ed-U-ponics: Aquaponics for Education

We are all about sustainability and education and to that end Fish2Food had developed Ed-U-ponics, an educational program for schools, universities, churches, humanitarian organizations and anyone who wants to teach others how to sustainably grow their own food. The program consists of our "Veggie-Pond" aquaponics system with a footprint of 3' by 5', an introductory DVD on aquaponics and 60 days technical support.

Click here to purchase this DVD

 The System is a 110 gallon aquaculture tank plus two 30 gallon grow beds. The materials are LDPE and all plumbing, aerator, pump, tubing is included in the system and comes ready to assemble along with the Educational DVD that can be shown to students, and teachers.

$1200.00

Click here to see a video of the IBC tote system that we built for Dr. Phillips High School for their Central Florida Fair booth. They won a blue ribbon for the booth.

Grants available: Please check local grants in your area.

 Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. has a new grants program available to help fund school gardens to educate Florida’s students about the importance of agriculture. The grant money must go toward creating or improving a school garden that grows Florida fruits and vegetables.

Education and Speaking

If you would like us to speak at an event or function please see the contact page and send us an e-mail on our contact page and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We will come to your home for an evaluation of your existing system or help you plan for a new system. Please see our System Sales page for consultation prices. The consultation fee goes toward the purchase of the system or components.

Dan and Victoria Dolci are located in Orlando, Florida. We have been on the Unity Earthcare International and Christ Church Unity "Green  Team" for four years and have been active in many green initiatives such as recycling, solar energy, rain barreling, etc. and we are determined to make a difference however great or small that may be. For some time we have been concerned about the direction our food supply in the U.S. is heading. We see Aquaponics as a way of empowering each of us to grow our own food.

We have developed a DVD for DIY'ers who want to plumb their own systems. We can recommend places to get components that you can use. The DVD shows plumbing diagrams, photos and instructions in detail for the Flood and Drain System, Constant Height One Pump System CHOP, as well a variations on the systems that we have found make it more effective and keep the water cleaner as well as ways to avoid nitrogen spikes which can kill your fish.

Who Knew! Fruit Trees in Florida

The University of Florida has developed "low chill hour fruit trees" that will grow and fruit in Florida. As a result we now have two apple trees (needed to pollinate each other), two peach trees, a plum tree, a lime tree, a fig tree, and two blueberry bushes.

Here is a photo of one of our Florida Peach trees that was taken in early February, 2011. This tree has been established for 3 years and started bearing fruit right away. These are the best peaches you've ever eaten. We have to chase off the squirrels for them every day. But that's where the Squirrel Patrol (Charley and Max) come in.

In addition to the Peach Trees we also have, a fig tree, 2 apple trees needed to pollinate each other, 2 blueberry bushes, a cherry tree, a lemon tree, a plum tree, and a dwarf pomegranate.

We would like to see Orlando become a model city to grow more fruit trees instead of all non-fruit bearing trees. Some cities have already started doing this. Help us make this happen. Check out this article in USA Today about cities already planting fruit trees as well this website City Fruit.

Locavores

The term Locavore referrs to a growing comminity of eco-conscious and sustainably-minded people who want to buy locally grown food. The way we have been producing food in the United States is not sustainable for ourselves or our planet and change is happening as we support our local farmers, farmers markets and begin to think differently about how we get our food and our connection to the earth. It is a shift in conscious that is happening right now all over the country. Recourses to learn more about becoming a Locavore.