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Sunday, June 30, 2013

aquaponics kit

Online Aquaponics & Aquarium Store

Aquaponics is a new method of gardening for the 21st century. It works by filtering fish manure to an external flower bed, helping plants grow while cleaning the fish tank at the same time.

To know more read Sylvia Bernstein  best selling book A Step-By-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together.

Anyone can get Aquaponics Supplies and can be purchased from a nursery, gardening center or from the internet. This is great for those who do not have yards or live in the cities. Aquaponics supports all kinds of vegetable so people can have access to quality, plant foods.



Items are fairly basic with the gardening bed, fish tank, pipes along with the necessary tools to assemble everything. Customers can be an all in one kit that will come with instructions along with other supporting supplies that will make for an easy setup. There are a variety of Aquaponics that can be used both indoors and outdoors. The tanks themselves can also come in many different forms from a clear water tank or a large bucket.

Aquaponics can be used under porches, greenhouses or anywhere to a person's liking. There are also support kits and chemicals to help clean fish tanks and garden beds. For those that are not familiar with this process, there is a step by step instruction in explaining how this process works and the benefits it can add to any household.

What You Need to Set-Up An Aquaponic System?

I will get you started with a simple list of materials you should purchase to begin building your very own aquaponic system at home. These supplies should be easy to find and inexpensive too!

The Basics
Here's what you need to get started:
• Fish tank
• Grow Bed
• Grow Bed Support
• Water Pump
• Pipework and fittings

Supply Details
Here's a little more detail about the supplies you need.

Fish Tank

 
The best option for a fish tank in a DIY aquaponics system is a stock tank/water trough, which you can get from animal feed/agricultural suppliers. Stock tanks can be used as is, with no modification required and they look more attractive than other options.

The fish tank should have the same volume as the grow bed, ie. a 1:1 ratio. The tank should be relatively low and wide so there is plenty of surface area in relation to volume for better exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide..

Opaque containers are best, if you choose one that's not opaque algae may be a problem.





Tuff Stuff Products KMT99 HD Oval Tank, 140-Gallon


Grow Bed
 

The best option is a hydroponic flood tray, which you can get from hydroponics suppliers. They only require minor modifications in order to install fittings. A depth of 12″ is best because it allows you to grow the widest variety of vegetables. You can buy aquaBundance spacesaver aquaponics grow bed - flood and drain from Amazon.


Pump


The best type of pump is a magnetic drive pump because it has less moving parts, and there are no seals to wear out. The pump should have a sufficient flow rate to circulate the entire volume of the fish tank at least once an hour. aquarium pump  


PP40006 : 400 GPH, Submersible, Aquaponics/Hydroponics/Fountain/Pond/Aquarium Pump - 6' Cord



Auto Siphon


An auto siphon controls the flooding and draining of the grow bed. You can buy aquaparts aquaponics bell siphon which is one of the best seller from many stores.

Plumbing Components
Pipework:
• drain - 1″ PVC pipe
• water inlet - either flexible tubing or rigid PVC pipe, 1/2″ diameter or greater.
Fittings:
• drain - 2 elbows and 1 bulkhead
• water inlet - bulkhead and valve/tap

You can get all of the above from a hardware store, hydroponics store or pond equipment supplier. The process is easiest when you follow along on a DIY video while setting-up the system. Once you've purchased all the materials mentioned above, you are ready to begin setting up the system.


Here is an f\grest article on how to use aquaponics system to support feed the hunger program.

Article Source: 



Best Linkedin Profiles

Want To Have The Best LinkedIn Profile?

13  Secret Tips From A Resume Writer To Have The Top 1% Most Viewed LinkedIn Profile for 2013

Here you will learn how to build your brand, especially relevant to those in sales and business development roles.

1. Have a catchy title. This does not include "role, company name". Mine reads "Finding you the best fit for merchant services with no shady business at Equitable Payments". This tag line has resulted in a lot of strangers reaching out to connect who relate to my industry and appreciate the candor and humor.
There are several rules of thumb that you should follow if you want to really make a big splash.
  • Really highlight your expertise, worth or your uniqueness
  • Connect with your target audience
  • Use powerful and effective keywords
  • Be as creative as possible at all times 
 Click the link to read my report on linkedInfluence to discover more advanced Linkedin Tips to  Make Best LinkedIn Profile
2. Connect with people you meet within 24 hours. If you meet someone at a networking event, a dinner party, or otherwise, connect with them (and connect with your friends, too). There may be no immediate synergy, but the beauty of LinkedIn is the connection to everyone's network.

3. Make yourself contactable

There are several areas in your LinkedIn profile where you can provide contact information:

  •     Personal Information section
  •     Add your email address to the headline
  •     Configure the built-in Twitter functionality (if you are on Twitter)
  •     Provide a link to an external page with your contact details in the ‘Websites’ section



4. Seek out connections from the people your contacts know and ask for an introduction. An easy way to do that is to find 1-3 people to whom you'd like an introduction. Send a message to your contact saying, "I was glancing through your contacts and wanted to ask if you'd be comfortable connecting me with the following people (Insert Names/Titles)? I'd be happy to write a short blurb you can use or edit to facilitate in making the introduction. I welcome you to do the same with my contacts. Thanks, in advance, for any help you can offer!"

This is one of the critical steps to have the best LinkedIn profile.

5. Search Engine Optimize your profile. SEO techniques might be helpful for adding keywords into your profile that  are specific to your specialization or company. You can add these keywords in your headline, giving information about your education, work experience etc. and finally in the summary portion
  

How to Dominate LinkedIn search






6. Looking to connect with someone in particular? Look them up and see which of your contacts is connected with him/her. Ask that person to help facilitate a connection for you.

