Courses

A practical workshop on how to produce your own organic vegetables and fresh fish in one sustainable, closed-loop system, in your own backyard.

Aquaponics combines the principles of aquaculture and hydroponics, without the use of chemicals.

Organic vegetables can be grown highly efficiently while filtering nutrient rich pond water which contains a variety of aquatic life. Fish, yabbies, mussels etc grown in the closed system of aquaponics provide a renewable food source and are a fascinating and educational experience to watch grow.

With 10% of the water usage and five times the growth rate of a conventional vegetable garden, an aquaponics setup can see fingerling fish grown to plate size in under 12 months. No chemicals, no fuss, just fresh fish, herbs and vegetables.

If you've read or studied permaculture you will surely have come across aquaponics as a important technique for growing food efficiently. If not, that's ok too - this aquaponics workshop offers practical, easy to understand theory and techniques. We'll show you that you don't need to be a hydrologist or an engineer to setup a backyard aquaponics system for your family or community!

This workshop focuses on simple aquaponics systems that anyone can make and maintain, out of mostly recycled materials and for a very reasonable price. Our teachers will lead you through the why and into the how of aquaponics, and by the end of this weekend you'll be ready to have a crack at it yourself!

One of the great things about aquaponics is that it is scalable. It works at balcony size, and also at farm scale. And once you get the hang of it, you can take your aquaponics system to whatever size you choose. The theory and techniques are the same.

Aquaponics resources:

• A beginners explanation
  
• A great little 'how it works' animation
  

This workshop will include comprehensive overviews of a broad range of aquaponics setups. We will also take you through a hands-on exploration of a small-scale aquaponics system we've just finished in the community garden at the venue. Beyond this workshop you will be able to access advice or consultancy from our teachers to build your own aquaponics system.

About your teachers:

Charles runs ecolicious® - a sydney business that tailors the best aspects of permaculture, aquaponics, organic food production together into amazing, abundant systems that actually look good! Charles also works as a consultant at all levels of input for those who wish to build their own aquaponics systems. He has over 8 years experience in creating aquaponics systems for folks across the sydney basin at the full gamut of sizes, budgets and space limitations. Ecolicious website.

Nick Ritar is a permaculture designer, consultant and educator who works extensively across a wide range of bioregions, farms, watersheds and city environments. He is recognized nationally as a leading advocate on how permaculture principles can contribute to food security through good design and regenerative farming and living. Nick's full profile.

We are always happy to offer community, pensioner and unwaged discounts where we can, to make Milkwood Permaculture courses accessible to everyone. Please contact us for more information.