs/s1600/IMG_20160227_185752+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWOEXw4DeJ2SbU6z4QIqpq8Kk2jUBGdP6Lwu8un5dR1WMmDAJ0w3w3wa2aRzg0fuE7uVFEGCz7lFcwexruHxFZeke9KQLx5E8TEUlquKX-JeR1Mbs8iFRdJ7c4WD7_azkgSSs/s320/IMG_20160227_185752+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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We returned the empty shells to the Oyster Recycling Center at Murrells Inlet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rick Lopez and me at the Oyster Recycling Center.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5lQ1UZUmeEGUtFg2QGYDjaf4TXugDCp_eRN-sy7FRLgKOcFXtlPZMEFnCpD1rPGRQCeoskTnOc5uO_Rh6VjblMwWjHUhHxzoPgR19jovIZYmhiEicNwv8-QvixIBv2EIYci4/s1600/IMG_20160229_120238.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5lQ1UZUmeEGUtFg2QGYDjaf4TXugDCp_eRN-sy7FRLgKOcFXtlPZMEFnCpD1rPGRQCeoskTnOc5uO_Rh6VjblMwWjHUhHxzoPgR19jovIZYmhiEicNwv8-QvixIBv2EIYci4/s320/IMG_20160229_120238.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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The empty shells are returned to the mud flats so the baby oysters in the beds can grow. They depend on the calcium of the empty shells. Healthy oyster beds help to create healthy fish populations as well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An impressive and stinky mound of oyster shells</td></tr>
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Now, I'm up in the Smoky Mountains in Marshall, North Carolina. The mighty French Broad River runs right through the town. Spring has sprung, flowers are out and mud season is here. How's the fishing? Too soon to tell, so check back for more updates!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-86791632769010454282016-01-18T18:49:00.002-05:002016-01-18T21:23:26.404-05:00Rod Bendin' Redfish!<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">19" Red Drum</td></tr>
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The <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2016/01/southern-adventures-with-sea-trout.html">Spotted Sea Trout</a> were fun to catch, but once the January temps dropped, so did their bite. Heavy rains passed and cooler weather brought clear skies, improving water clarity. When the winds shifted to the north-east, the Red Drum started biting.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rz2iJboMyTPTl8n7HLoQr39RMglEapVIViiABITP8riCXE13S0T37DyT74VZp9huXT_9URqtuI5liWpVMx2yxXM7XfGVxDEH9LX-tY6m3KWGvLl05zAxI7AUcNa3wObQ-kQC/s1600/19+inch+redfish+facing+camera+1.14.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rz2iJboMyTPTl8n7HLoQr39RMglEapVIViiABITP8riCXE13S0T37DyT74VZp9huXT_9URqtuI5liWpVMx2yxXM7XfGVxDEH9LX-tY6m3KWGvLl05zAxI7AUcNa3wObQ-kQC/s320/19+inch+redfish+facing+camera+1.14.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello!</td></tr>
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Red Drum, a.k.a. Redfish, Spottail bass, Spots, and Channel bass are probably the most popular inshore fish here in Florida, and with good reason. They bite and fight hard! I used live shrimp and set the drag light. After a couple of casts, my reel was a-screamin'.</div>
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The once-threatened Red Drum is making a rebound. Since it's classified as "bycatch" -- unwanted fish caught during commercial fishing for a different species <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-- </span>it holds little value for commercial fishermen. In this part of Florida, there are strict size limits (18"-27") with a possession limit of 5. Because of these factors, their numbers are back up. Lucky for me!<br />
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Redfish are a schooling fish. Here are a few small "cookie cutters" -- all were between 14"-15", which I released.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgpl_g1IAuTIf-3XB5hnVVw3Mn6JR2eOFrzKjKBAzLC9C4__X5-yk3ruQno3jWPZuOzpQ1DIbb5YVE8GLNQts1lCgnsassqvLIawzc9HL9WVajc33WAnvUDWjqCS7cvgHBqEW/s1600/IMG_20160114_162632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgpl_g1IAuTIf-3XB5hnVVw3Mn6JR2eOFrzKjKBAzLC9C4__X5-yk3ruQno3jWPZuOzpQ1DIbb5YVE8GLNQts1lCgnsassqvLIawzc9HL9WVajc33WAnvUDWjqCS7cvgHBqEW/s320/IMG_20160114_162632.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The unmistakable spot near the tail makes Red Drum easy to identify.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3qedrrZ2tELnKNiTdGvlBaB9E8m8Ok9ol0vb4EEtm2UwxC7c-tD8RXayYsh2Jopfo1Qs_vpnJMatoyLyboi4en5jzBd6LV6U7elmIadjBmqQjo9cp9brvea2FxfEQVnPaf_i/s1600/IMG_20160114_161307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3qedrrZ2tELnKNiTdGvlBaB9E8m8Ok9ol0vb4EEtm2UwxC7c-tD8RXayYsh2Jopfo1Qs_vpnJMatoyLyboi4en5jzBd6LV6U7elmIadjBmqQjo9cp9brvea2FxfEQVnPaf_i/s320/IMG_20160114_161307.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's a keeper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh5Sk0eCHPkNbBjSaZp1ydrXGlZWzpzXWDGgUM3ROp5ygQeUpyZABfsoPxq6kOACUKKOHZr_5CYUSCbzXR0_4qbdX_gfGJOFmf3Gk0b2_d4JJlJP1o5lb869HXMgQpBqvW3zi/s1600/19+inch+redfish+with+ruler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh5Sk0eCHPkNbBjSaZp1ydrXGlZWzpzXWDGgUM3ROp5ygQeUpyZABfsoPxq6kOACUKKOHZr_5CYUSCbzXR0_4qbdX_gfGJOFmf3Gk0b2_d4JJlJP1o5lb869HXMgQpBqvW3zi/s320/19+inch+redfish+with+ruler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Spelled backwards, Red Drum = Dinner!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redfish fillets ready to Broil...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIunsnRs1E4SKPU94O-q2AdFZGNd03h29cJZfdPT_xoxUPhtjLOZosq0-Fdl-BkqyYn637on7eGoMU6y10JDIzCrYVytNw19guSVg3CdzPCktSRc7DZ2d2Zu5pNGvLpC7ngGE/s1600/IMG_20160114_184920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIunsnRs1E4SKPU94O-q2AdFZGNd03h29cJZfdPT_xoxUPhtjLOZosq0-Fdl-BkqyYn637on7eGoMU6y10JDIzCrYVytNw19guSVg3CdzPCktSRc7DZ2d2Zu5pNGvLpC7ngGE/s320/IMG_20160114_184920.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready only 5 Minutes Later!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ9UPnz7rcQ7rv5uOM40Jgqmd3DRHoPSu9Hwitt6KbMX68eDZ1RegA0RdZ0KNyiRRKeXjqGYt-ASiQ1JvxU93SXBblBa4KMTmaR_VrlPwQcT0yJveNxk5jHcQvF4kKrTTnF5O/s1600/IMG_20160114_185917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ9UPnz7rcQ7rv5uOM40Jgqmd3DRHoPSu9Hwitt6KbMX68eDZ1RegA0RdZ0KNyiRRKeXjqGYt-ASiQ1JvxU93SXBblBa4KMTmaR_VrlPwQcT0yJveNxk5jHcQvF4kKrTTnF5O/s320/IMG_20160114_185917.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broiled Red Drum with Thai Rice & Broccoli<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Not too shabby! We also made chowder with it. The firm white meat held up well in the soup. A local favorite is blackened Redfish, but I haven't tried it yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow, we leave the Gulf Coast and return to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. W</span><span style="font-size: small;">hatever bends your rod, right? Check back, and keep your lines tight!</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-80335646079144386692016-01-15T13:51:00.003-05:002016-01-15T13:54:03.632-05:00Southern Adventures with Sea Trout2016 is a year of big changes bringing new adventures. Our home in Vermont sold in December, and my wife and I have been traveling around down South. Sadly, there's no <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2016/01/fishing-on-ice.html">ice fishing</a> for me this year.<br />
<div>
<br />
Nonetheless, we're escaping the cold and enjoying the Florida panhandle's "Forgotten Coast," an area rich with biodiversity. A major industry here? Fish, shrimp, and oysters. We love it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfH20EJGqVDOX98ZbXcfGk5KwOW-Gzx9_mww2QojqkXUvzspxLj7hqw68ZeO6_HCzDGoBrFZEdjbK0BWA1Iz8D8g2xU1RoFnayvkWEuzemTak8eJj-NdBtyAxYhqsh2Qli249/s1600/The+Forgotten+Coast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfH20EJGqVDOX98ZbXcfGk5KwOW-Gzx9_mww2QojqkXUvzspxLj7hqw68ZeO6_HCzDGoBrFZEdjbK0BWA1Iz8D8g2xU1RoFnayvkWEuzemTak8eJj-NdBtyAxYhqsh2Qli249/s640/The+Forgotten+Coast.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Forgotten Coast on Google Maps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Although winter means the fishing is typically slow, I did manage to catch some nice Spotted Sea Trout from shore in Alligator Bay.</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_4tB5w4adlhhTcwshBwWR54ozPQKgmhZiKb0VNuJ1UMppXJVNsZLWeNWNX4HOgWtolnT7gDZiqrTEg7yqj_a1JKnH7wZc0rT17OIjCKJZlWglMPRsBmmeSzk1f-isone63Q4/s1600/view+from+marina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_4tB5w4adlhhTcwshBwWR54ozPQKgmhZiKb0VNuJ1UMppXJVNsZLWeNWNX4HOgWtolnT7gDZiqrTEg7yqj_a1JKnH7wZc0rT17OIjCKJZlWglMPRsBmmeSzk1f-isone63Q4/s320/view+from+marina.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Alligator Bay from Marina</td></tr>
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Funny that they call them Sea Trout as their skeletal bone structure and dorsal (top) fin are really more like Weakfish than freshwater trout.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjLCiCMB-AC5EzvGzpD57CflbSXyxVS-1n2RO3mT5uFWPk_SbvoEfnhpHw4dbn-4M_WiLuzwYVYIzxr9s6efyUMz94McHRXBoHkJhY0t3ohkml2M9GVSMEHg-0pshWlatFa8k/s320/sea+trout+and+weakfish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Trout vs. Weakfish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also, they have sharp front teeth. so be careful removing the hook.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dentistinshreveportla.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/seatrout.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GJQsgnRFmaAM6AiYGe9GkMyfzQntaGwl3VNTyyxgwdeJ7ymbzjnOUIYGE7zW5kPw7e573ceYd1oNdh2H_nVvswj_gJM-ylPc95CIbFG2vMAaGZ7EEfzJbJ-G4WovbQJYufGU/s320/sea+trout+teeth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyway, by drifting live shrimp on a lightweight rod, I found these fish put up a pretty decent fight! The legal limit here is 5 trout/day with a 15" minimum length, and allowing one over 20". I kept a couple of them (16" and 17"), and threw back shorter ones like this one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsqXWYsyyhZIZQT6b5X5sB3NDd2SI3V1dHREEQjbc5uexDMSrRvJmYfUoeYsJmluiXP4tLPSmfJdtqOjblLc5u8aUYcrJDiCikC1GApZZ2hyphenhyphenOfxWNiw7R4MeZilLPaWah9skI/s1600/IMG_20151226_175033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsqXWYsyyhZIZQT6b5X5sB3NDd2SI3V1dHREEQjbc5uexDMSrRvJmYfUoeYsJmluiXP4tLPSmfJdtqOjblLc5u8aUYcrJDiCikC1GApZZ2hyphenhyphenOfxWNiw7R4MeZilLPaWah9skI/s320/IMG_20151226_175033.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooked Spotted Sea Trout before release.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXh2TTHtQkneTzmV1cMDFJJ606rbTyZrZ98ktxnTjxOBdEg-iUKA2-B-I2JxWeFgSYWtGxKr4jJo3nu5aXXG1jHHChNRgePFdCYARua9IiOYkCQTyGUd0___9vJLJF8oweV5O/s1600/IMG_20151226_175024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
I also caught a Ladyfish. Ladyfish are jumpers and fight pretty hard for their size. The Ladyfish ended up in a soup stock.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXh2TTHtQkneTzmV1cMDFJJ606rbTyZrZ98ktxnTjxOBdEg-iUKA2-B-I2JxWeFgSYWtGxKr4jJo3nu5aXXG1jHHChNRgePFdCYARua9IiOYkCQTyGUd0___9vJLJF8oweV5O/s1600/IMG_20151226_175024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMkCy0xPG1EJTiiTwoKdIeEWQDhRSAG1X0XvRM_UZFwUYhTGKhb1D0otcno9kXGihiaLZ3tNeGcKcoh6eoVZWrj5btTJEq4keKlWta30xZBJGfzPVU6w2EOQOO0iaMt36yB6W/s1600/IMG_20151229_183757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMkCy0xPG1EJTiiTwoKdIeEWQDhRSAG1X0XvRM_UZFwUYhTGKhb1D0otcno9kXGihiaLZ3tNeGcKcoh6eoVZWrj5btTJEq4keKlWta30xZBJGfzPVU6w2EOQOO0iaMt36yB6W/s320/IMG_20151229_183757.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Trout on top. Ladyfish on bottom.</td></tr>
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Preparing Sea Trout is easy. I gutted and then stuffed them with sliced lemons, baked them at 375 degrees wrapped in foil and sprinkled salt, pepper, and red chili powder. I bake a lot of fish this way because it keeps them really juicy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRDtd332FfCLaiRP1SBsDmAUuzInF-nXATflem0Bodj3hoJTdlMTAjY_4-IqGxdidaSqBSwmSvzzlMA0_YcCn2do232XJZ5N1_9duDcTMgp1-ecHBDYBKK9RYCyo0o9FKWWmS/s1600/IMG_20151230_181251+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRDtd332FfCLaiRP1SBsDmAUuzInF-nXATflem0Bodj3hoJTdlMTAjY_4-IqGxdidaSqBSwmSvzzlMA0_YcCn2do232XJZ5N1_9duDcTMgp1-ecHBDYBKK9RYCyo0o9FKWWmS/s320/IMG_20151230_181251+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Trout ready for the oven. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjmc5eE5p4gEndgVJjOigQyLZv-Mil5UE0aJSK6c-xap0G_Fzk2uhZmq-cjxAvOurkoYo2-1p4emmvyWIFVQ83B-w5Tg2O9hDoGk7X38bxLogSd3CNoR79sq_Mpp9KNzh71Ee/s1600/IMG_20151227_194314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjmc5eE5p4gEndgVJjOigQyLZv-Mil5UE0aJSK6c-xap0G_Fzk2uhZmq-cjxAvOurkoYo2-1p4emmvyWIFVQ83B-w5Tg2O9hDoGk7X38bxLogSd3CNoR79sq_Mpp9KNzh71Ee/s320/IMG_20151227_194314.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Trout ready to eat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Sea Trout were excellent. I bet they'd be great grilled or fried.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Redfish! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-81654408117277156542016-01-01T12:35:00.000-05:002016-01-01T12:44:10.801-05:00Fishing On Ice <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV3TILHd5qUXbYL3DHKNsk8hELHlNEabMhyPXLzf3GdrTeI_NzwtxF4eMbX2G8FDDa8keL1GETEXlFcJZnIcZvVQ7t2Hbnc2oy9RGDhiG-_xtZgh-RfjbIVBJl8U8TGFaPTlR/s1600/yellow-perch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV3TILHd5qUXbYL3DHKNsk8hELHlNEabMhyPXLzf3GdrTeI_NzwtxF4eMbX2G8FDDa8keL1GETEXlFcJZnIcZvVQ7t2Hbnc2oy9RGDhiG-_xtZgh-RfjbIVBJl8U8TGFaPTlR/s320/yellow-perch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching a Yellow Perch through the ice </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Happy New Year! For you Northerners, let's hope 2016 kicks off with a productive season of hard water action. For you Southerners, I'll explain.<br />
