Food & Aquaponic Projects & Resources

[jerom (Jerome)]

Open-Source Projects for Aquaponics and Hydroponics

Hydroponics

1. HydroBuddy
   • Description: An open-source calculator for nutrient solutions in hydroponics.
   • Website: HydroBuddy

Combined Systems

1. Open Source Ecology - Aquaponic Greenhouse
   • Description: Part of a broader project to create a sustainable living infrastructure, this is a design for an integrated greenhouse with aquaponics.
   • Website: OSE Aquaponic Greenhouse

Commercial options

Garden Automation and Equipment

Automation Tools

1. Smart Irrigation Systems

   • Automated sprinklers
   • Drip irrigation systems with moisture sensors

2. Robotic Lawn Mowers

   • GPS-guided
   • Programmable schedules

3. Automated Plant Monitors

   • Soil moisture sensors
   • Light meters
   • Temperature and humidity sensors

4. App-Controlled Garden Systems

   • Smart garden hubs
   • Remote control for irrigation, lighting

Essential Equipment

1. Hand Tools

   • Trowels, Pruners, Weeders

2. Garden Machinery

   • Lawnmowers, Leaf blowers, Chainsaws

3. Watering Equipment

   • Hoses, Watering cans, Sprinklers

4. Soil Management

   • Composters, Fertilizer spreaders, Soil test kits

Advanced Equipment

1. Hydroponics Systems

   • Indoor growing kits
   • Nutrient film techniques

2. Greenhouses

   • Small starter kits
   • Large walk-in structures

3. Growth Lights

   • LED grow lights
   • Full-spectrum lights

Safety Gear

1. Personal Protective Equipment

   • Gloves, Goggles, Ear protection

2. First Aid Kit

   • Bandages, Antiseptic wipes, Splints

Garden/Food Grow Equipment List

Plastic related equipment

1. Plastic Planters and Pots

   • Various sizes and styles

2. Plastic Mulch Film

   • For weed control and moisture retention

3. Seed Starting Trays

   • Plastic trays for germinating seeds

Hose Adapters

1. Quick Connect Hose Adapters

   • Easy attach/detach for hoses

2. Brass/Plastic Hose Adapters

   • Durable fittings for various hose types

3. Y Hose Splitters

   • For multiple hose connections

Automated Sprinklers

1. Oscillating Sprinklers

   • For wide, even lawn coverage

2. Drip Irrigation Systems

   • Efficient watering for garden beds

3. Rotary Sprinklers

   • 360-degree coverage for larger areas

4. Smart Sprinkler Controllers

   • Wi-Fi enabled for scheduling and control

Additional Tools

1. Garden Hoses

   • Durable, kink-resistant hoses

2. Garden Hand Tools

   • Trowels, weeding tools, and pruners

3. Soil Test Kits

   • For checking pH, moisture, and nutrients

4. Plant Support Structures

   • Trellises, stakes, and ties

Indoor Food Grow Equipment List

Open-Source Projects

1. OpenAG:

   • A community of farmers, engineers, and scientists building an open-source ecosystem of food technologies. Includes designs for indoor farming equipment.
   • OpenAG GitHub

2. Garduino:

   • A DIY Arduino-based gardening project that controls and monitors a small indoor garden.
   • Garduino Instructions

3. FarmBot:

   • Open-source CNC farming machinery and software. While primarily for outdoor use, smaller versions or adaptations can be used indoors.
   • FarmBot Web

Commercial Vertical Gardening

1. Tower Garden:

   • Aeroponic systems allowing you to grow vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers indoors.
   • Tower Garden Website

2. Aerogarden:

   • Soil-free indoor gardens with built-in grow lights, easy for beginners.
   • AeroGarden Website

3. Click and Grow:

   • Smart indoor gardens with a wide variety of plant pods to choose from.
   • Click and Grow Website

Hydroponics Systems

1. Ikea Indoor Gardening:

   • Hydroponic kits that allow you to grow your own salads and herbs at home year-round.
   • Ikea Hydroponics

2. General Hydroponics:

   • A wide range of hydroponic systems, nutrients, and accessories.
   • General Hydroponics Website

Lighting Solutions

1. Mars Hydro:

   • Offers a variety of LED grow lights and tents for indoor gardening.
   • Mars Hydro

2. Spider Farmer:

   • High-quality full-spectrum LED grow lights and grow tents.
   • Spider Farmer

Monitoring and Control

1. Raspberry Pi Greenhouse:

   • A project using Raspberry Pi to monitor and control the conditions of your indoor garden.
   • Raspberry Pi Greenhouse GitHub

2. Growtronix:

   • Advanced growing systems with customizable automation and monitoring.
   • Growtronix Website

