how am I preparing??
Re: how am I preparing??
Provided you are not using warm water fish I don't see why it shouldn't run fine through the winter. Keep the small bore pipes away from any frosty edges to the polytunnel (maybe insulate if needed) to prevent the system freezing up and the fish should be fine. They survive in people's ponds fine, no reason an aquaponics system shouldn't survive through a harsh winter !
I'm in Area 7 !
Re: how am I preparing??
Cheers for that Moony - I think building in space for insulation around the pipes makes a lot of sense also maybe putting a jacket around the IBC tank.
Looking at building one similar to the simple one on ibcofaquaponics.com as an experiment and then build out from there if successful for me.
Looking at building one similar to the simple one on ibcofaquaponics.com as an experiment and then build out from there if successful for me.
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st3vi3
Re: how am I preparing??
Thats great info guys. Im not sure when excatly ill start my aquaponics but will be done. So far I have alot of seeds well on there way to be planted out, prob half days work there and then refill seed trays again.
If you dont have a pollytunnel.... Get one for next year guys, great for veg etc. Dont have to be a big one or expensive. I think this year I will get a good crop.
Still no ploughing done due to weather and wet fields so no potatoes in yet. I think potatoes and pasta will be up in price next year so would like to get some in very soon. Still using some from last years field that are still good.
Worked on coummincations, bought a few hand held walkie talkies, great range on them and cheap got set of 4 and go on charge at night. Hopefully get a good run fromt them.
If you dont have a pollytunnel.... Get one for next year guys, great for veg etc. Dont have to be a big one or expensive. I think this year I will get a good crop.
Still no ploughing done due to weather and wet fields so no potatoes in yet. I think potatoes and pasta will be up in price next year so would like to get some in very soon. Still using some from last years field that are still good.
Worked on coummincations, bought a few hand held walkie talkies, great range on them and cheap got set of 4 and go on charge at night. Hopefully get a good run fromt them.
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st3vi3
Re: how am I preparing??
So today my latest prep cud be a little over the top but went a head with it.
Just lifted the back of a milk tanker body, the small lorry version must be around 20ft long (guess aint measured it yet), fits on our low loader. It weighs just over a ton 1.14 ton, few dents but nothing to crazy. Was in the scrap yard near our house. Not sure on volume, got a bit of after leaving alot of scrap metal for it.
Plan for it is to be put up high on a stand, and water from the well pumped up to it and be stored. It will be higher than the house and the farm. My preps also include animals so will be fed to their houses by gravity and if needs be used by us. Need.to put in foundation and build a stand for it, hopefully by end of summer be up and ready to go.
Moral of this, check out scrap yards and recycle centers, others peoples waste could be cheap and useful even if it needs touched up a bit
Just lifted the back of a milk tanker body, the small lorry version must be around 20ft long (guess aint measured it yet), fits on our low loader. It weighs just over a ton 1.14 ton, few dents but nothing to crazy. Was in the scrap yard near our house. Not sure on volume, got a bit of after leaving alot of scrap metal for it.
Plan for it is to be put up high on a stand, and water from the well pumped up to it and be stored. It will be higher than the house and the farm. My preps also include animals so will be fed to their houses by gravity and if needs be used by us. Need.to put in foundation and build a stand for it, hopefully by end of summer be up and ready to go.
Moral of this, check out scrap yards and recycle centers, others peoples waste could be cheap and useful even if it needs touched up a bit
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st3vi3
Re: how am I preparing??
Spent last few days ploughing for farm duties but spent some time making a patch for potatoes, just waiting for it to set and dry a bit before planting.hopefully next 2 days will have them in ready to go. Strawberry tank I havent decided if a sucess yet, seem to be slower, maybe due to bad weather.
Food and water preps going well nice bit stored away now, amazing a little save here and there builds up.
Bought a few calfs for the farm and a milking cow to make our own milk got hold of a portable milker to, should get around 36L a day.
Next preps will be medical kits in house and around farm.
