Dipping My Toes into Hydroponics in New Buffalo, MI
I remember the morning I decided I was going to build an aquaponics system in my backyard. It was one of those sunny spring days that make you feel alive. I looked out over my small patch of land in New Buffalo, a quiet little town on the shores of Lake Michigan, and thought, “Why not grow my own food? With fish!” I had a vague understanding of how it worked—plants and fish supporting each other in a cycle of growth. It sounds simple, right? Spoiler alert: it’s not.
The Enthusiasm of a Rookie
Fueled by podcasts and late-night Google searches, I scoured our garage for old supplies. My wife thought I was nuts, but hey, I’ve always had a passion for building weird things. I rooted around and found an old, rusty kiddie pool—perfect for a makeshift fish tank! I figured I could start with some fast-growing plants and a few fish from the local pet store. After some thought, I settled on goldfish. They were bright, relatively hardy, and, most importantly, cheap.
I dove straight into the deep end, so to speak. I ordered a simple water pump online; it arrived faster than I expected, and I was giddy as I unboxed it. I plumbed everything together using PVC pipe I shaped into a simple network. Honestly, I was proud of my work and thought I was going to become a hydroponics guru overnight.
The First Hurdles
That first week, things seemed to go well. I planted some basil, lettuce, and a few radishes in a rack I slapped together using leftover lumber. After all, I’m just a DIY-loving dad trying to play farmers market. But then, as days passed, things began to take a turn. The water in the kiddie pool started to smell like old socks. I quickly learned about nitrogen cycles and how essential it is to maintain the right balance. It didn’t take long for me to wonder if I had unwittingly created a fishy cesspool.
I spent hours troubleshooting; I even turned into a full-on amateur chemist, testing water pH and ammonia levels with kits I bought at the local hardware store. One sunny afternoon, after consulting YouTube videos and Pinterest boards, I thought I had nailed it. The plants looked happy, but my traded optimism turned to horror when I noticed the water had turned a murky green. I think I may have added too much fertilizer trying to give the plants a boost. Who knew this would be so complicated?
Out of Control
I almost gave up when I couldn’t get the pump to work. I slapped it around a bit and yelled at it—maybe an odd way to fix a problem, but hey, I was a stressed dad! Anyway, I learned later that the filter needed cleaning more often than I’d anticipated. I ended up dragging the pump into the kitchen to soak in vinegar one evening while my wife shook her head in disbelief, all while trying to prepare dinner.
And, oh boy, the goldfish drama! My kids named them Spot, Splash, and Finn, and they were so excited. But then one day, I found Spot floating—well, you can imagine the heartbreak. My son was devastated, and I had to explain the “circle of life.” It hurt, both to watch my little guy try and process loss and because I felt like I had failed at the very first step of this ambitious venture.
Eventually, after reading up more about aquaponics, I realized that fluctuating water quality was my biggest enemy. The plants weren’t getting enough nutrients, and the fish were suffering right along with them.
A Light at the End of the Tunnel
Slowly but surely, I started to get the hang of it. I added more plants, adjusted the filtration system, and did regular checks—maybe not the most exciting chores, but they made something I was building feel less like a sinking ship.
One day, a few months in, while sipping coffee on the back porch, I admired how the basil had taken off like it was training for an Olympic sprint. The kids were playing nearby, and to my surprise, I realized I’d actually gotten something right! My little aquaponics experiment was finally thriving—fish swimming happily, nice spindly green plants soaking in sunlight. Though the fish were still a bit skittish, I felt like things were finally starting to click.
A Journey Worth Taking
While my project definitely didn’t go as I pictured when I first started, the process taught me valuable lessons that shaped more than just my homesteading skills. I learned a lot about patience, responsibility, and how sometimes, things need time to settle before they can flourish. If nothing else, I gained a new appreciation for where my food comes from—and a deeper connection to my family as we navigated the ups and downs of this wild ride together.
So, if you’re thinking about diving into hydroponics—don’t stress about getting it perfect. You’ll have your moments of chaos, heartbreak, and frustration, but you’ll also find joy and triumph in the small victories. Just start somewhere. You’ll figure it out as you go.
And if you want to join a community or get a little push to get your own project underway, check out this link: Join the next session!. You’ll be hooked!
Leave a Reply