Library After-Hours: Sustainable Gardening with Sweet Leaf Aquaponics

Join us this Friday, March 6th at 5:30 for a special talk by Dave Lindemann of Sweet Leaf Aquaponics and learn about “Aquaponics 101,” wicking bed gardens, vermiculture, and rainwater collection systems. You’ll also hear about upcoming plant sales, open house tours, and do-it-yourself workshops.

This free event is open to the public.

“’Aquaponics’? Don’t you mean ‘hydroponics’?”

Well, yes and no. Aquaponics utilizes aquaculture waste products to grow produce. Nitrogenous waste is broken down by bacteria into nitrites and nitrates, and which are then utilized by crops. By utilizing what is normally considered a waste product, aquaponics bypasses the need for the prepared nutrient solutions normally used in hydroponics systems. Pretty cool, huh?

Other animals can be pretty useful in your gardening endeavors, too. Vermiculture is the process of using vermiform-like animals (in other words, worms) to compost. Vermicompost is a great source of organic fertilizer and vermiculture is an excellent way to transform solid waste into something useful.

If you’re interested in learning more about these topics, join us on Friday evening!