All part of growing up

I blog now about as much as I see friends.

*sigh*

I miss people, not that Im solitary or anything...like a rabid cat. I feel terrible for a desperate cry for attention. Im feeling socialization, and even a bit overcrowded at times. But at the same time so alone.

so let me know whats up guys. Im curious...like this deer

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Dear World

Hi there blogger community. Its been a while. A looong while.

In a nutshell, nothing has been going on. Work that eats at my soul. Pictures of everyone else getting together. Well that blows.

Lets see, gas going up to $4? Well eff so much for getting a car.

Although in greater news, DMV WEDNESDAY!!!

Maybe I should start blogging again. =]

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LATEST UP TO THE MINUTE DIGEST OF AQUAPONIC NEWS

 

Kahuku Sustainability Club

Create organic farm, aquaponics, vermiculture, larvae entrapment projects
Provide Aquaponic systems for a families of four. Collect unwanted 55 gallon drums and wooden....
Provide scholarship money for students building the systems instead of paying an hourly.....
If requested, provide aquaponic systems for church properties, social service providers (Salvation....
Our latest initiative, Innovative Education, is comprised of filmmakers, scientists, Kupuna and....
The students living in the Ko’olauloa District (Ka’a’awa, Punalu’u, Hau’ula, Laie, Kahuku and....
The Innovation Education branch is dedicated to helping students receive programs in.....[MORE] 

                                                 ...oooOooo...

IBC Tote Aquaponics Kit
Based on Murray Hallams incredible new video - DIY Aquaponics - this kit has all the plumbing parts you need to build a 3-bed, 275 gallon aquaponics system out of 3 IBC totes!
This kit includes the following

    All the fittings and bulkheads you will need, plus some extras for flexibility in routing your pipes*
    3 Bell siphons, complete with Media Guards
    Murray Hallams 21 page Toteponics guide.
    Additional detailed drawings that show exactly how every part included in this kit can be used. 

                                                 ...oooOooo...

   
FARMING ON ASPHALT WITH NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY

asphalt_farming

By Gwen Ashley Walters

“Fish poop?” I ask, incredulously.

“Fish poop,” Mark Rhine says, rather matter-of-factly.

I’m standing in a parking lot just north of downtown Chandler, over...
I’ve boiled down to two words the engineering marvel of this recirculating...
Aquaponics is the convergence of hydroponics (growing food in water) with...
Growing food in water populated with fish is not a new form of farming..[MORE]
                                                 ...oooOooo...

Downtown alderman proposes legalizing sale of Chicago rooftop veggies
A rooftop garden sits atop City Hall in the heart of downtown.
City of Chicago/Department of Environment

The right to operate a for-profit farm in Chicago has long been an iffy...
Rooftop gardens are far from rare; hoophouses, rows of potted plants and...
But due to a lack of regulations and licensing processes, produce growers...
In April, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) introduced amendments to the..[MORE]
                                                 ...oooOooo...

DIY Aquaponics Designs

So it turns out that aquaponics doesn’t have to be just a bunch of tanks and...

Recently we ran our first Aquaponics Workshop in Sydney, and it was a..[MORE]

                                                 ...oooOooo...

The Daddypotamus Intro to Aquaponics
Daddypotamus here. While Mommypotamus is preparing her presentation for...

As you may have deduced, I’ve not historically been the most proactive...

Maybe it’s because of this GAPS Diet (And FYI, I prefer to call it the GAPS...

Field Trip #1: DFW Aquaponics Community

I drove up to Saxby’s in Farmer’s Branch. The coffee shop was closed..[MORE]
                                                 ...oooOooo...

HD Aquaponics - Floating Raft system, DWC, growing sweet bells and ...
An update on the dwc (floating raft) bed and aquaponics greenhouse update...[MORE]
                                                 ...oooOooo...

Aquaponics and ECOLIFE

    May 15th, 2011 2:50 pm PT

Lisa Ruder

    San Diego Sustainable Living Examiner

Aquaponics is a closed loop system of fish and leafy green vegetables...

In some regions, like Western Africa, the food situation has become so...

 ECOLIFE and its founding director Bill Toone recently received the...

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Aquaponics and ECOLIFE - San Diego Sustainable..[MORE]

                                                 ...oooOooo...