<br />
As the ice thickens on Vermont ponds and lakes, fishermen are preparing for a new season of ice fishing by stocking shanties, sharpening augers, digging out crampons, and re-spooling tip-ups.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA4CvlmxLIfd-6v81ayptpITjlQNXESrMvxtuSf7fduXMYnZ7hMUj2TdKXfqpUZ8p-i7STz05_SWo7rj3_g5v8BphuB4Y2TRxUOzZBCL5Z922fDOhLB7sxZAAhSDDwpcOQ_WD/s1600/tip-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA4CvlmxLIfd-6v81ayptpITjlQNXESrMvxtuSf7fduXMYnZ7hMUj2TdKXfqpUZ8p-i7STz05_SWo7rj3_g5v8BphuB4Y2TRxUOzZBCL5Z922fDOhLB7sxZAAhSDDwpcOQ_WD/s1600/tip-up.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tip-up ready for action</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am honored to be currently featured in Stratton Magazine's Winter 2016 issue, "Fishing On Ice":<br />
<a href="http://www.strattonmagazine.com/current_issue/fish-on-ice/">http://www.strattonmagazine.com/current_issue/fish-on-ice/</a><br />
<br />
page 2: <a href="http://www.strattonmagazine.com/current_issue/fish-on-ice/2/">http://www.strattonmagazine.com/current_issue/fish-on-ice/2/</a><br />
<br />
page 3: <a href="http://www.strattonmagazine.com/current_issue/fish-on-ice/3/">http://www.strattonmagazine.com/current_issue/fish-on-ice/3/</a><br />
<br />
Thanks to Meryl Robinson for writing the article and Hubert Schriebl for the photos!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1jevd7UNcjkpmiw-cWGeqnaG0S1FWT6Z_P1uojXGR2mR76sJdu6de1LsPJIPFa712XyMHra-UjnLVJ2pAu87kV8-KMI4Qg9FjwVfURdKiOEgLKn1YdKlygv-1QP55jXnBdr0/s1600/Mark-Growther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1jevd7UNcjkpmiw-cWGeqnaG0S1FWT6Z_P1uojXGR2mR76sJdu6de1LsPJIPFa712XyMHra-UjnLVJ2pAu87kV8-KMI4Qg9FjwVfURdKiOEgLKn1YdKlygv-1QP55jXnBdr0/s320/Mark-Growther.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking the live bait</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Keep your lines tight, the coffee hot, and stay tuned for Brattleponics' Southern adventures coming your way!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-2614800764436527472015-11-03T16:10:00.003-05:002015-11-13T10:52:20.217-05:00Lettuce Harvest & Low pH<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Another Compass School Aquaponics update from Eric Rhomberg:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwf1r24-NZJKs2tBboJNKCh4d-ZM2G3aRgZB61cohNTdnGkCCZ_ZQrxFFgEcY4EQtWpwAoDZ1ehyEdkxzB5pdNI0KEgv1WzeCLcb4XeRTYt_DGCIPIUPe7onBw357r9GCSLGU_/s1600/aquaponics-lettuce-11-3-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwf1r24-NZJKs2tBboJNKCh4d-ZM2G3aRgZB61cohNTdnGkCCZ_ZQrxFFgEcY4EQtWpwAoDZ1ehyEdkxzB5pdNI0KEgv1WzeCLcb4XeRTYt_DGCIPIUPe7onBw357r9GCSLGU_/s320/aquaponics-lettuce-11-3-15.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lettuce ready to harvest</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"The lettuce has grown quite nicely, and today we harvested some to include in our school lunch. It's delicious!</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16WiHT-PakTPyeQWy1e0uTeExxHqasXTNUSBGgEPsJF0VYFysn5IHtGmJUoREjgPt962Q-bJBKU4npT9VP94n4dIvWkTBLO60uXz0VbF3a1-xSxBvndv3IOug1t6z21c8RPT8/s1600/aquaponics-lettuce-harvest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16WiHT-PakTPyeQWy1e0uTeExxHqasXTNUSBGgEPsJF0VYFysn5IHtGmJUoREjgPt962Q-bJBKU4npT9VP94n4dIvWkTBLO60uXz0VbF3a1-xSxBvndv3IOug1t6z21c8RPT8/s320/aquaponics-lettuce-harvest.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compass School student with Lettuce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">A few weeks ago we discovered that the pH of the water was down around 5.5. We started more aggressively changing water periodically, which helped raise it a little. We then decided to gently bump it back up to neutral by adding a little dilute NaOH along with one of our water changes. We got the pH nicely back to neutral, with no observable signs of distress from the fish over the transition. But today we discovered the pH has crept back down to about 6.0. We're wondering what is causing this pH drop?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Overfeeding the fish could do it. <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2015/08/like-tank-over-troubled-water.html">Back in August</a>, I had problems with clogged water pipes from uneaten fish food. I had overfed the fish and the high ammonia level caused the pH drop. The ammonia toxicity killed a goldfish. After a partial water change and reducing the amount of fish food, the pH bounced back to normal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">pH fluctuation is a common issue in Aquaponics, but in my experience, the pH tended to tip to the high side more often than the low side. If the pH drop is not due to overfeeding, p</span>erhaps this <a href="http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=25029">thread at Backyard Aquaponics</a> can be helpful, as low pH can be raised in a variety of ways. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Stay tuned!</span></div>
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<b>November 13 Update</b><br />
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More delicious lettuce was harvested today for lunch. The greens are looking good!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lettuce for Lunch!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-74610386413752105412015-10-20T18:25:00.000-04:002015-10-20T18:36:42.111-04:00Lights & Lettuce<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the Compass School Aquaponic installation last week, we've had a couple of frosts outside. <i>Brrr! </i></span><br />
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But, another year of frost coming late means a longer growing season, which in my book, is a good thing.</span><br />
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How's it going at the school? Here's the latest news from science teacher, Eric Rhomberg.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZjUvB_iSNQ0MQ83t063ca4xE-fI0KMlG-RIk_eToQDjLNPA8-p8l-HvGts5Nu4zM15y6ItueU6_07JV9cgrC12-IyujpzKikN8xUnwoIfjvmlkAyszRFwVQU3sLy1mqPoQQm/s1600/aquaponics-full+set-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZjUvB_iSNQ0MQ83t063ca4xE-fI0KMlG-RIk_eToQDjLNPA8-p8l-HvGts5Nu4zM15y6ItueU6_07JV9cgrC12-IyujpzKikN8xUnwoIfjvmlkAyszRFwVQU3sLy1mqPoQQm/s320/aquaponics-full+set-up.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We've got the lights set up, and we've transplanted in a bunch of lettuce. It was </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">pretty cool to dig up the lettuce from our outdoor garden, wash off all the dirt until </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">they were just bare "plant", and then stick them down into the gravel hydroponic bed. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Looking good! The fish seem active and "happy", the water is beautifully clear, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and the plants look healthy. We're loving it!"</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnIl9hIQrWrl_9T-HclJQftns7_QqzuQo-bU58nFlGA3aSiQouScFALw_iZiwNXKfvpUszuvmU2tF0up3z4OxNFf0v7GR8kaAK9UEvgEPkSNAnvg457V3PkglkHmahtUdeB-j/s1600/water-cleared.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnIl9hIQrWrl_9T-HclJQftns7_QqzuQo-bU58nFlGA3aSiQouScFALw_iZiwNXKfvpUszuvmU2tF0up3z4OxNFf0v7GR8kaAK9UEvgEPkSNAnvg457V3PkglkHmahtUdeB-j/s1600/water-cleared.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y-5tloBEXoPydZTM9p_rBo5QeaF3yiXF4-H73xBNc2ZGe1ElUJS1oeoL1mom-AdV-y0jucbkU8p3LxV44ADYlA1e9Ux2YFHPP4iIUhv3BWtiUa5V6UpxckoioVqOZAjZNVtk/s1600/aquaponics-oct20-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y-5tloBEXoPydZTM9p_rBo5QeaF3yiXF4-H73xBNc2ZGe1ElUJS1oeoL1mom-AdV-y0jucbkU8p3LxV44ADYlA1e9Ux2YFHPP4iIUhv3BWtiUa5V6UpxckoioVqOZAjZNVtk/s320/aquaponics-oct20-15.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I agree. Lookin' good in Bellows Falls! Stay tuned for more updates.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-742271736671943092015-10-16T08:33:00.001-04:002015-10-16T10:38:34.215-04:00Installation at Compass School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday I moved my Aquaponics system to Compass School, where it will be used for high school science experiments. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgPoY9qv7tA6QUMdCfrqaUz00mc8LKgpWlKmvuMmkiNweyF_WoH9-lhdVZQXrVTeIu5qORJbvb65r2xSSZrsBo_de4srNxiwHYL166YdEC4scEaoLrH8q93s7J7hwyqZ0fRwu/s1600/Brattleponics+10.15.15+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgPoY9qv7tA6QUMdCfrqaUz00mc8LKgpWlKmvuMmkiNweyF_WoH9-lhdVZQXrVTeIu5qORJbvb65r2xSSZrsBo_de4srNxiwHYL166YdEC4scEaoLrH8q93s7J7hwyqZ0fRwu/s320/Brattleponics+10.15.15+003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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It sits under a west-facing window as before, but now it is mobile. Check out the stand that the students built for it! They painted it and even added casters to roll it out of the way when they need the counter space for other lab projects. Nice work!<br />
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It took about an hour to set it up in its new spot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1wMGBIgoXQO_O1XPa2YdY46ep7YIEWRxpKh8v34dNaepwMA1XNheSWp5gjy1WBFImWpfGcGv2zhDH43I2lQWRvWc-oY_g4GFuj7wdqOemGOowaxbzniZgPiJ14eUuH4Qa-Iq/s1600/Brattleponics+10.15.15+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1wMGBIgoXQO_O1XPa2YdY46ep7YIEWRxpKh8v34dNaepwMA1XNheSWp5gjy1WBFImWpfGcGv2zhDH43I2lQWRvWc-oY_g4GFuj7wdqOemGOowaxbzniZgPiJ14eUuH4Qa-Iq/s320/Brattleponics+10.15.15+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
To buffer the shock to the fish, I moved about 20 gallons of water with the system. We then added 10 gallons of dechlorinated water from the school's water supply. Here's an inside look shortly after setting it up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY-GAZiHn8Y0etULDIwMQ3xWaS7bozhDFvagIi4ZLRIq3J5B9TSNhXvMdsEfGYKHaXyETN1e2JmYgs8T5fxmDz80253hD-1nhsTbvRLv7SSd6kjdi439Zg8WYqddPNys44zGw/s1600/Brattleponics+10.15.15+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY-GAZiHn8Y0etULDIwMQ3xWaS7bozhDFvagIi4ZLRIq3J5B9TSNhXvMdsEfGYKHaXyETN1e2JmYgs8T5fxmDz80253hD-1nhsTbvRLv7SSd6kjdi439Zg8WYqddPNys44zGw/s320/Brattleponics+10.15.15+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Why is the water so cloudy? Well, a lot of organic matter was stirred up when I emptied the grow bed. The grow bed is 100 pounds of expanded shale, creating a lot of surface area where the plant roots, fish food and decaying fish food collect. Since I hadn't rinsed the grow bed media since I built the system, I rinsed it all in another plastic bucket before moving it. No worries. The water should clear up soon as the solids settle to the bottom of the growbed, and the water is cycled.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmHShSxYAX2wRRx-9WoJDWHagzXowul3wYsOr9J2XOMTttpdIhbO_dxISh8vLNDUx0u5a12lb3nNumKi1VghU6Kc0_02_-fDKZPpgHdl0aQuATskOVFNUCzN9ktQ3esZ7V_Pk/s1600/Brattleponics+10.15.15+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmHShSxYAX2wRRx-9WoJDWHagzXowul3wYsOr9J2XOMTttpdIhbO_dxISh8vLNDUx0u5a12lb3nNumKi1VghU6Kc0_02_-fDKZPpgHdl0aQuATskOVFNUCzN9ktQ3esZ7V_Pk/s320/Brattleponics+10.15.15+007.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric with barrelponics system</td></tr>
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Anyway, I'm psyched that the system is in good hands with Eric Rhomberg, the science teacher. I think it looks pretty cool in his classroom. Don't you?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UDw9s8zmiHl5XuRh0IOiElLcq1IElZ_6OwCjRQ0G_OJGYrp8Zr-iULvvrIe34x3VHcB7-C1tAwyv8LT7ZiDJr3XrO52qODCuo51jpPsoIbMyAPtvvxh0URwMuLiKJVgc40Sh/s1600/Brattleponics+10.15.15+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UDw9s8zmiHl5XuRh0IOiElLcq1IElZ_6OwCjRQ0G_OJGYrp8Zr-iULvvrIe34x3VHcB7-C1tAwyv8LT7ZiDJr3XrO52qODCuo51jpPsoIbMyAPtvvxh0URwMuLiKJVgc40Sh/s320/Brattleponics+10.15.15+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The water cleared up by this morning. Here's the fish happily eating their breakfast. Looking good!<br />
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Check back for more updates from Compass School!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-4037598320141048272015-09-30T13:08:00.000-04:002015-10-01T12:01:29.510-04:00Moving Plants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigkLJOmGe0qdmnjPAj1gZBjT4gcevGMY1ngg04fR582tzVO_BZZW3J-ZqRE0XQlhaY4PkBrhX7crSm1WsHqW-gSIsYbFgQ98HhxSOtpvc-PeOmhxMwhm3N1UteN5A8azgom_J/s1600/IMG_20150929_112809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigkLJOmGe0qdmnjPAj1gZBjT4gcevGMY1ngg04fR582tzVO_BZZW3J-ZqRE0XQlhaY4PkBrhX7crSm1WsHqW-gSIsYbFgQ98HhxSOtpvc-PeOmhxMwhm3N1UteN5A8azgom_J/s320/IMG_20150929_112809.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Since I harvested the <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2015/08/tatsoi-yeah-boi.html">Tatsoi</a>, I removed the overhead fluorescent light ballast. Now all my plants are receiving only indirect natural light through the window and really bending toward the light. There's only a few plants in the system left.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAaHHwbzi-AizqJXz-KXUeKaRaoaChj2yb1ma77LTv4Rfz71dwmwEXecxGzH3Vd1wvwVZrvijvAHtrnVZSGG2YNuHeJUOIKFnCXqTONiqGdaIwRkP0SDrojq0RjmNnK6udRvz/s1600/IMG_20150929_112552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAaHHwbzi-AizqJXz-KXUeKaRaoaChj2yb1ma77LTv4Rfz71dwmwEXecxGzH3Vd1wvwVZrvijvAHtrnVZSGG2YNuHeJUOIKFnCXqTONiqGdaIwRkP0SDrojq0RjmNnK6udRvz/s320/IMG_20150929_112552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spearmint front Left, Sorrel middle Left, Rosemary far Left, Apple Mint far Right</td></tr>
