Fresh Flow Aquaponics
Nature’s Cycle, Your Harvest
Who are We?
Fresh Flow Aquaponics is a volunteer program I founded, striving to promote aquaponics and bring environmentally sustainable growing practices to the Metro Atlanta Area. Our mission is to promote local food resilience and inspire a deeper connection between people, plants, and the environment.
What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is growing plants and fish in harmony.
Fish, plants, and water all work together in one closed-loop system. Fish waste is converted into nutrients, which plants use to grow, in turn cleaning the water for the fish.
Aquaponics is also:
-90% less water intensive than traditional farming methods
-Pesticide & fertilizer free
-Conserves & recycles resources
-Year-round
-Local & fresh!
Inside our System
Aquaponics Simplified: Our Process
Germination
Each plant grown in our aquaponics systems are freshly germinated from home.
Nursery
Seedlings are then transported to soil containers to be nurtured
Transplant
Once seedlings have grown, they are transplanted to a large aquaponics system.
Close up:
Freshly germinated Arugula seedlings
Close up:
1 month-old germinated Arugula seedling
in soil container
Close up:
A 2 month old head of kale, grown from a seedling.
Harvest
When the plants grow large enough leaves, it's time to harvest! Check out my most recent harvest. In the bowl is Red Sails Leaf Lettuce, Red Leaf Romaine Lettuce, and Bibb Lettuce.
Farmers Markets
To help spread the word about my project, I built a mini aquaponics system and took it booths at a few local farmers markets. Alongside it, I set up a display of Kratky-style hydroponic mason jars that people could take home and grow themselves.
I had a blast chatting with people at the Dunwoody and Douglasville markets—everyone had their own stories and questions about growing food sustainably. I was honestly surprised (in the best way) by how many people had tried hydroponics before. I was glad to see that there's always a community of plant enthusiasts out there!
Here are a few snapshots from my days at the markets—some of my favorite moments from sharing Fresh Flow Aquaponics with the community.
DHA Farmers Market (Dunwoody, GA)
Church St Farmers Market (Douglasville, GA)
Shops of Dunwoody Farmers Market (Dunwoody, GA)
I demoed my aquaponics system at the Shops of Dunwoody Farmers Market on one of the coldest mornings oDespite the freezing temps, people stopped by to learn how aquaponics works and why it’s a sustainable way to grow food. Strong winds even managed to take out my trifold display mid-demo, but the conversations (and curiosity) kept going. Cold, windy, and a little chaotic, but still a great day sharing science with the community!
