Time to get going

I just realised that we have only a few weeks to go until Spring & I really need to pull my finger out... There are are a few seeds I could start to sow in trays to get ready as well as a growing list of small to large scale projects I really need to make a start on...
IBC Aquaponic system... This one is the big one that really needs to be done but unfortunately there are a few other jobs that need to be completed in order to set it up...
Here is a list of the most important Jobbies as I see them...
# 1.Spice Wicking bed... This is going between the Chook yard & the AP system as an extra level of "scratch" protection... Dont really want Chook poo in the fish tank... Really need to get this in so we can move onto...
#2. Preparation of Aquaponic site... Part of the area where the Fish tank is going has been roughly levelled & some Besser blocks are cleaned & ready to be mortared in place, still need to pick a dozen or so up... We will be putting down some stone in the area on top of some used weed cloth & old feed bags to keep the weeds down...
#3. Cut & set up IBCs... To tell you the truth we are still a bit undecided as to which style of system to make... I like the idea of the grow beds that run on flood & drain using bell siphons that feed back into the fish tank directly with the pump running 24h... This will only need a basic pump & should be fairly cheap to build... If we go with one of the CHIFT PIST (Constant water Hight In Fish Tank, Pump In Sump Tank) system we need a pump with float switch & extra plumbing but I do like the idea of this system as the sump can be used as a separate tank for the Yabbies/Marron the real reason for getting into Aquaponics in the first place... (I dont like eating fish, go figure : D») To make it worse Backyard Aquaponics have released a Free Download Manual on how to build a basic IBC system as well as including HEAPS of the forum members own IBC systems... Heaps of ideas but really need to get it up & running for Spring...
#4. Harvest worm castings... This really needs to be done 3 weeks ago but havent gotten around to it... A couple of new farms need to be set up too in preparation of using them as a supplemental fish food...
#5. Build Black Solider Fly Larvae farm... This will be a great addition to the patch... These guys will look after all our meat scraps as well as veggie scraps... After our Dog Bunny passed we have been cringing as we toss out all meat scraps into the general waste bins... I see it as a waste of energy that could be used to feed other animals or plants... The Larvae can be used as chook or fish food& the wast they leave behind can be put through the worm farm...
#6. Age/Compost more Manure... Will be needing a fair amount of this for Jobbie #7... I almost bout a $30 120L composer new last night & am glad I didnt now... Will be pulling out the Carboy barrels again & might even make up a wire unit lined with weed matting... Will need to get some more blood & bone to add to the blend...
#7. Front yard Wicking Garden... We are letting the girls have a bed each in the front yard as well as a few for ourselves & a few barrels... Looking at some dwarf stone fruit for the barrels as well as a grape vine... Need to start to look at providing more of our own fruit...
There are more jobbies to do but that is a list of the ones I feel are important to get us off to a good start for the spring/Summer growing season...

Oh, & during all this it will still be life as usual with the girls schooling & general house duties or my chain will be shortened again by Queen B?......

Feel free to crack the whip & keep me motivated...
Have a great one all...
: )»
**Removes self from Puta & makes a start...**

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When bad Chooks almost get roasted !!!

AHHHHHHRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Have been Busy with Moos school report so havent paid much attention to the back yard today...

 The Chooks were aware of my predicament & I fear have been planing this escape over the last few days... They have been scratching dirt into a pile against the gate which makes it hard for the girls to close properly... Today was their day !!!


    ***SIGH***

 Not much damage was done ...

Lost a beetroot or 2, all the Pac Choi

 & I fear for an Eggplant seedling....

The gate is fixed.....
Seasonings picked for next escape....
Such is.....

Have a great one peoples....
: )»

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Why I wont get fish for now and compost tea experiment

The farm from above

Its been over a month and half now that I have set up the tower farm. In the process of cycling, I have discovered that eggshell can release ammonia (I should have guessed right ?), that pH drops quickly once the beneficial bacteria are established, and that the pH climbs back up in absence of new ammonia. I have also lost my green onion and basil.

The farm from bellow

pH has decreased then increased since no new ammonia was added

Since the system has "cycled", I have hesitated in what fish to get. I will not get fish for now. Why that ? After all the point aquaponics it to get fish to right ?
The reason is that I decided to have an apprenticeship about aquaponics with  Citizen Schools and while discussing with the Citizen Schools people, the fish seemed to be a down side for my plan, so I ruthlessly removed the fish from the picture.

Citizen schools is an association that brings professionals to teach after hours classes (apprenticeships and other programs) to selected middle schools in NYC. Only schools that have 85% of student who are eligible for free or reduced lunch due to their parents low income. Since the fall semester I have been volunteering there for an apprenticeship where we teach our students about heart health. Anyway, A few weeks back I proposed to have an apprenticeship where we would build an aquaponic system with the students and learn about the basic science behind it. So after discussion with the school staff I settled for an "other"ponic system, instead.


