AquaTronics video 1

AquaTronics combines an aquaponics ecosystem (Dimensions variable) including various fish: Koi; Minnows; Goldfish; Crayfish and edible plants: Lettuce; Watercress; Water chestnuts, Brahmi with a technological ecosystem (an IoT device, sensors, computers, speakers, projectors) to produce fish, food and art in the form of a live and living performance or installation.

As the fish swim freely around the ecosystem they produce waste which is used as nutrients for the plants. The plants filter the water to keep the water clean for the fish. The sensors monitor the productivity of the system and produce multiple data streams: PH; Oxidation reduction potential (ORP): Dissolved Oxygen (DO); Conductivity (TDS) and Temperature. This data is used by humans to regulate the system’s health. The data is also used as the source for sonification and visualisation of the experimental audio visual performance or installation. A network of underwater cameras adds audio-visual content, by providing a fish eye views into the mix.

This research takes our future seriously by proposing new habits and practices that help us become more resilient to pandemics and climate change, by becoming more self-sufficient. It also reduces food miles which is a major contributor to carbon emissions. Watching beautiful Koi fish dance underwater is soothing to the soul, eating Watercress and Lettuce is beneficial to your health, whilst producing and experiencing art stimulates the mind, the body and the soul.

This project proposes that by working with nature rather than against it, we can create systems that can benefit humans as well as the planet.

Produced with support from an ANAT Ideate grant.
http://marynowsky2020.blog.anat.org.au/Thanks to Sustainable Landscape designer and Aquaponics builder Michael Stone of Two Birds http://twobirds.business.site,
Matt Dearsley and Jonathan Miller of IntegraWater,
https://www.integrawater.com.au/

 

ANAT Ideate Report 2, October

Bush Tucker list compiled after visiting and purchasing the following plants from Indigrow https://www.indigigrow.com.au/

Thanks to Peter Cooley and lovey assistants there for sharing their knowledge.

Apple Berry

Billardiera scandens, commonly known as apple berry or apple dumpling, is a small shrub or twining plant of the Pittosporaceae family which occurs in forests in the coastal and tableland areas of all states and territories in Australia, apart from the Northern Territory and Western Australia

  • Full sun
  • Groundcover/climber

Height up to 1.5m

  • Sandy soil/adaptable
  • Flowers – Spring, all year
  • Eastern Suburb Banksia Scrub
  • Attracts – Bees, Nectar eating birds, butterflies & insects
  • Edible fruit

https://www.indigigrow.com.au/product-page/billardiera-scandens

Dune Flower

Scaevola calendulacea known as the dune fan-flower, is a small shrub found on sand dunes in eastern and southern Australia. It was first described in 1798 by Henry Charles Andrews as Goodenia calendulacea, but in 1917 was assigned to the genus, Scaevola, by George Claridge Druce

  • Full sun
  • Local to Sydney on sandy soil, beach
  • Edible berry – light purple
  • Groundcover for sandy soil
  • Drought tolerant 

Native Grape – Cayratia Clematidea

Cayratia clematidea, known as the native grape or slender grape, is a common Australian vine in the grape family. Growing in or on the edges of rainforest, from the Shoalhaven River gorges north to Queensland. Tendrils form opposite the leaf

  • Full sun/ filtered
  • Vine 2m long
  • Adaptable in most soils
  • Flowers – Dec –Feb
  • Attracts – host plant of the Joseph’s coat moth
  • Edible – fruit & tubers

Native Currant Antidesma erostre
An interesting medium sized shrub with leathery leaves, bearing clusters of small edible berries in summer to early autumn. The berries are red at mid ripening, and turn darker at full ripeness, which is when the birds will also help themselves to your fruit. They can be eaten raw or used in cooking. Grows in full sun to dappled shade. While it originates in tropical areas, it can withstand light frost, but will perform best in warmer climates and in full sun. Likes well drained but moist soil, added organic matter will help growth. New growth is an attractive red, can be used for informal hedging.

