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Overview:
What is it?
It is an instant and transportable aquaponic:
Convertible greenhouse for aquaponics - from shipping container; can be built nearly anywhere and then be shipped to nearly anywhere
school/education center - on arrival it will hold up to 5 systems to be distributed to the student's community for food production
Expandable community hub for food production
Cooperative Hub for food sales and commerce
Eco-intensive, solar powered, low water consumption
Gospel gateway - James 2:16
Why create food cycles using shipping containers?
They can be shipped worldwide and within poverty stricken inner cities, creating complete food production abilities with small amounts of land, water and power.
They can establish a small scale aquaculture system for food production and sale
A small community cooperative can be established with the container to stimulate human health:
An introduction to the gospel can be made with the food system gift
Economic principles can be taught and practiced for greater health security
High tech food systems can be taught and practiced for food consumption and production
Plant/Fish/protein feed cycles can be started for new operator experience and training
Creates a nucleus for scaling up to larger food systems
The food systems greatly support themselves through natural biological processes
Container Features:
120 square ft. is dedicated as a lockable food concession stand at the end of the container
The concession stand will feature a small pressure cooker, grain mill, bread maker, microwave and blender. The idea is to sell as much home grown foods as possible and to form interdependent cooperatives between community members.
The top and side windows holes are cut and fitted with greenhouse "bubble wrap."
Side windows are hinged and top panel moves over the concession area as a shaded eating and community space.
Alternative energy production; Solar power has finally and dramatically dropped in price:
Cut away panels from the container are fitted with about 7,500Watts of electrical power during sunlight - excess power can be shared within the cooperative as a nucleus start (small electricity generating windmills can be included).
Lithium Battery systems will be installed for night operations
A small generator is included for emergency or secondary operations
Worm Production:
The system includes protein worm production to supplement fish feed. This helps close the Aquaculture cycle - reducing the need for purchased expensive fish feeds.
Meal worms are grown and used to consume the flesh scraps of cleaned fish and meats
Earth worms are grown to consume organic plant and paper materials
Fish production for sale:
The container will use IBC containers (not 55 gal drums) to grow Tilapia fish. The goal will be to harvest once per week. Tilapia fish have one of the highest feed to biomass ratios of all animals. They are also omnivores, so they can be fed excess plant materials.
Plant production:
Plants will be grown on 4 beds using aeroponic techniques to reduce weight and water needs for production.
The container is designed to be buried partially in the ground to gain geo-thermal temperatures in heating at night and cooling in the day. This includes a simple liquid (non-pressurized) ground heat exchangers buried further under ground.
In the pictures:
The container has been split down the middle to view the inside of operations
The plant beds can be rolled from side to side for greenhouse/sun orientation
LED grow lights are place under some grow beds for precise applications of light energy (LED grow lights us far less energy than non-LED technologies)
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