Our first aquaponics system, described in our posting at this location, has been a resounding success. After completion of the system described in that post, we planted a variety of plants: lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini and even a papaya tree, and added fish to the fish tanks. All plants are flourishing and the fish continue to grow so the system is beautifully balanced. Since we had a small amount of funds left over we decided to build a second system much like the first. This brings Hope House closer to the point of being self-sustaining. We also have approximately 50 lettuce seedlings that need a place to grow as our first grow boxes are full. So it made sense to move forward with a new build. The one ingredient missing this time was volunteer labor to help in the construction. We put a call out to our sons in CA to see if they would be interested in coming down to help. We received a resounding "yes". The visit was made even more attractive by scheduling the time for construction around "Dia de Independencia" celebrations in September, especially the "Regata de Globos" which is a fiesta of hot air balloons made out of tissue paper and the heat source being a cloth ring soaked in kerosene and then lit. You can get some of the flavor of that at this posting.
Our sons Andrew and Eric and friends of Eric's, Lexi and Tyler, arrived during the night prior to the regata. So we started off with a big bang. Sunday we toured Tlaquepaque in Guadalajara with them and then put them to work on Monday. Lexi and Tyler were able to work Monday through Wednesday and Andrew and Eric continued the remainder of the week. In anticipation of their arrival, we decided to have much of the basic construction completed so that they could finish the project in the week that they were here. Their labors were also supplemented by a local friend of ours, Charles. After much mixing and carrying of cement the Mexican way, shown in this video, we did get the project complete except for a few odds and ends, like the sidewalks around the beds and the plumbing. We anticipate the second system to operational by the end of September. Here are photos of the construction of the second aquaponics system and the current status. However, we have to hold off on finishing the area around the new system and construction of the sunshade over the system. Once we get sufficient funds again, we will complete the second system to be on a par with the first system. By the way, this is the Mexican way of construction, when funds are available - build, if no funds are available - stop building. Until we get the funds, we already have 50 lettuce plants ready to transplant into the new system since the first system is already full. Fortunately we believe it is sufficiently cool at this time of year so the plants should be fine.
We kept the kids busy with the construction but they also had time to play an aggressive game of Ultimate Frisbee with the boys. Our sons' comment by Thursday was that as much as they were glad to spend time with us, they were looking forward to getting back to CA and recovering. Mixing and carrying cement by hand is hard work! Here are photos of the ultimate Frisbee game as well as the boys that played, which is not all the boys in Hope House since some were in school, and a photo of our youngest little two year old. When you see him, your heart melts.
