I first learned about aquaponics during the 2009 Cape Land and Sea Harvest local food festival on Cape Cod, MA. In celebration of all things local and delicious, the weekend includes tours of farms, and I was intrigued to see the unique description of an aquaponic farm in the event listings. Their description of the closed-loop growing system sounded astoundingly logical, and it immediately appealed to my interest in sustainability and food production.
As a recent college grad, I hadn’t yet decided in which part of the broad field of environmentalism I would like to specialize. After a tour of E&T Farms, however, I was inspired and I came away with a desire to pursue aquaponics as a career. Now, I never envisioned myself a traditional farmer - the economics are brutal - but many aspects of it did appeal to me, like working with plants, being outside, and managing a small business. Aquaponics suddenly offered a more attractive, viable method for me to farm, and its environmental benefits sweetened the deal.
When I think about a commercial aquaponics operation, I see it as an opportunity for me to produce enough food to have a measurable positive impact on my local environment and food system; to do challenging, hands-on work that utilizes my creativity; and to farm close to markets without a need for expensive tracts of land and food transport.
Of course, to make any of this a reality, I need capital and experience. So that’s what I’ve set out to do, with a solid job in the energy efficiency industry and a hobby level aquaponics setup. As I gain experience and learn more about the opportunities and challenges of commercial operations, I'm mindful to re-evaluate whether it is still right for me.
So I invite you to join me on my journey and to share your thoughts and ideas. By documenting my work, I hope to provide valuable insights to readers and to learn from you as well.
