A Fishy Mountaintop

We considered putting an aquaculture project in our next book but ultimately decided a against it, because we felt it’s too complicated a subject for most people.Aquaculture/aquaponics also seems to require just the right context. Even here in sunny Los Angeles we’d have to figure out a way to keep the fish warm during the winter, not to mention the use of lots of  water in a very dry place.

Austrian permaculturalist Sepp Holzer has developed an innovated aquaculture system.While, obviously, Holzer’s mountaintop setup is very unique, his problem solving through sophisticated but low tech means is universal. There’s something to learn from his methodology, even though few of us will be able to recreate his specific innovations..

I haven’t read it, but Holzer has a book: Sepp Holzer: The Rebel Farmer.

Via BoingBoing.

A silly note, but I had to point it out. Judging from the video, kudos to Holzer for being a proponent of traditional Austrian alpine clothing. Can we make that a trend? Nice to see.

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5 Comments

  1. I’ve got some friends that made an aquaponics system using an old trash can placed on the sun in the winter with two long rectangular pots on top. It stays pretty warm and as long as the pump is covered by large rocks the tilapia are safe. I thought it was pretty simple to make. I managed it for a few months and saw where they could make simple improvements so that they don’t lose water

  2. It is good idea is to put aquaponics system in greenhouse. In your hot climate greenhouse can be shaded by cloth in summer. In winter compost can be made in greenhouse, so it will create heat and a bit of extra CO2 to improve plant’s growth.

    I’ve also created simple drawing how one can use sun to cool his greenhouse. Ofcourse using permaculture principles

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3LX200BCsTU/S2VIPKok0HI/AAAAAAAAAUM/4PmzgicIuZQ/s1600-h/Klimatyzacja2.png

  3. On the silly note! I was in Bavaria and Switzerland last fall and was surprised at the number of people who wear parts of the traditional dress. Mainly jackets and hats. All locally made and very practical.
    I also saw some designer/crafts people using traditional fabrics to make really nice modern clothes. All part of permaculture!

  4. You could always switch out the fish to the bathtub come Winter. Think of all that water conservation bathing in the kitchen sink …
    LOL have the same problem here in the Buffalo area. Orginally got into raising meat rabbits as a means to heat my 6’x6’x6′ greenhouse so we could have fresh greens & a small aquaculture set up. Spare greens would help feed the buns whoose poop would feed the worms that would feed the fish that would feed us.
    Oh the best laid plans.

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