Now, LinkedIn strategy is all about creating your own voice but you also need to know how to keep in touch with your contacts and how to use them  effectively. If you are shy in your own business promotion, you can avail services from human linkedin who will show how to build rapport in real time.

7. Out of the box skills - Mentioning the skills and expertise that you think are pretty unique to you is a good tactic. Adding a little information about your inner abilities along with the experience is sure to boost your profile.

8. Strip out the clutter - If you’re the average person you have changed jobs six or eight times before you reached the age of 40. That experience is only relevant when it relates to your current goals. Sift through your profile and weed out or streamline everything that doesn’t support your business or professional goals. If you’re currently a Web designer but were an accountant in a previous life, a comprehensive listing of your accounting background is distracting. Keep previous jobs in your work history, but limit each to job title, company, and a brief description of duties.

9. Reintroduce your personality -Focusing on keywords and eliminating clutter is important, but in the process your individuality probably got lost. Now you can put it back and add a little enthusiasm and flair. Describing yourself as, “A process improvement consultant with a Six Sigma black belt,” is specific and targeted but also says nothing about you as a person—and  it doesn’t make me think, “Hey, she would be great to work with.”

10. Get recommended! Reach out to contacts with whom you've interacted in your current and past roles. This is free advertising for you, if you're seeking clients and you can refer prospects to these references, or they can be great for possible employers to review.

11. Who's looking at you? See who viewed your profile and contact them if there is relevance. You can only see who is looking at your profile  if you allow others to see when you look at theirs.

12. Start a group if you have a good reason to, and plan to grow it and keep it updated. This is a great way to build your personal brand around an area/topic/event for which you have expertise.

13. Bring relevant content to the table! Do not swipe the content from the home page of LinkedIn and share it.

 Bring something new and interesting to the table. Still think you don't need to be on LinkedIn?

Will you ever be looking for a new job? A new client? A new hire? 

Now's the time to get your profile and network up to date and activated. Don't wait until you need something: at that point, it's too late. You may refer to my another article about LinkedIN to know why it's so relevant NOW.

Click Here! to download my report Linked Influence to learn how to get LinkedIn working for You.


If you want to know how to create a successful LinkedIn profile that will attract your target market, this article is probably the most complete breakdown I’ve ever done on the subject outside of my advanced LinkedIn training course

Most popular articles on how to use LinkedIn for jobsearch & Networking in our social media category


Share you thoughts!!

Last updated by Stacey on 7th Sep'13

Friday, June 21, 2013

Home Aquaponics Made Easy

A home aquaponics system is great if you're interested in growing more plants in less space. It is
 becoming more and more popular with organic gardeners. It's gradually becoming a popular hobby.

home aquaponics


All aquaponics systems and  farming actually makes use of growing fish alongside a crop of plants (fruit and vegetables mainly) this is done in a totally natural way.

Click here to but best aquaponics guide.

Here are the list of requirements to build small scale home based system. You may read my article on home aquaponics kit to learn more.

An animation video on home aquaponic system



7 Requirements to build  at home Aquaponics

1. A nice space, you don't need a massive area to run an aquaponics system but you will need to ensure that you have room enough for the system to be placed.

2. A fish tank, this one is a no brainer. There is a lot to consider here since the size of the tank you choose affects how many fish you can have and how many plants you can grow.

3. An aquatic pump, you can use efficient pumps from most aquatic stores. The power of the pump depends on the size of your fish tank. The staff at the aquatic store can help you will this. An aquaponics grow bed, or even a normal grow bed. Make sure you clean it well before using it since you don't want the system getting clogged up.

4. Tubing for water flow, the type of tubing you get will depend on what system you end up building. Some different types of aquaponics systems work better with different tubing.

5. PH testing kits, this is to check the pH of the water in your system.

6. Depending on what fish and plants you want to grow you may need to get a water heater. This is rarely required though.

7. You will need some gravel or clay to support your plants. In Aquaponics the plants roots sit in water not soil so you need some gravel to support your plants. The water will run though the gravel and back into the fish tank.

You may click the link to learn in home aquaponic system design.


Deciding upon stocking an aquaponic fish species

In the initial setup we would recommend perhaps opting for an all year round fish species that can cope with your yearly climate and this will save on half yearly harvesting.  You can use Tilapia , Trouts, Crappies to start with. However, tilapia  is the best  fish for aquaponics. 


Here is a great book on  fish farming techniques.

What Plants Grow in Aquaponic Systems?

Aquaponics systems do quite well growing leafy crops such as but not limited to - lettuce, spinach and herbs. The reason for this is attributed to the generally high nitrogen content in the water. There have been over 300 different aquaponic plants.

Benefits of at home aquaponics

1. At home aquaponics use around 2% of the water that a normal organic garden would use and due to the low power pumps used in home aquaphonics the energy bill is also very little. Using alternative energy source like solar cell you can reduce the cost further.

2. The work required to maintain an aquaponics set up is very little compared to maintaining an organic garden where everything grows in soil.

3. Plants grow much faster and the fruit and vegetables taste amazing

4. You don't have to think about infertile land or worry about common pests attacking your plants.

John Fay, a highly respected aquaponics expert and certified organic farmer.  To know more about  home aquaponics DIY , you can download John's ebook Aquaponics 4 You.  

About Aquaponics 4 You ebook -There are 33 pages crammed full of superb information, along with graphs, diagrams, and even two videos, which ensure that anyone is now able to start an aquaponics garden at home. The graphs that are included for your benefit are easy to understand, and just as easy to follow, while the diagrams and videos guide you every step of the way.


Aquaponics made easy

You may click the link to learn how aquaponics system can be used for feeding the hunger to eradicate world hunger.

Share your idea on home aquaponics below as comments


Indoor Aquaponics

How to Grow Vegetables Year Round With Indoor Aquaponics?

