By MICHELLE HERBISON
FISHING in suburban backyards among home-grown vegetables can soon be commonplace thanks to a new initiative by Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden.
Member Rob Armstrong is vying for an aquaponics revolution on the Bellarine Peninsula similar to that of his former home of Queensland.
Mr Armstrong has spearheaded the building of an aquaponics kit at the garden, a sustainable, closed-loop system for growing fish and vegetables together.
“The idea is the fish provide nutrients for the plants and the plants in turn filter the water for the fish,” he said.
A weekend workshop educating residents about the wonders of aquaponics was fully booked, with a waiting list started for a second event.
The garden’s 1.5m long, 700m wide set-up houses six silver perch and a range of plants including camomile, borage, lettuce, mint, mizuna and oregano, Mr Armstrong said.
“The fish are housed in the bottom half of the tank and the plants grow in a tray directly above. It’s just an alternative and exciting means of growing food.
“The closed-loop system and cycling of nutrients gives people a good understanding and appreciation and connection to the food and how it’s grown.”
The group built the kit with the help of an Australian Landcare grant supported by Be Natural cereal snacks.
Mr Armstrong said Queensland and Western Australia had an “aquaponics buzz” recently.
“Partly because of their warmer environment, things kick off quicker. Down here it’s been a bit slow to get going but now that the sun is hitting it’s looking pretty good.”
