Baldwin High School is taking a leap forward in sustainable agriculture and environmental education. The school recently installed a brand new 300-gallon aquaponics tank, which will be home to 75 fish. This cutting-edge facility will allow students across the district to learn about the interdependence between plants, fish, and bacteria in an artificial ecosystem, as well as the scientific principles behind sustainable agriculture.
Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (the cultivation of fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water without soil). In an aquaponic system, the waste produced by the fish provides the nutrients for the plants, which in turn clean the water for the fish. This closed-loop system mimics natural ecosystems and is a highly efficient way to grow fresh produce and raise fish in a controlled environment.
At Baldwin High School, students will have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the aquaponic system, from the biology of the fish and plants to the engineering and technology required to maintain the system. They will be able to observe the plants growing and the fish swimming, and there are plans in the works to introduce aquaponics systems to every school in the Baldwin County School District.
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