You can use aquaponics to create your own indoor garden.in your basement or spare bedroom.  You will get  flowers, fresh vegetables round the year without using  chemical fertilizers.

Video On How to build a desktop aquaponics system for indoor gardening



3 good reasons to start indoor aquaponics


SAVES CASH

Instead of having the need for tons of resources for traditional farming, aquaponics enables a recyclable system that is purely self-sustaining. Besides the need to pay for the initial equipment expenses, there is no need to continually buy expensive chemicals and/or materials to maintain it.

EASY MAINTENANCE

Fish typically discharge ammonia (waste) that in traditional farming is not reused. However, with aquaponics, that same waste can be reused for vital nutrients for the plants. Therefore, with your indoor aquaponics system, you'll be surprised that upkeep of the system can be a lot easier than the maintenance of a fish tank.

LESS CARBON FOOTPRINT

Less land is needed to produce crops in an indoor aquaponics system. Matter of fact, an aquaponic farm can be constructed pretty much anywhere you have space. If you have a space in your home that you can place a fish tank, you can have an indoor aquaponics system. It's a lot easier than you might think.

Recommended indoor aquaponics Fishes

  • tilapia
  • large mouth bass
  • sunfish
  • crappie
  • koi
  • barramundi
  • silver perch, golden perch
  • pacu
  • various ornamental fish such as angelfish, guppies, tetras, swordfish, mollies
Recommended Plants:
  • peppers
  • cucumbers
  • tomatoes
  • beans
  • peas
  • squash
 Plants that have higher nutritional demands and will only do well in a heavily stocked, well established aquaponic system.

Indoor aquaponics lighting


The following considerations should help in setting up aquaponics lighting.

1. The use of metal halides in aquaponics is highly recommended. This is because this kind of lighting system is efficient enough to produce around 80 to 120 lumens per watt.

2. A comparable option for metal halide is the use of sodium bulbs.  Sodium bulbs make use of sodium (excited state) to create light. Experts also note that these bulbs pose lesser pollution risks than some lighting setup.

Cost of Indoor aquaponics system

An indoor aquaponics system can require a significant amount of money to create as it will be necessary to purchase a tank, pump, plants and other sundries to make it work.
  • 12 square foot Tabletop System costs $270 to build if you build it.
  • 48 square foot Tabletop System costs $510 to build if you source all materials.
  • lMurray Hallam’s 7.23 square foot Balcony System costs $970
  • The Aquaponic Source’s 8.5 square foot Aquabundance system costs $1,295
Other Related Contents on indoor Aquaponics
Click here to know how we are using aquaponics system to support feeding the hunger program across the world. 

Important Aquaponics Design Considerations

Tips on aquaponics designs and landscaping

Landscape designers and garden planners are increasingly using Aquaponics in their garden designs.

There are  many benefits to Aquaponics
1.No need to water daily
2.Fast growing organic food
3.No soil and
4. No weeding

This mean that an Aquaponic System can easily be incorporated into any sized garden.

Once you begin researching aquaponics design, you'll discover there are several options.

The design of the aquaponics system will depend on the available space, climate and the type of fish you plan to raise.

Here are several important design considerations to examine and understand before getting started.

Kinds of Aquaponics Design

For a start, you will have to choose the right kind of  design for your garden or backyard.
Media-filled beds are the most popular option. This is the simplest design, as well, which turns it into a great possibility for beginners. The plants are planted on a media-filled grow beds. Water is pumped from the fish tank to the grow beds, providing the plants with nutrients.

Deep water culture is the second design possibility

Floating boards are added to the top of the fish tank. Holes are drilled in them, allowing for the placement of the plant pots. The roots of the plants are then directly submerged into the water. Deep water culture aquaponics designs are most common for commercial uses.

The third possibility is called nutrient film technique

This type of design is more common in the world of hydroponics but it can still be used for an aquaponics system. The water from the fish tank is pumped through small channels. Plants have their roots submerged in these channels. This system is more specialized, thus mainly suitable for growing green leafy vegetables.

Fish Tank Design Considerations

The design and the size of the fish tank will determine the types of species that will be most suitable for the aquaponics system. A general rule of thumb is that one pound of fish needs five gallons of water in the fish tank.

Any container can be used for the fish. Some people start with very small buckets to move on to full sized tanks. The stock density of the fish is the factor that will determine the number of grow beds.
To make the process easier, you can try a shallower fish tank. Traditionally, aquaponics beginners go for a fish tank with a height of 30 inches. Reduced tank height will still provide the fish with enough space and it will make it much easier for you to pump water to the grow beds and to provide the plants with nutrients.

Grow Bed Considerations

As already mentioned, the media-filled beds are the most popular option, especially in the case of DIY backyard aquaponics. If you decide to give this possibility a try, you will have to understand the relationship of the fish tank to the grow beds and the design considerations connected to those.
The grow beds need a solid substrate like clay or gravel.

The solid substrate will make it easier for the fish waste to be broken down. Proper filtration & grow bed are very often the key for success.Click the link to know aquaponics system can support the feeding the hunger program.
Aidan Johnson is the author of the article & he is an expert in Aquaponic Design. Check out his website here: http://aquaponicsexperts.com

Resources on aquaponics design 

1. Visit The Art and Science of Aquaponics to know from their founder David Rosenstein  about bootstrapping a business based on aquaponics.

2. The Aquaponic Gardening Community - is made up of people primarily in the US who are mostly hobbyists.

3. Backyard Aquaponics - is again hobbyists but this is primarily individuals from Australia
 


4. I have seen greenhouses running aquaponics systems that are full of flowers....to know more visit best plant to grow in an aquaponics system 

Other related contents on aquaponics design



 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

organic vegetable gradening tips

What you should know to grow your own food using organic farming at your Kitchen or patio or backyard? 

