Godney Aquaponics


Godney Aquaponics
In the village of Godney, with the beautiful back drop of the Glastonbury Tor, Melv and Sal are embarking on a new venture. Fed up with the poor quality of veg in the shops, they have the ambition to set up an aquaponics system to provide fresh vegetables and salad crops for the village, and with a little help from their hens a supply of fresh free range eggs too.


What is Aquaponics??


What is Aquaponics??
Aquaponics is a sustainable method of producing quality food with minimal external inputs. It is a system that combines conventional aquaculture (e.g. fish in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. Water from the aquaculture system is fed to the hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down and are utilised by the plants as nutrients, and the water is then re-circulated back to the aquaculture system.


Tuesday, 11 December 2018

Growing winter greens

After trying to provide the greens for the Sunday roasts at the Sheppey Inn, Double Gate Tearooms and local people, for the last 6 months, the beginning of the Christmas Sheppey menu, saw our outside winter greens, namely Swiss chard and cavolo nero start to come to an end. However, in an attempt to try to keep continuity we have devoted some of the beds in the poly tunnel to grow them through the winter, but at a faster rate.

 
 
Unfortunately due to the demand on the space in the poly tunnel we haven't been able to avoid a hiatus - but that said the plants are now doing well and will be producing good leaves for the New Year.
 


The rainbow chard is displaying its vibrant colours, with the golden yellow variety undeniably of the most attractive.


 
 The cavolo nero plants are just starting to produce multiple leaves and should now really start to get away.

 
Followed closely behind by the scarlet kale - a new plant for us - but with beautiful scarlet veins and crinkly leaves.

 
 Then of course we have made plenty of room for one of our favourites and the star of the Sheppey slaw...

 
Purple Vienna - khol rabi

 
So despite it being the short dark days of December, the poly tunnel is still alive, vibrant and full of variety.
 
 



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