Beat The Freeze: Mastering Aquaponics In A Frosty Climate!

[@stevegodley8744]

Thank you so much for posting this! I will be contacting Dan, as I have been designing and building greenhouses and growing systems for almost 40 years and am fascinated with what I've seen in this video. Curtis, I know you are not an aquaponics guy yourself, so I'm very grateful that you took the time and effort to bring this to us. MORE, MORE, MORE!!

[@husseinhamed4629]

Hellow Steve, it was amazing to watch this, do you do you advice to start in a commercial scale or domestic ?

[@TruLuvMerch]

Steve how did you get into that business.

[@ds755]

Wow! The longer the video went on the more and more impressed. The cooling was intriguing, would love to learn more.

[@ChristopherBrandsdal]

This was extremely interesting! I could listen to Dan for hours! More of this! I love the length of the video also. A good long cup of coffee.

[@earledmondson6506]

The greenhouses seem to be great for the cold climates but I'm in North Florida and am really interested in that misting cooling system since I am running a small aquaponics system myself. I do not have a greenhouse mainly because it just gets and stays too hot here. One thing I love about aquaponics is that the cool water being constantly pumped onto the roots of the plants keeps them cooler so I can grow lettuces and things longer before they bolt and I also have same benefits in winter since I have heaters in the fish tank I get warm water pumped onto my peppers and can keep them growing all winter. I run the aquaponics system as well as 50' grow beds and am selling to a couple restaurants so thanks again Curtis for all your inspiration you have really helped me get going and I am getting lots of value from the From the Field subscription site. Thank you.

[@davelawson2564]

No need for greenhouse. Just use shadecloth to keep plant cool and thrive in hot conditions

[@donk.5730]

Now finally going over your videos. Fantastic, well done Curtis- excellent format, well organized to learn. You're a natural ! Just eating up these videos ! I'll bet your courses are fantastic, packed with useful info. Your interview with Donny Greens was so interesting . Thank you, Cheers,...

[@themonkeydrunken]

Minor detail: 26:26 Swamp coolers absolutely CAN go well below the ambient air temperature. They operate on the same basic principle as this implementation (which looks awesome, by the way). This is fascinating and I'd love to see more, Curtis! Thanks for posting!

[@gotcha9934]

themonkeydrunken According to you you which one is the most effective ?

[@HomeSmartPasadena]

Misting into a high column of dry air will moisten and cool the air making it more dense. So the air falls. This provides a natural circulation without a fan. He is using a clear tarp to direct this cooled air to fall at the sides, and be carried across his crops with the incoming outdoor (makeup) air to the center of the room for lift (due to heating) and some extraction at the ridge turbines. So not using a fan to circulate (as with a swamp cooler) saves a bit of electricity. Perhaps a 250 watt fan in a swamp cooler. So $1 per day per unit. One could use a swamp cooler frame at the window inlet without the fan. Allow the negative pressure (from ridge turbine) to pull in the swamp cooled air. Mist emitters require a low volume, high pressure pump (costly) and are prone to clogging. The swamp cooler frames use a low pressure pump that is cheaper and all is at ground level to service... Who wants to build one of each to test?

[@matprather5833]

There is so much he is doing that I haven't seen before in a greenhouse. I would love to see more.

[@MOOSEHEADstadia2024]

Great video. Curtis - I wanted to let you know that your latest “From the Field” content has been truly useful for a small market farmer like me. Glad I got in at the front end!

[@tencyross3156]

Oh my gosh! I work at a aquaponic greenhouse a few days a week and this one is amazing! I feel like I have so much I could learn from this guy!!! Thank you!

[@Sintaqxikal]

Fantastic greenhouse system. I've plans to build a year-round greenhouse (aquaponics, water as a thermal mass, rammed earth & bermed northern walls, wide-area evaporative cooling, chimney effect, geothermal piping, interior thermal blanket, off-grid utilities), in the NE Washington scablands in the next couple of years, so it's great to see so many of the elements I want to incorporate in action in a cold climate. The biggest issue I'm working through is how to handle fungal and vermin infestations in such a greenhouse.

[@simonrelic8402]

How did I miss this video 5 years ago. Spectacular. I’ve run misters for cooling my greenhouses but the curtain idea is absolutely the way to go. Misting isn’t as efficient and I lose the water.

[@JasonRenoux]

Great to see research is still going strong in this field of urban ag. I have studied and worked in aquaponics. Although I firmly believe that it is a great method to grow very tasty and nutrient-rich produce, the cost of production is an important factor to take in consideration well before planting the first seed. Market research has to be done accordingly, especially as mentioned, to avoid entering an already saturated market. If labor is still the primary cost of operation, think about the aquaculture side of an aquaponics operation... Growing fish is costly. Keep these videos coming Curtis.

