top of page
Systems for the Future
Teach, Implement & Change
How you and your community can be sustainable
Hydro Agriculture
Christen Brown
Mililani High School Senior
Cultivating our developing roots to ensure our future tree
Overview
This project began in the school year of 2014-2015, in my environmental science class taught by Mrs. Sandy Webb. Mrs. Webb has been my greatest mentor and has consulted me throughout this acedemic journey. The journey to inspire a youth sustainable future with the implementation of hydroponic and or aquaponic systems in homes. Changing individuals perspective.
Working Systems
Type of Systems
Hydroponic:
The word, Hydroponic, is Latin and means working water. Simply put, it is the art of growing plants without soil.
There are various systems but the method most think of is plants grown with their roots suspended directly into water with no growing medium. This is the type of hydroponic gardening known as N.F.T. (nutrient film technique). This system will be the focus of promoting.
Aquaponic:
A combination of a hydroponic system and aquaculture (raising of aquatic life). It is a self-sustaining system-where two ecosystems are functioning together to produce a
result not independently obtainable. Fish provide plants
with nutrients to grow. Plants act as a bio-filter and purify
the water for happier fish and we humans eat fresh. Local food in a local system.
Historical Significance
Locally
Traditional and customary Native Hawaiian practices are dependent upon access to natural and cultural resources and the ability to use and care for the water, land, and air. These natural elements form the basis of subsistence, cultural and religious beliefs, customs, and practices. The Ahupua'a system supported the indeginous people long before contact. In ancient times, Hawaiians lived near the shore and streams to tend to fishing and taro loi. All of these same elements are combined with aquacultural systems of hydroponics and aquaponics and promote sustainability.
Historical Significance
Globally
Growing plants in water instead of soil is not a new development, only its terms have been adapted in present times. Systems growing plants without soil is shown throughout history with the Babylon hanging gardens, the floating gardens of the Aztecs of Mexico, and China had a form of "hydroponic" culture even through it wasn't called that. Egyptian hieroglyphic records from several hundreds b.c describe the growing of plants in water.
What I Set Out To Do
Go to schools within Mililani promoting a hydroponic/ aquaponic system to implement in classrooms. Promoting this new way of gardening in schools will represent a small sustainable ecosystem that is a motivator for sustainability in homes as well as schools.
Purpose:
Displaying the positive effect of a working sustainable ecosystem implemented at the school level to encourage a state wide undertaking of becoming self-sufficient.
Why It's Important
The simplistic ways a hydroponic system and aquaponic system can be run whether outside or inside a classroom or even a home, is a motivator for others to implement sustainability within their everyday lives.
Progress
-Presentation to 4th grade class
Waena Elemetary School, Ms. Olivia Monico's class
-Journalism staff survey
Planned:
-Environmental Science class presentation
-Further elementary school presentations
Looking at the Past to Build the Future
bottom of page