Our Projects
The Ukiah High School, Ukiah California
Norcal Aquaponics is currently working with the Agriculture department at Ukiah High School to construct an Aquaponics system on campus that will serve as an educational model, working farm, student run business and revenue source for the UHS Ag. Dept. The system has been funded by donations and a $12,000 grant from North Coast Opportunities. It will be housed in an existing greenhouse which in currently being renovated and adapted to meet the needs of the Aquaponics mini-farm. This project is providing the students with cutting edge education in Aquaponics, Ecological Design, Sustainable Living and real life hands-on experience. Due to the diverse nature of the system it will also be used by other UHS departments and students providing new educational opportunities, examples include; Science, Biology, Engineering, Metal and Wood arts, etc.
All labor is being preformed by students, volunteers, Max Meyers and the Norcal Aquaponics team. Once completed, the solar powered and heated greenhouse will produce fish, prawns, vegetables, worms, compost, fertilizer, algae, aquatics plants, snails, insects and methane gas. The UHS Aquaponic mini-farm is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) system and subscriptions for lettuce have already been received. We feel very fortunate and excited to be a part of such an amazing project that will not only produce food for local businesses and our community, but also provide an amazing educational model for current and future generations.
Thank you everyone for all your dedication, hard work and support!
Estimated completion date July 2010
Finca Las Nubes, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Working with Chris Robertson we are currently designing and installing an Aquaponics system at Finca Las Nubes “Farm of the clouds” located on the southern coast of the Pacific Ocean in Nicaragua. Finca Las Nubes was started 10 years ago by Chris Robertson, an American from California with the intention of creating a thriving landscape, sustainable community, eco-retreat, Organic farm and Permaculture education center. Emphasis is place on maintaining local and Nicaraguan cultural while providing education, training, rich living conditions, employment and housing to some 50 or so Nicaraguan people. Max Meyers and NorCal Aquaponics were not only asked to build a system capable of producing 1,000 lbs. of fish and 20,000 heads of lettuce, cilantro and basil annually, but to help in the creation of a Permaculture education center. These projects are not only going to produce fresh local food for the community, but also act as a demonstration system and education model to all who visit, work, live and train at the farm.
Estimated completion date May 2010
Check out our events page to see more information on the upcoming “Permaculture & Aquaponics” course being held at Finca Las Nubes in December 2010!