Visiting an Aquaponic Farm Near my Home in Bedford
I had a pleasant lunch recently, with my friend Nancy Kohlberg who, along with her husband, Jerome, developed the Cabbage Hill Farm Foundation, located in Mount Kisco, New York. Nancy and Jerome are dedicated to the preservation of historic farm animals, to the practice of sustainable agriculture techniques, and to aquaponics. I am always interested in seeing how various farms operate and it was fascinating to visit Cabbage Hill Farm’s aquaponics greenhouse. Unlike hydroponics, this method of growing plants is dependant on the simultaneous raising of fish, creating a mutually beneficial environment. Basically, schools of fish swim in tanks. Water from the fish tanks pass through a bio-filter, converting fish waste to nitrate, which is what plants need to grow. The plants are fed this nutrient-rich water, in turn, cleansing that water for use back to the fish. There is very little waste with this method of farming and, in addition to growing beautiful crops of vegetables, the fish can also be sold as food to the restaurant and market trade.
1 This is the greenhouse at Cabbage Hill Farm which houses the aquaponics operation.
2 The Cabbage Hill Farm Foundation is dedicated to aquaponics, sustainable agriculture, and to preserving historic farm animals.
3 Entering the greenhouse, one hears water gurgling and swishing.
4 This is a 10,000 gallon tank.
5 Swimming in it are approximately 2,000 fish. This tank contains tilapia.
6 I really wanted to see what the fish in the next tank looked like. Behind me is Nancy Kohlberg, the owner of Cabbage Hill Farm.
7 Milan Novakovic, who works there, gave me a hand.
8 These are a striped bass hybrid variety.
9 Catching another striped bass - I thought this place was really fun.
10 There is also a tank of rainbow trout.
11 This is a holding tank containing fish that will be sold to restaurants.
12 I was very impressed with how healthy this Swiss chard is.
13 And also with this feathery fennel
14 This is Barney Sponenberg, the greenhouse manager. Barney gave us a little tour.
15 Seeds are planted in seed-starting blocks.
16 In addition to chard and fennel, they also grow bok choy, leaf lettuce, mesclun, beet greens, kohlrabi, tatsoi, basil, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, tomatoes, and sorrel.
17 When the seedlings are mature enough, they are separated and placed in these long troughs.
18 The water from the fish tanks passes through a bio-filter, where it become nitrate-rich. That filtered water is then pumped into the troughs, where it reaches the seedlings' roots.
19 The water continuously feeds the plants.
20 You can see how the seedling troughs are angled so that the pumped in water can flow through freely.
21 It's a continuous flow.
22 This red leaf lettuce looks beautiful.
23 As does this piquant tatsoi
24 Cabbage Hill Farm also raises chickens, like my own.
A true metamorphosis in the making! Thank you for enlightening us all on the aquaponic method of farming.I swear,I learn something new and interesting everyday!
Posted by: Nazarina | November 15th, 2010 at 12:32 am
That is a very interesting operation. But, why do the roots not rot with all that water?
I hope you enjoyed your visit to SC. It is a beautiful state.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | November 15th, 2010 at 1:28 am
Martha, thanks so much for sharing this blog. Glad to see you had some fun at this farm. I just sent you a couple of tweets.
Posted by: KLBrown | November 15th, 2010 at 2:05 am
Wonderful to see this and sustainable agriculture may be yet possible for all. Thanks for using term aquaponics. Did you know your Edsel coould have been called Mongoose Civique, Varsity Stroke, the Anticipator, Resilient Bullet, Ford Silver Sword, Thunder Crester, Pastelogram, the Intelligent Whale, Andante con Moto or Utopian Turtletop? Marianne Moore came up with these names in 1955, But the Ford Company went with the name Edsel for the new car, after Henry Ford's son. The car did not sell well.
Posted by: ann | November 15th, 2010 at 4:31 am
Fascinating..your research and taking us along to new ideas is great work! Thank you Martha!....busy week ahead for me...hope to catch some of the T-Day programs on Hallmark...enjoy the days up to this great American tradition.