In this article, we'll discuss benefits of organic farming , how to grow an organic vegetable garden , different types of organic gardening , garden planner, organic fertilizer, pest control recipe, organic seeds, about author

Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.

Organic agriculture combines traditional, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.

Let’s first discuss the benefits of organic farming

1. It has been observed that it can reduce the cost of production by almost 30% as it does not use costly synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
2. It does not contaminate air, water and soil like conventional farming.
3. It preserves the soil and prevents soil erosion.
4. The soil fertility lasts for a longer period of time so farmers can utilize the land for longer duration of time.
5. It naturally promotes diverse habitats. Places where organic farming is taking place is full of insects, birds and animals.
6. Consuming organic food reduces chances of ailments like cancer, heart related problems and many more.

How to grow an organic vegetable garden?




Let’s discuss different types of organic farming methods so that you can select the right type before you start your home gardening.

Crop Diversity

Crop diversity is the most popular among all Organic Farming Methods. It is also referred to as polyculture in which different species of crops are grown in succession on the same piece of land. Different kinds of plants absorb and release different nutrients from and to the soil. Planting a variety of crops therefore retains the fertility of the soil. Planting different plants also provide support for a wider variety beneficial insects, wild plants, and microorganisms that lead to increased biodiversity.

Farm Size

Organic farms utilize small sized farm lots because they are relatively easy to maintain even without the help of machines. Smaller yards also allow a wider variety of crops to be grown on the farm at the same time. This makes crop rotation more effective and further increases biodiversity.

How to prepare soil for vegetable garden

Soil fertility is a very important consideration for organic farming methods. Soil test analysis ( using either liquid sulphur or water extract method) is an essential task before using organic fertilizers for your garden. You might have to use chemical inputs in certain cases. Moreover, animal or biological wastes should be properly composted to avoid pathogens or organisms carrying diseases to spread.

  • Your vegetables will do best with soil whose PH level is somewhere in the range of 5.5 and 7.5.
  • Turn the soil twice a year to minimize weeds
  • Use green manure to improve nitrogen. It also helps  to loosen and aerate hard-packed and clayey soil

Importance of vegetable garden planner before starting a vegetable garden

Different vegetables require different conditions to thrive. Plotting out your garden on paper before planting will help you visualize your space and use it effectively and efficiently. You can use graph paper to make a scale map of your garden and decide on a layout for your vegetables.

Make sure that the site you select get have plenty of sun at least 5 hours. Click the link to get no dig garden instructions  on simple way to build raised bed frames. You can also think for container gardening if you have very little outside living space

There are several Android or Iphone apps for garden planner. You should subscribe them for specific information.

You need to start composting for your garden. Start your compost pile with a base material such as leaves, grass clippings, or sawdust; add your organic garden and kitchen waste, and let the magic of the compost pile take over. Click the link to download free information on vegetable garden planner.

Next we’ll discuss about organic fertilizer for starting a vegetable garden.

Most garden soils contain the bare essentials. But that may not be enough and many cultivated plants need more to fully develop. Growing plants need all the major nutrients and more. Organic fertilizer helps you in following area.

• Some modern varieties  plants like Brassicas, potatoes  are more demanding in nutrients.
• For continuous cropping season to season
• When growing in containers
• For plants growing on the same site for long periods
• When growing on thin infertile ground

Here is an article on what's the natural, organic way to make soil fertile

Importance of organic pest control


Organic gardens are free of chemicals and have a rich diversity of organisms. You can control pests naturally through creation of a balanced and diverse ecosystem. I plant peppermint, spearmint and pennyroyal to naturally deter aphids and ants. You can also use beneficial insects like lady beetles, lacewings and preying mantises that will prey on the insect pests you don’t want.

Here is pest control recipe for my organic garden

1 head of garlic
1 tablespoon dish soap (Note: do not use a dish soap that contains bleach)
2 tablespoons mineral or vegetable oil
2 cups water

Here are 5 simple ways to  get rid of garden pests naturally.

Importance of organic seeds

I prefer to use organic seeds to avoid genetically engineered crops. Certified Organic seed is produced by a certified organic grower, so it has not been exposed to any chemicals throughout the growth in the field, the harvesting of the seed, and processing.

However the use of any untreated or organic seed means the home gardener need to be more diligent to plant the seed in optimal conditions.

New diseases are sprouting almost daily and all of that is to blame on our way of eating and living. Not only that this is a well-known fact, but many organizations such as the World Health Organization report that chemicals present in our food, together with processes that takes place during manufacturing are affecting mankind’s health to great extents. Hence encourage our farmers to use organic gardening.

Additional information


Author's bio- Mr. Kothari is US resident. He recently came to India. He is involved in commercial organic farming in Maharastra where there is paucity of rain. You may also join his weekend courses on how to build an organic vegetable garden at backyard. He also co-authored  'Tilapia Farming guide with JT Abney.  Organic gardening magazines features his articles regularly.


Leave your comments here on how to start an organic vegetable garden

Sunday, June 16, 2013

How To be A Human Linkedin

Small Talk - best networking tips

9 ways a networking coach can help you in getting business contacts


Summary- Simple tips to use for networking in practical  life using linkedin

Networking scares a lot of entrepreneurs because they aren't sure about how to do it. Networking quite simply is about building relationships and getting to know people.

To build a network, you need to master small talk. Small Talk is not a business conversation, not a business discussion, but it is that appetizer that helps develop into something more connected.

As per study, 85% people feel shy & awkward  when they first want to network. You can try  your own or better you can consult a private networking coach.

So, a recent trend for start up business to hire a networking coach who will train you on how to start small talk in the event and also do networking for you along with you.

