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Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on Wednesday

Thanks, Matt.  We have a good contact for framed hives, but we'll look into the top bar before committing to anything. I want to choose what works best for us in the long run. It's a whole new world to learn about...fun!

Comment by Matt Comisky on Wednesday

Sherri,
A top bar hive is a style of hive that uses just bars, sometimes with a wax foundation starter strip, for the bees to build comb on. The more typical Langstroth hive uses frames with foundation (wax or plastic) for the bees to build their comb. Top bar hives are typically longer and around 12 to 16 inches wide unlike the more square Langstroth. There is a lot more can be discussed about these hives, but this is the brief overview.

Matt

Comment by Karen Wortman on Wednesday

I love the idea of Aquaponics.  It's on my bucket list.  Thanks for sharing your insight Sheri.  

Hope everyone is doing well. I know we are all busy this time of year. I am thankful that it is staying light out longer but there are still not enough hours in the day.  Our weather has been so strange this year that veggies are way behind normal.  Our farmer's market started two weeks ago and no one had many veggies.  Heck, even the strawberries are having a hard time getting ripe.  We had frost warnings Sunday evening and today it was in the 80's.  Crazy, crazy.  

I've had to lock all of my laying hens in the barn and they are not happy with me right now.  I brought new hens home on Saturday and that evening caught a fox enjoying one.  Thank goodness he only killed one.  I set traps and caught two raccoons by the coop as well.  I swear, this has been a terrible year for my and my laying hens.  I've got to come up with a better plan at least until I fully discourage the evil chicken killers.  

Everything else is going well. I am picking up my vintage camper this week and will start to the renovations so I can get Bubbles on the road quickly.  

How is everyone else doing? 

Comment by Damon on Tuesday

Thanks, Sheri. I just bought the book on the Aquaponic's source Website.

I'm always talking about fishing. It's neat that the two can be combined.

When you stocked your system with fish did you have to get a permit for something from the state?

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on Tuesday

Here are some images of IBC totes:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Ibc+tote&client=firefox-a&h...

The most common size in the US is 275 gallon. 330 is a choice commodity if you can get them. We have a couple 1/2 totes that are about 130 gallons. IBCs are very often used in aquaponics.

You can make a simple AP system with one 275 gal tote by cutting 14" off the top, flipping it over and setting it above the larger part. Like this one: http://theaquaponicsource.com/2012/01/17/ibc-tote-aquaponics-system...

The larger part, now about 200 gallons, becomes the fish tank, and a pump carries water into the smaller, upside down section that becomes the growbed. This is how we started. You could do very well with goldfish & minnows.

Comment by Luke Townsley on Tuesday

IBC = intermediate bulk container

Once you know what they are, you see them around quite a bit. They are squarish, hold about 450 gallons and have a metal bar cage around them around them.

Comment by Damon on Tuesday

I was thinking of gold fish and minnows obviously for fish bait.

Comment by Damon on Tuesday

What's an IBC? Root beer?

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on Tuesday

Sorry my post was so long! :)

Just be sure the IBC tote was used for something clean. Some are used for pesticides or chemicals that can leach into your system and cause harm to plants , bacteria or fish.

Comment by Luke Townsley on Tuesday

Sheri, Thanks. I'll check it out. I know someone fairly local who is selling IBCs.

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