COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — The Aquapod, operated through Solid Rock Community Development Center, has been open since October and uses an aquaponics system.
“It’s its own ecosystem. It’s a process called aquaponics to grow mainly greens,” said Daniel Zimmerman, who manages the Aquapod system.
Unlike a traditional farm, the Aquapod combines fish, plants and water in a closed-loop system.
About 400 tilapia live in the fish tanks. The nutrients produced by the fish are processed through the system and used to help the plants grow. The water is then recycled through the tanks and growing beds.
From the Aquapod to the community
The produce grown at the Aquapod is donated to several local organizations, including Solid Rock Food Center, Food to Power and Sunnyside Market at the Family Success Center.
Zimmerman said the goal is to get fresh food to people in the community as quickly as possible.
“The sooner people can get it on their plates, the more nutritional value it has,” he said.
The Aquapod is also preparing to provide butterhead lettuce to Harrison School District 2 schools.
Zimmerman said the operation can produce about 700 heads of lettuce each week, with new plants going into the system as others are harvested.
“We’re going to have successions every week. So 700 come out, 700 go back in,” he said.
Keeping that production going takes more than just plants and fish.
The Aquapod currently has four volunteers but is looking for closer to 10. Volunteers ages 10 and older can help with tasks including seeding, transplanting and harvesting.
“We’re doing about 700 heads every seeding. So we need people to seed 700 heads, then we need people to transplant 700 heads, and then we need people to harvest 700 heads,” said Zimmerman.
Volunteers can sign up for Saturday shifts, either from 8 to 10 a.m. or 10 a.m. to noon.
Zimmerman said the work is designed to be accessible, even for people who have never worked on a farm before.
“This is 101, no weeds,” he said. “They can just come in here and learn more about the plants and how we manage them.”
Volunteers are asked to bring closed-toe shoes.
A hands-on way to give back
Deborah Anderson has volunteered at the Aquapod for about a year. She said one of the things she enjoys most is knowing the food grown there is helping people nearby.
“I’m glad to be here and provide fresh food to the community,” said Anderson.
During a recent harvest, Anderson showed how volunteers can remove larger leaves while allowing smaller ones to continue growing.
She said volunteering is about more than simply helping with the plants.
“It’s so important to help your neighbors and to help your community because we are all one situation away from needing resources and relying on others,” said Anderson.
For Anderson, seeing the food go from the greenhouse into the community makes the work especially meaningful.
“People don’t know that this is going out to the community for free,” she said.
The Aquapod operates year-round and relies on volunteers to help keep its production moving.
For information about volunteering and available Saturday shifts, visit the Aquapod through Solid Rock Community Development Center. A signup link is also available here.
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