Black Apple – Pouteria Australis

Pouteria australis, also known by the synonym Planchonella australis, is a medium to tall rainforest tree of the family Sapotaceae native to Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. It is known by the common name black apple, wild plum, yellow buttonwood, black plum and yellow bulletwood

  • Mornng sun/ part shade
  • Height 10 mtres,
  • edible fruit

(Dwarf) Illawarra Plum – Podocarpus Elatus

Podocarpus elatus, known as the plum pine, the brown pine or the Illawarra plum is a species of Podocarpus endemic to the east coast of Australia, in eastern New South Wales and eastern Queensland. It is a medium to large evergreen tree growing to 30–36 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter

Murnong – Yam Daisy – Microseris lanceolata

https://tuckerbush.com.au/murnong-yam-daisy-microseris-lanceolata/

 Atriplex nummularia – Old Man Saltbush

Atriplex nummularia is a species of saltbush from the family Amaranthaceae and is a large woody shrub known commonly as oldman saltbush. A. nummularia is native to Australia and occurs in each of the mainland states, thriving in arid and semi-arid inland

  • Part shade
  • Height up to 2.5cm
  • Moist soils
  • Flowers – Dec – Jan
  • Attracts – birds
  • Edible leaves & stem

Pigface – Carpobrotus Glaucescens

arpobrotus glaucescens, commonly known as angular sea-fig or pigface, is a species of flowering plant in the ice plant family. It is a succulent coastal groundcover native to temperate eastern Australia. The succulent leaves are 3.5–10 cm long and 9–15 mm wide, straight or slightly curved

  • Full sun
  • Pink flower
  • Various soils
  • Height 40cm
  • Fruit eaten raw or cooked when red
  • Cultural uses

Midyim Berry Austromyrtus Dulcis

This shrub bears small white, purple-speckled berries in profusion throughout late Summer and early Autumn. Berries are sweet and tangy, and may be eaten fresh or used in pies and preserves

  • Part shade/morning sun
  • Needs soil with drainage
  • Height 1 metre
  • Edible sweet tasting fruit
  • Leaves used to make tea

Native Ginger Alpinia caerulea

Alpinia caerulea, commonly known as native ginger or in the case of the subspecies from the Atherton Tableland red back ginger, is an understorey perennial herb to 3 m, growing under rainforest, gallery forest and wet sclerophyll forest canopy in eastern Australia. Leaves are up to 40 cm long and 3–10 cm wide

  • Part -full shade
  • Free draining
  • Height up to 3 metres
  • Flowers – all year
  • Edible
  • Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Other insects

Aniseed Myrtle Backhousia Anisata

Syzygium anisatum, with common names ringwood and aniseed tree, is a rare Australian rainforest tree with an aromatic leaf that has an essential oil profile comparable to true aniseed

  • Full sun
  • Height 35 metres
  • Frost & Drought tolerant
  • Sandy soil or soils with drainage
  • Does well in pots
  • Many cultural uses
  • Attracts – bees, nectar eating birds, butterflies and other insects

Lemon Myrtle  Backhousia Citriodora

Backhousia citriodora is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, genus Backhousia. It is endemic to subtropical rainforests of central and south-eastern Queensland, Australia, with a natural distribution from Mackay to Brisbane

  • Full sun/part shade
  • Needs moist soil with drainage
  • Height 10 metres
  • Leaves used for teas, general cooking
  • Cultural uses

Curry Myrtle – Backhousia Augustifolia

A robust herb, part of the Backhousia family. Backhousia angustifolia is a genus of 13 known species in this family. It has small white flowers and a distinct curry aroma when the leaves are crushed. Regular pruning encourages bushy growth increasing leaf harvest.

 

 

ANAT Ideate Report 1, September

Deliverables. The plan is to provide deliverables that document the projects research progress, as well as ideas and experiments. This month I am delivering; 1) 4* web pages and 2) Report 3) appendix of images.

  • Web pages.

An example of “an interactive panoramic Web VR browser experience”.

http://wademarynowsky.art/ANAT-ideate/terrarium.html

http://wademarynowsky.art/ANAT-ideate/terrarium2.html

http://wademarynowsky.art/ANAT-ideate/terrarium22.html

http://wademarynowsky.art/ANAT-ideate/TerrariumPine.html

‘Terrarium1-4’ are interactive audio-visual 3D worlds created for the browser. The pages are representations of what could be used in the final works.

The websites use advancements in Web VR and 3D by using Three.js by Mr Doob. Also the ‘worlds’ open source repository on GitHub created by Marpi.

People using the pages can scroll to zoom in and out or pan to navigate, click to advance. 


Terrarium 2 site: http://wademarynowsky.art/ANAT-ideate/terrarium2.html

  • This report documents my research for future use and for the projects development.

Research, Part 1: Build an environmental monitoring prototype starting with a weather station to collect micro-climate data. After researching various websites to build my own weather station such as The Raspberry Pi website: and the Core electronics site: I decided to purchase some equipment, from the US company Seed Studio I purchased a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, a Grove Pi+ and 2 Temperature and Humidity Sensors. The total cost including the international transfer fee was AUD $155.48. Locally I purchased a 32gig SD card and USB card reader for $34.95 The card was flashed with the Raspberry Pi OS. Unfortunately, I did not consider the delay and due to COVID and currently the item delivery date is “on its way”.

