Smart move

Small-scale subsistence farming became a money saver for David Young in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused international shocks and supply chain disruptions.

And today, he continues to reap the benefits of his investment.

In an interview at his Crick Hill, Weston, St James home, Young told Barbados TODAY that during the heightened stages of the pandemic, the wait for imported food to reach the island, lockdowns, and challenges with the alphabet system for supermarket visits, were concerning and it made more sense to grow some of the food eaten in his household of two.

Taking inspiration from his wife, the spear fisherman decided to invest in an aquaponic system.

“My wife is into plants a lot; she studies the medicinal uses of plants. So our plan was, when we have our home to have our own garden, to grow our own food. It is more nutritious, organic and much healthier,” he said.

“It also cuts down on the money you spend in the supermarket and makes you more self-sufficient and you are able to put that money towards other projects.”

It took Young about $3 000 to get his system set up and that cost included, a pump, a filter, plumbing conduit, a water tote (drum), labour and 25 koi.

He also reached out to Baird’s Village Aquaponics Association to get guidance on developing the system for his needs.

Although it might seem like a pricey venture, the 45-year-old Young said the system had already paid back for itself, noting that it only accounted for 10 per cent or less of his electricity bill.

Seeing as much as $200 off his grocery bill on a bi-weekly basis confirmed to him that it was a smart investment.

“We eat a lot of veg so I definitely see the cutbacks from the supermarket. It takes like $75 to $100 off the grocery bill so we try to keep that bill down to a minimum of $300. So every two weeks, when you put it all together, you could roughly save about $200.

“It is also very low maintenance; the fish does all the work. I only have to look at this for maintenance once every three months. So, basically, every morning all I have to do is get up and feed the fish,” Young explained.

Aquaponics is a system in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purifies the water.

In Young’s small-scale system, 48 plants could be grown simultaneously or in groups on a rotational basis.

“This is one of the most effective ways to sustain your home with food. During COVID-19, as you know, you weren’t able to move around or go to the supermarket at the time you wanted to go. It was restrictive and having this system freed me up a lot more.

“Sometimes I just came out here, sat down and watched the fish. It relaxed me so in that way, it played multiple roles.”

Currently, Young plants leafy greens such as lettuce and mustard greens and he is experimenting with cucumber plants.

For now, Young said he was satisfied with providing enough food for his household but in a few years may consider expanding his system and getting into commercial farming.

sheribabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb