Utilizing nature to create a zero impact, zero waste, carbon positive, completely self sustainable eco system,
... producing fresh organic fruits , vegetables, fish, crayfish & energy - In our backyard.

Welcome to our adventure ...

Aquaponics is a natural eco-system, which organically produces vegetables, fish & crayfish. It is the integration of fish cultivation, aquaculture, with hydroponic plant production.

Fish wastes are 'filtered' by natural bacteria producing a rich nutrient source for the plants. The plants utilize these nutrients for growth, thus purifying the water to then be returned to the fish. This continuous cycle is what happens in a nature.

Aquaponics has many advantages including, requiring much less space than traditional farming methods, highly efficient food productive method - potentially higher than hydoponics, with zero environmental impact.

- No chemical fertiliser's, pesticides, insecticides or soil conditioners are used.

- Zero water waste. All water is constantly purified by the plants and recirculated back to the fish.

- 100% of all nutrients are used, creating two crops from one nutrient source - the fish food.

- 100% of wastes generated are utilized on site through filters that feed the plants. Worm composts & Black Soldier Fly's are utilized for all vegetable off cuts and house hold waste's, creating natural healthy fish food source's. Worm & BSF castings being used for enhancing soil condition.

- As a source of protein, fish are the most efficient convertors out of all our farmed animals, achieving feed to flesh conversion efficiency close to 100%.

Aquaponics is a 100% natural eco-system.

PVA has also incorporated a totally off grid solar power installation, supplying power for the system, work shed and computers.

Shade House & Chicken Enclosure

We have finally finished the shade house.
A friend gave us some old shade cloth he had replaced in his nursery as well as some tips on how to tie it to the frames to reduce possible damage during bad weather.
The secret was to tie the wire to the pole framework, not tie the shade cloth. So I spent a day threading some heavy wire on the outer edges to make a seam... that was not much fun but im glad its done now.

 

We have also just about finished the chicken enclosure. Never personally having had chickens before, the design was left up to Peter & his wife Sue. You can also see Peter's DIY auto chook feeder attached to the fence.
 

 The complete system as it stands January 15th.


I was a bit concerned about the access for bees, so I used bird netting for the front and 1 side. The other side shares a wall with the chicken enclosure.
Another concern is that the shade cloth might be too sun light restrictive during winter, if so, I will remove it for winter and replace it with a bird netting roof.
I love to share, but the King Parrots dont understand that concept and they just Love green tomatoes.

All in all, im pretty happy with the finished shade house.