Aquaponics systems are a great alternative food source that are currently being researched by NASA and can be utilized in areas of our world that struggle from famine. It will be an important aspect of science curriculums across the country when the new science STEM standards are implemented.

The aquaponics system combines a recirculating system that incorporates fish, plants, and bacteria. The fish provide the ammonia to the plants that bacteria convert to nitrites and nitrates. The plants benefit from the nitrogen and nutrients from the fish water while removing the nitrogenous wastes from the water that is then returned back to the fish tank as clean water.

Students will plant vegetables in their grow bed and will feel the full impact of the success of their project by harvesting their garden and eventually eating their Tilapia fish. We hope that  they share their success with other members of our community, especially important people in their lives.

Our middle school JAG students built our first aquaponics system with assistance from Gregg Fripp of http://whisperingroots.org/ out of Omaha Nebraska.

Our second system in the high school was also built with the assistance of Gregg and funded through the Kelly Lane Earth and Space Science Grant awarded to Carrie Tucek in 2015.  It contains an 8 foot grow bed and is one of the largest systems he has built for a school district.

Students will be working with Mr. Fripp to conduct real research in the Geodome and with the aquaponics systems that enables them to help people in America and other countries combat famine. There will be opportunities to travel with Mr. Fripp to Haiti to work with the systems as missionary work. The students have also have discussed building systems and maintaining them for nursing homes or serving other community needs. They want to include the master gardeners in their community and create a year round gardening program through a school and community partnership in Wagner.