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Scott Malensek

Build a greenhouse to supply a soup kitchen for the underprivilegedScott Malensek

COMPETED FOR

$25K
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Competed in
May, 2010

Goals

  • To feed people for almost no cost

Overview

I'd like to lease the abandoned Green Thumb Nursery greenhouse in Green, Ohio.  I'd fill the greenhouse with an aquaponics design that would grow edible fish like tilapia, perch, and trout.  The fish wastewater would be used to fertilize hydroponic crops of fruits and vegetables.  Those plants filter the wastewater, pull nitrate nutrients from it, and cleaned water is then recycled back to the fish.  Fresh produce and fish would supply The Stew Pot Kitchen (a high-value/low cost soup and stew restaurant) in downtown Akron, Ohio.  This kitchen is located exactly between 3 buildings: the Children's Services building, the Federal building where people pickup welfare and Social Security checks, and the Job and Family Services building.  Over 35% of the people in the Akron area are either unemployed or underemployed, and the fresh, organic food from the greenhouse could feed hundreds of people almost for free all year round.

How will the 25K be Used?

$ 10,500 first last security dep on greenhouse
$ 14,000 aquaponics equipment kit and support
$ 500 seeds, water, site repairs
Do Good for the Gulf.

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