Kimbriki Eco House and Garden

ecolicious was challenged to create an ultra sustainable aquaponic system, recovering recycled
materials from across the Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
This system will continue to grow as we experiment with other recycled materials, and
aquaponic growing methods.

System specifications
- 99% recycled materials sourced on site,
- no mains power for construction
- all crushed tiles and recycled sandstone hand washed
- solar powered pump with battery backup
- emulate a natural rock pond using recycled rock and crushed tiles
- water and terrestrial crop production
- native fish aquaculture food grade stock
- easily replicated in developing countries

Kimbriki Eco Garden before the aquaponic's system and pond
Peter Rutherford has the hole dug,
note the changes to the new composting toilet building in backround

 
Shaping the pond, laying pond liner and filling the pond with on site rain water.

 
Collecting recycled 100mm sandstone and recycled crushed roof tiles from Concrete Recyclers
we borrowed the old trailer from Australian Native Landscape supplies, who originally found it on the
scrap heap.

"how much weight did they say this trailer could take?" Jason
"not sure, a trailer load? we will be driving very slowly" me (note: mud guards on trailer)
Pre-rinsing gravel with onsite dam water.
We eventually had to hand scrub every rock individually to remove the clay, close to a tonne.

We hand washed close to 1 tonne of 10mm and 20mm crushed recycled roof tiles
for the pond and grow beds, aquaponics requires system to be as clean as possible.
With no power and only tank water, tiles were rinsed 4-5 times using a hand sifter.

Rocks and crushed tiles stacked to emulate a natural pond, however no soil or mud used
Black Atlantis drain cell in bottom of pond to protect liner while we worked was found on site
note the change in the toilet hand rail

 
Installing and testing child safety cage for OH&S,
hardwood beams, cage (school fence) and construction safety fence (old pool fence)
were sourced from the Buy Back Centre, recycled Timber Yard and ANL
all within 100m of the site

Ttesting the boat grow bed, boat was sourced from the Buy Back Centre, old logs were found in
the garden

Walking on water, all of the bush rock was collected from around the garden.
Note the painted handrail.

Birds eye view, close to completion

Kimbriki Eco House and Garden pond and aquaponics system stage 1 complete
Boat has graphics describing how aquaponics works
Pump to run the grow bed and cascade is powered by solar, cable found in landfill
Water level will be raised over grate in future

Pond the day after completion

A huge thank you to Peter, Ali and all the guys who helped source the materials from the
entire Kimbriki site for this project.
Cheers
Charles and Jason
ecolicious

Would you like to know more about aquaponics or our custom designed systems?
contact info@ecolicious.com.au

©2010-11 all images copyright ecolicious