Technology is a crazy thing. We are born into a world full of technologies. There’s no escaping it, technology is everywhere. The Question Concerning Technology What is this thing, technology? In 1949 — just years before the world’s first nuclear power plant opening in the USSR — a German philosopher named Martin Heidegger reflected deeply on [...]
Organic food sales in the United States increased from approximately $1 billion in 1990, to $11 billion in 2004, to $27 billion in 2012 (Nutrition Business Journal). Although the annual growth rate for organic food sales fell from the double-digit range in 2008 as the U.S. economy slowed, its 7.4-percent growth rate in 2012 was more than [...]
With all the media surrounding industrial agriculture and its corresponding technologies — including GMO crops, pesticides, and fertilizers — it might be easy to lose sight of the fact that many people around the world are working hard to create alternative ways to meet our growing food needs in ways that actually reduce our impact [...]
This posts offers a collection of our preliminary research on integrating aeroponics into our existing DIY home aquaponic system in California and our future DIY net-zero vertical aquaponic forest in Indonesia. If you are curious to build a system of your own, use the designs in these videos as inspirations and to help understand the mechanics behind the soil-less [...]
We are thrilled to announce the newest member of the FarmXchange team — renowned Architectural Designer, Brandon Martella. Brandon graduated from the Barch New School of Architecture and Design in 2012 and is currently working for RNT Architects, a licensed firm in San Diego. He is interested in designing architecture that performs and enjoys creating meaningful [...]
In a shameless attempt to fuse my newfound passion for aquaponics with the writing assignments I need to turn in for school, I enrolled in an all-day workshop called “Aquaponics 101″ in the heart of Oakland, California. The experience surpassed all of my expectations, to say the least. Below is an “analysis” of my trip. [...]
According to Oxfam International’s study — Behind the Brands – our global food supply is alarmingly untransparent. Oxfam said that while all 10 companies have acknowledged the need for a more just food system and have made commitments to that end, they are still failing to take adequate steps. “It is time the veil of secrecy [...]
Two weeks ago, we noticed that Oscar (tilapia/organic fertilizer producer) started breathing laboriously, almost like he was gasping for air. We learned this is probably a symptom of hard-metal poisoning that is probably caused by our use of metal or iron chains AND a metal shelf for our closed-loop system… Yes, we are rookies. At least, we [...]
Monday marks the two year anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japan on March 11, 2011, triggering a serious nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Shortly after the nuclear disaster, Honolulu author, Kyle Datta, urged readers residing in Hawai’i to produce and consume more local food. His message concerning food security is [...]
It hailed in San Diego last week; Oscar our tilapia was NOT a happy camper in his below 65 degrees (Fahrenheit) tank and was probably on the verge of becoming sushi… So we moved him and his vertical organic garden indoors. Our vertical garden is now by our kitchen window, which is east-facing and gets [...]
Our system is starting to take shape! We are now creating vertical planters to add to our aquaponic system using recycled glass bottles, metal chains, hooks, decorative wire, Dremel rotary tool with diamond cutting wheel attachment, and a TON of resolve. Main issues we faced this week: Wind: It gets very windy on our little 10th [...]
Listen to this NPR Morning Addition: (8:26 mins podcast) Farmer’s Fight With Monsanto Reaches The Supreme Court. The U.S. High Court is expected to announce it’s decision in Bowman v. Monsanto any day now. The Federal Circuit ruled against the 75 year old independent farmer, Bowman, who was sued by Monsanto for saving and replanting genetically-modified [...]
We are currently three weeks into designing & building a system for our patio in downtown, San Diego. Folks, this is no easy task. We need to start drinking more or have a party over here … in the name of farming, of course. If you have the extra cash (unlike us), you might consider [...]
Meet Oscar, our new aquaponic farmer in the picture above. …why a tilapia? He came with the tank for free, but only on the condition (by his 3-year old prior owner) that we would not eat him. Plus, we heard that tilapia are great for growing organic produce. In fact, we learned that tilapia make [...]
This post features a collection of instructional videos on building and operating your own aquaponic system. After completing our home aquaponic grow experiment, we plan to build larger DIY net-zero vertical aquaponic towers in Indonesia. If you are curious to build a system of your own, use the designs in these videos as inspirations and to help understand the [...]
Over the holidays, US FDA quietly approved “frankenfish” engineered by a biotech company called AquaBounty to contain genes from two species, causing the hybrid species to grow 2x as large and 2x as fast as normal salmon. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, worries whether the genetically altered fish will hurt naturally occurring wild fish populations by [...]
In 1994, the USDA began publishing the National Directory of Farmers Markets which list farmers markets known to operate in the U.S. Below is a graph that shows the number of markets at each update. The national count has nearly tripled since 2000 and increased by about 10% between 2011 and 2012. This confirms that [...]
Briefly, on the Phalaenopsis Crchids. They brighten your office when properly cared for. But to a first-timer, these plants are annoyingly elusive. Watch this 8 minute video about Phalaenopsis Orchid Care by Matt’s Garden. Matt offers a flowery overview of sunlight, water, fertilizer, potting medium, blooming cycles, mysting, and general care of your soon-to-be blooming orchid. ~~~Happy, [...]
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Brief exchange with the Marketeer for Suzie’s Farm @ the Hillcrest farmers’ market regarding Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and FarmXchange’s mission to interconnect small farmers. Here is are a few segments of the exchange: ~~~Happy, Healthy, Safe Farming, Eating, Living~~~