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rfeiller
05-08-2011, 11:16 PM
This is an experiment in combining aquaponics with vermiponics.

The new outdoor garden will have for the AP portion (three) 4'x4'x1' 100 gal grow beds, (two) 2'x8'x1' 120 gal grow beds. The in-ground vat measures 2' Wide x 16' Long x 2-1/2' deep, about 600 gals. The bio-filter is made up of a 2"PVC loop with holes along it entire length, the pipe is burried in 8" of red lava. the water from the vat is pumped by a non submersiable pump of about 3000gph it circulates and supplies the GBs. the vat contains 150-2" goldfish.

(29) 5-gal buckets containing red wrigglers, castings, and feed for the worms makes up the vermiponics portion of the system. Each bucket is watered every morning, the excess runs off back into the vat to be pumped to the grow beds. Eventually this will be regulated by a controller.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110409_130005.jpg
100 gal Grow Bed showing straight 1" standpipe with wire cage

rfeiller
05-08-2011, 11:41 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110501_115122.jpg

this shows a GB filled with lava and the 3" bell siphons in place, so far i have washed 2-1/2 cu yds of red lova for the GBs and vat bio-filter. :!:

rfeiller
05-08-2011, 11:44 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110502_132554.jpg

this shows two of the GBs with the water supply loop and plumbing installed. so far the three 100gal GBs are all plumbed like this and running.

it is important to have each GB seperately plumbed to insure the ability to control flow and balance of the system.

rfeiller
05-08-2011, 11:50 PM
tomorrow I will put up more photos of the plumbing distribution. and the first pictures of construction of the two 2'x8'x1' plywood and EDPN liners. (i had enough of the liner left over from another project).

two of the GBs are planted, all of the buckets are planted and i will post photos of those.

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 12:28 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110508_101045.jpg
painting all of the pieces of plywood for the two 2x8x1' GBs note the tote in the background, that is for another project.

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 12:30 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110508_091542.jpg

note painted boards for two 2x8x1 GBs resting on tote. the plywood is 1-1/8" tongue and groove structural plywood. it use to be called 2-4-1 ply. (2 outer skins, 4 structural skins and 1 filler ply)
this photo shows the tongue that was cut off is glued into the groove.

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 12:33 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110423_110404-1.jpg

Lady and Pinto standing on top of the KOI pond waterfall looking out for the feds :lol:

the focus isn't good for some reason, but Lady the German Shepherd is always showing Pinto the American Bulldog how to get in trouble. :D

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 12:42 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110403_1325371.jpg

photo 1 of bucket plumbing a total of (29) five gallon buckets for vermiculture

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 12:44 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110403_132550.jpg

another view of the buckets and plumbing for vermiponics

davidstcldfl
05-09-2011, 04:39 AM
Somebody has been busy.... :D

urbanfarmer
05-09-2011, 08:30 AM
OOO, looking good sir! What are the plastic black bins?

I like using goldfish, they grow to be quite big too!

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 08:41 AM
the black bins are hydroponic 100 gal reservoirs.

urbanfarmer
05-09-2011, 02:34 PM
They look sturdy. I was wondering if it was a cement tub, but it didn't look like it. How much do those normally run??

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 04:59 PM
Through a hydroponics dealer about $170.00. These I got from a drug bust. :D
also I overbuild everything for respect of earthquakes. All stands are screwed and have framing clips (Simpson ) to reinforce connections. :)

cedarswamp
05-09-2011, 05:07 PM
Looks good. I look foward to the plywood/epdm bed photo's as that's what I'm planning for my basement system. :D

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 09:40 PM
this bulkhead is oversized it is 1-1/2" the reason is that i need a good wide flange to hold the edpm liner in place. it will withstand the movement of working on the bell siphon without leaking. note the double gaskets.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110509_175926-1.jpg

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 09:56 PM
because the threaded shaft was too short to make it through the plywood, edpm liner with the nut tighten flush i had to recess the area 7/16". it took two hole saws one larger then the holding nut and one just large enough for the threaded bulkhead. first the larger hole saw first to score the area then use a router to remove the material and recess the large hole, then with the pilot hole drilled by the guide drill bit on the hole saw arbor the smaller whole saw is used to drill the shaft hole.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110509_181021.jpg

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 09:57 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110509_185451.jpg

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 10:10 PM
notice the curve in the plywood, assemble the material so that any curve or warp opposes the forces that will be asserted against it by the future contents and how it will be supported.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110509_194013.jpg

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 10:13 PM
well the first box is basically assemble, ran out of 2-1/2" exterior screws.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110509_200356.jpg

JCO
05-09-2011, 10:36 PM
Yea, makes my back hurt just looking at all the pictures :lol: :lol: :mrgreen:

urbanfarmer
05-09-2011, 11:01 PM
Neat. Will it be sitting off the ground? How are you going to support it?

