Urban Farming Revolution

Southern California Urban Farmer revolutionizes the idea of sustainable urban farming by packing 400 different varieties of veggies, fruits and herbs.

The family puts on workshops events and also has an online store. All of this info can be found at http://urbanhomestead.org/

and

http://urbanhomesteadsupply.com/

Planning Your Grow (UrbanGardenMagazine)

I found an article on Urban Garden Magazine's website called Planning Your Grow, which basically tells you everything that you need to provide the right environment for your plants to thrive.
Planning Your Grow Page

Indoor plant lighting

Here is a great website from ACF Greenhouses about different types of lighting that are used when gardening indoors.

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/guide3.shtml

CHOP Aquaponic System

Constant
Height
One
Pump

The CHOP system is designed to keep the water levels at the same height at all times using water and air pressure and only one water pump.
Later today I will make an update with a design idea I've been working with for a CHOP system.

***UPDATE***  4/07/13     4:13 PM

***UPDATE***  4/07/13     4:13 PM

Bell Siphons for EBB and Flow Systems

When using an EBB and Flow System, you need to be able to fill your plant beds and have them start to drain when they get full. A straight down pipe would only keep the water level at it's full point. So how do you get the water to completely drain without using another pump? Bell Siphons

Cafe Display Inspiration

This will be an on-going blog post containing just random bits and clips that I find online that will give me design inspiration for Becky and I's Greenhouse/Cafe.

 http://www.mathieulehanneur.fr/works_gb.php

http://www.fastcompany.com/pics/are-these-ten-names-future-industrial-design#14

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/fr

http://philross.org/#projects/biotechnique/ 

Filters

I found an awesome blog post where this guy made a swirl filter from a 5-gallon bucket and I'm going to try it out with my system. Because it only uses a 5-gallon bucket instead of a 55 gallon tub, I think that it will be perfect for my indoor aquaponic garden.
 http://hydroponicsbloghealthierfood.blogspot.com/2012/07/building-aquaponic-biofilter-for-40-or.html

"Supplies List
5 gallon bucket
1" sch. 40 PVC elbows
1" PVC T
1" bulkhead
4" of 1/2" drain hose
1/2" bulkhead
16" PVC 1"
3" PVC 1"
(note: most of my PVC pieces were scrap)
Some sort of a ball valve for the bottom drain
2 Media screens (I used bucket lids and drilled)
Media (I use a combination of bioballs and hydroton)
Aquatic tank filter material (I use Matala filter)"
http://hydroponicsbloghealthierfood.blogspot.com/2012/07/building-aquaponic-biofilter-for-40-or.html

What I think that I will do different with this filter is to design it so that the waste output will be in the direct center at the bottom of the bucket instead of on the side. With the waste output on the bottom, I think that I will more efficiently clean my filter because once the waste becomes saturated it will sink and I will be able to utilize the swirl of the bucket to drain the waste.

One thing that would also need to be different fromt this design is  that  there will need to be a stand as to keep the bucket off of the ground. I will also like to have a second bucket that will be kept underneath to catch the waste and also prevent water/waste from dripping on my floor if there happens to be a leak. I will draw up a rough draft of the design and update this post later today.





I am also not sure if the hydroton is necessary inside of a swirl filter. but I do understand why it is being used. I just have not seen anybody else do this so it is a little strange. It seems that the hydroton might be more efficient at catching the fish waste than a traditional swirl filter using only swirling water and a medium like a laundry basket to catch waste. But I believe that some of the fish waste is good for the plants. My thought is, that you want as much of the fish waste/nutrition to get to the plant as you can but without having the waste build up on the roots of your plant.

This is a swirl filter that I have noticed to be very common in aquaponic farmers. I have seen many with a medium such as the basket to catch fish waste but I also have seen many without anything and only utilize swirling water to filter out the unwanted shit.

http://www.ecofilms.com.au/diy-swirl-filter-for-aquaponics/

***UPDATE***   4/02/13    4:50 PM

Here is my design concept using (2) 5 Gallon buckets. The top bucket acts as the swirl filter while the bottom bucket acts as a waste deposit. The stand would be made of 100% Recycled shipping pallets.

A lot of my designs will be made out of recycled shipping pallets since they are lightweight and easy to get ahold of for cheap or free.

***UPDATE***   4/02/13    4:50 PM

***UPDATE***   4/07/13     4:05 PM

Radial Flow Filter

***UPDATE***   4/07/13     4:05 PM