Christine Hauer from Hifive agency makes living by networking for people. Companies who can’t hire large marketing agency, hire networking experts like Christine who help them to create personal branding. You really need to do networking while you are  using linkedin for business.

Here are 9 networking tips for you.


1. HBR studied 2000 companies and found 95% people believe in face to face meeting. Hence, secret is you must show up and get in front of people face to face.

2. A custom name tag is a great idea. If you don't have a custom name tag, wear a name tag on your right shoulder. Most people are right-handed and extend their right hand to shake hands with you when they are meeting you for the first time. So wearing a name tag on your right shoulder will allow people to greet you by name and vice verse. This is equivalent to create an effective LinkedIn summary.

3. Introduce yourself. Don't be shy in approaching people you don't already know. Walk up to someone new and say "hello, I don't believe we've met." Many people stand around at networking events waiting to see someone they know before they get comfortable. Unfortunately, you will miss a lot of opportunities by waiting for a familiar face. Remember to Work the room and make sure to meet at least 10 new people by the end of the event.

4. Effective networking is about solving a need or becoming a resource for someone. When you meet someone, be sure to ask who they would ideally like to meet or what they are hoping to accomplish at the networking event. If you can help introduce two people who would benefit by knowing one another, you have just become a valuable resource to both parties.

5. Be a good listener and be interested in others. Follow your natural curiosity and ask the questions that interest you.

7. If you are looking for new business lead or you are promoting your business practice to discuss your business in regular conversation.

8. Smile. And show your teeth when you smile. Notice and acknowledge your anxiety, but put it off to one side. 

9. Make it habit to attend at least 2 business events per month and build business contacts. You should collect business card and connect them in linkedin. Follow up with them a small mail after sometime and gradually build a relation.Here is a great resource on how to use linkedin for online networking and building a long lasting relation after first introduction.

 Most popular articles on how to use LinkedIn for jobsearch & Networking in our social media category


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Sunday, June 9, 2013

What is Aquaponics?

Are you interested in growing your own vegetables, fruits, or plants, but don’t want to spend a small fortune on a greenhouse or a costly hydroponics setup?

If so, you may want to consider aquaponics. Using an aquaponic garden will enable you to set up a much lower-cost garden – one that will allow you to grow plants as well as fish. It’s not only practical, but it’s beautiful as well!

What is Aquaponics?




Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture, and hydroponics…in other words, growing plants in a container that runs off into a fish tank (where there are fish). The water that is used to hydrate the plants comes from the fish tank, and it is purified before being used for the plants. The fish byproducts work as a form of fertilization and help to nourish the plants.

Aquaponic Gardening by Sylvia  is a step-by-step guide on aquaponic design to raising vegetables and fish together

Why You Should Consider Aquaponics?

There are a number of reasons that you should consider aquaponic gardening:
  1. Aquaponic systems use less water — When you water a traditional garden, the water is absorbed into the ground – where it will nourish the plants but also run off into the groundwater.  It actually uses about 90% less water than a conventional dirt garden
    where the water can run off or seep past the root zone. The plants are never stressed by to
    little water or to much water, so they grow at up to 50% faster....
  2. Plants grow more quickly — Interestingly enough, aquaponic systems can make your plants grow a lot faster. Plants grow so much better using the aquaponics system. This is because they get food nutrients from the fishes continuously.There’s also no risk of depleting the soil’s nutrients, and there is no real need to use soil for growing the plants.
  3. Aquaponic systems are clean and organic — Most people that run an aquaponic garden will grow only organic food and plants, as the system needs to be clean in order to keep the fish alive. If you were to use pesticides and chemicals on your plants, the chemical runoff into the tanks below would kill the fish. This style of gardening allows the plants to grow without the use of any chemicals.
  4. Aquaponics saves energy — With a hydroponic growing system, you have to purchase lights, sprayers, a drainage system, and a lot more. Hydroponics will end up using a whole lot more energy, not to mention water. With aquaponics, there is really only electricity that’s used. The pump has to circulate the water, the filter needs to clean it, and there are some grow lights used. However, other than this, there is not much else that is required to set up an aquaponic garden. It will cost you about 75% less than the other types of gardens.
  5. Aquaponics is much safer — When you grow plants in soil, there’s always the risk of bugs, pathogens, bacteria, and even small creatures getting into your garden. With an aquaponic garden, there’s no risk of anything getting into your plants or your fish. As long as you keep the water nice and clean, your garden should stay perfectly healthy very easily.
  6. One of the beauty's of aquaponics is that it's totally scalable. The processes that work in a backyard sized system also work with a fish tank and a pot .

Top 3 Preventable Problems With Aquaponics

If you were to know some of the problems that can happen with an aquaponics system, this would allow you to help prevent them while you are building your own. There are many things that can go wrong, however, it doesn't take much to get your system running properly and effortlessly.

1. One of the most common  problems is the algae formation.The nutrient tank should be made of dark material, to limit the light exposure. Along with dark material, a lid for the reservoir is a must. Having a light proof aquaponic system is the goal in preventing algae.

2.An aquaponic system with high water pressure has an increase chance of leaking to occur. These leak issues can be avoided pretty simply by using a hydroponic system designed for low pressure pumps, like the nutrient film technique.

3. Clogging can be an issue if you are using drip systems or spray systems like in an aeroponics system. Clean it regularly.

How To Get Started?


The easiest and fastest way to set up your own Aquaponic System is to follow a simple step by step guide. Visit Kickstarter to know more about  Home Aquaponics Kit: Self-Cleaning Fish Tank That Grows Food
Here is a great article on how to use aquaponics system to support feeding the hunger program 

Tips and Tricks to Invest in Penny Stock Trade

How To Avoid Penny Stock Pitfalls?


The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped above 15,000 for the first time in its history Friday morning, May, 3, 2013. It’s bringing it up more than 120% from its 2009 lows.

