Join us for our DIY Aquaponics class and you can learn how to grow fresh sustainable food right from your own house, grow produce 60% faster than traditional agriculture, and create a healthier lifestyle with your own organically grown produce!
Purchase of ticket includes access to all day event, lunch, free parking, takeaways, and all day coffee and water services.
Presenters: Paul Nickerson, VP of Applied Sciences and Dr. David Foster, Chief Scientist
Itinerary
Sign in - 8:30am - 9:00am
Introduction - 9:00am - 9:15am
- Description: Introduction of speakers, presentations, and materials
Introduction to Aquaponics
- Description: What is aquaponics, why it is important and applications
Break 1 - 10:15am - 10:25am
Components of Aquaponics
- Description: Aquaponic system components and their applications
CEA
- Description: Fundamentals of Controlled Environment Agriculture: lighting, temperature, biosecurity
Plant Lighting
- Description: Selection of grow lights, discussion on plant requirements and lighting solutions
Water Chemistry
- Description: Roles of dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature, identifying and treating nutrient deficiencies
Aquaculture and Fish Care
- Description: Selecting and caring for fish, treating fish diseases in an aquaponic environment
Lunch - 12:00pm - 12:30 pm
Waste Management
- Description: Managing solid waste, managing ammonia (liquid waste), nitrogen cycle, and importance of bacteria (bacteria culture, etc.)
Engineering
- Description: Siphons and water bridges (barometric balance), connecting grow beds, system water movement (continuous flow, flood drains, bell siphons), connecting fish tanks, and air blower placement
Break 2 - 2:10pm - 2:20pm
Fundamentals of IBC’s
- Description: Safely selecting and cleaning recycled equipment, overview of various IBC style aquaponic systems
Ratios of Aquaponics
- Description: Designing an aquaponic system and discussing three methods by which to appropriately size the fish and plant portions of the system to ensure successful operation
Start up and Cycling a System
- Description: Decreasing the risks associated with starting up the nitrogen cycle and an overview of the first 30 days of a new system
*Please note: No recording is allowed during the presentations. If we see or suspect someone is recording, guest may be asked to leave with no refund on his or her ticket.
SPEAKERS:
PAUL NICKERSON: Paul Nickerson currently serves as VP of Applied Sciences for Integrated Agriculture Systems, Harrisburg, PA, overseeing the research, design, and implementation of Controlled Environment Agriculture solutions around the world. In collaboration with university partners, Paul’s research is focused on the impact of environmental manipulations on plant growth, and how aquaponics can be used as a viable tool for commercial food production. In recent years, Paul and his team have consulted with foreign governments to design agriculture and aquaculture development programs to aid in national food-security, and agriculture-based economic development. Paul will be outlining the fundamentals of aquaponics, and will equip attendees with the tools needed to evaluate various aquaponic system designs, empowering individuals to successfully construct and operate a range of aquaponic systems.
DR. DAVID FOSTER: Dr. David Foster is Professor of Biology and Environmental Science and chairs the Sustainability Studies Major Committee at Messiah College. His lifelong interests center on plant ecology, restoration of forest environments and how native peoples use plants for food and medicine. Dr. Foster has also edited the second editions of Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants, and Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants. Dr. Foster has a BS in Biology with Honors (Eastern University, 1990); a MS in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development and a PhD in Botany (University of Wisconsin- Madison 1993, 1998). He also holds the Naturalist and Environmental Analyst certificates from AuSable Institute where he has served as a faculty member (1997-2008) and currently serves as a member of the Executive Board. Dr. Foster is also a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences and the Society of American Foresters.
