Agriculture News

September 13, 2016

Military vets, families invited to tour aquaponics farm

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Extension's Indiana Beginning Farmer program is offering military veterans, active duty members and their families an opportunity to learn about aquaponics on Oct. 15 during a daylong program.

Participants will meet for a morning workshop starting at 10 a.m. at the Millgrove United Methodist Church, 11151 Millgrove Road, in Quincy, Indiana, followed by a tour of the Ponderosa Aqua Farm, a veteran-owned family business.

An aquaponics system uses fish waste to provide nutrients for plants grown in water. Ponderosa Aqua Farm produces microgreens, other vegetables and fruits, and tilapia, a low-calorie, high-protein fish.

"We are so pleased to be able to offer the opportunity to our veterans to visit a veteran-owned and family-operated aquaponics farm. We will incorporate expert presentations on hydroponics and aquaculture into the workshop for those interested in starting their own food system," said Cindy Chastain, farmer veterans coordinator for the Indiana Beginning Farmer program and the National AgrAbility Project based at Purdue.

This is the fourth farmer veterans tour offered by the Indiana Beginning Farmer program.

"We have had tremendous response to the first three tours and we look forward to another instructive and productive program," Chastain said. "In addition to learning about aquaponics, participants will be able to network with other military veterans who are farming or thinking about starting a farm."

The program is free but registration is required and space is limited. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

To sign up, go to https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/wk_rules.asp?itemID=22370. For more information, contact Chastain at chastai1@purdue.edu or Katherine Prasuhn at kslong@purdue.edu or call 765-496-2377. 

Writer: Darrin Pack, 765-494-8415, dpack@purdue.edu

Sources: Cindy Chastain, 765-496-2377, chastai1@purdue.edu

Katherine Prasuhn, 765-496-2377, kslong@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Darrin Pack, dpack@purdue.edu 
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