Aquaponics is a method of food production which combines the best aspects of aquaculture and hydroponics to create a highly productive living ecosystem for sustainable agriculture. By cultivating fish and plants in a re-circulating system, fish waste can be converted to plant food using natural bacterial cycles. Organic Aquaponics seeks to utilize cutting-edge aquaponics techniques to grow organic vegetables for our community, educate others about aquaponics potential, and demonstrate the sustainable nature of our aquaponics food production.

Aquaponics has its earliest roots in ancient Mayan traditions which combined fish ponds and crops which grew on rafts floating above the fish. Recent advances in aquaponics have improved overall system productivity, reduced water use and resulting waste water pollution, and improved nutrient cycling, all of which vastly improve the sustainable nature of the practice. While there are still advocates for many different methods of aquaponic production, deep water raft culture has shown significant advantages for many crop species in production density, labor requirements, and overall simplicity over gravel bed systems, nutrient film, and other techniques.  

The practice of aquaponics is experiencing significant growth worldwide as permaculturists embrace the opportunities of space saving and sustainable food production. Commercialization in the United States at this time has been limited despite the incredible opportunity it presents and the improved economy of scale it offers over the more common backyard systems. By producing high quality and nutritious vegetables in amounts 8-10 times greater than in soil, we believe aquaponics presents tremendous opportunities for commercial and urban farmers. To ensure the success of Marineland Aquaponics, we will establish a highly productive and stable ecosystem and demonstrate the superior taste and shelf life of organic aquaponics vegetables in order to differentiate ourselves from traditionally grown produce – commonly shipped from California or other western states.