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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] algea

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  • From: Barking Cat Farm <barkingcatfarm AT mindspring.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] algea
  • Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:26:56 -0500

Michael,

Thanks for the hints on plants, I will look at it in more depth. One problem
we have is the pond is in direct sunlight most of the day, so we might need
quite a bit of shade plant material to be effective. A shade plant that
doubles as a cash crop would be even better, like you said.

Regarding fish, I did look at that. The challenge there is the best algae
eaters (we are told by specialists) are not easily harvestable unless you
drain the pond (tilapia), which we will not do, or they'll die over winter
due to low water temps (various catfish varieties and others). I was hoping
for something I didn't have to re-stock every year, or at least something I
wasn't sending to its death chamber. :-)

I just recently decided on a chlorinator for the lines.

The pond itself is still a work in progress. I like the plant idea for sure.
Cracked corn appeared to be pretty ineffectual last season, although it's
such a cheap solution I'll keep trying with it until I find something better.
Copper sulfate is not OMRI approved. We're not cert organic, but we follow
all the standards at least. I'm also looking at a pump powerful enough to
move enough water to make it not so perfect an environment for algae growth.
A fountain pump would do the trick, but too expensive. I'm looking at maybe
a large sump pump of some kind, but I'm in the very early stages of
researching that. The straw sounds like a good idea, too; the challenge
around here is the seller often doesn't know what if anything the grower put
on the barley, and I cannot risk getting toxins into my water source.

I'd love to hear other ideas, yours or anybody else lurking out there.

Laurie - asparagus over a couple weeks ago, now getting in lots of lettuces,
beets, and carrots. Unlike Carla in OK, haven't seen any Colorado potato
bugs (knock on wood), but the aphids are worse than we've ever seen.


  • [Market-farming] algea, Michael Meredith, 04/12/2010
    • Re: [Market-farming] algea, Barking Cat Farm, 04/12/2010

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