The Aquaponic Garden at LolHa is coming to life! Lorrie Fossheim and her helpers have been very busy at work. Since we last updated, styrofoam has been cut and placed on the gardens to float the potted plants when ready for transplanting from the nursery. Only the plant roots will touch the water. The newly added nursery has been growing cauliflower, broccoli, string beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, romaine lettuce, spinach, basil, cilantro, lettuce, spinach, celery, and chard. Soon tomatoes, watermelon, honeydew, gem squash, and hopefully strawberries and Stevia will be added. The seedlings are grown in coconut fiber and vermiculate – no dirt.
Beans and lettuce have been transferred into the gardens and are growing fast! A protective screen has been built by Hotel Akumal Caribe staff that was designed by Jim Fossheim. This structure will protect from sun and pine needles falling into the systems.
The most exciting part was the arrival of the Tilapia: 500 5cm baby Tilapia were added and now make the garden their home. When the fish grow to 1-2 lbs., they will be harvested for the restaurant. The fish provide the plants with all the nutrients they need to grow, and the plants in turn clean the water for the fish. The seedlings are watered with water from the Tilapia’s area while in the nursery.
Info about the Aquaponic garden was first published between 30 June and 15 July 2015.
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