Workshop:

Aquaponics Workshop

Learn how to build an aquaponics system yourself!

6 Jul 2012

At Mediamatic we've been experimenting with aquaponics: a sustainable food production system that combines the cultivation of vegetables and fish. We want to continue sharing our knowledge and enable you to build your own aquaponics system at home so we will build another tower on July 6. Want to join us for this workshop? You can buy your ticket(s) online.

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Uitleg over het aquaponicsysteem - Tijdens de Aquaponics workshop van 26 mei. Deborah M. Kōdō

With: Sterre Manasse, Jules Marshall, Goos V., berber van beek, boudewijn overvliet, Ellen Heijdra, Tanja den Broeder, Bas Husslage, Evelyn, João Evangelista, Sander van der Woude
With:
Sander van der Woude, Jules Marshall, João Evangelista, Sterre Manasse

What is Aquaponics?

The Aquaponic Gardening Community describes aquaponics as "the cultivation of fish and plants together in a constructed, recirculating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish waste to plant nutrients. This is an environmentally, friendly, natural food-growing method that harnesses the best attributes of aquaculture and hydroponics, without the need to discard any water or filtrate or add chemical fertilizer."

The Mediamatic Aquaponics team is currently building an urban oasis based on this ecofriendly system.

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Aquaponics bakken schoonmaken - Cleaning the IBC's is also a very important part of the process.

With: Ellen Heijdra, berber van beek, Goos V., Jans Possel, Jules Marshall, Tanja den Broeder, boudewijn overvliet, Sander van der Woude

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Cutting IBC's during the May Aquaponics Workshop - The first step in making our aquaponics systems is cutting and cleaning the IBC's.

With: berber van beek, boudewijn overvliet

What will you learn?

We'll start the day with an introduction to aquaponics. How does it work? How do you create a balanced eco-system in the tanks and grow beds? We'll also discuss fish, plants, and bacteria. Basically you'll get an 30 minute-long crash course in biology by Jules Marshall.

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May Aquaponics Workshop - Sander explains our first self-built system.

With: Sander van der Woude, João Evangelista, Evelyn, Tanja den Broeder, Goos V., Ellen Heijdra, boudewijn overvliet

Next, guided by our trainers, you will learn how to build an aquaponics tank from scratch. We'll have all the necessary materials at our space, where we will build the tank together as a team. It's more or less a plumbing / carpenter training specifically focused on the type of aquaponics tank we built previously at Mediamatic. By the end of the day you will know exactly what you need to build your own tank at home, and how the eco-system of the tanks and grow beds works.

On Saturday May 26th approximately sixteen people gathered to build a triple-decker aquaponics tower. This marked the first public aquaponics workshop hosted by the Mediamatic aquaponics team. At Mediamatic Fabriek, Oostenburgereiland Amsterdam.


Time-lapse of the first workshop

More information

The workshop takes place in Mediamatic Fabriek, VOC kade 10-12 on Friday July 6 from 10.00 to 18.00 and costs € 100 incl. VAT. Drinks and lunch are included. This is the route to the Fabriek. After the workshop, please stop by to check up on the tank. Soon the fish, bacteria, and vegetables will thrive in the tanks and grow beds. Please e-mail Deborah Meibergen if you have any questions.

Sold out? The next workshop is on July 28.

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Building the 4-story Aquaponics Edifice - Tijdens de Aquaponics workshop van 26 mei. Deborah M. Kōdō