Food and water preps going well nice bit stored away now, amazing a little save here and there builds up.
Bought a few calfs for the farm and a milking cow to make our own milk got hold of a portable milker to, should get around 36L a day.
Next preps will be medical kits in house and around farm.
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st3vi3
Re: how am I preparing??
So been busy with farm duties and dog chasing. Milking cow is great money saver for calves. Big bag of powder milk is around £40 and wont last too long so to make our own is great, can be used by us to if needed.
Spent last 2 days potting out all vegetables, well most still few to do. Replanted seeds for next run. Feel great knowing I have food in the ground.
Weather has been terrible, wet wet wet and windy hail stones and sunny all in space of 30 mins haha. Means potatoes on hold again just too wet but we have our seed potatoes on standby.
Strawberry tank has took a hit with weather, stiill there just struggling. So I got hanging baskets length of pollytunnel and planted strawberries.
Medical kits have been done around house and farm, auntie is a nurse so got a few lessons and extra kit to keep... Priceless info to me + everyone knows where they at.
Next preps will be security, ordered a new gate to day for front of the house and will look into cctv an go from there
Spent last 2 days potting out all vegetables, well most still few to do. Replanted seeds for next run. Feel great knowing I have food in the ground.
Weather has been terrible, wet wet wet and windy hail stones and sunny all in space of 30 mins haha. Means potatoes on hold again just too wet but we have our seed potatoes on standby.
Strawberry tank has took a hit with weather, stiill there just struggling. So I got hanging baskets length of pollytunnel and planted strawberries.
Medical kits have been done around house and farm, auntie is a nurse so got a few lessons and extra kit to keep... Priceless info to me + everyone knows where they at.
Next preps will be security, ordered a new gate to day for front of the house and will look into cctv an go from there
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st3vi3
Re: how am I preparing??
Spent yesterday morning buyin a hen ark 6ft x 4ft basic design with box, £25 sealed that so pretty happy. Weather has been awful here last few days but still jobs have to be done. New water system from well to new tank hooked up with new pump fitted. Note to anyone doing this mark were your eletric cable is in the ground will save some time and money. Messy work in the rain but save money on water charges and acts as good back up. So near finised that project, just need connected to farm and house.
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st3vi3
Re: how am I preparing??
Been around month since last on, been busy busy. So few highlights include produce from pollytunnel ... Yeaaa 
if I can do it anyone can.
Spent last week traveling scotland... Beautiful place. Went with family and put in my tent and kit for me and my 4 year old, caravan on tow for the rest. Some fishing at new england bay was great. Somehow got my partner to climb ben nevis with me and camped out there with my son. Was good to use some skills but I found a good laugh pulled us through. Of course was at highland show.
Home again and polytunnel is like a jungle so few days work needed. Strawberry tank didnt give strawberries but has gave me runners so not complete fail. Polytunnel strawberries came good thou.
Soo plan another trip later in year I hope and a job move fingers crossed.
My 10% of earning saved for food/seed preps paid of and hardly noticed it going out. Will be 1st year I have savings food water and equipment for me and family for winter. Feel growin up now @ 26
Not sure whar next prep will be tho time to get thinking
if I can do it anyone can. Spent last week traveling scotland... Beautiful place. Went with family and put in my tent and kit for me and my 4 year old, caravan on tow for the rest. Some fishing at new england bay was great. Somehow got my partner to climb ben nevis with me and camped out there with my son. Was good to use some skills but I found a good laugh pulled us through. Of course was at highland show.
Home again and polytunnel is like a jungle so few days work needed. Strawberry tank didnt give strawberries but has gave me runners so not complete fail. Polytunnel strawberries came good thou.
Soo plan another trip later in year I hope and a job move fingers crossed.
My 10% of earning saved for food/seed preps paid of and hardly noticed it going out. Will be 1st year I have savings food water and equipment for me and family for winter. Feel growin up now @ 26
Not sure whar next prep will be tho time to get thinking