Aquaponics in San Diego
International Rescue Committee (IRC) is an international Non Governmental Organization (NGO) engaging civil society by providing opportunities for economic self-reliance. Through a partnership with the Department of State, IRC helps over 10,000 refugees resettle in the US annually. The organization provides technical assistance and access to capital for new immigrants in the forms of microfinance opportunities, financial education, agricultural opportunities, community outreach and other social functions.
I had the opportunity to explore IRC’s latest experiment in local self-reliance during the recent Cultivating Food Justice event in San Diego: a demonstration aquaponics system. The site of IRC San Diego’s Fairmount Aquaponic Farm is surrounded by raised vegetable beds in the urban heart of City Heights.
The Fairmont Aquafarm in City Heights
The term “aquaponics” describes a symbiotic growing system involving fish and plants, and derives from the words aquaculture and hydroponics. Aquaculture is the process of growing aquatic animals, and hydroponics describes growing plants by immersing their roots in nutrient-rich water. IRC’s demonstration system contains tilapia in two tanks that are connected to multiple hydroponic vegetable beds. The closed system cycles ammonia from the fish through beneficial bacteria that convert the ammonia to nitrates; the plants in turn absorb the nitrates and seem to be growing quite happily.
The "Ebb and Flow" Aquaponics System
IRC San Diego plans to host a monthly workshop called “Building an Ebb and Flow Aquaponics System” at the Fairmont Aquafarm. Contact IRC for more information.