The S&P 500 Index closed at an all-time high of 1,600. The major indices jumped 1 percent after an unexpectedly strong April jobs report showed 165,000 new jobs, and the unemployment rate slipped down to 7.5%.

Is this a sign of a bull market coming?


I spoke with Mr. Mazumdar author of the popular book penny stock prophet  and a reputable personal financial planner  on how people should use this opportunity in wealth building. Here is the excerpt of our discussion on penny stock investment.:



Money making through stock selling and buying has never been an easy task. Just take a look at the stock market and the number of companies involved in this activity and you will realize that it takes an investment of a significant nature just to become a stock market trader.

Penny stocks are an easy answer to stock trading making lesser investment and earning quite a good profit. Penny stocks can be slightly risky at times, but if the proper procedures are followed a nominal investment is made with the help of a reliable stock broker, penny stocks can definitely give a good rate on investment.

Always remember that the companies trading for penny stocks have a lower market capitalization; therefore, these companies keep the face value of their share below $1. Penny stock companies do not have a large number of shareholders, as they are small companies.

Due to the lower number of people trading on penny stock companies, the share price of penny stocks see quite a lot of fluctuation at both ends; therefore, this type of investment can be quite risky at times for first time investors. The penny stocks are not very smooth to trade, and the pattern of the buying and selling trends vary. For this reason, the investor needs to be very vigilant while trading.

Due to the lower value of penny stocks, it is easier for traders to buy a large amount of stocks with a lower investment. There is not a lot of information available on penny stock trading that would benefit someone who would want to do the trading himself; hence, finding a good stockbroker is a better option. Another option can be to hire an expert on penny stocks, like the consultants available online.

If purchased correctly, penny stocks are a very quick way of earning profits.

A little knowledge and some informative tips, like those mentioned above, can give you great benefits with a smaller investment. Here is an article by Charles Carmichael on "How to Choose the Best Online Penny Stock Broker".

Here are five of the best free (because you shouldn't have to spend real money to play with fake money) online games for learning share trading:

1. Wall Street Survivor
2. How The Market Works
3. Young Money Stock Market Game
4. Market Watch Fantasy Earnings Trader Game
5. UpDown


These games will help you to learn how to pick and trade stocks.

Here is a Five Forces analysis which is always a good way to start, on any stock/company, again any market capitalization.

1. Bargaining power of customers

2. Threat of new customers

3. Bargaining power of suppliers

4. Threat of substitute products

5. Competitive rivalry within market

The  two important things you should do to become successful investors in parallel to play virtual games.

Find a good penny stock service to subscribe to. These services now offer stock picks, trading and portfolio management software and educational services, too. This is a great way for beginners to learn or experience the stock market. You should observe for at least 4/5 months before investing real money. Remember, saving money is more important than earning money.

how to buy penny stock
penny stock alert


Click Here! to learn more about penny stock investments and get a weekly stock pick recommendation newsletter.

 • Know when to Quit. Setting a time to sell your stocks is important, because it can change the course of your investments. Capping at 50% profits is already a good margin. Getting greedy and expecting further profits can make stocks wipe out the investments.

Normally, I prefer startup companies because there is a chance that the stock will become a multibagger in few years of time. When buying stocks of startups, the most important point to consider is the profile of the founder. You may read the article by Shikhar Ghosh, who is a Senior Lecturer of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, to find out more.

My two personal secrets for penny stock investment
a. Don't sell short
b. Use mental stops


Best Online Penny stock trading tools

Yahoo! Finance - News, filings, research, quotes and more.
Google Finance (beta) NEW! - New source for quotes, news and filings.
MarketWatch - News, filings, research, quotes and more.
SmallCap Center - Small-Cap news, filings, quotes, analysis, etc.

Rel time Streaming Quote Tools

Equity Feed - Pro-level real time streamer geared for OTCBB/Pinksheets.
Investors Hub - Real time streaming quotes available, Level 2, news, filings, charts and more. All integrated with the most popular penny stock message board out there.

Due Diligence (DD) and Technical Resources:

Scams | Pump & Dumps - Tips for avoiding scams and front loading activity.
ShellStockReview.com - Information and listing for shell stocks.
Naked Shorting - A great explanation of naked shorting and the corruption of the stock market.

Timothy Sykes, a penny-stock expert who trades both long and short, says you must not believe the penny-stock stories that are touted in emails and on social media websites.

If you learn one thing today, let it be this: Beware of free stock information on the Internet! The source of the advice obviously has some hidden stake in the fortunes of the stock, through options or personal holdings, and they don't care if you lose your shirt as they make a few bucks!


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Using LinkedIn for Business

Are You Using LinkedIn To Its Fullest Potential?

Learn How To Use LinkedIn For Business To Increase Profits Easily And For Free

If you are not yet on LinkedIn, or you are already on but you are only using it casually, without a solid strategic plan, you are missing out on the potential for many more powerful connections and a large increase in sales and leads for your business.

Done correctly, LinkedIn can open the door to:
  • Valuable partnerships that can double or triple your income
  • An endless supply of buyers, right at your fingertips
  • High-paying careers that would best utilize your skills and passions
  • Priceless business marketing information for free, with even more benefits for paid accounts
  • Access to high-quality talent for your company
And more…

Your LinkedIn profile should not be viewed as a simple online resume. It is your key to a successful and profitable business. Keep reading to find out how.

 
(This is a 100% digital online course that you can access any time from any device)

Using LinkedIn For Business Like The Pros Do

Last week I had a discussion with Mr. Divyesh Nathoo, Managing Director of Twin Consulting on impact of the social media like LinkedIn for business.

He added few valuable points in my report LinkedInfluence where you will get valuable tips on how to use LinkedIn for business & Job.