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I transplanted this wild spearmint a couple of weeks ago into my Aquaponics system. It has kept its color and its roots have quickly grown. I moved it closer to the window and put it into a corner of the growbed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejsMvWzFxm1OsCjxk4sffhBI71WcwUyDhVcwVn5nFBaP_qFQ5tv3MaWqpC1nw0qjG_5ajzNKETFcOdBokYirVY70RS8_Z3lid3SOcKV7aqPBpbgCMdKFIqJf50dE8bMkCg_yf/s1600/IMG_20150929_112458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejsMvWzFxm1OsCjxk4sffhBI71WcwUyDhVcwVn5nFBaP_qFQ5tv3MaWqpC1nw0qjG_5ajzNKETFcOdBokYirVY70RS8_Z3lid3SOcKV7aqPBpbgCMdKFIqJf50dE8bMkCg_yf/s320/IMG_20150929_112458.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I thought I'd face it pointing away from the window to see how long it would take to turn itself around.<br />
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When a plant grows toward the light, the observable effect is called phototropism. Positive phototropism is what happens when it grows toward the light. Negative phototropism is when it grows away from the light. I haven't seen negative phototropism with any of my other indoor plants.<br />
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Here it is the next day.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Here it is two days later. Pr</span><span style="text-align: center;">etty cool, huh?</span></div>
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Like the other low-light herbs I'm growing, it looks like Spearmint is acclimating just fine.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIXlXrqatFpYzr0BfEwbIOgaJ1xZqIP29P6EgVGcL7kMvDhyPnKUV6nXorAQPX1yacO9B15mO7yU7ongh9-0DK_3dGDq6MgQZ-3uGOwBzBRqGv44hvnAWgbKJ-0noT28rU3u6/s1600/IMG_20150929_112520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIXlXrqatFpYzr0BfEwbIOgaJ1xZqIP29P6EgVGcL7kMvDhyPnKUV6nXorAQPX1yacO9B15mO7yU7ongh9-0DK_3dGDq6MgQZ-3uGOwBzBRqGv44hvnAWgbKJ-0noT28rU3u6/s200/IMG_20150929_112520.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNymDeuQd_jtrZ_2dZJOlDJjHNbOWf3dktm6MDMG2JhkdvRd3t6AYW8DmQidG_hgFggcPcsNZzIZ01dgiy66YjVUUzAVbmZFt5V4QWbX-YD27a716ngAK_YHdAkWo6G45vpSgm/s1600/IMG_20150930_125513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNymDeuQd_jtrZ_2dZJOlDJjHNbOWf3dktm6MDMG2JhkdvRd3t6AYW8DmQidG_hgFggcPcsNZzIZ01dgiy66YjVUUzAVbmZFt5V4QWbX-YD27a716ngAK_YHdAkWo6G45vpSgm/s200/IMG_20150930_125513.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifc_xjKV1ZUShYfbtAzPCMLFg3vhfvVFEeUkGi9SDwSvYtcuOIj2xYGf7ENpNeLg7fXpHMsGw-d7zLJObg_WmPogj0-ZIrB1gGcFy9FpCxXf4KS_omiyk0kqeYmXb3CzRLbCcm/s1600/IMG_20151001_114519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifc_xjKV1ZUShYfbtAzPCMLFg3vhfvVFEeUkGi9SDwSvYtcuOIj2xYGf7ENpNeLg7fXpHMsGw-d7zLJObg_WmPogj0-ZIrB1gGcFy9FpCxXf4KS_omiyk0kqeYmXb3CzRLbCcm/s200/IMG_20151001_114519.jpg" width="150" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-80317907390448316862015-09-26T14:27:00.000-04:002015-09-26T14:27:09.282-04:00Aquaponics at Compass SchoolBig news! I'm rehoming my T Barrel Aquaponics system this fall as I'm leaving Vermont this winter.<br />
<a href="http://compass-school.org/student-resources/teacher-sites/eric-rhomberg/about-eric">Eric Rhomberg </a>at <a href="http://compass-school.org/">Compass Schoo</a>l in Bellows Falls will set it up in his science classroom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://compass-school.org/student-resources/teacher-sites/eric-rhomberg/9-10th-science"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwUmdwomTAinvbmrxTrSGKXKIqq2Obp7OE2pISGLo6bJBpQX8DIqi2g85tlD-BRDUfbZYA1ujCkHGKZ1B0A0X45-co9VAQzhL74VlBgeMT6GcRke72GxF901HJXR54j_EMF10/s1600/Eric+Classroom.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric teaching Science</td></tr>
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Since Brattleponics has had an educational bent since its start in January 2013, I'm excited that the system is going to a local school where the students can keep it alive while they learn and experiment with Aquaponics.<br />
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Eric plans to incorporate Aquaponics into his Ecology classes. He'll give students the opportunity to explore Aquaponics in their own studies as well, as Compass has an independent studies component in its curriculum. A team of students will share in taking care of the fish and plants. It sounds like a win-win to me.<br />
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To my knowledge, no other high school in Windham County is incorporating Aquaponics into the curriculum, so kudos to Eric's pioneering spirit.<br />
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Stay tuned!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-30906307763055059852015-08-30T20:00:00.001-04:002015-08-30T20:00:56.725-04:00Like a Tank over Troubled WaterOn a more somber note, let's take a moment to thank one of the hardest working goldfish <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2014/12/living-in-dark.html">living in the dark</a> who passed away last month. R.I.P., my little buddy. My plants and I thank you for all the poop over the years. Sorry my overfeeding and neglect probably led to your demise. This was the solid orange one below on the far right...I think.<br />
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This summer, I had troubles with cycling enough water into the system. This caused a spike in the pH and created high ammonia levels. The outflow pipes were clogged up with algae and food. Now another fish is suffering from <a href="http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/ammoniapoison.htm">ammonia poisoning</a>. His gills are crimson red. He has balance problems and stays at the surface. He doesn't seem to get enough air. His energy seems good, but he doesn't eat much. Anyway, I'm down to three fish.<br />
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Typically, I don't have to do any water changes with this system. I just top off the water a couple of gallons a week from water evaporation and plant transpiration. But this time it really needed more fresh water, so I changed 10 gallons, gave the pump and lines a good cleaning, and now the system is back to normal. The auto siphon runs every 15 minutes and pH is down. Water is clear again, so things are looking up.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-18970987093434010672015-08-19T17:33:00.001-04:002015-08-19T17:33:20.173-04:00Tatsoi? Yeah Boi!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yo, check it! Das aight, dat's Flava Flav in da house! Water be a-flowin' and the greens be a-growin'! <br />
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Amping up da flava this summah is <a href="http://www.growveg.com/growguideplant.aspx?id=306">Tatsoi</a>, taking the place of Wild Mustard in the system. Tatsoi hails from Asia, but grows easily in Vermont. It is a versatile green in the kitchen.<br />
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This indoor Aquaponic Tatsoi is a couple weeks old.<br />
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Unfortunately, the outermost leaves of the baby starters were eaten by bugs before I transplanted them indoors. The new growth from the middle looks good so far. I planted them densely, about 4 inches away from each other.<br />
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Tatsoi tastes similar to Bok Choi. It's highly nutritious and flavorful and can be eaten raw or cooked. It's often used in stir-fry dishes, salads and soups. Once picked, Tatsoi has a fairly short shelf life, so it should be refrigerated if not quickly eaten.<br />
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Here's some Tatsoi growing outside. It's a bit larger than the ones indoors, but still prone to insects.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden Tatsoi surrounded by <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2014/08/eating-weed.html">Purslane</a></td></tr>
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If you haven't tried it yet, you should. Ch-ch-ch-check it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-46263240777126748092015-06-17T16:09:00.001-04:002015-06-17T16:09:15.592-04:00How Low Can You Go? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-Barrel Aquaponic System</td></tr>
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Since I transplanted my <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2015/05/may-strawberries-in-vermont.html">Aquaponic Strawberries</a> outdoors, I also removed one of the overhead fluorescent lighting ballasts indoors. This cut lighting energy use from 128 to 64 watts. The lights are still powered for 16 hours each day. Since I'm not trying to make anything bloom or fruit, I'd see how low I could go.<br />
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How are they doing? The plants' growth is slower, and color is generally more faded, as expected. Still, most seem to be growing without getting too leggy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Single fluorescent 4' ballast with two 32 watt bulbs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cilantro under the window</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tatsoi (a.k.a. Spinach Mustard) pale but growing well under the window</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosemary always doing fine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSrj0ddWrTDqZUTKJzRw9bOcd5STmBogt8OegrppHRic-Gk7ar0Io5yw-jbbqJ5pA7EeclziPWkOfkolNIUJb-JNnKsMJ2PbupeD9t3_HHgszkjxerDCVl49F7b2wj0jmjkM8/s1600/IMG_20150616_180559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSrj0ddWrTDqZUTKJzRw9bOcd5STmBogt8OegrppHRic-Gk7ar0Io5yw-jbbqJ5pA7EeclziPWkOfkolNIUJb-JNnKsMJ2PbupeD9t3_HHgszkjxerDCVl49F7b2wj0jmjkM8/s320/IMG_20150616_180559.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep Sorrel hanging on</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU48uZrW0ZoXLDoMlKwLMtUB0brlUNcTj5DWDBK-X2vz6gnwwSvRSb9TgNluLF_tFjcZkDBuRiiiiN4L8uhr1wv_DBwos4mWAM_DJQl75j_IxRZx4pIjmt83_YoXknZKrTBgPi/s1600/IMG_20150616_180607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU48uZrW0ZoXLDoMlKwLMtUB0brlUNcTj5DWDBK-X2vz6gnwwSvRSb9TgNluLF_tFjcZkDBuRiiiiN4L8uhr1wv_DBwos4mWAM_DJQl75j_IxRZx4pIjmt83_YoXknZKrTBgPi/s320/IMG_20150616_180607.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple Mint going crazy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIpcEwNL5UxGJ4cD4LeMXofaKVW3vB9EtGtr6pZ2ufG5JefLgypoV6TxiRbVox3q5QrEV0xYacKn2AQ0sJ2sTx3lflLRzjzS8jr6jswmPQeKCGv-ksGc52oSCJIZV_-uNDP-x/s1600/IMG_20150616_180630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIpcEwNL5UxGJ4cD4LeMXofaKVW3vB9EtGtr6pZ2ufG5JefLgypoV6TxiRbVox3q5QrEV0xYacKn2AQ0sJ2sTx3lflLRzjzS8jr6jswmPQeKCGv-ksGc52oSCJIZV_-uNDP-x/s320/IMG_20150616_180630.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring Onion cutting grew back and ready to cut again</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOaRnKGkiP-vSV2ZlOc15jB9IsfH05qC0U7tverGHnHuEJr5HjUyumzVkOtp_YmSxpcALyI28iKjF1DH-fftEXNl4ofF4r8dBM_nBe4MpW2plgJLpY28z5cUN8axs6UwIVtVZ/s1600/IMG_20150616_180645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOaRnKGkiP-vSV2ZlOc15jB9IsfH05qC0U7tverGHnHuEJr5HjUyumzVkOtp_YmSxpcALyI28iKjF1DH-fftEXNl4ofF4r8dBM_nBe4MpW2plgJLpY28z5cUN8axs6UwIVtVZ/s320/IMG_20150616_180645.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Dill pulled from garden & doing well</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmDEcSYqMQI1YW_MSn7pvWwLrPHNFI6ssYi92kyOxo5tK7qc1f7RCNO7fimIRJgFCCHuK9ZMcDdyZPV7VvTk8VJuwYWDfXIwixf9LGp9zjgLrcnsjyCZAhj6urU7tFt4gBZmo/s1600/IMG_20150616_180717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmDEcSYqMQI1YW_MSn7pvWwLrPHNFI6ssYi92kyOxo5tK7qc1f7RCNO7fimIRJgFCCHuK9ZMcDdyZPV7VvTk8VJuwYWDfXIwixf9LGp9zjgLrcnsjyCZAhj6urU7tFt4gBZmo/s320/IMG_20150616_180717.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorrel showing mad growth</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKCG8UlXKZHjNlc62AVNF6D0mi7_z0BmyQ3_2Vz_lDroqVC-ylolAI32c8QtoeIF3Dxld7uwsejf6Jk6Huf4tgXfJSpQuJNVm1viA_68fPrGH89OYJuqEmB5KQ0l4RiNSuzjw/s1600/IMG_20150616_180730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKCG8UlXKZHjNlc62AVNF6D0mi7_z0BmyQ3_2Vz_lDroqVC-ylolAI32c8QtoeIF3Dxld7uwsejf6Jk6Huf4tgXfJSpQuJNVm1viA_68fPrGH89OYJuqEmB5KQ0l4RiNSuzjw/s320/IMG_20150616_180730.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Front) Cilantro under lights is faded; (Back) Wild Mustard under window is faded but growing well</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjG9X_R1ddA9Blz5QKPKtt9pMhyphenhyphen0QFwfOaP4j7WNMkz8z3fLDRGLyzPsXCWcLioPYxenszkB3nkpgpNklpTJz_9owrz12NEaBoVVhWy_iWRgS7Kr9vGHLJpQZ8dtbiRh38jKO/s1600/IMG_20150616_180747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjG9X_R1ddA9Blz5QKPKtt9pMhyphenhyphen0QFwfOaP4j7WNMkz8z3fLDRGLyzPsXCWcLioPYxenszkB3nkpgpNklpTJz_9owrz12NEaBoVVhWy_iWRgS7Kr9vGHLJpQZ8dtbiRh38jKO/s320/IMG_20150616_180747.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Mustard transplants under overhead lights are growing slowly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Although you can't beat Aquaponics for reusing water in gardening, there's just no substitute for the color and flavor of growing plants in full sun. Check out this Wild Mustard growing next to the house on the South side.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIK3LZ9ynnyO0Xzn7G2AY7D2OX5OJG0eR02wkVzRs22coO7N_ruVSDOHEMTS4gQjQZlW3Y1m6__z21cHiBPcRsku8bycH6xasdaaLkvKOwxYCAkzuG-7utVAxnXe614iNImmZl/s1600/IMG_20150617_130355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIK3LZ9ynnyO0Xzn7G2AY7D2OX5OJG0eR02wkVzRs22coO7N_ruVSDOHEMTS4gQjQZlW3Y1m6__z21cHiBPcRsku8bycH6xasdaaLkvKOwxYCAkzuG-7utVAxnXe614iNImmZl/s320/IMG_20150617_130355.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive Outdoor Wild Mustard </td></tr>
