Thursday, August 28, 2008

Wow!

I'm starting to get the hang of this! Still everything isn't fixed, and I'm working hard to streamline the methods, but I know what I need and how I am to put things together. If I'm lucky this next year will be filled with building the systems and adjusting them.

If I'm lucky - life has a habit of throwing in surprises in the last minute, and then the real work starts.

I want to exchange my homemade vermicompost for one or two Can-O-Worms, and add a bokashi set to that to be able to handle meat and fish too. An unexpected bonus is that I can buy bokashis in Sweden, joy! I'm about to construct and put up an automatic irrigation set for those plants not growing in self watering containers. Right now a few days of extra work elsewhere means that I leave them without water. In one window I'm planning a aquaponics system, with 'normal' pet fishes. Tilapia is popular in this connection since the fish gives a lot of food on a cramped space, but the water needs to be warmed for it to thrive, so in the beginning I have to stay content with this alternative. The Indoor Gardener Hubby, who is an engineer and former chairman of the local aquarium association, will have a lot to do this autumn.

Speaking of surprises. I just googled "Can O Worms" on german websites and the first hit was a site with worms conserved in tin cans. I hope they are sold to fishermen, but one never knows - worms are protein too...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the introduction to bokashi. I've not heard it mentioned here just taihi.

WiseAcre said...

Worms are protein too :) Maybe I should start vermicomposting so I always have a fresh source of lunch meat.

Your hubby and I would get along. It's been over 10 years since I kicked the aquarium habit. At one time I had a room full of tanks, the smallest was a 55 gal. and the largest 150. I bred Discus (among others) - he should know what that challenge was like. But my real joy came from the 150 gal freshwater 'gardens'.

Rosengeranium said...

Adekun; You're wellcome - and I have to admit that I've never heard of taihi (google wasn't my friend in this case - apparently Taihi a surname in some parts of the world).

Wiseacre: I have to admit that I'm tempted, despite the simultaneous "yuck"reflex. At least they would make do in a meatloaf...

Hubby and I are both impressed! We are pondering a modest 25gal tank for the first aquaponic system.

WiseAcre said...

Do you use bread crumbs or rice in your meatloaf?

A 25 gal tank will lead to a 55 then to a 75 and on and on :)

Now I'm sorry I gave my tanks away when we moved. You got me thinking 'garden' aquarium again. I now have space since our youngest has left the nest.

Anonymous said...

...taihi along with hiryo is japanese for compost. Sorry for missing that out. :-)

Rosengeranium said...

Wiseacre: Rolled oats soaked in milk. They give the 'dough' a smooth texture and makes it easy to handle. I try to ignore the fact that they are healthy and adds fibre to the diet, that sounds boring :).

I would really go for the garden aquarium if I was you! Promise to post a lot of pictures on your blog!

Adekun: Thanks! I'm always happy to learn new words, and knowing the words for compost in japanese will be usefull in the future.