Feeling Foodie? Nearby Communities Offer Innovative Solutions to Local Growing

Patch Columnist details organizations involved in southeastern Wisconsin’s local food leadership and initiatives.

There is a huge food movement gathering momentum across the globe, and nowhere more so than in southeastern Wisconsin — as it happens we are on the cutting edge.

For example, one of the oldest Community Supported Agriculture programs in...

In turn, subscribers receive gloriously fresh and nutritious produce...

Sweet Water Organics, in combination with the Sweet Water Foundation...

If you’re skeptical, go see it.

People from all over the world visit Sweet Water weekly...[MORE]
                                                 ...oooOooo...

STAY IN TOUCH FOR THE NEWEST AND BEST, HERE IN THE DIGEST

OZZIE

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death metal rooster and dirty yuckface

FIRST...death metal rooster. Its incredible so I advise all to watch.


Found that by accident.
So now...what about the grossness?

Well I had a bath net sponge (often called a loofah but I ensure you....it was like the one in the picture and NOT a loofah which is a plant used in the same way) and I left it out to dry. I just did laundry so I wasnt about to just wash it alone.

It went missing.

For a few months in fact. Well today I found it in my grandmas shower which means my sister stole it. -_-

Jokes on you sis

That bath net was used on Adams sweaty ass after not showering for a while. Yup thats right. It was a dirty net used on my dirty boyfriend. I set it by my stuff in hopes common sense would kick in and say "hey thats hers" but I guess it doesnt work that way when youre a compulsive idiot liar like her.

On top of that, I had my favorite pair of jeans go missing. Again, joke is on her. They were clean but I found out the thing I had them on was growing stuff. Then my rats played in them and pooped and peed all over them. Seeing as she usually stops by before going to work, this means she had to have carried it out with her. If she stole it on her way "home" then she slept with her dirty arm and side (seeing as she takes showers before work.) It made me WTF but I hope she liked the smell of mildew and rat excrements.

=]

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Growing up Abril

Wow...first blog since April. Well it seems like Im back for now mostly because I need a place to plan.

So first up is I want to move out. I dont qualify for food stamps because I make too much ($8.90/hr wtf) which puts me in a sticky situation. I made plans based on feeding two people just in

case Adam decides to stay or I decide to pig out. Either way lol.

So first off I set my rent no higher than $800/month. I typically make at least $500 per check (typically over...but will set me at $1000 a month). Apartments Im looking into...specifically one is only $750.

Cool

I turned to my local CSA (community supported agriculture) for help on food. I found some local farms that arent only organic but cost about $80 a month for a box of fresh veggies and fruits. Seeing as Im trying to follow the new food pyramid now, I will be having less meat. However since Im oot and aboot a lot, I will kick up the grain a little more.

Utilities are still being added up. Im mostly concerned about this seeing as most people give me very off prices for utilities.

The one thing Im most definitely not worried about is the little tid bits such as toilet paper, hygienic stuff, blah blah blah. I excel in saving for

this. Hell I know how to make my own deodorant. Im set in this department.

Then I have my dearest pets. Rats and fish Im totally not worried about. Together they will probably cost me $30/year to feed and probably like $50/year to maintain in general. Dogs are where things get tricky...or interesting.

My dogs are typically raw/holistically kibble fed. There are raw feeder co ops specifically for animals. The thing is, a lot of the farms supplying to these groups supply human grade meat.

looks like I get a yummy discount. Yum.

So by working my way around, I think I got this.

Looks like I will be healthier, with lots of omnoms, and saving some...just by

using my noggin....hopefully.

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Keeping your Records up to Date

I think Im going to have to wait until the new year to turn over a new leaf about keeping records. I think I have set-up and started a record keeping system about seven times now and every time I have a problem the records go out the window until I can finally come to gripes with the cause of the problem. This mostly occurs when I have a fish kill. I hate losing even one of them and I struggle with myself and tend to blame myself until I or someone comes up with an acceptable answer.

The fact that fish kills can be expected at any time and with no apparent reason doesnt change the way I feel.

So if you happen to have one or two floaters, and you get to feel a bit guilty about it.... YOURE NOT ALONE.....

Anyhow back to fishin and planting...

Clarendons Rural Agricultural Development Authoritys (RADA) extension officer, Orlando Rowe, was on hand to demonstrate such a method to patrons inside the Clarendon parish showcase at the 58th annual Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show....