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 11:11 PM
Ok, how about turning the monitor upside down? there is a probably a way to fix this? simple sketch showing what is there, tomorrow i will take an updated photo of the buckets with plants in them.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110509_230643.jpg

JCO-those days of carring a 90lb bag of cement on each shoulder are gone, i'm 3" shorter then i was when i was 21. pain never stops.

UF- the next two GB's will be on an elevated stand approximately 30" above the pond. that will give the system 540gals of GBs.

if you want to do the math i have 2-1/2 cubic yards of red lava at $59 per cu yd including tax. vs $31 per 50L of hydroton.
I will add another cubic yard of red lava to the new GB's.

it's gonna be beautiful. the greenhouse revamp phase duo is next. by the way under the large timbers holding the buckets is a 20,000 gal KOI pond I hope to finish this summer. the 600gal pond is actually plumbed in as a biopond for that. and will continue to provide nutrients for the AP.

.

rfeiller
05-09-2011, 11:35 PM
I designed and built this corner arbor designed for hydroponics on the top far corner which is recessed. will train vines across the arbor.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20100905_172157.jpg

rfeiller
05-10-2011, 09:00 PM
showing bulkhead fitting nestled in the recess of the bore

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110509_185759.jpg

rfeiller
05-10-2011, 09:01 PM
plants are doing well, for the moment they are being hand watered. that will change soon.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110510_064558.jpg

rfeiller
05-10-2011, 09:02 PM
this biopond is 600 gals. the unconnected ball valves in the center of the ponds edge the vertical two are for the new EDPN liner tanks now under construction, the two horizontal ball valves are for the bucket garden.

unfortunately the neighbors trees never stop dropping hence the mesh on top of the pond covered in leaves. once a week his blow and go guy blows all of the leaves up over the fence onto my side so he doesn't have to pick them up. :x

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110510_064608.jpg

urbanfarmer
05-10-2011, 09:47 PM
Looks great!!!

rfeiller
05-10-2011, 11:06 PM
thanks, it's going to get better. i need to add one more 100 gal reservoir/GB to the one side so that it is balanced. can't see them but the GB's are planted with cuttings, asparagas, and seedlings.

cedarswamp
05-11-2011, 02:49 PM
Do you have your buckets on a flood and drain or continuous flow?

stucco
05-11-2011, 05:59 PM
Your corner arbor is sweet! it makes me want to nail my arbor off after two years of telling myself tomorrow .

rfeiller
05-11-2011, 07:51 PM
This weekend lord willing and the creek don't rise; they will be set up.on a timer for drip with water from the pond. Right now I have a small pump in the biopond that I've been doing by hand watering.

cedarswamp
05-11-2011, 08:09 PM
This weekend lord willing and the creek don't rise; they will be set up.on a timer for drip with water from the pond. Right now I have a small pump in the biopond that I've beenoing by hand useing to hand water.

Yea I saw that after I asked...I need to work on my reading comprehension :oops:

rfeiller
05-11-2011, 09:09 PM
i actually built the arbor for bioponics, it was the first project, that's when i tripped over "diyaquaponics.com" now all of a sudden the arbor ended up on the tail end of things. :D

urbanfarmer
05-11-2011, 11:49 PM
:lol:

rfeiller
05-16-2011, 02:20 PM
Sorry cedarswamp didn't see your post. It will be on a timer twice a day. Plan on trying regular landscape valves and timer if that doesn'work I will set up two small pumps in biopond.
the pump on this is a large pond pump pumping more like 4000-5000gph I want to See if it creates enough pressure to trip the valves. :)

rfeiller
05-16-2011, 02:34 PM
Well it rained, worked in greenhouse instead on bucket drip system.

cedarswamp
05-16-2011, 02:58 PM
Sorry cedarswamp didn't see your post. It will be on a timer twice a day. Plan on trying regular landscape valves and timer if that doesn'work I will set up two small pumps in biopond.
the pump on this is a large pond pump pumping more like 4000-5000gph I want to See if it creates enough pressure to trip the valves. :)

And hear I thought you did answer me. :lol: Your buckets inspirired me, I've planted 2 tomatoes in buckets, currently running on continuous flow to see how it goes.