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Maybe it's time to move my system outside?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-36539424908437480002015-05-16T14:18:00.000-04:002015-06-17T15:59:59.441-04:00May Strawberries in Vermont?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi2Tq7QO54OCXPDCtHSdTifFDYHtu9eEZrfThTC7PF-NexYCDLpZpbhwWg2B2YvM5JhkgFGbOteiKomgTvlvvO15i1Z7_piD4-ob_5qZzOnJUWcVK27ZwzBYsfqsHWhL_qE_c/s1600/IMG_20150507_092552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi2Tq7QO54OCXPDCtHSdTifFDYHtu9eEZrfThTC7PF-NexYCDLpZpbhwWg2B2YvM5JhkgFGbOteiKomgTvlvvO15i1Z7_piD4-ob_5qZzOnJUWcVK27ZwzBYsfqsHWhL_qE_c/s320/IMG_20150507_092552.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
Yup, it's true. Some of my little Everbloom Aquaponic indoor strawberries fully ripened by Mother's Day. Unfortunately, they didn't have much flavor at all but were pulpy and tasted like water. There was no sweetness to them. Wife Susie said, "It tastes like it hasn't been kissed by the sun." She's right. I'm still amazed that they even turned red and fully ripend.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRl1wzFqryItXnUOy-o0jJUwHB-b9fqGaAahKnAWhAM6yZ5zkWBW95vLobN_xQnBjM6KswQ58RQaQKBPXSQZOwsPd4v9EVLw8LPzwO2rpj7G2HxM1-IuPopjyQi9MZ9yvWTxP/s1600/IMG_20150507_092600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRl1wzFqryItXnUOy-o0jJUwHB-b9fqGaAahKnAWhAM6yZ5zkWBW95vLobN_xQnBjM6KswQ58RQaQKBPXSQZOwsPd4v9EVLw8LPzwO2rpj7G2HxM1-IuPopjyQi9MZ9yvWTxP/s320/IMG_20150507_092600.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small, red and hairy...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPvQXEFHT79_fvTDK8R9DfdDtshMzQ-Jgpdusm4jhcBCHllTgdU_5aI9sFKSnf4b_ipPmXQ8pkoy_4u7FfNMIl-L9upuFjustgmKOmuo7wRarDYQJGMLvPAYraSvpfBLoUY9L/s1600/IMG_20150507_092624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPvQXEFHT79_fvTDK8R9DfdDtshMzQ-Jgpdusm4jhcBCHllTgdU_5aI9sFKSnf4b_ipPmXQ8pkoy_4u7FfNMIl-L9upuFjustgmKOmuo7wRarDYQJGMLvPAYraSvpfBLoUY9L/s320/IMG_20150507_092624.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with lotsa seeds<span style="text-align: start;">.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
I transplanted most of them into a vertical pallet planter I made, and added a few Sparkle from the outside strawberry bed. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaenLYd0yFjI_9lXtsx7xkwsvtXpb68JC9yp_jqB08E-BK2kqO38MoodOTpxyLNJpj8DYL73XDahfrezHyfjQ2mULV66-m9VRvqt-rKQLuwdgcwSw6em59YQUqo5lC5bs4OQmu/s1600/IMG_20150514_100241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaenLYd0yFjI_9lXtsx7xkwsvtXpb68JC9yp_jqB08E-BK2kqO38MoodOTpxyLNJpj8DYL73XDahfrezHyfjQ2mULV66-m9VRvqt-rKQLuwdgcwSw6em59YQUqo5lC5bs4OQmu/s320/IMG_20150514_100241.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All doing OK but 2nd one down on Left</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-w8azxwlP5Ty706qbp07yNQlF4r9C3-1Udba8CT-zF_R2OxQCh4E1oS9xv2f5jr8E5sLJHk-XnfV_rqLQTejlv8uiZ-KJXLy51LAHKW55gKAMQv6UF6eSGTRPHvSpiR6mfzU/s1600/IMG_20150514_100411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-w8azxwlP5Ty706qbp07yNQlF4r9C3-1Udba8CT-zF_R2OxQCh4E1oS9xv2f5jr8E5sLJHk-XnfV_rqLQTejlv8uiZ-KJXLy51LAHKW55gKAMQv6UF6eSGTRPHvSpiR6mfzU/s320/IMG_20150514_100411.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back side</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy0DMP_6qG3W3zD0hqDFQgA86U7TLiBO3swRch_krz9Ik5H-q0-Ys_j8Vuy9RdXAoQkz1RTqubYsdpXHNcFD2o5gOVBrmoz1v8DP9LW45sqNH4gPWsn8aUVDpKCUJaJHpSPI5/s1600/IMG_20150514_100248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy0DMP_6qG3W3zD0hqDFQgA86U7TLiBO3swRch_krz9Ik5H-q0-Ys_j8Vuy9RdXAoQkz1RTqubYsdpXHNcFD2o5gOVBrmoz1v8DP9LW45sqNH4gPWsn8aUVDpKCUJaJHpSPI5/s320/IMG_20150514_100248.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower sill hanging on after a cold night<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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After a week, they are surviving, so the rest of the indoor strawberries will go outside. Stay tuned!<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b>June 17 Update:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdnq-qNrNqbksZrCrH9sZTIFaaxPdx5Va0Q7r4y0C6Pg6TYemE06a2sw_Wog7axwmSuXrwzzZnf1Uq95w-t6RZ5c5VHsItq1fg6L8QV5jafxybd4zGPlWuRJ15wcfbopcbW4K/s1600/IMG_20150617_123750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdnq-qNrNqbksZrCrH9sZTIFaaxPdx5Va0Q7r4y0C6Pg6TYemE06a2sw_Wog7axwmSuXrwzzZnf1Uq95w-t6RZ5c5VHsItq1fg6L8QV5jafxybd4zGPlWuRJ15wcfbopcbW4K/s320/IMG_20150617_123750.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Most plants are doing fine, but it's been too wet. The ones on the top and bottom rows are growing the best and making sweet berries again. </span><span style="text-align: center;">This one ripened today, but the ants ate it first.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-88081948423179015292015-05-05T13:34:00.000-04:002015-05-19T17:26:54.652-04:00Aquaponic Sorrel Trout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I transplanted Sorrel indoors into my Aquaponics system last November in </span><a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2014/11/aquaponics-saves-lives.html" style="text-align: left;">Aquaponics Saves Lives</a><span style="text-align: left;">. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0WaXjXaI7jRFW89BrczkFdF65aZI3KSn6AOmTT3huLags1EoWjC5-PIzk-ODQ_BtwQxabnbleorEA0MZnqUPeF6O8mx_S80q4XQC_nBiobvNAB7m-rKl2AGfFCcuJWbZ-mop/s1600/sorrel+Nov+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0WaXjXaI7jRFW89BrczkFdF65aZI3KSn6AOmTT3huLags1EoWjC5-PIzk-ODQ_BtwQxabnbleorEA0MZnqUPeF6O8mx_S80q4XQC_nBiobvNAB7m-rKl2AGfFCcuJWbZ-mop/s1600/sorrel+Nov+2014.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorrel November 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtYe1-bhLYP0ruqlVxu-pLWzhhKTPKnyvm7CiQvHxsYafCxBiZ0UQOtBEVnZRvG_O2V4GfRK1oX6lN4zFqDNtk2sfiCaeLkLifBw3NZZ3v9Cdtl_PC-sur0BDajwpqY-La950/s1600/IMG_20150412_170001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtYe1-bhLYP0ruqlVxu-pLWzhhKTPKnyvm7CiQvHxsYafCxBiZ0UQOtBEVnZRvG_O2V4GfRK1oX6lN4zFqDNtk2sfiCaeLkLifBw3NZZ3v9Cdtl_PC-sur0BDajwpqY-La950/s1600/IMG_20150412_170001.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorrel April 2015</td></tr>
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It's been thriving, consistently producing salad sized leaves every week. It's impressive how many long leaves this tangy plant makes. They can be torn off by hand. Sorrel doesn't mind; it will just make new ones. It has stayed about the same size. Here's the side view, where you can also see some of my <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2015/04/indoor-aquaponic-strawberries.html">Indoor Aquaponic Strawberries</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5qMy-3_6zWsC3bpOncU7lFneeMW7idAH9EYwzx_6ck2Jf7HvYO3KQ7stEMZ3fSpcTJlvf75xNEZxJXE64y4tsMbMLy74-3L8yP9iygfvgHD5IwRG8JcHYiexy7L7nYU16gqa/s1600/IMG_20150412_162853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5qMy-3_6zWsC3bpOncU7lFneeMW7idAH9EYwzx_6ck2Jf7HvYO3KQ7stEMZ3fSpcTJlvf75xNEZxJXE64y4tsMbMLy74-3L8yP9iygfvgHD5IwRG8JcHYiexy7L7nYU16gqa/s1600/IMG_20150412_162853.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorrel and Strawberries</td></tr>
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Here's a mouth-watering gourmet recipe for <a href="http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipes/recipe-search/fast-food/2007/11/poached-rainbow-trout-with-sorrel-and-lemon-butter-sauce/">Poached Rainbow Trout with Sorrel and Lemon Butter Sauce.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrk72KCuZQD2Xcjth557gUg2B7c_lmRIoc235lwSWKszWiQ8-sAYb9zcU9Q92ON1rztClkAGwQqWjSTkkK8sh3lLOLgyQKzx9DMW_w5e8aD17ddjpOH1kfdCHwnDtl_nztjLv/s1600/FF-seafood-poached-rainbow-trout-628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrk72KCuZQD2Xcjth557gUg2B7c_lmRIoc235lwSWKszWiQ8-sAYb9zcU9Q92ON1rztClkAGwQqWjSTkkK8sh3lLOLgyQKzx9DMW_w5e8aD17ddjpOH1kfdCHwnDtl_nztjLv/s1600/FF-seafood-poached-rainbow-trout-628.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
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Pretty fancy, eh?<br />
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The Europeans like to make a creamy buttery sauce with Sorrel and then cook trout in white wine. Here's a <a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/forelle-mit-sauerampfersosse-trout-in-sorrel-sauce">German recipe for Trout in Sorrel sauce</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12Oo6M_0Wl1aHigdybB9CWYlyiAnRgKUKj9jcmtS_dcrZMchws5sr-HhOIBrEOPs4l9w-ox60ctJIb0qqsn-rDuV3N62xBXngiMj5ymCWif_Na5MA34I26hlXpgVIuM0RSGwU/s1600/recipe_forelle-mit-sauerampfersosse-trout-sorrel-sauce_500x750.jpg" width="213" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Germans call Trout in Sorrel sauce "Forelle mit Sauerampfersosse"</td></tr>
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Here's a <a href="http://www.frenchgardening.com/cuisine.html?pid=309825541143102">French recipe for Sorrel Trout</a>, which sounds equally tasty. It's finally trout season. The next time I catch a nice trout, I'll try one of these recipes.<br />
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<b>May 19 Update</b><br />
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Last night, I caught a decent rainbow trout, and decided to cook it in a simpler, less caloric way. After stuffing it with fresh whole Aquaponic Sorrel, I squeezed fresh lime juice on it, then marinated it overnight in the fridge.<br />
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For lunch, I added chopped garlic to the inside, covered it in olive oil, added a dab of Dijon mustard, and finished it off with salt and pepper.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dkZvQ1-jpUHsMUAM5H61I2mb1QR0sGXzuPBdVDX6F2r_FGRtfa2ob1ZjWii9b2OADhsrzKl1i-3MbQz24t3BXzpBnieCcdp59vJqETgPrDblxBqWUFhulyBcaCu0KcvffLWa/s1600/IMG_20150519_131707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dkZvQ1-jpUHsMUAM5H61I2mb1QR0sGXzuPBdVDX6F2r_FGRtfa2ob1ZjWii9b2OADhsrzKl1i-3MbQz24t3BXzpBnieCcdp59vJqETgPrDblxBqWUFhulyBcaCu0KcvffLWa/s320/IMG_20150519_131707.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh Rainbow trout stuffed with Sorrel</td></tr>
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I wrapped it in foil/parchment paper and grilled it on medium heat, flipping it after 10 minutes. It was so juicy that it tasted like it had been poached. Yum!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-1t6paiHdKMTkUkuK5ObfxXzKVbrYtcUPfxuP0LICKe4trhZQN-2A4BMU31i6f45yrdgFDOAS83muj2r69OcelV8J1sG-JN4QnNIpJyjZhpm5AcjIFMPqoam05U9gggJBDti/s1600/IMG_20150519_134051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-1t6paiHdKMTkUkuK5ObfxXzKVbrYtcUPfxuP0LICKe4trhZQN-2A4BMU31i6f45yrdgFDOAS83muj2r69OcelV8J1sG-JN4QnNIpJyjZhpm5AcjIFMPqoam05U9gggJBDti/s320/IMG_20150519_134051.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to eat</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-28597868364344963642015-04-08T15:29:00.003-04:002015-04-08T15:29:49.997-04:00Indoor Aquaponic StrawberriesMy Everbloom strawberry plants didn't do well last summer - too many weeds and not enough hot weather produced few berries. I pulled the strawberry plants from the garden after a few hard frosts in late fall, and let them thaw out for a couple of days indoors.<br />
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I separated the 3 plants into 9 smaller plants, removed the dead growth, washed off the dirt and transplanted them into my Aquaponics system. Now, they don't have any weeds to battle and receive regular hours of light...and a constant water source, of course.<br />
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Here are some pictures from November.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Hi1o2YoQFBE7xwbcRbsZ4GCebImUBnW7OumUq4n1mxCpDVE6Y5jct88QXfJPTtsB5hPyxUd1rDLTTJgZTppeNUVwI5YpvFwgzVFZVXyR_bWgiA9qB-LgTMUFZGnKf91shfkk/s1600/IMG_20141130_103842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Hi1o2YoQFBE7xwbcRbsZ4GCebImUBnW7OumUq4n1mxCpDVE6Y5jct88QXfJPTtsB5hPyxUd1rDLTTJgZTppeNUVwI5YpvFwgzVFZVXyR_bWgiA9qB-LgTMUFZGnKf91shfkk/s1600/IMG_20141130_103842.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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After only a few days indoors, these tiny plants showed new growth and vibrant color. Incredibly, one of the baby plants even started a flower.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclN7LsK8MhyphenhyphenB2MW_I2kXbn6NoavYWFz5XItN3qRWnGJwxRb2RIALLO-9H7nYw9GpxsOe-8uUpB-WqLUWmnHhUi57zBRjPxw-J6ewb6U6moXwyjwt2x9FsXyDM4kcinN0CpplU/s1600/IMG_20141130_103604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclN7LsK8MhyphenhyphenB2MW_I2kXbn6NoavYWFz5XItN3qRWnGJwxRb2RIALLO-9H7nYw9GpxsOe-8uUpB-WqLUWmnHhUi57zBRjPxw-J6ewb6U6moXwyjwt2x9FsXyDM4kcinN0CpplU/s1600/IMG_20141130_103604.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Other Aquaponic gardeners have success growing strawberries vertically in towers and media beds. But, my strawberries are living inside a cool room, under low wattage fluorescent lights. There are challenges ahead. Time will tell...<br />