Posted by: E. Teresa Touey | November 15th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Hi Martha,
I think Florida would benefit greatly from a few hundred thousand of those Aquaponic greenhouses. I was surprised to find out we don’t have an abundance of them down here considering we are sort of the fishing capital of the world. This is very interesting and something I didn’t know a thing about so thanks again for a great learning lesson. You also reminded me that I need to get some nitrogen granules for my Sago plant but after some reading I found out there are dry and liquid fish emulsions that are supposed to be safer. Thanks Martha. Trish
Posted by: Trish | November 15th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Hi Martha, I love it when you post new fascinating things on your blog! The Cabbage Hill Farm is really wonderful, interesting and would be a great place to visit and purchase terrific vegetables, eggs, chicken, beef and pork that are all organic. Thanks also for sharing their website-it is superb, also! Your photos are super stunning-I love everyone! This type of blog post would be absolutely fantastic as an app for my iPad just like all of your Martha blog would be! Just makes my day, Martha! I am absolutely thrilled that I have my iPad and your first two apps and am waiting for more to come!!! Have a great day and thanks again! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 15th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I too wonder how the roots perform under a continuous flow system. Our favorite farmers market farmer broke out some pasture land for more produce. First year education the plants in clay soils near the irrigation ditch over watered and the plants at end of field in gravel soil underwatered. Their source of nitrogen is manure from their dad's dairy.
Posted by: Margie | November 15th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Enjoy your photos always, also the "vintage" shows on Hallmark, especially seeing you and Jane Heller, your banker, making acorn squash for Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Marilyn in TX | November 15th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
The plants roots do not rot because the the water is aerated and there is plenty of dissolved oxygen in the water. In waterlogged soils dissolved oxygen in the water is consumed by bacteria that decompose the organic matter. Eventually the water becomes anaerobic (no oxygen is present) and the roots die. Plant roots require oxygen to live.
Posted by: Jim | November 15th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Hi Trish! Actually there are quite a few of us Aquapons in Florida! We at Green Acre Organics is an aquaponic farm in Brooksville Florida. We will be offering trainings and courses next year from backyard to commercial systems. You are right though, there should be thousands of us! It is the farming of the future. We like to call it the Farm Revolution! Feed The Future! And thank you so much Martha for your great blog and exposure for aquaponics.
Posted by: Gina Cavaliero | November 15th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Such an interesting post...loved the information.
Also the vintage shows were extra special ...I think I have some of those taped from your half-hour shows and I don't think you have changed one bit, you look as young and beautiful as ever. I loved those shows and all the information they contained in such a short time span. When you increased the show to an hour...I was in heaven ! Great to see those shows aired becaise there are so many of your younger and newer fans that never saw them. They are WONDERFUL Keep them coming. I must someday search for them again when my ability allows me too. It was like a walk down memory lane.
Thanks for the fashion show today and the yummy desserts. Loved your skirt !
Posted by: Becky Kuchefski | November 15th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
I have never tasted basil so fresh or any other herb for that matter than what is produced from that little shack!!!!
Posted by: NAT | November 15th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Thanks for sharing information about aquaponics, especially the Kohlberg property. I wonder if Nancy would allow your crew to film her very significant property. I remember staying at the guest house (mostly teak)and waking to the many wonderful sounds of the estate. The swans were fun (but did not dare to get too close to them). I also remember that EVERY animal had a significant (naturally instinctive) chore; everything was part of the cycle of life.
As always, I enjoy your posts.
Posted by: lulu3835 | November 16th, 2010 at 1:41 am
How fun! I also enjoyed the spot with Britta of the Windowfarms project.
I created aquaponic versions of the windowfarms this past summer. This month I set about prototyping a DIY aquaponics system in my townhome, aiming to make this green gardening method available to everyone.
I'm blogging about my prototype over at 3x5aquaponics.blogspot.com - maybe a future unit could use that Maine pink granite as a growing medium.
Posted by: Meg Stout | November 16th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
This blog, which I read yesterday, was almost copied by NBC Nightly News last night--do they follow your lead in their featured stories?
Posted by: Beckygc | November 16th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Jim,
Thanks for answering the questions of root "rot" and the need for aerobic conditions. Makes total sense with injection of oxygen into water.
Posted by: Margie | November 16th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
i have watched you for years,now that your off regular tv i cant watch you anymore ,i miss your shows,i learned so much,maybe you could do a late spot or something,lots of us miss you!
Posted by: patricia deible | November 16th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Thank you all for showing interest in our foundation. For more information follow us on our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cabbage-Hill-Farm-Foundation/158523910851563
Posted by: Cabbage Hill Farm Foundation | November 17th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I was amazed how healthy both the fish and the plants are! Aquaponics system is really a great way to grow plants. Thank you for sharing this Martha.. I enjoyed the photos that you have posted.
Posted by: Leah Moore | April 26th, 2012 at 11:24 pm