straight from the laser cutting press.
version 1 is almost ready for production … working on enclosure.
8 sensors – water flow rate, fish tank level, gb level, drainage flow switch, reservoir level, leak detector, temperature and light
4 relay outputs for controlling fish pump, reservoir pump(or ro filter solenoid), fish feeder, grow lights.
wireless – wifi .. garden will join cloud using existing internet connection.
secure python django backend – garden can be untraceable
embedded linux arduino based – open source reliability
processing.js ajax client – instant graphical simulation of rich garden data
we will give away out some smart aquaponic controllers to our social fans and followers once we start production – now is a good time to join.

It’s no fun when one is a serial fish killer.

Aquaponic tasks are repetitive in nature and the response time for plants in a garden is relatively slow, and my default behavior skews towards laziness. A bad combination for any successful urban farming endeavor. I have had many unsuccessful gardens; the only times I have been consistent and produced results is when I have had assistance from my computer. When wirelessly dialed into sensors in an aquaponic system, a computer can autonomously take over mundane tasks such as feeding fish, maintaining proper system flow, refilling water, monitoring water quality, and controlling lighting and temperature – all while notifying me remotely through my cell phone from anywhere in the world.

When I say “computers” I really mean microprocessors, or more accurately, microcontrollers, also known as single-board computers (sbc). Personal computers (desktops, laptops) have a few microprocessors in them – one for the display, another for networking and listening to peripherals, and finally, one that does the actual thinking (which is really just overkill, meant to process documents, browse the web and play games). The first rockets to the moon had less microcontrollers than my phone, and were far less powerful – one for navigation, one for making sure the engines were working, another for talking to the humans on earth, etc.

Microprocessors are mini-brains, capable of making millions of decisions in under a second. Physically, they are interconnections of millions of electronic transistors that can be rearranged to perform different functions based on binary instructions passed to them. These binary instructions are a program code, more commonly known as an application, which can monitor and control an aquaponic system. Because the different components of an aquaponic garden are engineered by hand and are directly accessible as compared to traditional farming, electronic sensors can easily be embedded in the garden’s various components. Electronic sensors allow environmental measurements to be taken that can then be transformed into electrical signals, which become the inputs for a microcontroller – somewhat like a keyboard that senses when we depress keys. For example, a float-switch sensor will float when the water in a tank is high, electronically indicating that the tank is full, and visa-versa for when it’s empty. Floating, the switch is “on,” indicated in binary language as 1; when the water drops, the switch is “off,” or 0. Microprocessors love these digits, they will suck them up like there is no tomorrow.

In short, aquaponic garden environments are microcontroller-friendly. Things that need to get done to keep an aquaponic garden running smoothly involve turning on and off the pump, refilling and testing the water, feeding the fish, etc., and all of this binary output information can be transformed into a user-friendly app, which allows one to control the system wirelessly and remotely. Aquaponic gardens are made up of inherently symbiotic relationships, and I feel that extending these relationships to electronic microprocesses are the missing link between aquaponics and the future. This “low-tech” high-tech is key to conserving the earth – a contained, biologically self-sufficient food production system, mimicking nature while relying on microprocessors. Why else would we send a robot to Mars to test rocks and dust (the definition of reliable “LoHi-tech”)?

And so: smart aquaponics are simply aquaponic gardens with microcontroller smarts

our sac’ black fish fingerlings shown below:

this is the first large scale green cleanup in the nation … they are using fish bones to lock the lead so it passes through the body if consumed (mostly by kids playing in the soil) … more information can be found here

we are building the  the demo gardens shown below at the incident command center. the aquaponics garden here will be integrated with a grey water system and a bamboo bio filter installed by hyphae design lab. the gardens will be computer controlled and part of our social gardening project … more information coming soon. see here for basic prototypes.

a million and one thanks to team kijani grows members . … these guys are amazing … see the initial prototypes for a mobile app on the project and the dash links from the menu bar.

kenneth, maundu, gene, michael, naureen, sarah and marianna. (james was missing in group picture)

they did a great job … i think i blew it with a weak presentation … hey … i only had seven minutes, it takes me a little while to warm up.

much love to the team members and gaffta for the invitation to the event

ohh … and much thanks to enjalot in florida for putting together a django backend and api for querying live garden data … enj is special.

• a design review
• conditional use permit
• revision of existing approval

how is a farmer supposed to make an honest living here in oakland

more painful than paying was the amount of time and resources it took to compile the required documents. a 2 month process so far since i started dealing with the city about this. below – handing in my pre-zoning application documents … you need at least 3 copies … 10 if they decide you are going to need a design review.

this is sorta the same process when you are about to create a live/work facility with unique architectural features such as say … it levitates.

but no all we are trying to do is build a raised bed garden.

as i gave robert a tour, he said my projects are an extension my energy. he said my energy flows in circles.

i am having serious problems with zoning related permit issues and understanding what is required in creating a successful business … i don’t what to end up like robert at 75 years old taking about how situations made me quit.

I asked robert to bring 5 senior friends and i will teach them everything i know about urban farming … you should have seen his face light up. a pic of the windmill robert was looking at is shown. … west oakland bart … guess who mounted it?