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Fast forward to early April. Obviously, the plants have grown a lot. There are constantly over a dozen flowers in bloom, which I pollinate with a Q-tip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu77_cYYeh4eBB7jVsFu4WyCWOZ8Mc8wMEvtxjkExGH36vg75VEh_HhF34XNR60L43gzPAMiYecmpYhuQZNgKsrxyNvzEf10NuCdSbaNEhUDfr0MFK-1Z9jL4twlroGvn0DQNi/s1600/IMG_20150408_144704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu77_cYYeh4eBB7jVsFu4WyCWOZ8Mc8wMEvtxjkExGH36vg75VEh_HhF34XNR60L43gzPAMiYecmpYhuQZNgKsrxyNvzEf10NuCdSbaNEhUDfr0MFK-1Z9jL4twlroGvn0DQNi/s1600/IMG_20150408_144704.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitsOqlDGQmIMCYY2N_r3PeR83ZKvNtvlNNAM3y6GV1j_7j-boriFQNNTDk82glTkjSz2OQJFd6j6zP1eGepgWfIJW5QtMoA4dgyxmj7Gabcw5q4nf_bSR_Jx_OGd73X-jmeXF/s1600/IMG_20150408_144807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitsOqlDGQmIMCYY2N_r3PeR83ZKvNtvlNNAM3y6GV1j_7j-boriFQNNTDk82glTkjSz2OQJFd6j6zP1eGepgWfIJW5QtMoA4dgyxmj7Gabcw5q4nf_bSR_Jx_OGd73X-jmeXF/s1600/IMG_20150408_144807.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Q-tip works! Check out a couple of baby strawberries below.<br />
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbsGswzEQEyHeMieY0iFCqI9l5SwSI-nsir1E4GWmLMRv1ZSqPvw_TOzErz7GsoTxW830OnGBhRuiKlcNY3UscpuAIvJxfn6iota10_Ev77uak7KMAywoK3xloQlhl_piscKo/s1600/IMG_20150408_144647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbsGswzEQEyHeMieY0iFCqI9l5SwSI-nsir1E4GWmLMRv1ZSqPvw_TOzErz7GsoTxW830OnGBhRuiKlcNY3UscpuAIvJxfn6iota10_Ev77uak7KMAywoK3xloQlhl_piscKo/s1600/IMG_20150408_144647.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The baby green strawberries show some hope, but will the temperature and lighting be sufficient for them to ripen? For now, they're alive and doing well, and will have a nice head start on my outdoor strawberry bed when I put them back outdoors next month.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-46988636291428439642015-02-20T17:01:00.000-05:002015-02-21T00:09:42.919-05:00Beer & Aquaponics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrHE8DKdZZ-jXcnQD03F8uiDEsZRaeItxOMZWXsuXn2Id4YY7c5MEvg5pVGX4TRKztXbjZzgkVoTVoTo0NTzg8ZNNqN6cDr3YCkUt0-o9x4jN1Xaci9u-XAhMVSl0fF1O3mWG/s1600/beer+and+aquaponics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrHE8DKdZZ-jXcnQD03F8uiDEsZRaeItxOMZWXsuXn2Id4YY7c5MEvg5pVGX4TRKztXbjZzgkVoTVoTo0NTzg8ZNNqN6cDr3YCkUt0-o9x4jN1Xaci9u-XAhMVSl0fF1O3mWG/s1600/beer+and+aquaponics.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></div>
Beer and Aquaponics go together like peanut butter and jelly.<br />
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After all, plants thrive on CO2 - good ol' carbon dioxide. It's the same gas produced by fermentation. When you make beer, it usually takes about a week to ferment. During that time, the beer creates a lot of CO2 - much more than if you were to talk to your plants.</div>
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My indoor Aquaponics system is in a small office where there's often something brewing alongside the plants and fish. Either I'm fermenting beer or wine, or my wife is making pickles, sauerkraut, or kimchi. It's a smelly room.</div>
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Last night, I brewed a small five gallon batch of beer - a hoppy light-bodied I.P.A. (Indian Pale Ale). Fermentation started this morning, after about twelve hours in the carboy. The beer is already off to a good start!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBn9kNc4r9Nw715v6bPOSqK4xit2Xx1BivhkOxNkpVUb84TLvM9eylS2D_DKWP41clFo0j64zY2-GyKE3uQsXVLXeLpkwxOMbPc7AHGSYfR9crvmPKWYQcLv3D0mDaBFSDza8/s1600/IMG_20150220_154446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBn9kNc4r9Nw715v6bPOSqK4xit2Xx1BivhkOxNkpVUb84TLvM9eylS2D_DKWP41clFo0j64zY2-GyKE3uQsXVLXeLpkwxOMbPc7AHGSYfR9crvmPKWYQcLv3D0mDaBFSDza8/s1600/IMG_20150220_154446.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beer fermenting in the dark under my desk</td></tr>
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The plants love it, and it sure smells great!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy3Er6qlkgMM6Z-Tpej5G1pYQZv07qnh1P_qfUNjhDYKUUy2Tg0tvtiLDQWdqqLfTFYB_vVFnAyv0Qep8HdUVMbBqku3ZiNx5MHq009mOjoi7NaVJe6pv3r0h8Fkk0imqTj0I/s1600/IMG_20150220_154823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy3Er6qlkgMM6Z-Tpej5G1pYQZv07qnh1P_qfUNjhDYKUUy2Tg0tvtiLDQWdqqLfTFYB_vVFnAyv0Qep8HdUVMbBqku3ZiNx5MHq009mOjoi7NaVJe6pv3r0h8Fkk0imqTj0I/s1600/IMG_20150220_154823.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(pictured Left to Right) Strawberries, Rosemary and Sorrel</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-88385031828299154612015-01-28T11:14:00.000-05:002015-01-28T11:14:27.256-05:00Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner, Unless Baby is Mint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unfortunately, what came to mind for this blog title was from a cheesy '80s movie. Planting mint in my Aquaponics system was like Dirty Dancing. I knew that if given a chance, it could thrive like Frances "Baby" Houseman.<br />
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I planted a little shoot of mint, anyway, and strategically placed it in the corner of the growbed where I thought I could control it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ngSlBtkzMAJ2QFM_qMMitBHUHJ8aZQ46W2MGarHE-K20u81GfEhiBq1l3w_4VnPUr7oMordPQjAGwDTUFo8xeAK5f35t6BGz7yAAkr32x84ZwXxRy0K6z-6RBM8EYU2rrcfc/s1600/IMG_20150128_102638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ngSlBtkzMAJ2QFM_qMMitBHUHJ8aZQ46W2MGarHE-K20u81GfEhiBq1l3w_4VnPUr7oMordPQjAGwDTUFo8xeAK5f35t6BGz7yAAkr32x84ZwXxRy0K6z-6RBM8EYU2rrcfc/s1600/IMG_20150128_102638.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby apple mint</td></tr>
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It grew quickly and made lots of new shoots and leaves. I picked them for tea and cooking. My wife even used it to marinate a leg of lamb.<br />
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I decided to cut it all back before going on vacation. This gave it a chance to develop runners, much like a lilac or strawberry. Beneath the rocks, it crept along.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOU3Kl_3PpzwVSThLUpUhTgjDBMG0RDoQI2bqvgP_PF28wfJLIveKlnBFocOCcoLxz4EjM6X72UkoUju3VSQ0rarrGPF40JhmDzHbl_Htvb13mLvPKx-AH3wfCc4jScSgq1Pz/s1600/IMG_20150128_102554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOU3Kl_3PpzwVSThLUpUhTgjDBMG0RDoQI2bqvgP_PF28wfJLIveKlnBFocOCcoLxz4EjM6X72UkoUju3VSQ0rarrGPF40JhmDzHbl_Htvb13mLvPKx-AH3wfCc4jScSgq1Pz/s1600/IMG_20150128_102554.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mint runner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyQoy4GiucIj60IvBroCtnsGj3mlMuT_f2OHyax2AafV-HHOr-8ziWmRvNOdAWwPNB4AIlDL7asVemsuh6_aXkXwiTzNeQL1O5pgJwhiKFY-6Ixx4RLd6n1uKb1Du1yJhNI7W/s1600/IMG_20150128_102612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyQoy4GiucIj60IvBroCtnsGj3mlMuT_f2OHyax2AafV-HHOr-8ziWmRvNOdAWwPNB4AIlDL7asVemsuh6_aXkXwiTzNeQL1O5pgJwhiKFY-6Ixx4RLd6n1uKb1Du1yJhNI7W/s1600/IMG_20150128_102612.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">notice the root growth on the runner</td></tr>
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I've cut it back and transplanted it into other systems and pots, but have to control its growth below the surface or it could easily take over. Maybe planting mint is a losing battle and just a matter of time before I have to remove it altogether?<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.affnanaquaponics.com/2015/01/strawberry-going-ornamental.html">Affnan's experience with mint in Malaysia</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-66856990370069029602015-01-09T12:40:00.000-05:002015-01-09T12:40:38.361-05:00Tight Lines Y'all!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm on vacation down south escaping the January cold in New England, while the ice thickens on my favorite ice fishing spots, I have been doing some fishing on the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.<br />
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Last week I fished off the jetty at Huntington Beach State Park, south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjr_JUVtv4G_VRsXYUoADUb3f8rjR5w0tGe-J3ih1Eoal4BXO3bWHljBwC9_whCFGaT5qtEIWB4VZnQ47MAmpcgGGFoyQPsn1plI3QPhAQxnlRqpQw2PvMuU5HXHtUghqYMH1/s1600/aerial+view+of+jetty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjr_JUVtv4G_VRsXYUoADUb3f8rjR5w0tGe-J3ih1Eoal4BXO3bWHljBwC9_whCFGaT5qtEIWB4VZnQ47MAmpcgGGFoyQPsn1plI3QPhAQxnlRqpQw2PvMuU5HXHtUghqYMH1/s1600/aerial+view+of+jetty.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google maps satellite view of area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYqqaD_WjHTLbv6ehxHI2btkVU8fyBiIrDoUmBf3poF4eJWtp0rxmYkuaAHXqUcuuM89q_FXqNON2f8X0mCKAAchR8DvulcBCV8Bl5HmI2_zN-9KuWbfNXmF5oP21RhYteVWG/s1600/IMG_20150102_121021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYqqaD_WjHTLbv6ehxHI2btkVU8fyBiIrDoUmBf3poF4eJWtp0rxmYkuaAHXqUcuuM89q_FXqNON2f8X0mCKAAchR8DvulcBCV8Bl5HmI2_zN-9KuWbfNXmF5oP21RhYteVWG/s1600/IMG_20150102_121021.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a 1.3 mile walk to the jetty from the beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvHimGoQ_fRinGtz_RfJoUhBXYhAIMPxD8sIIMwk2okip34kZkloIV0o80wt0GuFiu21MEwSNoYVOpIzSyu-uQu_CMo4NnufOp7IQJ1JP20qAjleN3FwbtHu0Zu-gcBc7UZvE/s1600/IMG_20150102_141002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvHimGoQ_fRinGtz_RfJoUhBXYhAIMPxD8sIIMwk2okip34kZkloIV0o80wt0GuFiu21MEwSNoYVOpIzSyu-uQu_CMo4NnufOp7IQJ1JP20qAjleN3FwbtHu0Zu-gcBc7UZvE/s1600/IMG_20150102_141002.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the end of the jetty. Murrels Inlet on right</td></tr>
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Here's a little video I took from the day before when it was sunny. I caught a stingray that day, but it got off my hook before I was able to hoist it up the rocks.<br />
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The next day I had better luck. I hooked a few Spiny Dogfish, but was only able to land one. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYHpDade_fFr11FYV77F2Du7NSQWDTsyVcHQ_RvbxFKBYFzPylSGjzRxjDg-K_EzhbZ0qxRPMBsHzcepPmxL9uyILECBnk29ANGtYzwNDJ7WXl_9kr4hFXwhZ6vRdeVSzQ20q/s1600/IMG_20150102_145032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYHpDade_fFr11FYV77F2Du7NSQWDTsyVcHQ_RvbxFKBYFzPylSGjzRxjDg-K_EzhbZ0qxRPMBsHzcepPmxL9uyILECBnk29ANGtYzwNDJ7WXl_9kr4hFXwhZ6vRdeVSzQ20q/s1600/IMG_20150102_145032.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 1/2 foot Spiny Dogfish</td></tr>
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The other fishermen were only catching dogfish too, and nothing else. Since dogfish have a reputation as a "garbage fish," they were tossing them all back into the water. A fellow fisherman offered me a few, so I left with enough shark for a week. Dogfish is used for "fish and chips" in the U.K. and would be tasty with <a href="http://itchuary.com/Preparing-Shark.html">careful preparation</a>.<div>
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Since dogfish have no kidneys, they pee through their skin. They need to be immediately bled, gutted, de-skinned and iced, otherwise their flesh will quickly spoil and smell of ammonia. I was careful to prepare them, and then marinated some for 4 hours in apple cider vinegar and lemons. I soaked the rest in a milk bath overnight to remove any fishy odor and tenderize it..</div>
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I found a recipe for <a href="http://www.fishwatch.gov/eating_seafood/recipes/spiny_dogfish_shark.htm">Spiny Dogfish Shark in Tomato and Citrus</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippus9EUnAkwrrGsbz7tcgfTIIclaGMnK7SvXA0H79APDPE3_hdV7yFGcmVbLMi9Ery_K3CrjDd_ObMLGbcO6tQj4JTwhilTNP355XWAbjtBNCxsZHBwXFHXPbJYs9eypBLmzr/s1600/IMG_20150103_185751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippus9EUnAkwrrGsbz7tcgfTIIclaGMnK7SvXA0H79APDPE3_hdV7yFGcmVbLMi9Ery_K3CrjDd_ObMLGbcO6tQj4JTwhilTNP355XWAbjtBNCxsZHBwXFHXPbJYs9eypBLmzr/s1600/IMG_20150103_185751.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to bake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMhbnMl2aHHK2uoCkG1uNvgy-36H8bXJIREVIdPsc_IVJwBKgii5HGRz0gL4q45WTjbI9OrVlrIGkWwa9fomo8WNfv6pweWo4csWKaMNtdaI5CyCHHZ-yt2AnFr4p8AWi_AE0/s1600/IMG_20150103_194920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMhbnMl2aHHK2uoCkG1uNvgy-36H8bXJIREVIdPsc_IVJwBKgii5HGRz0gL4q45WTjbI9OrVlrIGkWwa9fomo8WNfv6pweWo4csWKaMNtdaI5CyCHHZ-yt2AnFr4p8AWi_AE0/s1600/IMG_20150103_194920.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to eat</td></tr>
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The dogfish was delicious. It really absorbed the marinade well; perhaps I used too much apple cider vinegar. The flavor was kind of like chicken. One benefit of eating shark is there are no bones to worry about, just a thin strip of cartilage that runs down the backbone which is very easy to remove. <div>
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The next day, I removed the rest of the fillets from the milk bath, rinsed them in water and marinated them with fresh lemon juice, olive oil and just a little vinegar. Then, I iced it all down for our road trip to Florida. A couple of days later, it had become super tender lemony ceviche. I decided to broil it. It made great fish tacos.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jbSSnuUr2l4-_8K9xOooyFKTf-kZQNDmYuyA7wf8lG3jluHcalsSO0ssBQBFcNEUVcb7wqS6wECyFvO6vbxg58_LfUyGiL6uQjXaAPMeVTIX8AEoZZy0WfYY0P9Pz2rTXy4S/s1600/IMG_20150105_170238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jbSSnuUr2l4-_8K9xOooyFKTf-kZQNDmYuyA7wf8lG3jluHcalsSO0ssBQBFcNEUVcb7wqS6wECyFvO6vbxg58_LfUyGiL6uQjXaAPMeVTIX8AEoZZy0WfYY0P9Pz2rTXy4S/s1600/IMG_20150105_170238.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broiled dogfish</td></tr>
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It seems the lowly dogfish is slowly making a comeback in the culinary world. Check out Eat Magazine's article, "<a href="http://eatmagazine.ca/spiny-dogfish-makes-history-as-first-sustainable-shark-fishery/">Spiny dogfish makes history as first sustainable shark fishery.</a>" </div>