Once the Raspberry Pi delivery arrives, I plan to install a Python library available on Github called Mycodo. “Mycodo is open source software for the Raspberry Pi that couples’ inputs and outputs in interesting ways to sense and manipulate the environment”. The software has been used to grow food plants in a hydroponic system as well as mushrooms, etc.

Research, Part 2: Solar smart sculpture research, I have been researching various public art as renewable energy systems. Most notable are the projects listed at the “Land Art generator” website. I particularly enjoy reading the pdf “Field Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies 2nd Edition”as it lists a wide range of renewable energy techniques, devices and art projects. I have plans to create my own renewable energy sculptures and I am currently looking at alternative materials and various methods for sun tracking and power storage.

Research, Part 3: Mycology ecosystem. I am currently preparing my site, materials and tools for my Mycology ecosystem. Milkwood Permaculture leaders Nick Ritar and Kirsten Bradley have great resources on creating the right environment for growing mushrooms. Additional recourses on an automated version are here: http://www.mycoblog.com/martha-build/

A Japanese artist on Youtube makes “Kinocorium” which are inspiring time-lapse videos of mushrooms growing. “The Kinocorium” (mushroom terrarium) is a terrarium in which mushrooms are grown in a glass container and it is an artwork at the same time”.

I plan to purchase mushroom grow kits from Aussie Mushrooms when the humidity is higher, later in the year. I have done some time-lapse tests with my GoPro and have the settings programmed and saved.

Research, Part 4: Aquaculture ecosystem

I am currently preparing my site, materials and tools for my Aquaculture ecosystem. I need to do more research and either move to the site or have it ready for remote control / automation. Some suppliers selling kits in Australia are Mr Aquaponics and Murray Hallam’s site.

Research, Part 5: Permanent culture site preparation

I have started preparing my permanent culture site in Nowra, I began by removing unwanted trees, grass and weeds. I then started planting trees, creating garden beds and various zones. The various garden zones that have been created at the site include the Australian native plants zone, the Rainforest zone. Orchard zones, Herb garden, Vege garden, Aquaculture zone and Mycology zone.

At the front of the house is the Australian native plant zone, this has been established to attract birds, bees and insects, at this stage I plan to put the Apiculture system here so that they have native pollen to feed on. Additional Bush foods will also be planted here and sourced from the La Perouse indigenous plant nursery. https://www.indigigrow.com.au/

Also, at the front is the Rainforest zone, more like a sub-tropical zone, reminiscent of the local bush walk along the cliffs and river. This is the zone with the most afternoon shade. At the back of the house are the Orchard zones, Herb garden, Vege garden, Aquaculture zone and Mycology zone.

A list of trees and plants, planted their zones so far:

Australian Native plants zone trees:

  • Lilli Pilli – Cherry surprise (acmena smithii)
  • Grevillia ‘Superb’
  • New Zealand Xmas bush (metrosideros thomasii)
  • Heath Banksia (Banksia ericifolia)
  • Purple one?
  • Common Myrtle
  • Midyim Berry (Austromyrtus Dulcis)

Rainforest zone trees and plants:

  • Tree Fern (Cyathea cooperi)
  • Golden Cane Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
  • Birds Nest Fern (Asplenium australasicum)
  • Rabbit Foot Fern (Davallia Griffithiana)

Orchard zone, fruit trees:

  • Dwarf Oranges * 2
  • Dwarf Mandarin
  • Finger lime (Microcitrus australasica)
  • Dwarf Lemon
  • Feijoa (Sellowiana)
  • Davidson Plum (Davidsonia pruriens)
  • Tamarillo
  • Apple (Fuji)– from seed
  • Fig – Black Genoa (Ficus Caric)
  • Blueberry – Blue Rose*2 (Vaccinium Corymbosum)
  • Kiwiberry, (Actinidia Arguta Issai)
  • Olive – Correggiola
  • Jostaberry (Ribes rubrum x uva-crispa)
  • Rangur Lime
  • Passionfruit

Vegetable garden bed:

  • Cucumbers
  • Tomatoes
  • Artichokes
  • Strawberries
  • Silver beet
  • Zucchinis

Herb garden:

  • Native Mint bush (Prostanthera ovalifolia)
  • Sage
  • Oregano
  • Thyme
  • Coriander
  • Basil
  • Rosemary
  • Mint

Jostaberry (Ribes rubrum x uva-crispa)


Feijoa (Sellowiana)


Finger lime (Microcitrus australasica)

Davidson Plum (Davidsonia pruriens)

Vege garden bed with sprouting cucumber, shallots, artichokes, zucchini and mystery pumpkin.