Client: David and Rhonda Due: Country Springs Farm
Identification of Objectives
- Explore options for making fish farming in the Slate Belt more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective
- Develop prospective ideas which may be applied specifically to David and Rhonda Due’s Country Springs Farm
- Pursue development of associated products that could be manufactured in the Slate Belt region to help boost the local economy
- Continue collaboration with the Dues to develop and implement ideas for improvement
Areas of Exploration
- Potential for Stimulating Local Economy- sell products to local restaurants consequently creating jobs and local partnerships
- Use of Abandoned Buildings for Raising Fish- provide an alternative space to outdoor ponds and make use of local underutilized resources
- Aeration and Dissolved Oxygen Levels- provide maximum aeration with minimum temperature increase
- Temperature Control- provide optimal temperature environment for trout at minimum cost possibly through shading and geothermal cooling
- Predator Control- explore the use of scare devices to deter predators
- Making Use of Fish Waste- develop efficient way of recycling fish waste
- Solar Panels- investigate the location, size, and cost of solar panels
- Grants- explore available grants that may be used to help manufacture and test solar lily pads
- Market Research- find ways to make locally grown trout more attractive to local restaurants and consumers
Students: Stacy Goldberg’12, Aaditya Khanal’12, Rachel LeWitt’13, Holden Ranz’12, Garrett Rice’12, Yen Jo Tan’14
Faculty Facilitators: Dan Bauer & Javad Tavakoli
Download the Final Report