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Meanwhile, I'll be fishing along Florida's "Forgotten Coast." Tight lines y'all!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-84113735198380913432014-12-08T22:08:00.000-05:002015-03-02T20:27:27.394-05:00How to Make a Mini-Aquaponic System for $20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGYtFZvIpMQX_8lq1_j1BADnB8KADU9Rl4wrlhVRDkRaQh6WMp9ImF8xdYoSq0hG_ebtByhnltTV-cSkY57oOdO_3b9Wm5Mh8TCgLElTgqypKpKeVR6Tvbyhnm74Y-AMPAZPP/s1600/IMG_20141208_124827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGYtFZvIpMQX_8lq1_j1BADnB8KADU9Rl4wrlhVRDkRaQh6WMp9ImF8xdYoSq0hG_ebtByhnltTV-cSkY57oOdO_3b9Wm5Mh8TCgLElTgqypKpKeVR6Tvbyhnm74Y-AMPAZPP/s1600/IMG_20141208_124827.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upcycle a 5 gallon water container to become a mini Aquaponic system.</td></tr>
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My most popular post (so far) describes <a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-50-mini-aquaponics-system.html">how to convert a standard 10 gallon fishtank into a Deep Water Culture Aquaponics system for $50</a>. (The materials cost about $35. I rounded up since I needed to buy a hole-cutter and also gas to drive to a few stores.) I built it to be plastic-free and portable. It worked well, but wasn't ideal for transporting to and from my Aquaponics presentations. Glass is considerably heavier than plastic and susceptible to leaking and cracking. Water weighs 8 lbs/gallon, so that whole system weighs about 90 pounds.<br />
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I love the scalability and simplicity of Aquaponics. Motivated to build a smaller, lighter, sturdier, and less expensive system, I did some research and found the video below on Youtube. It uses a recycled 5 gallon water container. To keep it simple, I decided to modify the design a little and eliminate the vertical PVC structure with hanging plants. All my plants grow in the growbed.<br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/siAm_mPlEj8/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/siAm_mPlEj8&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/siAm_mPlEj8&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
This system experiments with drip irrigation, similar to Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and uses the air pump to lift water. This system is super portable and uses only 2 watts of electricity from a simple $5 aquarium air pump (which was the most expensive component). This time I didn't have to buy anything since I already had all the materials. I estimate the whole system costs about $20, and it costs even less if you use recycled materials.<br />
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Materials/Tools: Hacksaw, knife, small aquarium air pump, about 7-8' airline tubing, airline "T" connector, one-way air pump check valve, 1 gallon bag of inert growbed media (growstone, hydtroton, expanded shale, or pea gravel), 4" inch PVC pipe, a handful of small office clips, and a twist-tie.<br />
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How to put it together:<br />
Find a 5 gallon (18.9 liter) plastic water container and rinse it out. If it has a handle, even better.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDaortP9NAJ3AOPzqSApVSii77ENpRLzLrhkcDtw_NqZzH-woJ65tyhSb2UUP0az5iFlH8dKD7FTyQt58oEigHFEwR2MjpcvmRLBraV-jFKzucbh4gWu8nmWFoFVG7C9mAuGq/s1600/IMG_20141202_153242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDaortP9NAJ3AOPzqSApVSii77ENpRLzLrhkcDtw_NqZzH-woJ65tyhSb2UUP0az5iFlH8dKD7FTyQt58oEigHFEwR2MjpcvmRLBraV-jFKzucbh4gWu8nmWFoFVG7C9mAuGq/s1600/IMG_20141202_153242.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Take a hacksaw and cut the top off just above the handle. Then cut off the bottle neck. Keep it, you'll need it.<br />
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Invert the top part into the bottom and the neck through the hole.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcDSEbIL9RN2yA-UiBPuQTaflMm0LMiCXeyB2xsrJeIi4wVCeBX90TFUj9JjkunLc3o2P53fjIotGat93q8uG_kQ7KcThRBE5Ya1RBZU9SKCEy3n76XQ4hjrXlKKtp-BE7LJ3/s1600/IMG_20141202_154317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcDSEbIL9RN2yA-UiBPuQTaflMm0LMiCXeyB2xsrJeIi4wVCeBX90TFUj9JjkunLc3o2P53fjIotGat93q8uG_kQ7KcThRBE5Ya1RBZU9SKCEy3n76XQ4hjrXlKKtp-BE7LJ3/s1600/IMG_20141202_154317.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bottom becomes the tank and the top becomes your growbed. You'll feed your fish through the stem.</td></tr>
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Cut holes in the bottom two inches of PVC pipe for drainage. Center it inside the top part. You can use a hacksaw to cut parallel holes across the bottom couple inches of the PVC or, use a drill to make the holes like I did. You don't need to drill this many holes; I had already drilled this PVC for a different system, so I used it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfiTjmm3U6nyHLgFnkHQWd1Bs2j6cUYRTYFy6GklndwXI8oSs0YDYswXWMhH-NjYoM58UCgCPj5QLX21f1sDfDywqZ5R304sHL6Y9d9-A8FANLqU_FdCZs-03VSR_hEnF6v64/s1600/IMG_20141202_154402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfiTjmm3U6nyHLgFnkHQWd1Bs2j6cUYRTYFy6GklndwXI8oSs0YDYswXWMhH-NjYoM58UCgCPj5QLX21f1sDfDywqZ5R304sHL6Y9d9-A8FANLqU_FdCZs-03VSR_hEnF6v64/s1600/IMG_20141202_154402.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The PVC piece becomes your gravel guard.</td></tr>
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I used a sample gallon bag of <a href="http://www.growstone.com/hydroponic-substrate/">Growstone</a> made in the U.S.A. from recycled glass bottles. It's extremely porous and incredibly lightweight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLEWOwdm-eKxghmmqJNFr6K3TGiv5z-Gn3vZVp3H5tnNzc7p3MW7RR7GLZEINcUbW-D3658Io_oq-1edYYXmheuyAX89sHDlkX8cRpQZmdP45nNQF6Q7XBHWktVP8Yyn5v9JV/s1600/IMG_20141202_152759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLEWOwdm-eKxghmmqJNFr6K3TGiv5z-Gn3vZVp3H5tnNzc7p3MW7RR7GLZEINcUbW-D3658Io_oq-1edYYXmheuyAX89sHDlkX8cRpQZmdP45nNQF6Q7XBHWktVP8Yyn5v9JV/s1600/IMG_20141202_152759.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Hold the gravel guard down and add the stone around it evenly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGQKFKcFxGT-lzMOvTLhv5GHIQZSjtJph5LjTyDdYbXP3do-8ZxPVqAEKuznKwfSzKVykcdkEALR3oBcmLfqk9JIBVKe6ahCbXA33Z2WMIgtKQn-IFVLibZ7aeslKxp9wA6EA/s1600/IMG_20141202_154744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGQKFKcFxGT-lzMOvTLhv5GHIQZSjtJph5LjTyDdYbXP3do-8ZxPVqAEKuznKwfSzKVykcdkEALR3oBcmLfqk9JIBVKe6ahCbXA33Z2WMIgtKQn-IFVLibZ7aeslKxp9wA6EA/s1600/IMG_20141202_154744.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Connect a small section of airline tubing from the air pump to the one-way check valve. The valve helps prevent risk of electrical shock from water backing down the tube into your air pump, but it will also restrict the flow of air from it. The arrow on the valve indicates the direction of the air from the pump.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukijpFQVmFi6qLVqg9OV6rXOxRx4LsAVyFmOlYtxBN__LZBuJG0ien1XloI9LKt8i1wCLh210zdngW74YLvK2blCPl6CnHwkyHzC0oSGR3L32GLs9ng9CK8_JUauE0weIlN70/s1600/IMG_20141203_121745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukijpFQVmFi6qLVqg9OV6rXOxRx4LsAVyFmOlYtxBN__LZBuJG0ien1XloI9LKt8i1wCLh210zdngW74YLvK2blCPl6CnHwkyHzC0oSGR3L32GLs9ng9CK8_JUauE0weIlN70/s1600/IMG_20141203_121745.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make sure the arrow on the valve points away from the air pump.</td></tr>
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From the check valve, connect about 3' of aquarium tubing into one of the top ends of the "T" connector.</div>
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOuA6aU1Yp3zf5qYVI6Fw1T38PE4-Kvnkb3DQz_RHF5e0NiIsPyQ0vCHCwezNxpcfwj_Ra-ugdo0V7gsTf-450cBkQ6sE6lTFpYXGgp72a71nIAEivL12o0oQRxXPe59iU8R_/s1600/T+connections.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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Important: the "T" connection piece must stay at the bottom of the fish tank, otherwise the air pump cannot lift the water through it and the system won't function correctly.</div>
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I ran the airline tubing through the hole in the handle of the water container to help keep it in place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ivUHHkMz5xzk69jvjP8ebvZhZUUL8bQaPEx-4WMRhfEKdezjIUDa6KxXCYXiYIwL5nOgUUr_bsaeJnb3NSo6-nbmwZjnbPpVCm0JlOB0PST_3CC1y6aLNhHi5z3IlFKcBwLy/s1600/IMG_20141202_155309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ivUHHkMz5xzk69jvjP8ebvZhZUUL8bQaPEx-4WMRhfEKdezjIUDa6KxXCYXiYIwL5nOgUUr_bsaeJnb3NSo6-nbmwZjnbPpVCm0JlOB0PST_3CC1y6aLNhHi5z3IlFKcBwLy/s1600/IMG_20141202_155309.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Connect about 4' of tubing from the middle connector for your water/air lift to the growbed. I added a few inches of airline tubing to the bottom connection and anchored it to an aquarium ornament. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOuA6aU1Yp3zf5qYVI6Fw1T38PE4-Kvnkb3DQz_RHF5e0NiIsPyQ0vCHCwezNxpcfwj_Ra-ugdo0V7gsTf-450cBkQ6sE6lTFpYXGgp72a71nIAEivL12o0oQRxXPe59iU8R_/s1600/T+connections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOuA6aU1Yp3zf5qYVI6Fw1T38PE4-Kvnkb3DQz_RHF5e0NiIsPyQ0vCHCwezNxpcfwj_Ra-ugdo0V7gsTf-450cBkQ6sE6lTFpYXGgp72a71nIAEivL12o0oQRxXPe59iU8R_/s1600/T+connections.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How to lift water with an air pump.</td></tr>
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My aquarium ornament conveniently had a perfect sized hole in the bottom that was designed to connect airline tubing to push bubbles. (With the "T" connected, instead of pushing air through it, it now draws water from the bottom of it.) You can also use a rock to anchor the "T" connection to the bottom of the fish tank. Make sure the end stays open so it can suck water through. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA7pelfwMZ7ZLGVxst-05s1C6l-2iF1nKdWI-IpWs2AyIw0CdhdJbT6GybRlM6atrY1z4hzsLEQv-eo6ZNVchUos3yNrnqdi2jcdQ4S9MSRTW3TQpZH5oVgjVGv0KTAa4ZuNv/s1600/IMG_20141202_155113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA7pelfwMZ7ZLGVxst-05s1C6l-2iF1nKdWI-IpWs2AyIw0CdhdJbT6GybRlM6atrY1z4hzsLEQv-eo6ZNVchUos3yNrnqdi2jcdQ4S9MSRTW3TQpZH5oVgjVGv0KTAa4ZuNv/s1600/IMG_20141202_155113.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Take a twist-tie and make a loop above the level of the growbed in the section of airline tubing that runs from the check valve down through the hole in the handle to the "T" connection. Connect it to an office clip on the rim of your growbed. This is another precautionary measure that will help prevent electrical shock if water accidentally backs up through the hose.<br />
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Take the end section of your water/airlift hose and form a circle around the circumference of your growbed. Poke about six small holes every few inches of the airline. Make the holes just big enough for water to drip out. Clip the airline underneath the top rim of the growbed to secure it in place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUvdccCZTddaE9mr3E_cxh731RPTLwKMr0fLxUaWGqZZqKvG5HNXU-VEhOzEBhOBmmqfw_XaQtkDsfB-4Tuy_WeFBIsjLb0-ii3OnGJuSQFB2z4OoSzQ-37VTF1gpB6lyHltX/s1600/IMG_20141202_160114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUvdccCZTddaE9mr3E_cxh731RPTLwKMr0fLxUaWGqZZqKvG5HNXU-VEhOzEBhOBmmqfw_XaQtkDsfB-4Tuy_WeFBIsjLb0-ii3OnGJuSQFB2z4OoSzQ-37VTF1gpB6lyHltX/s1600/IMG_20141202_160114.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Fill it with water and stop an inch or so below the bottom of the growbed. Fish food needs to fall into the water from the hole in the middle of the growbed, so don't overfill. Plug in the air pump. Add some small plants below the dripping water. Make sure to rinse any dirt from the plant roots beforehand. I transplanted aloe, mint, a small Jade plant, strawberry, and a rosemary shoot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkV5M2sIiCtyoLcqUr1BvLRE6JLgCJd8Zf9AgB8n4ihENKPK2Qz8XEw_1M6YNoykLXJ_jUG4z_bD060aCHHOlnLBky0ch8rQroXsz6Hv-f1H6KnTsyQCgz1KJ1KfcyReolp4S/s1600/IMG_20141208_122232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkV5M2sIiCtyoLcqUr1BvLRE6JLgCJd8Zf9AgB8n4ihENKPK2Qz8XEw_1M6YNoykLXJ_jUG4z_bD060aCHHOlnLBky0ch8rQroXsz6Hv-f1H6KnTsyQCgz1KJ1KfcyReolp4S/s1600/IMG_20141208_122232.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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You'll want to add some fish, of course. Pick varieties that will stay small since there is only 2 1/2 gallons of water in the system. I am considering adding cold water snails, crayfish, fathead minnows, or some other variety that won't grow too large and won't require a heater. Here's a short video of my system in action.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwQJRnFTRemV4WpciXRXdRF6xnQf1Bkq8v49gaZ7J78su4a1GMcX60kFkAzIMFyr2lNZ4WOb0DHutI' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
I haven't added fish to my system yet since the water is just beginning to cycle. If you are new to fishkeeping, check out these <a href="http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php">tips for cycling your new tank</a>.<br />
