Family of Four Grows Their Food in a Swimming Pool
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
08.18.10
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Images: Youtube screen grabs
Food Doesn't Get More Local Than That
A family living in Mesa, Arizona, has decided to convert an old unused backyard swimming pool into a very productive DIY urban greenhouse, which they named Garden Pool. Within a small, mostly enclosed space, they grow all kinds of vegetables and herbs, as well as raise chickens and tilapia fish. They started this project in 2009 and expected to be "self-sufficient" by 2012, but they've reached that goal this year, getting "8 fresh eggs a day, unlimited tilapia fish, organic fruit, veggies, and herbs 365 days a year" (though I'm not sure if by self-sufficient they mean that they could theoretically live off the amount of food the Garden Pool produces, or if they actually do it). Check out the video tour of the Garden Pool below.
An Oasis in the Desert
The Garden Pool combines the following techniques (and is obviously a work in progress that should improve as time goes on -- if you look at the early pictures, you'll see what I mean):
Photo: GardenPool.org
The Garden Pool is also off-grid thanks to solar PV!
Photo: GardenPool.org
As you can see, space is used very efficiently.
Photo: GardenPool.org
Upside down tomatoes with radishes growing on top.
Growing Your Own Food is Easy & Fun
While you might not want to go quite as far as the Garden Pool, having a garden and growing some of your own food can be both a relaxing hobby and a green way to feed yourself. Just stay away from pesticides and other toxic products...
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Food Doesn't Get More Local Than That
A family living in Mesa, Arizona, has decided to convert an old unused backyard swimming pool into a very productive DIY urban greenhouse, which they named Garden Pool. Within a small, mostly enclosed space, they grow all kinds of vegetables and herbs, as well as raise chickens and tilapia fish. They started this project in 2009 and expected to be "self-sufficient" by 2012, but they've reached that goal this year, getting "8 fresh eggs a day, unlimited tilapia fish, organic fruit, veggies, and herbs 365 days a year" (though I'm not sure if by self-sufficient they mean that they could theoretically live off the amount of food the Garden Pool produces, or if they actually do it). Check out the video tour of the Garden Pool below.
An Oasis in the Desert
The Garden Pool combines the following techniques (and is obviously a work in progress that should improve as time goes on -- if you look at the early pictures, you'll see what I mean):
- solar power – harnessing and storing the sun’s energy
- water conservation – using less water and recycling waste water
- poultry farming – raising chickens
- aquaculture – raising tilapia fish
- hydroponic gardening – growing fruits, veggies, & herbs without soil
- organic horticulture – using natural methods to control garden pests
- aquaponics – the symbiotic cultivation of produce and fish in a recirculating hydroponic environment.
- biofiltration – natural water filtration method using biochemistry and duckweed.
Photo: GardenPool.org
The Garden Pool is also off-grid thanks to solar PV!
Photo: GardenPool.org
As you can see, space is used very efficiently.
Photo: GardenPool.org
Upside down tomatoes with radishes growing on top.
Growing Your Own Food is Easy & Fun
While you might not want to go quite as far as the Garden Pool, having a garden and growing some of your own food can be both a relaxing hobby and a green way to feed yourself. Just stay away from pesticides and other toxic products...
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