Since my all point about starting the system was not only to grow some food at home, but also on a sustainable manner, hydroponic seems like a bad alternative to aquaponics. From the sustainability point of view, hydroponic seems a bit difficult given the need to do full water change, and the need for concentrated fertilizers. An Internet search for compost tea tends to make one inclined to believe that compost tea is the panacea for organic gardening, because of beneficial microbes and a balanced NPK. This is why I have been experimenting with compost tea.

The farm has cycled, and nitrate dropped to 0

I have been making compost tea in the last 3 week ends, increasing the amount of worm compost each week. After "brewing" the tea, I measure the amounts of nitrate and ammonia. So far, I was not able to have a nitrate (or ammonia) level above the detection limit. last week end, I have "brewed" a compost tea using 1/4 of a cup of worm compost, 1 table spoon of molasseses (unsulfured) and shredded seaweeds in 2 cups of water, brewed it for a day and half. After a days and half, it still smelled like molasseses (I like that smell).  I also added some of this greengrow plant food, very diluted. Because I have just seen the nitrates dropping, I decided to add some ammonia source, I though about eggshells, but the pH has increased to 7.4; so given the pka of 9 for calcium carbonate (witch is what eggshells are made of)  I am not sure it is a good idea. Instead I bough a 1/2 gallon bottle of ammonia at the dollars store and added one mL (a bit less than 1/4 of a teaspoon) of it on Monday and Tuesday ( gave ~ 1 ppm reading) nothing yesterday, and now ammonia is back to 0. I will keep adding 1ml everyday for now, until I figure out how to make a strong enough compost tea (if that is possible).
I am keeping track of my experiment hoping that I could make a sustainable "tea"ponic system for the school.

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Death and Distraction Do you GET IT

Facebook post from this morning:

Those of us who are posting this picture (below) are doing so for a purpose: to WAKE people up to the truth of whats actually happening. In my 2 decades as a political advocate and activist, the unfortunate truth I have witnessed over and over is that sometimes you NEED to use SHOCK to shake people out of their comfort zone. This isnt about not honoring the child who has died a needless and horrific death. This is about showing the world that he DID die a needless and horrific death. We are surrounded by people who are blinded by media spin doctoring and propaganda, who are posting ridiculous bullshit about refugees stealing away ...... oh god, just about everything!!! THIS is the bullshit that needs to be smashed. And if these innocent childrens deaths can be used to get people to snap out of their blind obedience to the propaganda machine.... then perhaps this childs needless death can be use to create CHANGE.

Its time for people to be shaken out of their comfort zone. Its time for people to start paying attention to the world and realizing that what they are being told by the media and their politicians and churches are LIES. Its time for those "New Agers" who are waiting for Ass-ended Masters, Galactics, Sphere Alliances,  and bluebirds from hell to swoop in and rescue them, to stop staring at their fuckin navels and take a hard look around them: your saviors are all bullshit. Keshe and his threats to force peace? BULLSHIT.  Every Single Savior Meme is BULLSHIT.

If you cant look at these pictures and see the problem, then you need to smack yourself in the head a few times. If you cant look at pictures of whats happening, because its uncomfortable, or it upsets you.... and you feel the need to put the blame on myself and others for posting these pictures, instead of looking at the reason WHY YOU are upset, or WHY YOU have a problem with this....... Well, then you are the one with the problem.

I will continue to post shocking pictures of what is REALLY going on, because I hope that each picture of horrific reality will shake the mind numbing drugs and propaganda out of peoples heads, and perhaps shake them hard enough to begin to think for themselves and start to question lies that theyve been fed.

I also want to add that this is a DISTRACTION. YES, a tool of Distraction that is being put out to keep people emotionally preoccupied. BUT.... it is a DISTRACTION that we can CO-OPT. Take this Distraction and use it to educate and wake people up. Take this DISTRACTION and use it to DIRECT attention to what is really going on in the BACKGROUND.  USE this DISTRACTION to pulverize the bigotry and bullshit of the self righteous, and religiously & politically blinded people that are perpetuating the propaganda of hate and division.

Dont FALL for the DISTRACTION

USE THE DISTRACTION!!!!

I said a few weeks ago on the One Peoples Roundtable Discussion:  The time for handling people with kid gloves, the time for molly coddling and pandering to peoples personal agendas and "sensitive feelings", the time for "Political Correctness" is OVER. 

NOW is the TIME for Cold Bare Truth, with a side order of Wake the Fuck Up.  

The MATRIX is FALLING and its Trying to take YOU With it.  RIGHT NOW.

d  

In Turkey last weekend

This is YEMEN this weekend

THIS is YEMEN last month

NOW... Do you understand THIS desperation?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/harrowing-images-show-desperate-syrian-refugees-break-through-fence-to-turkish-territories-to-escape-isis-10320170.html

THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS

WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS

STAND TOGETHER

OR

FALL APART 

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