EPCOT Center - Florida

[GaryD]

Hi,

A work colleague has recently returned from a visit to the US and he brought me photos of the EPCOT Center (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epcot) in Florida.

There's a section on aquaculture and hydroponics (and presumably aquaponics) and I thought I'd share some of the photos with you.

Gary

[GaryD]

....and here's some more.

[GaryD]

....and the last one.

[bigdaddy]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for posting those photo's I've been there, all be it before this massive aquaponic and hydroponic system they have,and would go there again in a heartbeat,it is fantastic there.

There is also some more detailed information on the the web,a you tube video and everything,but I certainly appreciate the photo's you posted keep them coming if you get more.Please.

Cheers.

[Cecil]

It looks expensive. I wonder if they could make money at it if they had to? Of course in all fairness I'm sure extra expense was made to make it as pristine as possible for public display.

Nice pictures Gary. Thanks for sharing. I think the Epcot Center probably be about the only thing that would interest me if I went to Disney World.

[GaryD]

Hi Cecil,

I think that EPCOT is modelled more on places like NASA (and their space colony approach) than commercial food production operations. As a theme park, I guess their goal is probably more about wowing the visitors.

Gary

[Cecil]

That's what I was thinking. I'd still like to see it.

Here in the state of Indiana, USA, Purdue university was supposed to be doing research on an aquaponic system for use on Mars. Not sure if anything came of it.

Anyone know if an attempt has been made to keep fish alive in the Space Station? Of course that would be under zero gravity vs. sitting on a planet like Mars.

[bigdaddy]

Hi folks,

I love those places,being to Disney World BC (Before Kids),We went to both Magical Kingdom and The Epcot Center.I guess when it's on your doorstep,It is nothing much,having said that, I've been to the theme parks up in Queensland,with our kids,several times, and I have to say the novelty still has not worn off.Personally,I enjoyed the Epcot center more,I think it was slanted towards the adults to a greater degree.

I guess the amount of money it would cost to run places like the Epcot center on a day to day basis would be astronomical,so I don't blame them for doing what they can to attract more visitors.Interesting subject we are broaching about survival of living things in space,I am constantly amazed at how clever people are and what they try to do.

I am only new to aquaponics,but I have noticed with both my trout and more so, my barramundi,they are effected by approaching lows in the weather system,they tend to go off their feed for up to a day.I wonder what type of effect zero gravity will have on the fish? and just thinking about it, growing different plants?

Cheers.

[Cecil]

I am only new to aquaponics,but I have noticed with both my trout and more so, my barramundi,they are effected by approaching lows in the weather system,they tend to go off their feed for up to a day.I wonder what type of effect zero gravity will have on the fish? and just thinking about it, growing different plants?
Cheers.

BigDaddy,

Funny you mention low pressure. Here in the midwest USA we just had a low pass through a couple of days ago that not only spawned tornados and high winds, but it was the lowest barometric pressure in 70 years in some places. In fact the pressure was so low, it was lower than any hurricanes this year in the Atlantic.

I wish I knew the answer to your questions, but I don't. I wonder if the answers can be found on the Internet?

[bigdaddy]

Hi Cecil,

Do you find your fish can feel the extreme lows you have going through your place?

We get lows coming through but they mainly mean things are about to get cold ,and maybe wet and miserable,we have a temperate climate down here,where Gary is they get more of a tropical climate,and the further North of Australia you go the more tropical the climate.That is where we get the cyclones,or hurricanes.Fortunately we do not get tornadoes in Australia apart from the odd freak of nature.

I just thought I would throw those questions out there for people to ponder if they so desire but it would be interesting to find out.

Cheers.

[Cecil]

Not sure as the only way I would know for sure with the outside ponds is via fishing which i don't do much anymore as the fish are too valuble to to take the chance of injuring. When I used to fish the public lakes I used to have good sucess pre frontal and the poorest success on post frontal weather with bright sunny skies and/or a quick drop in temperature. I do know a fast drop in pond temps will shut off or reduce feeding temporarily.

[Shane]

We all know too well how expensive it is to shop for supermarket food.


.....so its a pity the kids don't go off their food for a day or two each time a low weather front approaches.;)

[bigdaddy]

LOL Shane,

As soon as I read this it made me laugh,I can relate to that 100 percent.

Cheers.

[GaryD]

Yeah......a couple of days off of supermarket food and you'll probably be able to get them down of the ceiling, too.

I looked at the ingredients list on a tub of vanilla ice cream in a supermarket the other day - it had everything in it but milk or cream.......things like emulsifiers, vegetable gum, colouring and flavouring agents, etc.

I'm amazed at how clever food technologists have become.......and how dumb we've become for putting up with it.

As a former South Australian, I can remember the days when ice cream was made from milk by old local companies like AMSCOL (Adelaide), Freesia (Murray Bridge) and Golden North (Mid North)......and the only problem you experienced when you ate it was cavities in your teeth and brain chill.....but it was good....very good.

Gary

[bigdaddy]

Too right Gary,

Amscol was the best,I think.

I can stiill remember going into Carrington street(I think) with dad and getting a 4 or 5 gallon tub of Ice cream and a heap of dried ice for a party we were throwing.

But Amscol was certainly very creamy in my book.

Don't get me going about the ingredients and numbers on the back of products on the things you buy in the duopolies stores,you have to be a damn near chemist with about 10 years experience,to even begin to understand what they really are,they sure have deliberately made it too complex IMO for the ordinary Joe Bloe,to just look at the back of the product and understand straight away what you are buying.I had better stop I'm starting to rant.

Cheers.

[jillybee23]

Hi Folk:

Last year my husband and I went to Epicot and was truly amazed. We came back and started our first aquaponics system. On october 22nd we started our first hydroponic system and its been amazing. Along with that, we do container gardening using soil and have been supplementing the soil with hydroponic nutrients. The results have been amazing. In two weeks lettuce will be ready to eat!

The organic nutrients can get a bit pricey but the best thing to do is buy at least one supplement per week and then it won't be such a sticker shock.