Rooftop Garden Produces Fish, Food (waste from fish helps feed plants)

[The Straight Story]

Rooftop Garden Produces Fish, Food
2 Local Restaurants Serve Food From Garden

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. -- A rooftop garden in a Central Florida city is providing food to local eateries.

A fully operational green house that grows fish and food sits atop the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden.

"We think our first crop will be ready in August, which is a six month timeframe to produce a 2-pound tilapia from a 1-inch baby fish, said Bert Roper, who created the rooftop garden concept. "To be able to produce locally and consume locally is a very desirable thing, as I view it."

With the help of his partner, Tim Blank, the pair has been able to grow a variety of gourmet lettuce vegetables and herbs. But that would not be possible without the fish.

"We are using the waste from the fish to grow the food crops up above, and we do all that with rain water," said Blank. "We are putting it to use, producing tons of fish and food on an annual basis for the people in the local community."

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/19152571/detail.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. We're planning our square foot garden

which is the most efficient way to garden and which makes maximum use of seeds, compost, work, and time. This sounds like something that could be added to the plan. I'm emailing the link to my husband. Thanks!

[malaise]

2. What a great idea

People are changing.

[Tesha]

9. It's not a new idea, bu it's good to see it spreading.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Alchemy_Institute

http://www.vsb.cape.com/~nature/greencenter/

http://www.vsb.cape.com/~nature/greencenter/newalchemy.html

http://www.vsb.cape.com/~nature/greencenter/pdf/solaraqua.pdf (Aquaculture .PDF)

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. great!

[jwirr]

4. Is water/waste from an ordinary aquarium safe for gardens?

[The Straight Story]

I honestly don't know

Might be a good think to toss out on http://wiki.answers.com/

[jwirr]

8. Thanks I tried and am waiting for an answer.

[Ian David]

5. I'm going to start raising veal cows in our back yard to sell to The Olive Garden. n/t

[The Straight Story]

6. Raise some tobacco as well so we can smoke there

while breastfeeding :)

[Ian David]

7. Maybe, but my circumcised pitbull might object. n/t