Signs of sustainable agricultural systems have been documented as far back as 1150-1130 CE. “Floating gardens” or Chinampas were used extensively by the Aztec Indians, primarily in Mexico around lakes and springs in Tenoctitlan, Xaltocan, Lake Texcoco and Lake Xochimilco areas. The Aztec capital of the Tenochititlan in 1500, was the largest city in the world at the time and the agriculatural system was based on aquaponics These floating gardens were the first examples of the sustainable food production system that we call aquaponics, the combination of aquaculture (the raising of fish) with hydroponics ( the growing plants in water).
Valley of Mexico during the Spanish Conquest
Chinampas were designed by rectangularly shaped fenced off areas in shallow water, layered with mud, lake sediment and decaying vegetation to create an organic and fertile mixture that feed nutrients from the fish waste in the nearby water. The plants would in turn filtered the water naturally, replacing clean water back to the adjoining lakes or springs and the cycled continued. Each chinampas was often seperated by water or canals so that canoes could make their way between the garden sections. These early aquaponic systems produced a very high crop yield, sometimes as many as three a year and were the farming technique of choice.
Dave Pennington is an aquaponics design consultant in Dallas, Texas and he has more than an appreciation for these early agricultural pioneers. Dave strongly believes that a scalable aquaponic system is the answer to sustainable food growth for a wide range of consumers, from large corporations and the backyard gardens. He makes a simple, but compelling argument. Consider the problems and solutions as Dave see’s it...
Problems
Water shortages
Foods are less nutritious
Inefficient use of energy and “waste”
Over fishing can cause protein shortages
Over 80% of the world’s fisheries are fully to over-exploited
Per captia consumption of fish continues to rise 3% as world nations become wealthier
Solutions
Aquaponics
Sustainable food production
Uses less water
Less wastes
Eliminates chemical fertilizer
Reduce pressure on the ocean species
Allows efficient local production of food
A simple and elegant solution indeed. Dave is currently working on an aquaponic system that is adjacent to Parkland Hospital, he would love to see some of his aquaponic sourced food used in the cafeteria or for the patients at the hospital. At the very least he hopes to serve as a source for educating those interested in healthy and sustainable food options. He is also working on a large aquaponic system at Paul Quinn college and hopes the university will be the first Dallas based school to adopt an educational program around aquaponics.
If you are interested in learning more about how to set up your own aquaponics system, Dave is a great source of information and he is also for hire as a consultant. If you want to take it a step further, Dave recommends a 5 day immersion course at the University of the Virgin Island, St Croix, where you are taught the basics on aquaponics and Tilapia aquaculture.
Dave Pennington: www.synergyFish.com
Chimampa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinampa
International Aquaponics and Tilapia Aquaculture Course: http://www.uvi.edu/sites/uvi/Pages/AES-Aquaculture-International_Aquaponics.aspx?s=RE
Urban Community garden coalition in SE Dallas: www.facebook.com/urban-community-garden-coalition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinampa
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