Harmonic Aquaponics

Our vision for a more sustainable Canada involves educating children from a young age about where food comes from. To teach our students that produce should be shared. To teach them about nutrition and the importance of consuming organic whole foods. To help them develop an understanding of the effort involved in, and satisfaction gained from growing food. We will explore the benefits of forming partnerships that enable us to expand our knowledge and skills, and show the importance of working together.

We intend to educate our students:
- about the efforts required in growing whole organic produce and fish.
- that there is a difference in growth rate when using different growing methods (soil-based method and aquaponics)
- to empower them to make healthy food choices for their own benefit and to benefit their families.
- to demonstrate for them the benefits of forming partnerships within the community.

Developing an awareness of sustainability issues, and an appreciation for agriculture and aquaculture, as well as observing how water can be greatly conserved when growing using aquaponics, as opposed to soil-based growing, addresses environmental issues.

Economically, students will recognize that growing produce can be a cheaper, and healthier alternative to purchasing food from the grocery store. Students will explore where the produce in the grocery store comes from, how long it takes to get to our province and consider the potential costs incurred in transit (gas, hiring drivers for transport trucks, ferry costs, etc.).

Socially, students will learn the importance of forming community partnerships that benefit not only themselves, but others within the community, as well. When we carry out our harvest celebration at the end of the project, students will share a meal that we will prepare together, with all students in the school. Students will also take the living plants home at the end of June to share all summer long with their families and friends.

Update (April 21, 2016)

Aquaponics in the Classroom


Our goal is to teach our students about sustainability through the use of aquaponics - a zero waste system that integrates raising fish with the practice of growing organic produce in gravel and water. In this system, the nitrates from the fish waste feed the plants, while the gravel filters the water for the fish. Therefore, in addition to learning about sustainability, students will also learn, through hands-on experiences, about the needs of living things and about how fragile ecosystems can be. Additionally, our students will learn about conserving water, symbiosis, the efforts required to grow organic produce, and, in our final celebration, they will have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their labour - literally!



Though this project, we will:
- educate our students about the efforts required in growing whole organic produce and fish
- demonstrate that there is a difference in growth rate when using different growing methods (soil-based method and aquaponics)
- empower students to make healthy food choices for their own benefit and to benefit their families
- demonstrate the benefits of forming partnerships within the community


Our vision for a more sustainable Canada involves educating children from a young age about where food comes from. To teach our students that produce should be shared. To teach them about nutrition and the importance of consuming organic whole foods. To help them develop an understanding of the effort involved in, and satisfaction gained from growing food. We will explore the benefits of forming partnerships that enable us to expand our knowledge and skills, and show the importance of working together.



Aquaponics in the Classroom Addresses Environmental, Economic, and Social Issues. . .

Food sustainability is emerging as a critical issue in our global economy. The issues addressed will have a long standing impact for generations to come. Developing an awareness of sustainability issues, and an appreciation for agriculture and aquaculture, as well as observing how water can be greatly conserved when growing using aquaponics, as opposed to soil-based growing, addresses environmental issues.

Economically, students will recognize that growing produce can be a cheaper, and healthier alternative to purchasing food from the grocery store. Students will explore where the produce in the grocery store comes from, how long it takes to get to our province and consider the potential costs incurred in transit (gas, hiring drivers for transport trucks, ferry costs, etc.).

Socially, students will learn the importance of forming community partnerships that benefit not only themselves, but others within the community, as well. When we carry out our harvest celebration at the end of the project, students will share a meal that we will prepare together, with all students in the school. Students will also take the living plants home at the end of June to share all summer long with their families and friends.

Teaching children about the concepts of sustainability, symbiosis, ecosystems; giving them the skills and knowledge to grow herbs, vegetables and fish, and; empowering them to make healthy food choices will not only benefit the community in the future, but these students will educate their families and friends, therefore benefiting the entire community right now. Additionally, the fishing industry currently provides employment for many families of children who attend our schools. With the decline of the fishing industry in our province, aquaponics could potentially become an industry that could provide employment within the community in the future.

Update (May 11, 2016)

One week has passed since we planted our seeds. So far, our fish are healthy, the water in our aquariums have maintained a neutral pH level, and most of our seeds have sprouted. We planted Thyme, Rainbow Swiss Chard, Cilantro, and Mesclun Salad Mix. Everything has sprouted, except for the Cilantro. We planted seeds in our ECO-Cycle Aquaponics systems and in soil. The seeds sprouted at the same rate and the growth rate has been approximately the same for both methods of production.

Update (June 16, 2016)

Through our investigation, we found out that the Aquaponics and soil based plant production methods grew at a similar rate. Some of the seeds sprouted faster in our ECO-Cycle Aquaponics systems. When our Aquaponics plants reached a certain size they became root bound; so, in the end, the soil based plants actually grew larger because their root systems had more room to grow. The plants in our Aquaponics systems, however, appeared to be healthier, greener and stronger throughout our investigation.