From little things, big things grow.
Peter Weaver has a partially buried 1000-litre water tank full of fish, topped with a 250-litre grow-bed for vegetables.
“All the vegetables are fantastic, but there’s no protein,” he said.
“So, the next stop was fish.”
He’s using goldfish to get the aquaponics system started. Their body waste gives off ammonia, which bacteria converts to nitrites, and then nitrates.
The plants above absorb the nitrates and grow twice as fast while also acting as a filter to keep the fish tank clean.
The goldfish will be replaced with baby silver perch.
When they grow to a decent size, Mr Weaver plans to throw about 50 on the barbecue and have a harvest party.
The group is hoping to work with Hobsons Bay council to develop a communal garden space.
Mr Weaver said the space could include a 10,000-litre aquaponics set-up.
“We could do yabbies, barramundi, perch, trout, and have three or four harvest parties a year where we harvest the fish, harvest our vegetables, and have a big barbecue on a day for the members or the public.
“Imagine if, in five years, a little suburb like Altona could produce 50 per cent of its food or 30 per cent of its food locally. I think this is the way of the future.”
Altona Community Garden will host a garden tour at five homes on January 31 and an aquaponics tour on February 28.
For more information, phone 0430 808 240, email info@acgardens.org or visit the group on Facebook.