Social media has changed the world of marketing and become a force to be reckoned with during the past few years. But it's more than just a social affair.

The social media has given individual and businesses amazing options in terms of how we create, connect and share what we have online, particularly with a niche social network like LinkedIn.

Here is a video by Carol Smith on how to use LinkedIn to grow revenue for your company. She explains how you can do more with LinkedIn just than just post an online resume and gives easy ways to interact with other professionals.

A Video On How To Use Linkedin for Business & Marketing





If you are new to LinkedIn , click the link to read  LinkedIn training course.

 How Using LinkedIn For Social Networking Can Quickly Grow Your Contact List?

It's important to understand how social networking works, particularly for those in business.

In its simplest form, social networking involves forming substantiating online social networks for communities of people who share common interests and activities.

Sites like LinkedIn allow users to create personal profiles and then interact using these connections through sharing media, sending messages and blogging. Most importantly, this social network enables you - and your business - to extend way beyond your personal network.  Here is 16 smarter ways to use LinkedIn to build your business

Used correctly, social networking can be an incredibly powerful tool in your business operation. Click here tolearn How to REALLY use LinkedIn

How Using LinkedIn For Social Networking Can Make You More Money?

LinkedIn is a network that has been established specifically for the use of professional people and businesses.

And again, relating to the very basic form, it is a social networking system that enables members to not only connect with other people doing related jobs and business, but to also recommend people and businesses to other members of LinkedIn.

Most importantly, this is not a 'Set & Forget' network. LinkedIn is an amazing tool for promoting your product or service. It’s a place to start conversations with others in your field.  It’s a place where having an up to date profile can land you your next big opportunity. You need to use your status update very effectively for this purpose.

Leading Australian business coach Casey Gollan commented  LinkedIn is a prime virtual space to connect with other entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and foster meaningful relationships that will grow your business. 

LinkedIn is bigger than ever as a business tool. Are you actually making the most of it? Try these 11 little-known tricks and tactics for Using LinkedIn.

A study was conducted by Steve W. Martin on how top sales people use LinkedIn to research accounts, prospect for leads, and generate sales. Here are 4 classifications of users:

Enthusiasts: Twenty-five percent of the study participants would be classified as "Enthusiast" LinkedIn users. Enthusiasts have fully developed LinkedIn accounts and use LinkedIn continuously during the day.

Casual: Forty percent of participants would be classified as "Casual" LinkedIn users, who access their account on a regular basis.

Personal: Fifteen percent of participants would be classified as "Personal" LinkedIn users.

Non-Participants: Twenty percent of the salespeople were "Non-Participants."

Refer to the below infographic to know see how the Enthusiasts and the & Casual group use LinkedIn for business.




How Using Linkedin For Social Networking Has Done HUGE Things For Big Businesses (And how it can do the same for you!)

Just a few months ago, in February 2013, LinkedIn announced that Hewlett-Packard (HP) had hit the 1-million mark in terms of people following them - making them the first company to achieve this milestone. This didn't just happen by accident.

HP has, for years, considered LinkedIn as a "critical" link to their customers; they use the network to reach and build relationships with their community of customers, as well as prospective employees and partners. There is no doubt that they are well aware of the fact that Sir Richard Branson reaped 1-million followers on LinkedIn a very long time ago!

According to Natalie Malazenko, VP of HP's Digital Marketing Division, the reason their achievement is "critical" is because these one million followers in turn link to more than 43-million individuals who are on the LinkedIn network. This enables the company to access an enormous database of potential clients.

You can also use LinkedIn Ad to attract business decision makers to your website.  This is more profitable than CPM ads in Google network.

In 2012, LinkedIn introduced a "follow company" option that can be embedded on web pages which makes it easier for people looking for jobs and companies looking to hire to connect. Here is 5 creative ways to use LinkedIn company pages.

There is no doubt that using LinkedIn for business will help you to leverage the playing field and compete very successfully in your own area of business expertise. It is also an amazing tool that you can use to grow your business.

2 Quick Pointers On How To Use LinkedIn For Business Contacts 

  • LinkedIn can help you find new contacts, and, more importantly, it helps you reconnect with old contacts.  It was found in a survey that 30% of respondents were primarily getting new business from reaching out to old contacts they’d lost touch with.
  • You should participate in LinkedIn discussions to establish yourself as an expert. This will help you to get new contacts.
I hope this has given you the inspiration and insight to start learning more about how to use LinkedIn for business success. Please browse the site and read my other articles to find more ways LinkedIn can help propel your business forward by bringing you more profits with a smaller advertising budget.

About  Divyesh Nathoo

Divyesh is a challenger and operates his business and personal life by setting challenge after challenge. Find out more about Divyesh Nathoo and Twin Consulting, their services and interesting client case studies at the Twin Consulting website HR Management.

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    Monday, June 3, 2013

    Home Microgardening with Aeroponics

    Why Aeroponics garden system is future for indoor garden ?

    An aeroponic garden lets you grow lush, beautiful plants without any of them ever touching a speck of soil. Instead, the plants are suspended over a chamber that has a series of small nozzles in it, and the nozzles periodically (10 secs in each 10 minutes is most recommended) spray a special nutrient solution onto the roots.

    aeroponoics faq
    Plants grow well in such a system, reaching maturity quickly because they are able to put all of their energy into developing leaves, flowers and fruit, and very little energy into growing roots.
    Many different kinds of plants do well in an aeroponic system. It is especially good for small, fast-growing plants such as herbs, lettuce and spinach, but other things can be grown aeroponically as well.

    You can use Botanical Interest or Gardenate ($2.67, also on iTunes) which is a fairly complete guide to growing the most popular garden vegetables. You can use mobile apps in your Android phone to remember important information; I use Veg Garden & Garden Manager: Plant Alarm. 

