Food security at home and abroad is one of the most pressing issues of our time. The rapidly increasing effects of global climate change and the decreasing availability of water and fossil fuels are together projected to exert tremendous downward pressure on our global food supply. The development of aquaponics, a proven system for efficiently and symbiotically growing vegetables and fish together, may be one of the most important scientific and social innovations of the twenty-first century.

The Aquaponics Blueprint provides step-by-step instructions for constructing a small-scale, highly efficient backyard or basement aquaponic farm. The system is specifically designed to produce the highest nutritional value using the least area, and the DIY approach relies on common components readily available at most home improvement or hardware supply stores. The unique, optional addition of soil-based, aquaponics-fed beds dramatically increases the type and variety of produce that can be grown.

Unlike most of the books currently on the market which tend to offer a broad overview of the technique, this hands-on, practical, concise guide provides everything you need to know to get this specific system up and running. Complete plans are combined with an introduction to the benefits of this exciting technology, tips for selecting plants and aquatic life, and detailed installation and maintenance instructions.

James Gibson is the founder and director of the Cyrson Ranch Aquaponics R & D Center. A retired US Coast Guard chief engineer, he developed his aquaponics platform as an alternative to conventional industrial agriculture techniques.