2022 Aquaponic project in SL

 The Salone Aquaponic project has started back in 2014. We are happy now to continue our venture towards a sustainable climate resilient food security with our new project in Kenema. 

Please keep following the setup of the greenhouse and tilapia nursery powered by photovoltaics.

The fruits of urban aquaponic farming: Egg plant and mint

From our urban aquaponic farm we have been harvesting the fruits of our labour. We have harvested egg plant and mint. The egg plant we used for various tasty vegetarian/vegan snacks like grilled egg plant with garlic and herbs or ital egg plant fritters and the mint we dried for mint tea.

 Mint leaves growing well in the aquaponic system: The dried leaves make an excellent tea.

 Massive egg plant yields on weekly basis

 The flowers of an egg pant

 Recycle single use plastics. By cutting plastic bottles and stuffing it with water sackets makes an excellent bio filer. The perfect medium for the useful aquaponic bacterias.

 The NFT system is currently empty. Only some weeds are growing.

 Clear water in the fish tank

 A snail in the biofilter hels to further break down the minerals. According to research, snails in aquaponic increase overall health in aquaponic systems as the feed on the waste in the filter.

 Baked egg plant with garlic and herbs on grilled bread. A tasty vegan snack.

 Ital egg plant fritters! Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo tasty!!!

 Growing tomatoes and mango seedlings in the aquaponic media bed.

 Can aquaponic become a tree crop nursery option? We need to try further... Mongoes seems doing well in the aquaponic.

Drying the mint leaves. The dried leaves are stored in a mason jar for tea!

Aquaponic in Sierra Leone: Project progress and lessons learnt

The Salone Aquaponic project is now ongoing for over 3 years. We installed a first test system at the Salone Aquaponic office in Freetown. Expansion plans are made to further expand the system to a commercial viable operation. Several hotels, businesses and private customers have expressed their strong interest in pruchasing fresh and organically produced local vegetables and herbs. Here are some pictures from our current crops. The arabic mint is performing great with good taste!

The aquaponic system on our veranda at the Freetown office

Arabic mint is performing great in the aquaponic system. The mint leaves give a great tea and spice up your salads, like tabouleh and couscous salad.

Italian basil, a intensive flavour, great for pizza, pasta and salads.

Garden egg growing in the media beds

Garden egg flowering in the aquaponic system

Aquaponic farming: The sustainable way of fish and vegetable production

Aquaponic offer 2 benefits in one: It produces delicious fish, like Tilapia and also produces fresh vegetables by converting the fish poop to organic fertilizer. Especially in development countries, aquaponic can be a new way of farming, in areas of low soil fertility or in urban areas.

Mint and onions growing in the media beds.

Delicious fresh mint has a high market price in Sierra Leone. It can be used for fresh tea and for salads.

Parsley grow excessevly in the NFT system. It produces more than we can eat. Parsley can be fed to the Tilapia

Growing a papaya tree in aquaponics media bed

Good bearing tomato plant. In a few weeks we harvest another 10 - 15 tomatoes.

Spring onions growing in the NFT system

Also a carrot is growing in the NFT system.

Aquaponic Tilapia farming in West Africa

Parsley, onions, mint and tomatoe update on aquaponics

Here are some updates on the aquaponic system in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Parsley, onions, mint and tomatoes are growing well... Looking forward to sell the parsley from the NFT system to a nearby restaurant soon!

Aquaponic parsley growing in the NFT system

Tomato plant harvested, one tomatoe still left!!!

Real onions and mint growing in the media bed.

Tomatoes are a real opportunity due to their demand and high market price

Pepper plant having plenty of mealy bugs but still bearing fruit. The pepper was an imported hybrid variety. next time we go with the local seeds!

Harvesting tomatoes and corn from aquaponic

It is harvest time: After 2 months of growth we can harvest the first tomatoes and corn from the aquaponic system. With the aquaponic technology we are able to produce vegetables, like tomatoes and corn throughout the year without depending on the season. Stay tuned.

Fresh tomatoes harvested from the aquaponic system

A huge tomatoe plant growing and bearing many tomatoes

Tomatoes in the aquaponic system is a good source of income and own supply

Building a wooden rack where the tomatoe plants can grow on it

Fresh parsley in the NFT aquaponic system

Large corn (maize) performs well in the aquaponic system

Since we have the NFT system, we never bought parsley again on the market

Young hot pepper seedlings in the media beds.

Our aquaponic garden in Freetown