While aquaponics has been an interest of Mike's for over ten years, Shasta Mountain Aquaponics is in its second professional year. "The first year, the fish were pretty small," he says, and it takes about a year for everything to settle in. The fish are housed in a 1500 gallon tank and help produce a living ecosystem - they create a usable nitrogen source that salad greens, especially, love to grow on. Shasta Mountain's tank holds temperate fish - large-mouth bass and catfish - that can survive our climate and season changes. The bass enjoy worms, bugs, and a special bass fish feed. while the catfish, who are bottom feeders, serve as cleanup crew.
Shasta Mountain Aquaponics is currently selling fresh produce in the Shasta and Dunsmuir farmers' markets and working on setting up business accounts for the coming year.
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