When Earl Ward first heard about growing food in a mostly-closed aquatic system by using fish waste for nutrients, "aquaponics" wasn't even a word. In fact even as I wrote this, a squiggly red line indicated that as far as Microsoft Word is concerned, it still isn't.
In Microsoft's defense, when Ward first heard of the idea seven years ago, he didn't believe it was real either.
"I saw a YouTube video about it, and didn't believe it would actually work. So I tried making my own system," Ward explained.
As Ward discovered, the idea is not only sound but makes for an environmentally friendly "aquaculture" system that is more sustainable and is capable of producing a higher yield of produce per square foot.
Educated in the field of quality assurance and having worked for a food safety inspection company as a consumer safety inspector for the last 16 years, Ward had discovered a hobby in line with his professional training and interests. Since that first YouTube video, he has collaborated with others around the nation to promote aquaponics and has become something of an "aquaponics evangelist," according to some.
But starting out, it wasn't always easy.
"The only information was online. There weren't any books about it yet back then, just some research from the Virgin Islands," Ward said.
Ward was able to connect with a number of other enthusiasts including Sylvia Bernstein (who has since written books on the subject) and Susanne Friend and Tim Mann of Friendly Aquaponics in Hawaii. Ward got involved in the National Aquaponics Association, which was created to educate people about aquaponics and to promote its use both at home and commercially. Ward went as far as to become the chairman for the entire North Central region, overseeing ten states.
Through this organization, Ward and his collaborators did presentations and seminars, demonstrating working systems. Ward himself was active in Valparaiso and Gary doing educational work.
"We did presentations to answer all the questions: what it was, how it worked, why we need it," Ward said.
Why we need it in particular is a question with a lot of answers.
"Right now, most of the seafood we eat here [in the US] is imported. We could really grow our own though. In an aquaponic system, you use 90% less water and your vegetables grow faster. The only thing that isn't sustainable in the system is the fish food you have to add. But everything you're growing is not using up any fresh water and doesn't have any added chemicals or pesticides—it can't, because those would kill the fish. There's also no run-off pollution from an aquaponic system," he stated.
Ward says there are two primary types of systems, a flood-and-drain system and a raft system, but that the Association doesn't endorse one over another. Until the greenhouse closed down, Ward was renting space in Gary for his own raft system consisting of two forty-by-four-foot rafts.
"You can plant twice as many plants in the same area. My system was producing as much as a half an acre of soil in a fraction of the space," he said.
Though not really a scientist himself, Ward used his training and professional experience in the food inspection industry to contribute to the advancement of aquaponics in a different way.
"To be able to sell produce to retailers and many farmer's markets, growers need to be GAP (good agricultural practices) certified. That's a problem for aquaponics because to be organically certified growers can't have livestock in the growing medium and for food safety no animals at all are permitted," Ward said. "I wrote plans for systems and food safety that pointed out that fish are an integral part of an aquaponic system and that the rules apply only to warm-blooded animals."
The plans he wrote have since been used by farms nationwide to become certified, allowing them to finally sell their products.
Despite all the advantages, it's more than just regulations holding aquaponics back right now though. Although once it is up and running the system largely takes care of itself with minimal oversight, high set up costs and, locally, the cost of heating a greenhouse in the winter are keeping the idea from being commercially viable on a larger scale than a back yard kit.
Though his two kids and wife think he's a bit nuts for his obsession with his hobby, Ward has been trying to develop a commercial system that would overcome the current obstacles. Unfortunately, Ward has had to put that dream on hold for now.
"I had to give up my chairmanship and back off my other efforts. I was diagnosed with bladder cancer last year and I've undergone a number of surgeries. Someone tells you that you have cancer and all you can think of the first month is 'I'm gonna die.' Actually the cancer I have is very curable, but it took me some time to get used to it. I had a couple surgeries on my stomach before the diagnosis, so it's been a real hard couple of years physically for me. My prognosis is great though, and I'm looking forward to retiring. Aquaponics is going to be how I spend my retirement," Ward said in closing.
Ward encourages anyone interested in aquaponics to visit www.friendlyaquaponics.com, www.imagineaquaponics.com, www.aquaponicsassociation.org, or to contact him directly with their questions at 219-381-9303.