We live in a time of uncertainty; borders are closed, people are confined to their homes, National Parks and other tourist destination are shut, and we find ourselves washing our hands frequently and wearing face masks.  In South Africa the entire month of April has been designated for shut down in an attempt to curb the spread of the Covid disease, and we are told that the exit will be gradual as restrictions are slowly lifted once again.  Whilst this will hopefully reduce infection rates, it will certainly smash the economy and a large number of people will be looking for alternative income sources as their formal employment ends abruptly.
 
Uncertainty breeds fear; fear of leaving what we are comfortable with and the fear of an unknown future.  But uncertainty also ushers in opportunity and for those of us who farm using aquaponics the future has never looked brighter.  Time at home during lockdown has provided us with an opportunity to reflect on what is truly important to us and the result, based on current articles and social media wisdom, is a return to the basics of close relationships, physical and mental exercise, and healthy food.  This is where aquaponics features, as a family activity that provides fish and vegetables for the kitchen, or a commercial activity producing wholesome crops for local consumption.  The essence of aquaponics is natural production and utilisation of a cyclical production methodology that minimises wastes to almost zero.  This can be conducted on a small piece of land close to the market, reducing food miles when we deliver our crops to the market.
  
Farming is an essential activity and this lockdown period provides an opportunity for us to get our crops into the local community, aiding the circular economic model of local production and sales that we see the world moving towards.  If you find yourself considering income options, I encourage you to seriously consider aquaponics.  Not only is it a pleasurable activity but also offers the ability to produce crops you can feel proud of selling or serving to your family.