Unfortunatly your arbor has also inspired me, this dang lettuce is gettin' expensive. :lol:

rfeiller
05-16-2011, 03:18 PM
Try asparagus it will pay for it'self. Try flowers, I have found many things grow better with flood and drain. Tomatoes are doing ok in the Matt system with contineous flow. I can only eat so much lettuce so have started Bok Choi, spinach. I have found celery hearts will root and continue to produce, so will horseradish, onions, garlic, any number of veggie leftovers will come back and produce. Cuttings root easily with the bell siphon etc.
Add a bucket worm bed to your system your plants will start smiling. And that is free! Go green!

Big Al
05-17-2011, 05:47 AM
hi rfeiller, very nice setup you have there. best wishes Big Al

rfeiller
05-17-2011, 08:45 AM
Thanks for the kind words.
I'm pleased with how plants are growing, with worm buckets in the mix, the difference is phenomenal. Adding a worm bucket is something that is a minimal cost to anyone, but adds to the production of crops. Not a perfect system but getting better.

jcoop
05-17-2011, 09:09 AM
rfeiller,

could you expand on your worm bucket, I get the idea of adding red wiggler worms to a growbed, but a little unclear on the "worm bucket". Any PH problems with the red lava? I have been collecting Hydroton at about $15.00 a 50l (used), but have a long ways to go to get what I think I will need.

thanks
John

rfeiller
05-17-2011, 09:28 AM
Jcoop,
I am certainly am not an expert on red lava, however I have used it and black lava for years in central filtration systems for discus and other rainwater fish. I haven't bothered to check my Ph. I have no intentions of adjusting it, that would alter my objectives.
In bonsai it's okadama in hydroponics it's hydroton, beats the hell out if me why anyone would waste the money. If you don't want to clean the lava throw it on your landscape when you are finished with it.

rfeiller
05-17-2011, 09:36 AM
Basically, each bucket is a worm "box" with a plant in it. I run just enough water in it to water the plants plus a very little runoff that goes in the biopond. I add table scraps, shredded paper (very little the castings value is based on what the worms are fed), as I would any worm bin. The plants are planted when the bucket is 1/3 full of worms and castings with a chunk core drainage base. I hope this makes it clearer.

rfeiller
05-24-2011, 08:16 AM
well best intentions, the pH hit 8.0, the tap is 7.4pH. so I broke down and added two pillow cases half full of canadian peat. the pH after a day and a half has dropped to 7.2.
this photo shows the bell siphon, 1" stand pipe with a 3" bell housing note the size and placement of the round holes.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110523_080451.jpg

rfeiller
05-24-2011, 08:30 AM
this is the fourth 100 gal reservoir that will be used as a grow bed. built the stand extension for this next to the single 100gal GB and installed this one. 5th bell siphon of this design installed; no adjustment necessary. the bell siphon is working change the water as the peat is leached into the biopond water. the placement of the supply pipes is intended to force the water through the peat.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110523_120251-1.jpg

rfeiller
05-24-2011, 08:36 AM
now to finish the stand and set up the last 6 trays. (4) 12"x41"x4" flood and drain trays and the (2) EDPM lined 2'x8'x1' grow beds with controllers and this will finish the GB construction of the outside garden. I want to add two slow sand filters in the mix.

when completed this garden will have (29) planted worm bed 5 gal buckets, (5) ebb and flow GBs with Bell siphons, (4) grow trays flood and drain with a timer, and (1) deep water raft with the air gap between raft and water level. with the (10) Grow Beds on the same nutrient supply using different methods i will get a better idea of which way is more productive. there is enough variety of plants in each system to get a good feel for what works best; how and where.

each system has it's shortcomings and advantages, even the worm buckets are showing a shortage of iron, that was a surprise because the pH in the worm buckets is not elevated binding up the iron.

rfeiller
06-01-2011, 09:11 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110531_1949321.jpg

showing the layout of the grow beds, buckets, table with flood trays, about the biopond that contains about 200 goldfish. also showing 3 of the 4 flood trays at the back of the new table.

rfeiller
06-01-2011, 09:18 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110531_194907.jpg

another shot showing the incomplete pond with the beams holding the bucket garden.

rfeiller
06-01-2011, 09:21 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110531_195055.jpg

a vew of the plants in the bucket garden

rfeiller
06-01-2011, 09:25 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110530_181810-1.jpg
flood trays with asparagus

rfeiller
06-01-2011, 09:29 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110601_183257.jpg

seedlings of squash, marigolds, swiss chard, spinach, green beans and a couple of other veggies getting started.

