Build OASYS
Born from a heart to eradicate poverty, and providing nutritious food sources year-round to the globe, we decided to use our expertise in the field of aquaponics (the union of hydroponic growing and aquaculture) and design a food system which can be built almost anywhere in the world. Our simple goal was creating the most affordable, robust, simple to build, and easy-to-run, high output systems. We call this system OASYS.
Rather than create multiple designs, our target was a system large enough to provide a livable income to a family, workable within 40 hours per week. Need more income? Simply build more systems. By keeping to a single design, training, troubleshooting, maintenance, and managing operations all become simpler.
Our goal is to partner with others who share our mission to launch local food systems to help reduce poverty with dignity. We are happy to share resources and information with individuals and organizations that are working towards bringing nutritious food, jobs and income to vulnerable communities around the world.
The system
Dimensions
System size - 10 meters wide, 15 meters long
Grow Beds - 6 beds @ 9.2 meters long, 1.2m wide each
Output
3060 total holes for planting produce
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10 week grow cycle @ 650 produce units per week
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9 week grow cycle @ 675 produce units per week
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8 week grow cycle @ 700+ produce units per week
Elements
3 IBC tanks for fish with independent shut-offs
Dual pump design for independent water & aeration
Radial, Matala & Biological filtration design
6 grow bed design with independent shutoffs
Cost
Our system was designed to use off-the-shelf, common components to keep the costs as low as possible.
Our actual cost to build a system in Central Asia
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System build - $20,000 USD
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Greenhouse structure*- $12,000 USD
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Site/infrastructure expenses - $5,000 USD
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TOTAL - $37,000 USD
*The cost and need for a growing environment such as a greenhouse will vary dramatically by region and climate. Some locations will not need a greenhouse and can just use shade cloth, for example.
Hours
Estimated man-hours required to operate are around 20 hours per week.
Sources Available
For full access to all of our manuals and resources, please email oasys@ywamemerge.org with your interest in aquaponics and the purpose of your project. We will contact you to see what resources we can offer to help you with your aquaponics goal!
For those deeply committed to building and operating an OASYS system, we suggest signing up for one of our training courses. You will receive all of the resources below plus invaluable lectures, information and real-world experience building and/or operating OASYS at our training facility in Colorado Springs, CO or at one of our partner locations around the world.
Build Instructions:
Fully detailed build instructions
**Download a preview below!**
Operating Manual:
These are the procedures we use for our own system.
Parts List:
Full list of parts to build this in many parts of the world.
Online Community and Support:
Join our online community and ask questions of us or others.