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For additional water filtration and aeration, I am considering adding a small homemade sponge filter like the one from the Youtube video below. They work great.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MIoplOneojo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Post comments and questions! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMBufs7xy6jsfXssxhnEwbvKz_oivBESxZtCk-jAwkv0b2Em6-VPVZQgBSxXEdKG2PwqGxbK1U4cXgWvQvQE_sOHQC6GTYqXMJoOuejKzPL1xFifZWK0r9kqB14VTSOSTwwW4/s1600/IMG_6231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMBufs7xy6jsfXssxhnEwbvKz_oivBESxZtCk-jAwkv0b2Em6-VPVZQgBSxXEdKG2PwqGxbK1U4cXgWvQvQE_sOHQC6GTYqXMJoOuejKzPL1xFifZWK0r9kqB14VTSOSTwwW4/s1600/IMG_6231.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Every 15 minutes, the bell siphon in my Aquaponics media bed flushes the flood and drain system, aerating the water for my goldfish below. The fish live in the dark. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_c95eO_gmgRgiGoVlxo7zv7JaRDQcftYmyDIXldaBMi-r2Dl7tTU5_hDD8haVlR6GOFSNeVFlWVStAQKZNTiNkGR8NmhNRqK7A9Mw8tJi-_9ptbfqQVnDz_AjlMpEJufewwOk/s1600/IMG_6233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_c95eO_gmgRgiGoVlxo7zv7JaRDQcftYmyDIXldaBMi-r2Dl7tTU5_hDD8haVlR6GOFSNeVFlWVStAQKZNTiNkGR8NmhNRqK7A9Mw8tJi-_9ptbfqQVnDz_AjlMpEJufewwOk/s1600/IMG_6233.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using camera flash during flush mode. </td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I feed them once a day. Other than that, I generally don't think much about them. I can't see them well without a flashlight, so they've gotten little attention in the few years I've kept them. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br />These comet goldfish are from the local pet store. They are low maintenance and make a lot of fertilizer (read: poop a lot). At their present size, I think they're ideal for this cool-weather system.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The roots of the plants keeps their water clean, and a small pinhole at the bottom of the siphon (in the media bed) provides a constant trickle of fresh water in between flushes, which keeps them healthy.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwpjAzi__3fmMmz9EXTCldLIUwPLzvGWuTR_i3D2g86xD5MKbXsx5pRgT7BCaxGF_yCGDzFb-5gm5Lbcvc18-JpgX3MoyES_B6fnvEZeTJe6KGtMySlkdODa6GOcGFti8Nlyj/s1600/IMG_6225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwpjAzi__3fmMmz9EXTCldLIUwPLzvGWuTR_i3D2g86xD5MKbXsx5pRgT7BCaxGF_yCGDzFb-5gm5Lbcvc18-JpgX3MoyES_B6fnvEZeTJe6KGtMySlkdODa6GOcGFti8Nlyj/s1600/IMG_6225.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming around the water pump prior to flush mode.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6Er4JrWo7zTLBE79lW-RA6yj_Db6ZzbEt4u4ebLbve1yU3I0RlQBTq8_COQCG7zDalknzrU3LhmOP8bk00FdMgNdM9Tm2jIymcVzoaF7EH2iFvjnR9baj6TwebEgIEKZxjeq/s1600/IMG_6219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6Er4JrWo7zTLBE79lW-RA6yj_Db6ZzbEt4u4ebLbve1yU3I0RlQBTq8_COQCG7zDalknzrU3LhmOP8bk00FdMgNdM9Tm2jIymcVzoaF7EH2iFvjnR9baj6TwebEgIEKZxjeq/s1600/IMG_6219.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These goldfish are about 4" long.</td></tr>
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One huge benefit to the fish living in the dark is there is no algae growth. With the absence of direct sunlight in the barrel, I don't have to deal with algae killing the roots of my plants. Above the fish, the media bed fills to a couple of inches below the rock surface, so no harmful algae grows there either.</div>
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Someone asked me, "Are they happy?" It's hard to really know, but they've tripled in size, haven't gotten sick yet, and they eat well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtF1_Kr-_pothVDUwIKWYa2mPVnycCPWxj3y8hf_VmG5NYsPnD3jZJ8dNG07euZoPOpR5FZI8ioPBplkWEaRNI6zXlSpsOgWc1YHODVOSIzx1rq5rbFDWY_yXZbNUqvGh6P_X5/s1600/IMG_6221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtF1_Kr-_pothVDUwIKWYa2mPVnycCPWxj3y8hf_VmG5NYsPnD3jZJ8dNG07euZoPOpR5FZI8ioPBplkWEaRNI6zXlSpsOgWc1YHODVOSIzx1rq5rbFDWY_yXZbNUqvGh6P_X5/s1600/IMG_6221.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-42317340278478901392014-11-10T08:37:00.000-05:002014-11-10T08:39:09.849-05:00Aquaponics Saves LivesIt's true. My Aquaponics system has turned into a mini Humane Society for outside garden plants. Currently, I am growing the following transplants:<br />
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Parsley</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONVCYETVuBCScOdHEpyoasH2Cdv1aDoKP-QtsY5btZa9MJyBcQ_fzs8HpViWq7OkwmcYJZpwXjueBodp0OmN1Q472itP4sPNR_rwZuj7ppYvvw9LQ3bFqtWGYOdxLlCwEMb1F/s1600/IMG_6210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONVCYETVuBCScOdHEpyoasH2Cdv1aDoKP-QtsY5btZa9MJyBcQ_fzs8HpViWq7OkwmcYJZpwXjueBodp0OmN1Q472itP4sPNR_rwZuj7ppYvvw9LQ3bFqtWGYOdxLlCwEMb1F/s1600/IMG_6210.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I just transplanted this parsley after harvesting all the leaves. It's grown well in this system in the past, so I should see new growth soon.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Wild Mustard</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjmBUjfc0cdksmgJIHWbiTdllTLHXSMpeBhd2MLTNNxuxcO9k5wbSsm1aSYQ2m78gC8x7jUb-BAqHJbJocc3XxhIVdUfBewCMfXhcz0yjdZupztGphlA_idv6If8OJKBTdM1L/s1600/IMG_6209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjmBUjfc0cdksmgJIHWbiTdllTLHXSMpeBhd2MLTNNxuxcO9k5wbSsm1aSYQ2m78gC8x7jUb-BAqHJbJocc3XxhIVdUfBewCMfXhcz0yjdZupztGphlA_idv6If8OJKBTdM1L/s1600/IMG_6209.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I love wild mustard. It's like wasabi as a leaf. Try it.<br />
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Basil</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdp5npqJjuOdq8LJ2iOIFBsjMJ9pWQWvyloPbU1V4vi9wPZ2yACaCmE43Pn8SdCu_dChHEnJpD_ShSqi4HTmm-a8KNxPKBYVwdtGmkbHs0YkIPpOhXnDcumf2o02UyM7Wd15_/s1600/IMG_6212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdp5npqJjuOdq8LJ2iOIFBsjMJ9pWQWvyloPbU1V4vi9wPZ2yACaCmE43Pn8SdCu_dChHEnJpD_ShSqi4HTmm-a8KNxPKBYVwdtGmkbHs0YkIPpOhXnDcumf2o02UyM7Wd15_/s1600/IMG_6212.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
These purple basil are doing better indoors than they did all summer outdoors. There's been a lot of new growth and I've been cutting it back every couple of weeks.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Rosemary</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9ShON5zcpObNmAl_Gar_yp-8hOy2TAcX_4YMHbli1CfRKjGvTyljS1F_wxKzy1e501yUwpoZkBwLDHped-NGFeVLJsCht9oQY2VMrqUeKIfq_z1yViJhRtRxAX7GHdaKh2fo/s1600/IMG_6211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9ShON5zcpObNmAl_Gar_yp-8hOy2TAcX_4YMHbli1CfRKjGvTyljS1F_wxKzy1e501yUwpoZkBwLDHped-NGFeVLJsCht9oQY2VMrqUeKIfq_z1yViJhRtRxAX7GHdaKh2fo/s1600/IMG_6211.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The rosemary are my resident plants, so even if I decide to harvest all the others, I still have these two plants to filter the water for the goldfish below. They buffer the system in between plantings.<br />
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Sorrel</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Wr1tZAEM1PWR1CeA_j68-RyWi2TbkSsI4QwyiOGaVSKP0weuXxNODV3OzCgsjkjHtjvpGEp5lSV4sGKcOkBnXHgCcxgpw7dj9eD2FOl5AcJZ2ueFQPNyl5q74ezxCyAVqDBe/s1600/IMG_6207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Wr1tZAEM1PWR1CeA_j68-RyWi2TbkSsI4QwyiOGaVSKP0weuXxNODV3OzCgsjkjHtjvpGEp5lSV4sGKcOkBnXHgCcxgpw7dj9eD2FOl5AcJZ2ueFQPNyl5q74ezxCyAVqDBe/s1600/IMG_6207.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
The sorrel is growing really quickly. It's an acquired taste, which is kind of sour like a wild strawberry, but I like its juicy flavor.<br />
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Mint</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11rLaU6ddIU54olG4ymsQaZPakN3a31-VYC9tEubrmP6kT-npFV_92UuMRJ5nZTUPNDZiJDhItTmwSUH-Ywzq2gZfcEwifDXX2XmVVWFIGbxctOjEqDBjQSzn25du5JC9Tbzc/s1600/IMG_6208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11rLaU6ddIU54olG4ymsQaZPakN3a31-VYC9tEubrmP6kT-npFV_92UuMRJ5nZTUPNDZiJDhItTmwSUH-Ywzq2gZfcEwifDXX2XmVVWFIGbxctOjEqDBjQSzn25du5JC9Tbzc/s1600/IMG_6208.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
My coworker, Tim Stone, gave me a mint plant and I put one of it's shoots in the system. So far so good - some new growth and it's rooting well. I hear mint can take over, so I'm watching this one carefully.<br />
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All these plants are growing indoors, under two 4' low wattage florescent ballasts with indirect light from the window above.<br />
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Meanwhile, the fish are getting fat. Stay tuned for my next blog about them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-41473413396073489232014-10-30T09:13:00.000-04:002014-12-02T20:48:17.759-05:00Grilled Northern Pike on Rosemary & Cedar <div style="border: 0px; color: #272316; font-family: Arial, san-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The other day I went kayak fishing on the Connecticut River and hooked into a strong Northern Pike. The fish pulled me around for about 5 minutes before coming to the surface. During the fight, I pulled my camera out but changed my mind. I didn't want to risk losing a nice fish for a good photo. </div>
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I was surprised to land the toothy monster without a metal leader on my line (I was fishing off the bottom with nightcrawlers for perch and bass). At 5 1/2 pounds, and 32" long it was easily enough meat for a few meals, so I decided to harvest it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctdumTb_5qfigJERIGRtnX7vsyUBrNDd_4SoeQktsLeN7VcTPwK7LKiuc3xriSOCToMMXt8Y80SVqhjD7OQU4thd3i983HomBNSpb2SJ9D1mBJa6C1NX1XxYIxZ1LC1h-yvd_/s1600/IMG_20141028_182219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctdumTb_5qfigJERIGRtnX7vsyUBrNDd_4SoeQktsLeN7VcTPwK7LKiuc3xriSOCToMMXt8Y80SVqhjD7OQU4thd3i983HomBNSpb2SJ9D1mBJa6C1NX1XxYIxZ1LC1h-yvd_/s1600/IMG_20141028_182219.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gutted pike ready for filleting on a large pizza box</td></tr>
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I'd never really cooked a pike before. I'd caught much smaller ones on the Connecticut River, but always released them (for taking a Northern on the river, the minimum length requirement is 28"). Pike and Pickerel have a pesky "Y bone," which makes filleting them a bit more tricky. Online, I discovered the website of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department<span style="line-height: inherit;"> , which has an instructional <a href="http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/other-fishing-information/pike">video how to remove the Y bones</a>, and offers a slew of recipes, from "poor man's lobster" to a pickled pike dip. (</span><span style="line-height: inherit;">Yeah, really.) Since Northern Pike is North Dakota's state fish, I figured they know a thing or two.</span></div>
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By the time I finished filleting, it was too late to cook, so I cut and submerged the fillets in ice water and let them soak overnight. I decided to freeze a lot of the fish (in water), since there was about 2 1/2 pounds of fillet. I have plenty of Aquaponic Rosemary, which is one of my favorite herbs for cooking fish.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxwVpXnMkTvio9oXKNCCnRzaTrS5jGHyEt5t40vtVqOECPrGr91bXwHVk87zL-01UJEXBScAZbzMBD8WjumzsojxM4OZ4wHwtFpGWybjD6KGNrsqN3QL-kyaRE29zw6SksoV8/s1600/IMG_20141029_172341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxwVpXnMkTvio9oXKNCCnRzaTrS5jGHyEt5t40vtVqOECPrGr91bXwHVk87zL-01UJEXBScAZbzMBD8WjumzsojxM4OZ4wHwtFpGWybjD6KGNrsqN3QL-kyaRE29zw6SksoV8/s1600/IMG_20141029_172341.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aquaponic Rosemary</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: inherit;">For last night's dinner, I followed this recipe, substituting maple syrup for brown sugar: </span></div>
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<a href="http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/other-fishing-information/pike/recipes#planked">Cedar Planked Pike</a></h3>
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Soak a cedar plank for at least 1 hour or longer until the wood becomes saturated. Keep plank in water until ready for use.</div>
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Pike Fillets (Rub quantities should make enough for 2 decent size fillets), 2-3 fresh sprigs of rosemary</div>
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Rub:<br />
1/2 Tbs smoked paprika<br />
1/4 tsp cayenne<br />
2 tsp garlic powder<br />
1 tsp onion powder<br />
1/4 tsp cumin<br />
1/4 tsp ground coriander<br />
2 Tbs brown sugar<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper</div>
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Mix rub ingredients thoroughly. Apply to fish. Set aside. Heat your grill to 350 degrees (better with charcoal than with gas but both work, you can also use your oven just be careful the wood plank will smoke). Place rosemary on soaked plank on grill for 5 minutes prior to putting fish on it. Place fish on plank overtop the rosemary and cook until tender. Do not flip fish. Serve on plank.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvo9qgJIi4MWBLQU80xc1MpdDuXVe9XGxYitjvcJgP50AeD1tZNdFWydqUy9hQdaYRHE3BjhcqHwj_mDRteN2J8UrwqEtLZWOrR_Rp9e_GZvo4_wMGBOb0pylq6tMXoGiBaW0/s1600/IMG_20141029_163315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvo9qgJIi4MWBLQU80xc1MpdDuXVe9XGxYitjvcJgP50AeD1tZNdFWydqUy9hQdaYRHE3BjhcqHwj_mDRteN2J8UrwqEtLZWOrR_Rp9e_GZvo4_wMGBOb0pylq6tMXoGiBaW0/s1600/IMG_20141029_163315.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started the raw fillets over indirect heat for the first 20 minutes </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvE9MywfMZvOVYSb5EqNV94EnC_AtZhh-gpIyVfG9joII4gKgCEJg4eaaBhO3DtMP_r5nJmgoz3ifx5IrpxbGOc2bQva1-FQqOmu_JruSTRYQXIfDlnX4Bt5-1z4ovJ6QxZ0t/s1600/IMG_20141029_172157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvE9MywfMZvOVYSb5EqNV94EnC_AtZhh-gpIyVfG9joII4gKgCEJg4eaaBhO3DtMP_r5nJmgoz3ifx5IrpxbGOc2bQva1-FQqOmu_JruSTRYQXIfDlnX4Bt5-1z4ovJ6QxZ0t/s1600/IMG_20141029_172157.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I finished the fillets over direct heat for the last 15 minutes. Here they are almost done</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6KBlqeFtMXAfGx032NZrfMqWb0s_KbYQavSy-rf_7j8-Bzd0tX9tNhS4eIOVttLhPXMF6cagKCXq_gW5BqLPz5aCdphMzT5bhU3i1xBzG_B0ejnbJqp_HybK159YhDbHBb6g/s1600/IMG_20141029_174903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6KBlqeFtMXAfGx032NZrfMqWb0s_KbYQavSy-rf_7j8-Bzd0tX9tNhS4eIOVttLhPXMF6cagKCXq_gW5BqLPz5aCdphMzT5bhU3i1xBzG_B0ejnbJqp_HybK159YhDbHBb6g/s1600/IMG_20141029_174903.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ready to eat </td></tr>