rfeiller
06-01-2011, 09:32 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110601_173744.jpg

i decided to get the preferred bulkhead fitting for the EDPM liner, the other bulkhead fittings shown would work but these are easier to use.

rfeiller
06-01-2011, 09:42 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110601_1815111.jpg

be sure and align the screw holes where it will be easy to locate after the membrane covers up the bulkhead. here i drew a line at a 90 degree angle from the sides, all i have to do is set a framing square or any true square guide so that I have a perfect alignment with the bulkhead screw receiver holes.

rfeiller
06-01-2011, 09:43 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110601_183606.jpg

left over EDPM membrane from a previous project happens to be 20' long just enough to handle the length of the two 2'x8' grow boxes. remember when purchasing the membrane to allow just a little more than the length or width plus the sides. a 2x8x1 requires a minimum membrane of 4'x10', that does not include any surplus for the wrap over the top of the side edges.

once it is lightly tacked in place by the top pour just enough water into the grow bed or tank for the weight of the water to push the membrane into the corners and allow the corners to be folded and the wrinkles to be straightened. if you overfill the GB you will not be able to move the membrane.

rfeiller
06-06-2011, 06:26 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110605_132631.jpg

the top ring is screwed through the liner into the bulkhead fitting prior to having the center removed. this really makes it easy to place the ring. on a regular bulkhead, even those as i originally showed there is always a chance the membrane will move as the holding nut is tightened. i have installed a number of this type however and it is certainly doable. two other negatives is one, cutting a perfect hole in the membrane, the membrane is not that easy to cut, and then if the membrane is just a little off of alignment with the bulkhead fitting it can cause a problem trying to relocate the membrane for the hole to allign with the bulkhead fitting.

rfeiller
06-06-2011, 06:27 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110605_1333301.jpg

now it is a easy to cut the membrane out of the center of the bulkhead. the fitting serves as a templet.

rfeiller
06-06-2011, 06:39 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110606_080433.jpg

the membranes are in and the bulkheads have had the center holes cut out. the next step that i will do is to add 2x stiffeners on the long sides (8') at the top of the grow beds then i am going to attach steel cross braces to preven the GB from bowing. (I could probably get away without doing this since they are constructed out of 1-1/8" plywood subfloor material which can span 4' each way as a subfloor material.) :) after the stiffiners and trim are on and painted i will trim back any excess membrane.

rfeiller
06-06-2011, 06:50 PM
work left prior to completion:

1.run electrical with GFI's (the extension cord is plugged into a GFI receptical). if your area does not have a GFI recepticle get an extensin cord that has an intregal GFI, don't be a penny wise and a dollar foolish, life is too precious, not just yours, but your family, your fish and someone visiting. DON'T EVEN PLUG INTO A STANDARD OUTLET TEMPORARILY!!

2. finish plumbing systems,

3. fill last containers with media.

4. finish planting.

5. and a whole of trials and maintanence!!

stucco
06-06-2011, 07:37 PM
Looks awesome! I can’t wait to see it flowin.
Is that asparagus???.

rfeiller
06-06-2011, 10:29 PM
thanks Stucco,
yes, love asparagus. one of the large GB's will have asparagus and yukon gold potatoes on an irrigation system in coir and perlite. i don't know how well it will do, i believe with irrigation it will do very well. when i tried some with a bell siphon, it did nothing. commercially roses are grown hydroponically in coir and perlite with timed irrigation. they are watered 15 times per day. of course the best fertilizer you can give a rose is water.
at my place in NM asparagus did fantastic in the desert. it does not like wet feet. so far the asparagus in the pots has been watered once a day. the nitrates in the Biopond is somewhere around 40ppm. way too low for asparagus. i am counting on the vermiponics to pull it off. :D

rfeiller
06-07-2011, 09:52 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110607_193133.jpg

build a divider the width of the GB to allow sufficient flow of water to the drain.
add about 2" of red lava as drain rock.

rfeiller
06-07-2011, 09:56 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110607_200004.jpg

install heavy pet proof fibre glass screen material over drain rock and divider. the screen covers one-half of the GB. on top of the screen i placed about 2" of chunky coir for additional drainage and air.

