Imagine having to feed a family of 300-400 each day. 85% of the food that you have comes from donations, and fresh produce is rarely available. How do you bridge the gap?

IHS has been pondering that question for quite some time, and has come up with an innovative solution. We’ll grow our own food! But how can an urban Honolulu shelter grow vegetables? Where is there room? On the roof!

Rooftop gardens have become increasingly popular throughout the world. The White House, several schools, and even some apartment complexes in the United States have initiated rooftop garden projects.

IHS is starting USA’s first Aquaponic Rooftop Garden at the Women’s and Family Shelter located at 546 Ka’aahi St. Aquaponics is the combination of re-circulation aquaculture and hydroponics. Hydroponics is growing plants in a solution of water and nutrients, without soil. This nutrient solution is created by adding the elements a plants needs to water, which is fed directly to the plant’s roots. In aquaponics, plants and fish are raised in one integrated system. The fish waste provides nutrients for growing plants, and the plants provide a natural filter for the water the fish live in. Systems pioneered about 25 years ago have demonstrated that this is a sustainable ecosystem where both plants and fish can thrive.

Read more about the aquaponic garden