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So how did it taste?<br />
<br />
Delicious. The fish has a densely flaky texture, but wasn't too flaky. It held up well to all the spices, and the mixture of the cedar, rosemary and maple syrup really brought it to another level. A little squeeze of lemon...Boom!<br />
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If pike weren't so predacious, slimy and bony, there might not be an open season for them. I took my time filleting, but still managed to miss a few thin bones.<br />
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More Northern Pike recipes here: <a href="http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/other-fishing-information/pike/recipes">http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/other-fishing-information/pike/recipes</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-8266779918679278612014-10-22T22:30:00.000-04:002014-10-22T22:30:26.655-04:00Fall Fried Perch<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYJWRg5nh6B5nlUFKFRDnvDN1IZStjGYITOxEbPB0hmWHN48bKNkOai8ovdoZXS5jqANOxHcszEtTphZU3hszXud9zFSQPNpLRXNMmEuTSloncQ6hkDjH1YOvf9yAMuvK2zfT/s1600/IMG_20141014_144733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYJWRg5nh6B5nlUFKFRDnvDN1IZStjGYITOxEbPB0hmWHN48bKNkOai8ovdoZXS5jqANOxHcszEtTphZU3hszXud9zFSQPNpLRXNMmEuTSloncQ6hkDjH1YOvf9yAMuvK2zfT/s1600/IMG_20141014_144733.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall fishin' </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fall is a great time for fishing in Vermont; as the water cools down, the fish get hungry. Also, there is less fishing pressure as there usually aren't as many anglers on the water. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoMmVJ1LGqtJ2tor2asfTPG71nZhitPOJomcCYl42I83nye2ZjKmMIvisEHq_ulZCE8QRZ5Y8SW4pqtTCk3x-sxM1EfTgsPsbqRgn5mArnVW5lUWLas8yyJTH7bs1iOOWm4o-/s1600/IMG_20141014_144725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoMmVJ1LGqtJ2tor2asfTPG71nZhitPOJomcCYl42I83nye2ZjKmMIvisEHq_ulZCE8QRZ5Y8SW4pqtTCk3x-sxM1EfTgsPsbqRgn5mArnVW5lUWLas8yyJTH7bs1iOOWm4o-/s1600/IMG_20141014_144725.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">no fishing pressure here</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favorite fish to cook and eat is yellow perch. In my April 28 post, I compared frying and baking them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2014/04/yellow-perch-fried-vs-baked.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2014/04/yellow-perch-fried-vs-baked.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I caught some perch at <a href="http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fishing_sadawga.cfm">Lake Sadawga</a>, filleted them, and cut them into small pieces. Typically with the fillets I make a beer batter and fish fry, but today I didn't have any beer in the house. Since my wife, <a href="http://norecipecookbook.com/">Susan Crowther</a>, is an excellent cook, I asked her to cook them for lunch instead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She d<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">redged the fish in white flour, fried them in grapeseed oil, and took them off the heat while s</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he made a simple sauce called Meuniere of b</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rowned butter, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAlxrlBhWVA4-fyGoeBNwS3EZp5pJjsHavqTMRuGd0EDZbxzG2uBoCHaun_PdlMzoQH2AQ5HapxVu7fFWZ6RK6Og5bgDA04kFd2MXFsE1kb8hHNhv5nV9WrmAWV4TBQYNuIAB/s1600/IMG_20141022_120918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAlxrlBhWVA4-fyGoeBNwS3EZp5pJjsHavqTMRuGd0EDZbxzG2uBoCHaun_PdlMzoQH2AQ5HapxVu7fFWZ6RK6Og5bgDA04kFd2MXFsE1kb8hHNhv5nV9WrmAWV4TBQYNuIAB/s1600/IMG_20141022_120918.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meuniere sauce</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meuniere is both the preparation and the sauce. Here is a step-by-step </span><a href="http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/fishseafood/ht/meuniere.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">recipe for Fish a la Meuniere</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Evidently, it was one of the first things she learned at the Culinary Institute of America. Lucky me! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After making the sauce, she re-added the fish to fry them in the sauce.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5auQFS9v7IRKq6-ggMiOhdxNt-IFscwT9E69JAmiICuzeKBRrRwi7GrKzAj5ogFeM3NakSvdaMqHdGlSnqNrZYXwjmWm9rKE55qXPri7rvYi39Dif60nlERSFCq83DlvqUuUp/s1600/IMG_20141022_120940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5auQFS9v7IRKq6-ggMiOhdxNt-IFscwT9E69JAmiICuzeKBRrRwi7GrKzAj5ogFeM3NakSvdaMqHdGlSnqNrZYXwjmWm9rKE55qXPri7rvYi39Dif60nlERSFCq83DlvqUuUp/s1600/IMG_20141022_120940.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">almost done</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Compared to my beer batter fried perch, these perch were equally delicious but much lighter. Cooked in the lemon and butter sauce, they maintained their delicate flavor. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSriIJwsRy62547qlYzAO0mRecmkPJ69P8NCzQF6QoqfAgJhhCBRxMKWnW7AJ1L_F7LhBX0gJQGmOHWiJRWdg75YG3YyZYFRLorONWx_bkcpoCEegcmG1_40AzlqA_VRXQtxU/s1600/IMG_20141022_122254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSriIJwsRy62547qlYzAO0mRecmkPJ69P8NCzQF6QoqfAgJhhCBRxMKWnW7AJ1L_F7LhBX0gJQGmOHWiJRWdg75YG3YyZYFRLorONWx_bkcpoCEegcmG1_40AzlqA_VRXQtxU/s1600/IMG_20141022_122254.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cabbage, sauerkraut, quinoa with hot red peppers and perch a la Meuniere</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, maybe running out of beer has its advantages? Post comments below.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-91141849355547855712014-10-07T23:08:00.000-04:002014-10-07T23:08:10.028-04:00Natural Insecticide: Tomato Spray for AphidsFall is harvest time for the outdoor garden. It also signals a time to transplant crops which can continue to grow indoors in my Aquaponics systems.<br />
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Last fall I transplanted some Swiss Chard and Parsley indoors to extend their growing season. Little did I know that I had also transported aphids from the outside, which ate my veggies and caused me to start over. You can read about it here:<br />
<a href="http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2013/10/extending-growing-season.html">http://markcrowther.blogspot.com/2013/10/extending-growing-season.html</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRxSfhXvgNPNBBVredZfvl4_9k8g7z00emGaByM-oR6y-DABANcNMkP6FBvHNXXvynHMIc9nEp0t95zQqsD9ykaygqXvmMX5xGOdSeuElNL0F5zIuYhvnCwWnhIveKVlhufU8/s1600/IMG_20140925_135749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRxSfhXvgNPNBBVredZfvl4_9k8g7z00emGaByM-oR6y-DABANcNMkP6FBvHNXXvynHMIc9nEp0t95zQqsD9ykaygqXvmMX5xGOdSeuElNL0F5zIuYhvnCwWnhIveKVlhufU8/s1600/IMG_20140925_135749.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">harvested tomato leaves for insecticide spray</td></tr>
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Organic pest control can be tricky with Aquaponics because what is good for your plants isn't necessarily good for your fish. When I found this <a href="http://organicgardening.about.com/od/pestcontrol/a/spraysforaphids.htm">organic spray using only tomato leaves and water</a> I thought I'd give fall transplanting another shot. Since tomatoes are members of the nightshade family, perhaps I could have substituted rhubarb, pepper or eggplant leaves for tomato? Has anyone tried those leaves with positive results? I've also read that aphids hate garlic, but didn't try that as the spray called for liquid dish soap, which could easily harm my fish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsh-vmuStQ-_cDNwa_IoY98BJCKwMnEZNh33aHYrSRjCpefLWCuRYLUHF-fwCU9N4k27RtsEquX8uL_hyphenhyphenu8lLs5qfB4ifnt-3hDwWCSe4GVvwfVDUeMsgoVnwli8wdcQ1wf5l/s1600/IMG_20140925_140245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsh-vmuStQ-_cDNwa_IoY98BJCKwMnEZNh33aHYrSRjCpefLWCuRYLUHF-fwCU9N4k27RtsEquX8uL_hyphenhyphenu8lLs5qfB4ifnt-3hDwWCSe4GVvwfVDUeMsgoVnwli8wdcQ1wf5l/s1600/IMG_20140925_140245.jpg" height="240" title="two cups of tomato leaves" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two cups of tomato leaves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxxLuOlIdaA1gJ82HVpNslpekewESIO1EjIR0wnVvHsTRjOYPICkKAetM7qR4nseNbnM4TGq195rtC-CuAZJuyOmS3NrhAU2Xzc20J5hzK_fT-6nrcs4w7jcCF3Ym-9WFch6Z/s1600/IMG_20140925_140732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxxLuOlIdaA1gJ82HVpNslpekewESIO1EjIR0wnVvHsTRjOYPICkKAetM7qR4nseNbnM4TGq195rtC-CuAZJuyOmS3NrhAU2Xzc20J5hzK_fT-6nrcs4w7jcCF3Ym-9WFch6Z/s1600/IMG_20140925_140732.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two cups of tomato leaves with water added = organic aphid spray</td></tr>
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After I soaked two cups of leaves in two cups of water, it made a dark brown liquid, which I diluted with another cup of water or so after straining it into a spray bottle. It couldn't have been easier to make.<br />
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Then I transplanted the basil, wild mustard greens, and kale.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V9Bal89ThCEiwIGeJ-kxtuj5MCbwx7Xdc7r_MV0zM9-dPvIdWiKrwl6Lbo4-0RjIJios8s5RgU5QExdkloN08TQCy1-OlQe2sJMvFMSJTlu0c2ddu37Juxvae8svH53pbQXc/s1600/IMG_20141007_171743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V9Bal89ThCEiwIGeJ-kxtuj5MCbwx7Xdc7r_MV0zM9-dPvIdWiKrwl6Lbo4-0RjIJios8s5RgU5QExdkloN08TQCy1-OlQe2sJMvFMSJTlu0c2ddu37Juxvae8svH53pbQXc/s1600/IMG_20141007_171743.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76r8YjQ1Yir_UdVjQIiyejZLzFmYar-G_f-WJEZqvXebEKUnKleBoWIom4o5QIDv2kzhSO3hE9T0rlyWiWEkK3ZPAUbObGIX_aQib9ZjHVhW0ecuuMzMzg2LL4WMCYi7F9oGz/s1600/IMG_20141007_171802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76r8YjQ1Yir_UdVjQIiyejZLzFmYar-G_f-WJEZqvXebEKUnKleBoWIom4o5QIDv2kzhSO3hE9T0rlyWiWEkK3ZPAUbObGIX_aQib9ZjHVhW0ecuuMzMzg2LL4WMCYi7F9oGz/s1600/IMG_20141007_171802.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I sprayed them thoroughly before planting them and have sprayed them almost every day for a week. But, the tomato spray started to ferment. I used it last night and it made the whole room stink so I dumped it out. On the upside, I haven't seen any sign of aphids, or any other bugs for that matter, and the transplants are looking okay.<br />
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As an experiment, I kept the overhead lights off for a couple of months before transplanting. In the second picture below, you can see the spacing is fairly wide between the nodes of the Rosemary plant (a node is the space between the each leaf and the plant stem). The Rosemary received its late summer light only through the adjacent window. The west-facing window provided only a few hours of direct light. Still, it grew substantially, demonstrating that this herb is well-suited for Aquaponics.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem-VS2FsFmU1XDyfOe-zwcvqB9HhQwe2wYHGSGdeYvhwoZFz7tc3f8NJJMACbB3liwo07hKnAzeVUqrCoNVi2LF5ZojCoEFFGFqAYdxAfYc9PsBzCsT-6h3pb-zmLHmPEE7-G/s1600/rosemary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem-VS2FsFmU1XDyfOe-zwcvqB9HhQwe2wYHGSGdeYvhwoZFz7tc3f8NJJMACbB3liwo07hKnAzeVUqrCoNVi2LF5ZojCoEFFGFqAYdxAfYc9PsBzCsT-6h3pb-zmLHmPEE7-G/s1600/rosemary.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aquaponic Rosemary planted last fall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoFwS3a2REsDWnUNmeilyhv-_ykJZhriFr4rZgvmOi8N9EMLID_aLWJVQjkSzBKgxfvKWC77Wp6RDNA4XrnYGbRTf_TgwZIVLz8JAiDcKboNzCxzTadif0-ey2N5YVKwBRZAO/s1600/IMG_20141007_172052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoFwS3a2REsDWnUNmeilyhv-_ykJZhriFr4rZgvmOi8N9EMLID_aLWJVQjkSzBKgxfvKWC77Wp6RDNA4XrnYGbRTf_TgwZIVLz8JAiDcKboNzCxzTadif0-ey2N5YVKwBRZAO/s1600/IMG_20141007_172052.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same Aquaponic Rosemary 1 year later</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11559549.post-57606265537321264902014-09-21T18:56:00.000-04:002014-09-21T18:58:32.550-04:00Barrelponics Videos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy1bb7kKcdpflynxhkqDGTXNCAVqvUy1mWHYPP4jEgN7bWsVTbq5q7Uh4v6wke9d-GuYZVxqP3eiY0' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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These short videos help demonstrate what's been growing in my barrelponics system.<br />
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The top video shows some of the cool weather plants I have been growing, while the bottom video highlights the auto siphon feature of the system. <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwuQWeRLZLtXks9_r3ZflzGfBqHkLCHPpRhd1zcN1u97yoEwDu47Kq263fcRE1VWp15ihsOXYUc7A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04774239556396541177noreply@blogger.com0