[@kclewis8360]

This is awesome. I am going to start my own business The Light Greenhouse and in June will sell my local farmers market while doing some market research. This has given me an idea to talk to my store director on putting a greenhouse on my grocery store and or buying commercial land in the future. Where I would put a greenhouse on top of an existing building. Yes, I would love to see more.

[@canadasmartmind]

Very good explanation! If you could keep posting. That would be awesome.

[@farmman6379]

Long time viewer first time commenting. This was an excellent format. Fresh new content, great job allowing room for explanation of a brilliant system and its development. I'm implementing the hot season aspects asap. Curtis, well done and thanks.

[@WilliamAudette]

Curtis, I've always enjoyed the long form videos you produce. When the content is great, like this, I enjoy them even more. Exploring and sharing in your continued development within new Context(s) is valuable and enjoyable for me as well. While much of these concepts were not new to me, the insight used, application, reapplication, evidence based research, curiosity, and perhaps general play was fun and something I likely would not have ever found I'm my own. Thanks for staying curious and humble creating content, sharing and releasing context, and sharing your explorations. I look forward to a Part 2! Constructively... would have loved it if you both would have been microphoned. This is the type of information and exploration I myself enjoy. Thank you.

[@annonymous9063]

OMG! My brain is so fired up. This is huge! This will solve so many problems. I think I just found the subject of my thesis. God bless!

[@jeffdible8171]

This seems to solve a lot of my gaps in aquaponics growing. Putting it on top of a pre existing commercial building seems like an excellent idea and may also decrease efficiency in the building itself. All that extra heat on a sunny winter day pumped into the lower building? Fabulous! My experience and mindset on deep raft aquaonics is changing. Maybe NFT or aeroponics is the way to go. More of this Curtis. Building living grocery stores where the market is might be a game changer.

[@SudhirBaujee]

Hay! Jeff. I just watched this video. Two years later, from the date of posting this video, where are we in this matter now? I live in Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and have been willing to have one for myself. Hobbysake.

[@broadmanknives8663]

Really enjoyed this video. Extremely interesting to a perspective green house buyer. Loved the idea of putting it on a store/warehouse roof.

[@nigelmoore7890]

Very well done Curtis, well captured. This is without a doubt the type of information we should be publishing to help the world.

[@chynesteban3309]

Very good video. This information is very important to me. I want to do traditional farming, but I want to do Aquaponic farming. If we go back over 2000, The Aztecs used something called Chinampas. The type that got my attention is the floating artificial island. They used to grow vegetables, and the used to move the islands to any place they needed. The soil of the island and the water enriched with the nutrients of the fish waste; make possible for them to grow enough food for millions of people.

[@Robc509]

Super interesting, great idea and would love to see more!

[@jessobsteffen5291]

Absolutely fascinating, glad to see someone is pulling ideas together for many people that have found elegant solutions. Woul Love love love to See more!

[@Blu3duk]

This is outstanding, I looked into aquaponics years ago, and it was just to expensive for the shoulder months for the overall costs, this looks doable. Would love to see/hear more on what is being tested !!

[@anlowman9228]

I really loved this. I want to see more videos like this. Like you said, super knowledge and they are doing some really cool things with aquaponics and specifically greenhouses.

[@markberg7292]

Amazing, one of the most riveting youtube vids I've seen in a long time. I need one of these greenhouses, more vids please.

[@JoshuaRosaaen]

What fantastic insights here...please share this kind of nerdy detail with the world and make this kind of design common. Thank you.

[@619caliman]

I was thinking about this over my trailer for a couple seasons. I actually saw a home built in a hanger. Like the formality of the cooling system.

[@MrTerrym1964]

Another great informative video! Looking forward to more greenhouse tours. Huge thumbs up Curtis!

[@martinbowers6852]

This is amazing. I really like how simple the solutions and cost effectiveness of the methods presented.

[@mattoja8857]

Super informative as always. More info on the mist/evaporative cooling system would be awesome

[@leahslightoracle]

This was great information! I am located in Sudbury, Ontario and this could definitely be implemented. Would love to see more of the trout production.

[@moehawkmann4521]

Wow! Absolutely fascinating! My mind is blown.

[@joshsimpson10]

Curtis I live a mile away from the state of Texas fish hatchery and get fish emulsion for my farm for free. Everytime I go I think about the necessity of aquaponics

[@mili4344]

Omg sprung were in Newfoundland here 30 years ago doing this. Flopped. Just grew cucumber. Now it would work if variety diversified

[@brentlichfield4405]

Awsome Curtis now can ARK develop it to be used by urban home food production? Small little greenhouse10 by 12 or lean-to kit, or so, or on a patio or deck? Just wondering?