rfeiller
06-14-2011, 11:26 PM
pH is down to 7, nitrates are up to about 80-100, temp 61 degrees. plants should be happy. hope to bring pH down to 6.5.
setting up last two beds one 120 gallon edpm linered 2x8' grow bed and one 4x4 grow bed.
picked up 1/2 cu. yd of red lava today for the last 4x4 which will incorporate a bell siphon.
2x8 will have a raft system

the other 2x8 GB has coir and perlite with one half of it planted in Yukon Gold potatoes and asparagus. i hope the asparagus will survive it is very dried out and late in the season. we'll see.

plants in 5 gal buckets are going crazy, added more food for worms tonight.

goldfish have settled in, have lost about 20 or so originally released 249 expecting since they are feeders that i would loose some.

rfeiller
06-21-2011, 07:35 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110620_193622.jpg

a raft system set up. jiffy pellets are in pots, today i will seed the pots. once the roots entend down into the water i will raise this layer of styro and create an air gap between it and the water surface. one mistake i have been making that i was made aware of by a post by urbanfarmer a research article from university of florida the bottom of the net pot should just touch the water not submersed in it. this keeps the crown out of the water.

the drain is in the center of the GB, water is supplied at both ends to create a positive flow.

rfeiller
06-21-2011, 07:38 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110620_194046.jpg

harvesting squash, rose flowers from buckets so far, tomato plants are full of flowers and small tomatoes.

rfeiller
06-21-2011, 07:40 AM
another bucket picture

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110620_194002.jpg

samtheman
06-21-2011, 08:05 AM
Very nice setup !!! 8-)

rfeiller
06-21-2011, 09:04 AM
Thank-you
It keeps growing trying to find a balance I need more grow beds :lol: :lol:

I've got this idea for adding real cheap GBs

keith_r
06-21-2011, 09:58 AM
lookin forward to hearing about this idea!

davidstcldfl
06-21-2011, 10:53 AM
Wow, look at those 'mater plants ! :D

rfeiller
06-22-2011, 06:41 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110622_182238.jpg

sorry for the angle it is tight in between the bucket garden and the GB's. this is one of the 2'x8'x1' GB's shown how it is divided between the asparagus bed, which is just beginning to sprout and the Yukon Gold Potatoes. I had started the Yukon Gold potatoes in a tray waiting for the GB to get finished. Another weekend project that took 3 weeks. :lol: :oops:

rfeiller
06-22-2011, 06:47 PM
this is the way I garden in raised beds, i mix and cram everything together, believe it or not they become very productive and a minimum amount of pest problems. in this 4x4x1 GB, with red lava and a bell siphon, there is basil sage snow peas, red flowered beans, celery (when i finish the stalks i plant the heart and start over), strawberries, marigolds, swiss chard spinach, rose bush cuttings, green beans and i've probably left something out. :)

a couple of succelent cuttings, and it looks like a weed down in the left hand corner. gotta trelles the vines. :lol:
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110622_182348.jpg

rfeiller
06-26-2011, 09:07 PM
asparagus is starting to break through in the new grow bed. tried them in a lava grow bed with bell siphon. no growth in a month roots started to rot. in coir for a week with nutrients added GrowCal they have started sprouting.
Biopond parameters, 65degrees, pH6.8, conductivity 370ppm
drip system set up on buckets finally. three 12"x41"x4" connected up.
106-2" net pots were seeded.

rfeiller
07-13-2011, 07:04 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110712_071318-1.jpg

a view of some of the buckets and the tomato plants and one rose bush is visible. notice how long the spaces between the internodes are. all of the aquaponic tomato plants show that. evidence of the more then needed nitrogen that they are receiving. in the dirt the nodes are much shorter and the width of the leaves is much wider. have had a problem with end rot outside, but not in the greenhouse. the attic rats in the area are getting to the tomatoes and potatoes as soon as they are ripe. they dig up the potatoes. we live in a good neighborhood but there are rats everywhere. a neighbor put out poison for them. their dog ate one of the poisoned rats and died, so we can only try to trap them. they are smart.

rfeiller
07-13-2011, 07:11 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110712_071215-1.jpg the squash in the aquaponics grow much slower then in the worm buckets. the second GB had a bunch of bok choy, chinese cabbage which bolted immediately they didn't even form heads. didn't get a trellis up fast enough for the green beans which are now growing up into the trees, should have bought a bush type of green bean. :lol:
marigolds swiss chard and a couple of other plants are in there. pulled up three volunteered tomatoes plants out of a bucket stuck them bare root into the lava and thought they would die, they didn't and are taking over that GB.

