When you’re just starting out with urban farming, you want to make sure it’s a system you can keep up within the long run. Start too big, and it gets complex. Then it might get time-consuming and energy-draining to maintain.
There are many ways to start out in urban farming. In this article, we focus on starting urban farming with the aquaponics farming system.
If you’re looking to equip your urban farm with an aquaponics system, you want an aquaponics system that’s just right for your lifestyle. It should complement the way you live, the size of your space and your budget.
Is a small aquaponics system suitable for me?
Aquaponics is great because the technology allows the system to be placed anywhere and can be adapted to the space you have. For beginners in a home environment, starting small help.
A small aquaponics system is suitable if you’re:
Starting out with urban farming
Not looking to commit yet but you want to try urban farming, or
Living where space is a concern
Finding the right aquaponics fit for you
Before you get an aquaponics system, here are a few tips on what you need to do if you want to start a small aquaponics system:
1. Carry out some research to get to know the urban farming and aquaponics better
When you start a small system at home, you need to make sure that you pick the right kind of technology that suits your needs. The easiest way to ensure that you choose the right one is to read through any articles and materials that are available.
Remember to be cautious about the information you find on the internet and always fact check.
2. Have a goal and set expectations for your urban farm
Growing a plant from scratch and for the first time can be daunting. After all, how’d we know we’re doing it right until we see the results?
Creating a basic plan is a good step if you want to start an aquaponics system at home. It helps you avoid the problems that you may face later on.
It’s important to set a goal for your farm. It sets expectations and you will be able to track your farm’s progress. For example, you can ask yourself:
Why do you want to start an urban farm?
How much time can I commit to this project?
3. Join training sessions on urban farming
The most important thing to remember when you decide to start a small system at home is that you will have to invest some time and effort so that you do not encounter any problems when you are trying to put the system in place.
There are many options and variations of aquaponic models available and it can get overwhelming. Training sessions are a great to learn more about urban farming, the techniques and the equipment involved.
These training sessions will help you understand more on urban farming. You will be able to watch experts demonstrate equipment and how the plants grow and thrive in an aquaponics environment.
4. Choosing the right aquaponics equipment for your urban farm
The first thing that you should do when you decide to try out this is to choose the right kind of system that is perfect for your urban farming needs.
When choosing the right equipment, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
Do I want to install this myself or would it be better if someone else did it for me?
What happens when my system needs troubleshooting?
Do I need technical support to maintain my system?
If you are interested in having a small system at home, you should know that there are many companies that offer different types of systems. The type of system you select will be determined by the amount of space and budget that you have to work with.
Choosing the right company and equipment to purchase and install your urban farming equipment is equally important and can affect the longevity of your project.
Want to learn more about setting up a small aquaponics system for your urban farm? Simply reach out to us at francis@urbanfarmtech.net or give us a call at +6012 666 7474 and look for Francis.