Company description

Oko Farms is an urban farm, and education and design company in Brooklyn, New York.

We utilize a hybrid of aquaculture and hydroponics known as aquaponics to raise freshwater fish along with a variety of vegetables and herbs. On our farm, waste water from the fish tank is constantly pumped through several hydroponic grow beds to provide nutrient rich fertilizer for our plants. In return, the plants filter all of the toxic waste from the water while it cycles through the system. This constant cycling of nutrients via fish waste creates an extremely efficient recycling system that allows us to avoid the toxic environmental run-off that characterizes current aquaculture practices.

By implementing aquaponics in New York City, we shrink our carbon footprint for fish consumption, reduce the ecosystem pollution and health concerns associated with commercial-scale aquaculture, and produce a high-yield of organically grown vegetables in dense urban spaces.

Job description

NYC’s only aquaponics training program offers adults the opportunity to explore sustainable food cultivation through a unique urban farming experience that integrates aquaculture, hydroponics, and soil cultivation.

This full season (March-October, 14 hours a week) immersion program provides a realistic experience of what it takes to operate a productive aquaponics farm while undertaking the physical and mental efforts required to run a small farm operation. Participants will also learn basic principles of effective community development that helps to create self-sustaining projects in their communities and will leave the course with practical experience in training others.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS:

FORMAL WORKSHOPS -

Apprentices will receive formal workshops in topics that include, but are not limited to: botany; crop planning, fish biology, selection, and nutrition; aquaponics systems hardware and technology, water quality dynamics, record keeping, disease management, and best practices.

HANDS-ON FARM WORK -

Apprentices will participate in a variety of farm-related tasks to enhance their educational experience and empower them with skills to run their own operations. These tasks include updating the farms current aquaponics system, seed starting and transplanting; caring for livestock; aquaponics water quality monitoring and maintenance; pest and disease management (for livestock and plants); aquaponics hardware monitoring and maintenance; composting; harvesting, washing, sorting, packing and produce delivery.

After an intensive instruction period in daily tasks, methods, and aquaponics best-practices, trainees will work with the farm manager on various farm tasks. The farm manager will be present to provide instruction, answer questions, and offer support at all times. As trainees become more confident and knowledgeable, they are encouraged to take initiative on projects or operations of interest, or to specialize in certain areas (helping to collect and maintain planting, harvest data, researching pest and disease related issues, aquaponics systems management and improvement, livestock management and fish food production etc.)

YOUTH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION -

Sustainable urban aquaculture via aquaponics is a relatively new practice to many people, particularly New York City residents. Trainees will participate in guided tours aimed at school groups and community members in order to increase their ability to speak comfortably about opportunities and challenges in including aquaponics as part of a sustainable urban farming practice.

PROGRAM GOALS:

Oko Farms strives to ensure that trainees exit our program with a strong foundation in horticulture and aquaculture knowledge and experience with a primary focus on preparing participants for a future career in agriculture, or related education or marketing enterprises, and environmental/food activism. Program participants will have experience with various approaches to organic/natural, sustainable, human-scale growing especially as it pertains to aquaculture, hydroponics, weed/pest/disease management, and plant care. Participants will gain a realistic experience of what it takes to operate a small scale food cultivation enterprise in an urban environment. You will witness first hand all of the challenges and opportunities that urban agriculture presents.

This program is ideal for educators seeking training to run school aquaponics systems, and anyone who wants to know how to design and run their own small-scale aquaponics farms.

Application instructions

Deadline

February 14, 2018