The document discusses the establishment of an aquaponics system at Cambry, combining fish farming and soil-less plant cultivation to produce sustainable food. This system is expected to improve nutritional outcomes for the community by providing organic food and a potential marketable product while reducing reliance on outside donations. The project has short-term goals to begin construction in October 2013, with estimated expenses totaling around $24,750.

1. Aquaponics at Cambry
August 28th, 2013
Lives Changed… All Around

2. What is Aquaponics?
Aquaculture Hydroponics
Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (growing fish)
and hydroponics (growing plants without soil).

3. How the System Works
• An aquaponics system is a controlled ecosystem that uses
biofiltration to sustain fish and plants.
• The fish produce ammonia and solid wastes, which are
transferred to grow beds where these waste products are
converted to plant nutrients (fertilizer) via bacteria and
worms.
• The purified water is then
returned to the fish.

4. How the System Works
With all 7 systems running, we will harvest ~600
pounds of tilapia each month. While plant harvests
will vary widely based on the species grown, we can
anticipate harvesting 1200-2500 pounds of vegetables
each month.

5. Aquaponics vs Traditional Farming
Annual yield in
Aquaponics
Annual yield in
Field
Basil 1.55 lbs/ft2 0.48 lbs/ft2
Okra 0.83 lbs/ft2 0.0093lbs/ft2
• This balanced ecosystem produces
no waste, and all produced food is
organic.
• This closed system fosters very
efficient plant growth as it
provides an abundance of easily
accessible nutrients for plants.
• Studies have shown that plants in
an aquaponic system often yield
3 to 4 times the harvest of plants
grown in similar-sized fields
(Rakocy et al.).

6. Cambry's Nutrional Needs
• Nutrient deficiency causes a
wide range of crippling
defects, including decreased
physical and cognitive growth,
increased risk of disease, and a
drastically reduced life
expectancy.
• The diet of the those at
Cambry consists primarily of
rice and beans.

7. How Cambry Benefits
• While donations from outside
organizations have significantly
improved the children’s diet,
this has left the orphanage
highly reliant on outside help.
• An aquaponics system would
allow Cambry to grow crops to
exceed their nutritional needs
and give them the freedom to
adapt harvests to meet their
future needs.

8. How The Community Benefits
• Once completed, these
aquaponics systems will
bring an agricultural
industry that will, in addition
to feeding those at Cambry,
give them a product to take
to market.
• This system will also
improve the surrounding
community by providing a
source of fresh food with
large monthly harvests.

9. Short Term Goals
• We plan to build the first
phase of this project starting
October 5th.
• The number of grow beds
supported by the fish is
dependent on the amount of
waste the fish produce.
• We expect to harvest the
first portion of our grow bed
by early December.

10. Expenses
 Grow Beds – 4 for $6,460 (2 for ~$3,230)
 Solar System - $3,790 + Cost of Batteries in Haiti
 Electrical Material - ~$2,000
 2800 Gallon Fish Tank - ~$700
 Shelter over Fish Tank - ~$2,000
 Grading - ~$2,000
 Fish Supplies - ~$1,000
 Well - ~$2,800
 Freight Costs - ~$4,000
 Total - ~$24,750