Miscellaneous Tools

1. Smart Planters:

   • Self-watering and nutrient-providing smart planters for a variety of plants.
   • Examples: Click and Grow Smart Garden

2. Gardening Apps:

   • Mobile apps for plant care reminders, tips, and tracking growth.
   • Examples: Planta, GrowIt!, Gardening Companion

Food Growth, Nutrient Rates, and Performance

Nutrient Requirements

1. Nitrogen (N)

   • Role: Vital for leaf growth and green coloration.
   • Deficiency Signs: Yellowing of older leaves, stunted growth.
   • Source: Nitrogen in plants

2. Phosphorus (P)

   • Role: Important for energy transfer and photosynthesis.
   • Deficiency Signs: Dark green foliage with a purple tinge, delayed maturity.
   • Source: Phosphorus in plants

3. Potassium (K)

   • Role: Regulates opening and closing of stomata, activates enzymes.
   • Deficiency Signs: Yellowing at leaf edges, weak stems.
   • Source: Potassium and its role in plants

Soil Management

1. pH Levels

   • Importance: Affects nutrient availability and microbial activity.
   • Optimal Range: Generally 6.0-7.5, but varies by plant.
   • Source: Soil pH and plant health

2. Organic Matter

   • Benefits: Improves soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability.
   • Source: Role of organic matter in soil

Watering Practices

1. Irrigation Scheduling

   • Techniques: Soil moisture monitoring, evapotranspiration-based scheduling.
   • Source: Irrigation scheduling for water-wise farming

2. Drip Irrigation

   • Benefits: Reduces water usage, minimizes weed growth, and increases yield.
   • Source: Drip irrigation in agriculture

Light Requirements

1. Sunlight Intensity

   • Impact: Influences photosynthesis rate, plant growth, and development.
   • Source: Light intensity effects on plant growth

2. Artificial Lighting

   • Use: For indoor gardens and greenhouses to extend growing seasons.
   • Source: LED lighting in horticulture

Performance Indicators

1. Yield Quantity

   • Measurement: Total weight or number of fruits, vegetables, or biomass produced.
   • Source: Crop yield response to environment

2. Growth Rate

   • Factors: Genetic, environmental, and management practices.
   • Source: Plant growth rate and its determinants

3. Nutrient Use Efficiency

   • Definition: The ratio of the amount of nutrient taken up by the plant to the amount applied.
   • Source: Improving nutrient use efficiency

Best Foods to Grow Indoors

Herbs

1. Basil

   • Why: Thrives in warm environments, perfect for sunny windowsills.
   • Growing: Growing Basil Indoors
   • Seeds: Basil Seeds at Burpee

2. Mint

   • Why: Hardy and easy to grow, great for beginners.
   • Growing: Growing Mint Indoors
   • Seeds: Mint Seeds at Eden Brothers

3. Cilantro

   • Why: Quick growing with frequent harvests.
   • Growing: Growing Cilantro Inside
   • Seeds: Cilantro Seeds at Seed Savers Exchange

Leafy Greens

1. Lettuce

   • Why: Requires minimal space and can be harvested multiple times.
   • Growing: Growing Lettuce Indoors
   • Seeds: Lettuce Seeds at True Leaf Market

2. Spinach

   • Why: Fast-growing and packed with nutrients.
   • Growing: Growing Spinach Indoors
   • Seeds: Spinach Seeds at Johnny’s Selected Seeds

3. Kale

   • Why: Hardy and can grow in cooler temperatures.
   • Growing: Growing Kale Indoors
   • Seeds: Kale Seeds at High Mowing Organic Seeds

Vegetables

1. Carrots

   • Why: Short varieties can grow in pots, crunchy and sweet.
   • Growing: Growing Carrots Indoors
   • Seeds: Carrot Seeds at Territorial Seed Company

2. Tomatoes

   • Why: Dwarf varieties do well indoors, fresh taste.
   • Growing: Indoor Tomato Gardening
   • Seeds: Tomato Seeds at Park Seed

3. Bell Peppers

   • Why: Small varieties can flourish indoors, colorful and flavorful.
   • Growing: Growing Peppers Indoors
   • Seeds: Pepper Seeds at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Fruits

1. Strawberries

   • Why: Certain dwarf varieties grow well in containers.
   • Growing: Indoor Strawberry Growing
   • Seeds: Strawberry Seeds at Stokes Seeds

2. Lemons

   • Why: Dwarf varieties can be grown in large pots, fresh citrus year-round.
   • Growing: Growing Lemons Indoors
   • Seeds: Lemon Seeds at Via Citrus

3. Avocado

   • Why: With patience, can grow from a pit to a producing tree.
   • Growing: Growing Avocado Indoors
   • Seeds: Growing from a pit doesn’t require purchasing seeds, but you can buy plants from Nature Hills Nursery