Aquaponics Workshop Info

A workshop on 'Introduction to Aquaponics' is scheduled for October 25 in Winter Haven. The program includes a number of outstanding speakers in their field including Orange County IFAS Extension Office Director Dr. Richard Tyson. Please help us spread the word on this upcoming educational event by adding this date and event information to your website and making copies of the attached pdf flyer available in your office. Thanks for your assistance, Florida Aquaculture Association/David Boozer

 

 

Winter Haven, FL - A one day workshop on Aquaponics – the cultivation of fish and plants in one eco-system - will be offered by the Florida Aquaculture Association on October 25, 2013 at the Florida Department of Agriculture's Nora Mayo Hall Building in Winter Haven.

 

Aquaponics is the fastest growing segment of aquaculture.  It is a sustainable food production system that combines conventional aquaculture, the raising aquatic animals such as food fish or aquarium fish, with hydroponics – the cultivating plants in water in one eco- environment.  In aquaculture, effluents accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity for the fish.  This water is led to a hydroponic system where the by-products from the aquaculture are broken down by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, then filtered out by the plants as nutrients, after which the cleaned water is recirculated back to the animals.

 

The one day course that will cover the topics most important to being successful in aquaponics including aquaponic methods and applications, aquatic livestock and plant choices along with an overview of water quality, growing techniques, system requirements, fish health and feeds, plant care and selection, system startup basics and business considerations. This course will include 3 hours of classroom instruction by leading experts in their field, followed by a  self-drive field trip to an innovative aquaponics installation and teaching facility in Dade City.

 

Attendees will learn the basics of sustainably raising fish, herbs and vegetables together, using fewer resources than traditional farming, and the added benefit of producing food without the use of pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers, all year 'round! This is your chance to learn about aquaponic food production and how you can grow fresh fish and herbs/vegetables for your family or in a profitable business venture.

 

Advance registration is required. Attendees can register for this educational course by visiting the FAA website at – www.flaa.org.   Individuals can save $30 by registering at the early-bird rate of $95 prior to September 30^th .

 

This one-day training seminar designed to teach the basics of raising fish and aquaponic plants in a naturally balanced, integrated culture system. Participants will learn about the basic needs of food and/or aquarium fish and how they should be cared for and raised. Participants will also learn how to use the wastewater from the fish to raise pesticide-free, nutritious healthy vegetables without soil. A (self-drive) field trip to MorningStar Farms in Dade City – an innovative aquaponics installation and teaching facility- will allow participants to see firsthand a working aquaponics facility.

 

 

This workshop is perfect for middle and secondary school or vocational students and teachers of science, ecology, and agriculture, gardening clubs, FFA clubs, and individuals interested in learning an innovative way to produce a constant supply of fish and herbs and/or vegetables using a simple, naturally balanced, ecologically sound system. No prior knowledge of aquaponics is required or assumed.

 

###

.