    Here is a video on How to make a simple aeroponics system



    Here are some basic information for those who want to create a microgarden with aeroponics with tight budget.

    There are lots of different aeroponic systems available commercially. Many of these are suitable for microgarden use, as they typically will hold from 10 to 30 plants at a time.

    AeroGrow's AeroGarden garden kit ($148)is very helpful one to cultivate lettuce, cherry tomatoes, herbs, chili peppers, edible flowers. AeroGarden garden kit comes with preseeded bio-dome grow pod, two daylight-spectrum bulbs, nutrients, and a helpful tending and harvesting guide complete with recipes.

    The advantage of AeroGarden system is it monitors itself to create ideal growing conditions for each plant and alerts you when it's time to add more water and nutrients. This system has built-in microprocessor automatically adjusts nutrient delivery, light cycles, and water for specific plant types.

    It’s important to use a good-quality hydroponic nutrient solution for feeding the plants. Clogged nozzles are one of the major problems so you should use a liquid that contains few, if any, solids.

    Since aeroponic gardens must receive all of their nutrients from the mist that is applied to their roots, it is important that a nutritionally complete product be used. Commercial hydroponics and aeroponics outlets have a wide variety of such products.

    Many people also have success with water-soluble fertilizers such as might be used in any garden. These can work well as long as they contain all of the essential nutrition for plants, including micronutrients.

    When choosing nutrients for aeroponics, nothing that might clog the nozzles should be used, as this can be a serious problem in an aeroponic garden. It is advisable to use some type of a filter on the pump intake, since nozzle clogs are a major cause of failure in aeroponic systems.
    It’s important to use a good-quality hydroponic nutrient solution for feeding the plants. Clogged nozzles are one of the major problems so you should use a liquid that contains few, if any, solids. 

    How to fix foliage problems in Aeroponics 

    1. Several nutrient deficiencies can cause your plants’ leaves to turn yellow. Leaves that are yellow and papery can signal a zinc deficiency, although if the veins remain green, it’s more likely that iron is in short supply.

    2. If the problem is only on the lower leaves, and the yellow forms a checkerboard-type pattern with the green, your plants need manganese.

    3. Yellow tips on a plant whose lower leaves are dying indicate a lack of magnesium, and yellow leaves on a stunted, light-green plant are due to a lack of nitrogen.

    4. Dying leaves can be a signal that nutrients are not reaching your plants at all, and may mean that the nozzles in your aeroponic system are clogged or that the pump is not working.

    5. A very pale, almost yellowish green color combined with strange-looking, deformed leaves indicates that your plants aren’t getting enough molybdenum.

    6. Use mobile apps like The Plant Doctor which can help you to find what is afflicting your houseplants. Select from 32 common symptoms and the Plant Doctor will deduce the root of the problem and come up with a game plan to resuscitate your foliage. If your problem is not listed, the app collects user-supplied text and photos and sends them to a professional plant pathologist, who will send back personalized advice.

    In summary, Aeroponics considered to be an environment friendly and economical method for growing healthy, natural plants and crops,. They provide us with an advanced and automated method to deliver your plants optimal levels of water, nutrients and oxygen for accelerated growth and higher yields. Experience faster crop cycles, higher crop yields, increased nutritional value, and ease of maintenance with functioning aeroponic systems.

    Click the link to read more about aquaponics information for beginners

    I just got The Smart Herb Garden from Click & Grow which creates a self-contained growing environment for plants. Will publish a review soon.

     Image credit :Aeroponics FAQ's

    Saturday, June 1, 2013

    Manage Workplace Stress

    We feel stressed when we feel that "things are out of control".  Stress affects the mind, body, and
    behavior in many ways, and everyone experiences stress differently.

    This happened  to me and I had serious anxiety attack in 1999. I tried various options starting from clinical therapy, exercise. swimming , yoga  and diet habit.

    Finally I found for fast-acting stress relief, slow down  is the best option.
                 

     7 tips to make you happy within a minute.


    1. Focus and make sure you know exactly what it is you want and why. Direction is more important than time. Read the article on 7 habits to know how to form habits to become successful.

    2. Keep focus on important things and don't allow any tasks to become urgent. Make it a habit . I am inspired by Charles Duhigg The Power of Habit: book. 

    3. Focus on progress towards your goal rather than perfection. Remember practice makes you perfect. Read Malcom Gladwell's book  "Outliers" to know more on 10,000 hours rule.

    4. Introspect ever night to forget bad experience. Everything you do is by choice. There is always another option.I found listening to Mozarts's symphony have a tremendously relaxing effect on my mind and body. This helped me in lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress & anxiety.Cleaning yourself from negative thoughts is very critical.

    5. Read your thoughts & change them. You must keep dreaming so that you never lose the hope. Creative visualization actually helped me a lot.

    6. Do swim & practice circuit training. Stretching, deep breathing and other mindfulness practices. This is necessary ind-body exercises helped me to refresh, re-energize and re-motivate yourself. I really liked "The 4-Hour Body " by Timothy Ferris.  It's an amazing book which helped me to swim faster and run further.

    7. Learn to accept  stress. Actually small stress helps you to improve your performance.

    In summary, we need to be prepared for any change physically, emotionally and financially

    Click the link to know more about your  stress scale & let me know your opinions.

    Warning:  While these stress management techniques have been shown to have a positive effect on reducing stress, they are for guidance only, and readers should take the advice of suitably qualified health professionals if they have any concerns over stress-related illnesses or if stress is causing significant or persistent unhappiness. Health professionals should also be consulted before any major change in diet or levels of exercise.

    Author: Madu is working with a large software consultancy firm. Today she is extremely successful & happy at work and personal life.

    Image Credit: royceassociates