[@dancloutier1616]

Yes www.arkltd.net

[@wraphand]

Beautiful green house, thanks for the tour.

[@toddratson7526]

Really interesting - I wondered about the intro until my mind was blown. Thanks for sharing.

[@dscccr]

Yeah this seems like a very cool system! Thanks, and would love to see more!

[@robertguay3773]

Sprung is such an amazing company.

[@TheCory888]

That was a really awesome operation and by the sounds of it, highly efficient.

[@GarryQuast]

Wow amazing stuff! Thankyou for showing this would love to know more about this passive heating & cooling methods in greenhouses. Close to starting my own Aquaponics venture here in Australia. Wondering if I connect with anyone over there to get more hints & tips. Cheers

[@VastCNC]

Awesome stuff. I just wish I could afford to spring for a sprung! I hope these systems become available for other structures, but the sprung framing geometry makes it possible for much of these systems. How to integrate trellising though, that's another story.

[@styxstones5112]

Yes. More. Please

[@danweddle4044]

Tons of good info in this one. I'm looking forward to the From the field content.

[@Itsallmeagain]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing

[@nicolaiitchenko7610]

Look forward to part two of this...

[@mkuc6951]

Super interesting. I like the mylar sheet. Where can I get a better picture of the way the misting / cooling system works ?

[@paulp.l.4869]

That last part about cooling was amazing.

[@johngagne33]

Really good information. Would like to hear the long version

[@maryhornbostel6959]

Super! Cooling with plastic sheet, misters, pump, hose and tank. How well would it work in Kansas? We get 90 to 110°F days with 70 to 90% humidity.

[@machinist7230]

Since it uses evaporative cooling like a swamp cooler, I think it wouldn't be that effective - that kind of cooling technology works best in dry climates, remember, he said summers in Calgary, they got only 30% humidity.

[@dancloutier1616]

90% humidity days about 3.4°F to 70% humidity 22°F

[@dancloutier1616]

@@machinist7230 High humidity does reduce effect without doubt but the system has been tested in the high humidity and summer heat of Montreal and the numbers I post below apply.

[@todcrandall413]

Thank you for the video, love to see more !!

[@tweetcrafts6077]

Good stuff, Curtis! Thanks for sharing!

[@bonniehoke-scedrov4906]

Thank you so much for this informative video! I got so much out of it.

[@harc3524]

Wow! That is very cool. Would love to hear more from him.

[@ilpman1]

Have to hear more from dan the man! I love the set up he has going there.

[@virginiabrown3530]

VERY interested in doing this with my son & his wife and hopefully with my other kids that live close!

[@jerrysaintvil9680]

Man this is good stuff. Thank you for the content and information.

[@dewuknowofHyMn]

Wayyyyyyy coil... I greenhouse too....love to do it....mine are only 8 X 28 though....would love to have one that big......keep up the wonderful videos....

[@mar1video]

Wow ! Phenomenal concept !

[@jamesv7411]

Enjoyed this. Its a bit of an old school twist in a slightly new way. I would like to see more about the aquaponics portion. I myself dabble in it, I need a warmer water fish. The ability to buy Tilapia would be great.

[@AaronRobertson]

Great video. I moved to a cold climate 4 season area and was wondering if I could make a greenhouse work year round and always into aquaponics.

[@aquahydroman7623]

Interesting weight variables to be takem into consideration. Thanks

[@TheronS]

This is awesome and I live in Alberta. Didn’t know we were doing this.

[@crownclearwater3152]

Great operation. I am from the great Northeast myself. Very interested in getting more information regarding Dan’s greenhouse.

[@arbeauacres-farm]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing more of this on from the field

[@bernardmartin7861]

This is awesome, extraordinary ! YES i would like to know more about it! how does the aquanic system works? how many cubic mètre per minutes? hour? why truits? why other fishes? Thank you for letting us discover this project ;) God bless you and your crops. Andre.

[@MarkShepard]

OMG! This was fabulous! More Please! And thank you!!!!1

[@Randomiz500]

More please 🎉 ❤ As you said when you already know above 90% it’s difficult to find new information :-)

[@KevinBaier6969]

I’m running a rdwc top feed 100 bucket system in Sask

[@jamessorensen7277]

Just WOW! Love so much about this post!

[@bmelloyello]

I'm suprised he isn't doing any work with geothermal for temperature regulation. I'm hoping to start a homestead soon (I have to stay local unfortunatly so I'm limited on land selection) and I'm hoping to build a massive greenhouse with geothermal heating and cooling and aquaponics for nutrients and a thermal mass, and build a massive solar array and energy storage to automate as much as possible.

