Type of fish to use

[Ike016]

FC are you harvesting your Tilapia for personal use? Thanks for all the info, sad thing for me is that I am in the middle of no where as far as most resources go for AP. One thing for sure is that learning all this will hopefully spawn some AP farmers out here in the desert.

[JCO]

Foodchain,

OK, thought you were gone... Missed your expertise and wisdom...are you back to stay or just passing through?

[foodchain]

Not sure if staying or going. I did leave, tore everything down and sold it off. The addiction has brought me back. Not sure just how big I am going to go this time. I filed my two week notice today at my job, and have another pending, just hanging to see if my current office wants me to stay and fullfill the notice or walks me out. Got a new baby girl....and roofing a house. So times are very busy. I consume all the tilapia I have, or feed them to the catfish in the pond. Nothing grows big fish faster, than feeding them little forage fish.

[JCO]

I see from your signature, you are a fan of Abraham Lincoln. I usually just go ahead and run my mouth, that way there is no doubt about me or where I stand.

Not sure if staying or going. I did leave, tore everything down and sold it off. The addiction has brought me back. Not sure just how big I am going to go this time.

Well, I for one am glad to have you back, addiction and all. As for how big to go, set up the biggest F/T or dig the biggest pond (lined with plastic) you can and don't worry about the grow beds until you are done with it. As for the grow beds, build them as you have time...no rush as long as you have plenty of water....that's the most important thing.

I filed my two week notice today at my job, and have another pending.

Where's the new job? I thought at one time you were moving to Missouri.

Got a new baby girl....

Congratulations PaPa...my one and only child, a boy, will be 25 in October. I miss having him around when he was little, we had such great times together. Back then Dad was everything, now I'm just old and missing him.

Be sure to enjoy every moment of that little one's life while you have her...all too soon she will be off on her own.

Again, welcome back.

[foodchain]

Missouri was in the making, but fell through almost as fast as the opportunity came into our lives.
With kids, I find if I waited till I could afford them, I would never have them. IF I work the hours I need to get the life I want them to have, I don't have time to see them. IF I spend the time on them, then I have to say NO to things they want, vacations, etc. I remind myself though, it's not the toys they will remember when I am dead and gone.

I have 4 kids now, and am sole bread winner. With change comes risk, but opportunity.

I have already started construction on a MASSIVE, at least for me AP project. I doubt though it will be completed this year. That's the bad news. Good news, it takes up most of my property and incorporates vertical gardening. I am designing and indoor system as well utilizing Discus fish as the nutrient source....testing a commercial protype there.

In last 2 years research it's become apparant that food fish as nutrient source do not have enough cash viability to support AP system. Food fish are great for the moral superiority, but do nothing for paying the bills.....not too many rich hippies. So...my highest yeild financially was the Prawns...but Discus have a much larger margin. And with my aquaculture background, they are not as challenging to keep as maybe for the beginner. I will keep you updated on that as time permits.

The honey business has exploded as well. I increased our units this year by more than 600%. It's a risk, but with very high return forecasted. Time will tell if this is a "blue sky" calculation or serious $'s. I will know by fall. But farming is farming. Nothing is guaranteed. We shall see.

[foodchain]

I have run some esperiments, from old old arguements on here, and once I finish my conclusions I will post them here. Not to reopen old arguements, but to share my results.
I am a fan of logic and first hand experience.
Sometimes things work, when science sais it shouldn't. When chemistry says no.....Yet I don't know why, and I may never.