rfeiller
07-13-2011, 07:23 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110712_071258.jpg

have harvested quite a few yellow squash, summer squash are coming on. note the horse radish how blanched and pale it is; this is the same horse radish that was very green & vibrant over two feet tall in the green house in just aquaponic water no worms. it was in a grow bed with a bell siphon.
another interesting thing is that in the ground or container in soil all of the squash would have powdery mildew every year. in these buckets there is no sign of it.

rfeiller
07-13-2011, 07:29 AM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110712_071310.jpg
note the bag of bone meal and box of fertilizer. asparagus would not even sprout until i added the phosphates. seems that from what i have read they require more phosphates then anything. i put some in the yukon gold potatoes also which you see in the picture.

rfeiller
07-13-2011, 07:39 AM
have corrected the irrigation on the buckets, found out if the water passes through the buckets constantly there is not a die out problem with the fish. i had been watering them once a day and then the concentrated and possibly anerobic run off from sitting in the drain tubes and pipes would run into the biopond and i would loose goldfish. that appears to be corrected.

i have to add about 150 gallons per week because of plant useage, evaporation, and three dogs. i would guess the dog part is somewhere between 25-30gals per week judging by what they drink in the house 50-50 inside outside dogs. :)

i believe this outdoor garden has been a success, it certainly has told me a lot about the limitations and needs of the garden. in september (usually the hottest month) i will start transitioning to winter crops. i will start intermingling winter crop seedlings, (winter squash, salad greens, and cabbage family crops) in with the summer crops so they will be in place when the others die out in november-december.

rfeiller
07-22-2011, 02:43 PM
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/rfeiller/IMG_20110722_141155.jpg

note to self: get compact or bush plants next time; still have 3-4months of grow time left! :lol:

rfeiller
01-29-2013, 05:44 PM
a lot has transpired since i was last active in this forum, some good some not so good. energy level had dropped way down. just had carotid artery surgery on right side blocked 99% thank you VA for finding that and taking care of it. been about a week since surgery started planning the "new" "outdoor garden construction". several new ideas to be incorporated and improving on the old. a lot more modified vermiponics to be included.

davidstcldfl
01-29-2013, 05:55 PM
rfeiller ! Great to hear from you... :D
Glad to hear you got your 'plumbing 'cleaned out... :P

rfeiller
01-29-2013, 06:20 PM
rfeiller ! Great to hear from you... :D
Glad to hear you got your 'plumbing 'cleaned out... :P

thanks Dave, have a lot of catching up to do; like you large commercial system you started on.

Patdaman
01-29-2013, 11:20 PM
Thanks for sharing your system I am enjoying the thread!

urbanfarmer
01-30-2013, 03:43 AM
a lot has transpired since i was last active in this forum, some good some not so good. energy level had dropped way down. just had carotid artery surgery on right side blocked 99% thank you VA for finding that and taking care of it. been about a week since surgery started planning the "new" "outdoor garden construction". several new ideas to be incorporated and improving on the old. a lot more modified vermiponics to be included.
pics or it didn't happen! :lol:

kidding, except for the "we want more pictures" part!

You had a rainforest going on before; so, I can only imagine! :mrgreen:

rfeiller
01-30-2013, 12:29 PM
UrbanFarmer you ain't seen nothing yet! now with that comment i hope my new ideas work the way they should. ;) :)

urbanfarmer
01-30-2013, 02:17 PM
knock on wood :lol:

rfeiller
04-30-2014, 08:55 AM
getting back to this backyard system after several years. each year i have tried different methods and systems incorporating the existing equipment. it is under revision again and will post that with photos as we go along.
i hope others will glean some helpful information from it. rather then rehash the same old stuff i have in this thread i wanted to bring new things into it along with dodging doctors. things don't move as fast anymore and aren't as easy as they use to be.
i have learned some new twists that have resulted in some awesome returns for time, energy, and money spent.

dead_sled
05-05-2014, 06:15 AM
Very nice! I can't wait to see it.

rfeiller
09-25-2018, 07:21 PM
now living in New Mexico, getting ready to build a whole new prototype system about 2000gals I think if it works then a 12,000gal system. tomatoes and Yacon, using native game fish, not to eat, but to selective breed for the south NM climate. hope to get some of the cutthroat trout New Mexico's state fish. yes I am aware of their water requirements particularly temp and cleanliness so will be a fun challenging endeavor. both yacon and tomatoes require heat, trout prefer cold water. opening new thread under "Back Yard Systems" titled "Are You Nuts!"