There is money available..... Programs that work to research the development of aquaponics and...

 Now about those floaters....

Now a Lady and her favorite pastime....

Now some BSF News
I learned that these larvae emit a chemical signal that keeps houseflies away. Sweet. And chickens love to eat them.

And heres more on BSFs

And Finally....

See you Soon

Ozzie

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Insomniatic Throw Up

According to my spell check, insomniatic isnt a word. Thats ok...Im sure you can all figure it has something to do with insomnia.

Well thats exactly how I feel right now...wide awake when Id normally be asleep. Its not too late though, but still. There are three major things bothering me right now and they may surprise you.

1) Jobs.

Now this doesnt seem like a surprise to anyone that knows me...likely. Well truth be told. Where I live, I am at the mercy of what mom brings home. However, what she brings home is typically leftovers. Every blue moon, I get fresh food at home. Great...but comes with a catch. Whats that you say? I will be expected to eat whatever for at least two - three days. Another thing my mom bullshits with is dinner. "Oh I ate. Dont know why you didnt," she would say. "You ate at grandmas," Id say back with a glare. "Why didnt you come over?" "Because I had class/you forgot me at home/I didnt know they were having dinner!" Times like these lead to dinner-less nights which often get me into trouble...especially when I sneak in a secret stash of desserts mom has.

So I really want a job so I can eat fresh food at least three times a week. That would be nice.

On top of that, mom runs the power bill and doesnt manage money well in my eyes. Id like to move out. When she decided to splurge on company parties, fixing a car that had "Im NOT WORTH IT" written all over it, my sister that blows money on even dumber things...but doesnt pay the power bill so we have a poorly insulated freezing cold house during a storm....well that was a sure fire way to get me to NOT want to stay.

Im still waiting for that $130 she owes me. $100 of it was stolen.

2) Pets

Call me paranoid but Im having a huge freak out about the death of pets. Three died within two months....not something Im thrilled about. Six rats...I will likely be trying to rehome them if I move out on my own. However there is a high chance that if Im on my own for sure, they will stay. In 2nd place on the worry list is Tux. Since I didnt file taxes or have proof that my mom is a California State worker struggling, I asked my dear friend Ashley to have Tux done and Id pay her for it. This means he will be in her name and I have to have the license transferred over. No big deal...but Id really like to take home "my" cat. And in 1st place is my beloved Spyro who turns 10 March 28th. I have already had a dog die and I felt like he died in a crappy way and wasnt treated to my standards. Id like for Spyro to not go out the same way. Call me shitty but Id rather have him euthanized than to die in his sleep. I just dont do well with dead bodies. However this means Spyro must be in the best of care till his body just cannot function anymore. It wont happen if he continues to live at my grandparents house. As far as the dead body thing...well as much as I love all of my pets, theyre just harder to let go when you have had them for this long.

3) Marriage

Bet you didnt see this one coming. Adam told me he didnt want to get married...ever. Well ok whatever. But I do. I sat back and thought to myself...I wonder why he doesnt want to get married. Is he scared? Then I asked myself why do I want to get married? Am I scared? I cant believe I am going to admit it...but maybe I am scared. The problem isnt Adam...its me. Maybe Im afraid of him leaving or maybe Im just insecure. Whatever it is, I have realized that it is my problem...not his. I admit it. I want to get married because of my personal insecurities. I think it is a big lump that could later affect our relationship. First step, admitting. Next, fixing. Will work on that later.

So now I feel much better with all of this stuff off my head/chest. Still not tired but thats probably because of too much Dr. Pepper. Since you got this far...here is trivia.

In 1972, Dr Pepper sued the Coca-Cola company for trademark infringement based on a soft drink marketed by Coca-Cola called "Peppo." The soft drink was later renamed Mr Pibb.

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Time to catch up on the BSF

Trying to keep pace with all that is happening in the Aquaponics world is not easy because there are so many sites and blogs being updated with so much info which needs to be checked to see what is new and what is a variation on previously offered information. But the battle continues......So click on these....

The new BioPodTM Plus

Worms are great decomposers, and so are soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a common and widespread member of the family 

Black soldier fly larva and common house fly larva (darts);

DIY Black Soldier Fly Composter (3rd from bottom, Side Panel)

Ok, Next Time well go back to A.P.

Until then = Take Care

Ozzie

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