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Green Thumb For Business (Part 3 of 3)

7/20/2015

The possibilities for utilizing Aquaponics for Business As Missions (BAM) are endless. The production of the plants requires harvesting time. However, the majority of the “work week” is comprised of minute daily maintenance, freeing missions-minded individuals to invest their time in relationships and the development of community. The harvesting of the crops also functions as a relational tool, as it provides a warm (literally) environment with a task that demands effortless attention. The product itself meets the basic need of every living organism; the production of wholesome, organically grown food, while the harvesting and dispersing of the plants is every bit relational as it is economical.

There are two harmful pests that endanger the development of Aquaponics farms. The first is the presence of bugs, such as Aphids and other nasty leaf eating critters. The second is apathy. To combat the first, praying mantises and ladybugs are deployed into the field. As long as doors remain closed and the plants keep growing, both animal groups will self-regulate to a sustainable population that will help protect the development of the crops. To prevent the second, apathy, ownership for the farm and the mission of the operation must be cultivated and intentionally poured into every aspect of the business.

Business As Missions is powerful. It is a way to bridge the gap between meeting the spiritual and physical needs of people groups across the world. Colossians 3:23 encourages us that, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Aquaponics is an example of a potent business model that addresses the growing need of worldwide hunger while simultaneously advancing The Kingdom. It is not a complicated processes to learn or manage an Aquaponics Farm, however it is a process that requires the heart and passion to step up to the front lines of the battle against hunger and teach individuals how to fish, rather than feeding them a fish for a day.

The Kingdom workers who pour their hearts into each individual operation, not just the profitability of the operations themselves, define BAM. Focusing on the success of a business, with the mindset of serving The Lord, is an impactful decision that affects an indeterminate number of individuals. (Psalms 90:17) The difference between turning an empty stomach into a full one is as much a sign of love as verbally sharing the gospel or sitting down for an evening bible study.

Watch the video: AQUAPONICS TOUR VIDEO

- GEN Desk Intern

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Green Thumb For Business (Part 2 of 3)

7/13/2015

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The mission of utilizing Business As Missions (BAM) is as professional as it is relational. The Aquaponics Farm is an excellent example of this relationship. In roughly 18 months, a 1,100 square foot greenhouse was constructed with a foundation 5 feet below the earth’s surface. Pipes were constructed underground to facilitate a geothermal pumping system, which utilizes the constant temperature of the earth to regulate the heating and cooling of the greenhouse. With the shelter built, the systematic development began. A tank, now filled with 540 growing Tilapia, operates as the plant’s nutritional source. The fish are fed, their bodies process the food, and the expelled excess is dispersed as nourishment to the plants. From the tank to the pipes, nutritional fish feces flow from a medi rock-based bed to the main water-based system. One pump generates the water flow, however with 400 gallons/hour gushing through the system, the fish remain safe in a sanitary environment. This powerful large school of fish supplies all of the necessary nutrients for sensational plant growth.

The rock-based beds support the growth of plants such as tomatoes, kale, peppers, and chard (all of which are excellent and full of incredible flavor!). The main system is comprised of Styrofoam floating palettes, which carry the main crop, lettuce, through two different stages. The first stage begins at the plant’s infancy. Once the seeds are 99% germinated, they are grouped into high-density styrofoam containers that contain 14 holes per square foot. After two weeks, the plants are transitioned to slightly less dense pallets that accommodate 7 holes per square foot (holes in this case are akin to planted holes in the ground). The remarkable efficiency of an Aquaponics Farm is its ability to grow 7 plants per square foot, versus traditional farming, which is limited to about one plant per square foot.

While the YWAM Aquaponics Farm is geared towards commercial selling, not all Aquaponics producers must operate on a large-scale model. The success and innovation of Aquaponics development is its versatility to produce commercially and on a noncommercial scale. The Aquaponics operations functioning in Central Asia and Guatemala are examples of community sustaining farms, whose output is comparable to the 1,800 heads of lettuce produced each week from the farm in Colorado Springs. Individuals less inclined or unable to construct a full-scale greenhouse are able to grow produce in their own homes. Instead of using an army of Tilapia, Koi, or Carp as the fish network nourishing the farm, a homeowner may use several Goldfish or a similar, smaller fish.

Watch the video: AQUAPONICS TOUR VIDEO

-GEN Desk Intern

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Green Thumb For Business (Part 1 of 3)

7/6/2015

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Touring the Aquaponics Facility in Colorado Springs.

There’s an interesting sensation that an individual feels when exposed to a possibility that is exhilarating, feasible, and personal. This sensation was shared between each of us touring the YWAM Aquaponics facility in Colorado Springs on a warm Friday afternoon in the middle of June.

Youth With A Mission, commonly known as YWAM, is an international, non-denominational Christian Organization with 18,000 kingdom workers strategically placed in 1,100 locations in over 180 nations.[1]

The Aquaponics Farm in Colorado Springs is an YWAM initiative that seeks to mobilize and empower citizens to produce naturally grown plants and vegetables. The idea for the plant originated after Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM, encouraged YWAMers to innovatively discover sustainable ways to operate bases, with an emphasis on utilizing food production to create lasting stability. (Genesis 2:15) The individuals in charge of the Colorado “Emerge” Operations designed their Aquaponics plant to meet the nutritional needs of the state and to develop a model that may be utilized across nations. The business mission of the Colorado Springs Aquaponics Farm is to produce a local commercial product and to generate profit that assists the community and decreases worker dependency on external aid. The leaders at the plant are driven to formulate a standard process of planting and operating Aquaponics Farms to provide profitable and self-sustaining aid among the nations.

Watch the video: AQUAPONICS TOUR VIDEO

- GEN Desk Intern

[1] "YWAM." Youth With A Mission. Youth With A Mission, n.d. Web. 22 June 2015.

Green Thumb For Business (Part 3 of 3)

Green Thumb For Business (Part 2 of 3)

Green Thumb For Business (Part 1 of 3)

Aquaponics Tour Video

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