[@SacredHabitats]

Yes, would like more. Thanks!

[@ratraceremedy9977]

Awesome information. Would like to see more.

[@dobeeeeval]

I don't see the rest of this interview anywhere on your FromTheField website. Was it ever uploaded anywhere?

[@anthonyc362]

This was great. I would love more info and videos if you are so inclined.

[@ChucklesuslivecomGAMEEN]

Amazing amount of information.

[@JohnChapmansMusic]

Awesome! I'd automate the reflective tarp for heat, season, time of day. Wonder how much that system costs?

[@chrisklugh]

You know, it might have a higher upfront capital cost, but this is the future. We may have a lot more R&D, but one day I hope this will replace our destructive agricultural system we have today. Sooner the better. Curtis, if you ever change your mind about getting into Aquaponics, I'm local, I've love to get involved.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Thanks Chris. I have no interest in it personally, but I’m always happy to share the stories of others doing cool stuff.

[@jleunen]

I love this and would like to see more.

[@TheRoon4660]

Great. Let's see more.

[@fr1day1700]

The ultimate question, how much is the break even point of all of those equipment? From what I have read so far, aquaponics is hard to be commercially feasible because nobody want to answer question of what is your ROI.

[@dancloutier1616]

Lots of variables as you can appreciate but typically pencils out to about a 4-5 year simple payback. Produce remains where most of the revenues are.

[@fr1day1700]

@@dancloutier1616 I know it may be hard to do, but can you break that ROI down? Initial cost for the setup you have + utility bill over 5 years, compare to your best crop (highest profit, specify if you can) yields in $/year. I have read a lot of post of failed aquaponics, I think most fail due to scale and density of crop in a given space (you can only pack so much plant on square meter). Sorry if I come off as a pessimist, but I'm an engineer, I am trained to question how things work. I do really really love the concept of aquaponics, I just havent found a feasible small scale commercial model of it. And oh, I go by Custis's model of commercial = enough $ to support a family.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Maybe that's a subject for the next video I do with Dan. ;)

[@jlgibbens89]

Amazing! More please!!!

[@kevinchudy4731]

YES, more please.

[@ToNe-1733]

Let's see more!

[@10tenman10]

I wish there were more people building this kind of greenhouse.

[@rhondamontiel3827]

So incredibly awesome!

[@wraptonic]

Amazing video & info 🙏🏽

[@JohnnyRampant]

Hey guys, im just getting started but I was wondering can I setup my pumps to run just 12 hours a day so direct feed from solar without the batteries as they are maybe the largest cost to setup? I already have most of the other elements lying around the farm haha. Appreciate any advice.

[@thefaeryman]

great video, I learned quite a bit

[@timberrecycling]

this was fantastic thanks for sharing

[@MrCladowicz]

Amazing stuff hopefully one day I can do a smaller scale.

[@seek2find]

More more more please!!!!! Fantastic!

[@generationalstewardship]

Curtis, that was absolutely awesome! I wonder what a homestead size system would cost to set up.

[@wpchastain]

Very good video, would like to see more as well.

[@LiLi0881]

LOVE IT!!! PLEASE POST MORE VIDEOS

[@bryanst.martin7134]

Quite impressive!

[@sierracamchannel4773]

Hi, I would like to know if you can install this in a backyard of a house

[@PhilosopherRex]

Interesting. Not precisely sure how the swamp cooler worked in this example (I know how they work generally) - will have to watch that part again, but overall good to see hand-on experimentation happening. Would like to see examples of the use of underground mass to heat/cool if you are looking for ideas for future shows.

[@SHANONisRegenerate]

Tyler Jordan hey man have u seen someone hooking up a water mass to a radiator with a fan blowing over it..

[@PhilosopherRex]

@@SHANONisRegenerate I've seen a vid on youtube of a older gentleman in Nebraska using underground air ducts and he was using it to grow citrus in Nebraska successfully. He described it as being possibly cost-effective to grow citrus for the market at that latitude. I've not seen the video you are describing I think but have seen swamp coolers with a fan blowing air through burlap wetted with a water drip. The swamp coolers I've seen though cool a spot and the heat dissipates via evaporation with the water vapor being allowed to leave the area taking the heat with it.

[@SHANONisRegenerate]

Tyler Jordan that's Russ Finch's greenhouse your referring too. An amazing system. check out this lady from Britain I think, it's a really basic system but the concept is great

[@SHANONisRegenerate]

Tyler Jordan sorry she's from Canada ay. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2qvmHZuaq-ir68

[@nathanfisher3707]

I’d be curious what the economics of this setup is. How long would it take to break even on the initial build cost after ongoing expenses?

[@nathanfisher3707]

Nicely thought out design decisions!