DARLINGTON - Southern Wisconsin hardly seems the place for growing organic shrimp, but Monroe native Daryn Hanna has set out to provide a more sustainable approach to food in the Darlington area with the help of his business partner Brandi Camron.
Camron, also native of Monroe, has been working to raise awareness about Hanna's woodworking skills since November, when the pair began putting funds together for an aquaponics system just outside of Darlington. Hanna creates custom woodworking as a way to finance the sustainable food project.
"I've just been talking all over - whoever I can, I talk to," Camron said. "I wish I could help him in the shop. His talents are amazing. He always tells me to give him 5 minutes, a napkin and he can build something for you."
Hanna first became intrigued with the idea of aquaponics while living in Louisiana. Residing in the south for about 20 years before moving back home, the image of the large water tanks and formations fertilizing different types of plants followed him.
"I've always had an interest in it," Hanna said. "I lived in Louisiana for quite a few years. When I moved back here it was something I still had interest in, and my original intentions were Gulf shrimp, free from contaminants."
Camron and Hanna met three years ago when working at the manufacturing company Styleline in Monroe. It wasn't until November, after Hanna made a crescent moon-shaped cradle for Camron's goddaughter, they begin making plans to sell projects to fund a sustainable aquaponics project.
Hanna makes any number of crafts and pieces, from cabinetry to their newest order, a 7-foot-by-44-inch Black Oak table.
The shop, in an old barn along Walnut Road in Darlington, is a sawdust-covered space for Hanna's innovation. Tools are scattered along makeshift work tables propped up by sawhorses. Wood from old barns and reclaimed pallets lean against walls and sit in corners. The beginning of a forge, which Hanna is constructing himself, sits near the wood stove. An outlined wood maple leaf sits prepared to be entered into the Monroe Arts Center art show. Hanna has also worked with metal since high school, when he learned the art of manipulating it while working for a jewelry store along the south side of Monroe's Square.
Hanna, who was affectionately dubbed Rooster by Camron for his high energy at work in the morning, moves seamlessly among the pieces, sorting each item into a project he already has planned or has been toying with trying out. He can spend hours molding pieces.
"Everything can be repurposed. I guess it's just how you look at it," Hanna said. "Everything's still got life left in it."
Another section, separated by a hanging tarp for now, houses three 200-gallon tanks. Filled with water, these are set to house fish. On top of each tank hangs a planter. Aquaponics is the merger of aquaculture and hydroponics. By raising fish and growing soilless plants, Hanna and Camron plan to bring a sustainable, organic food source to the area.
The integrated system is a cycle of life through symbiotic existence for both fish and plants. Fish waste in water is pumped up to the plants. Bacteria turns the fertilizer into nutrients before moisture is siphoned back down into the fish tank, supplying food.
Although they hope to some day have shrimp, Hanna and Camron intend to begin with a milder prospect: It all starts with tilapia. Once warm weather approaches, the process will begin. Hanna said the tanks should be operational at the end of April. From the humble beginnings of tilapia and herbs, Hanna said shrimp is a three-year goal. Plant choices can expand to tomatoes or other vine-like vegetables.
A partnership between Camron and Hanna came easily. Camron works to bring in customers with her personality and conversational skills while Hanna prefers to stay in the shop, churning out pieces and happily remaining known only as Rooster. He credited Camron for her hard work.
"We do get along pretty good," Hanna said. "Brandi is awesome. She's really high energy and I'm totally opposite. I'm fine and dandy with the door shut, radio up, working in the shop."
The duo intends to open Rooster and Aunt B's Country Store as an attached business to the wood shop and aquaponics facility. Their location is near a well-used ATV trail, so once the store is completed and the fish are fully formed, they hope to begin selling to area businesses and individuals. They agree the store should be a family experience, with a focus on the benefits of organic food and repurposed materials.
"I don't think as individuals we should limit ourselves just to what we see," Hanna said. "We should always be looking past our visual sight. Dip down into the imagination, because that's where it's at.
"With a little hard work anybody can get there. Don't let go of a dream."
Camron, also native of Monroe, has been working to raise awareness about Hanna's woodworking skills since November, when the pair began putting funds together for an aquaponics system just outside of Darlington. Hanna creates custom woodworking as a way to finance the sustainable food project.
"I've just been talking all over - whoever I can, I talk to," Camron said. "I wish I could help him in the shop. His talents are amazing. He always tells me to give him 5 minutes, a napkin and he can build something for you."
Hanna first became intrigued with the idea of aquaponics while living in Louisiana. Residing in the south for about 20 years before moving back home, the image of the large water tanks and formations fertilizing different types of plants followed him.
"I've always had an interest in it," Hanna said. "I lived in Louisiana for quite a few years. When I moved back here it was something I still had interest in, and my original intentions were Gulf shrimp, free from contaminants."
Camron and Hanna met three years ago when working at the manufacturing company Styleline in Monroe. It wasn't until November, after Hanna made a crescent moon-shaped cradle for Camron's goddaughter, they begin making plans to sell projects to fund a sustainable aquaponics project.
Hanna makes any number of crafts and pieces, from cabinetry to their newest order, a 7-foot-by-44-inch Black Oak table.
The shop, in an old barn along Walnut Road in Darlington, is a sawdust-covered space for Hanna's innovation. Tools are scattered along makeshift work tables propped up by sawhorses. Wood from old barns and reclaimed pallets lean against walls and sit in corners. The beginning of a forge, which Hanna is constructing himself, sits near the wood stove. An outlined wood maple leaf sits prepared to be entered into the Monroe Arts Center art show. Hanna has also worked with metal since high school, when he learned the art of manipulating it while working for a jewelry store along the south side of Monroe's Square.
Hanna, who was affectionately dubbed Rooster by Camron for his high energy at work in the morning, moves seamlessly among the pieces, sorting each item into a project he already has planned or has been toying with trying out. He can spend hours molding pieces.
"Everything can be repurposed. I guess it's just how you look at it," Hanna said. "Everything's still got life left in it."
Another section, separated by a hanging tarp for now, houses three 200-gallon tanks. Filled with water, these are set to house fish. On top of each tank hangs a planter. Aquaponics is the merger of aquaculture and hydroponics. By raising fish and growing soilless plants, Hanna and Camron plan to bring a sustainable, organic food source to the area.
The integrated system is a cycle of life through symbiotic existence for both fish and plants. Fish waste in water is pumped up to the plants. Bacteria turns the fertilizer into nutrients before moisture is siphoned back down into the fish tank, supplying food.
Although they hope to some day have shrimp, Hanna and Camron intend to begin with a milder prospect: It all starts with tilapia. Once warm weather approaches, the process will begin. Hanna said the tanks should be operational at the end of April. From the humble beginnings of tilapia and herbs, Hanna said shrimp is a three-year goal. Plant choices can expand to tomatoes or other vine-like vegetables.
A partnership between Camron and Hanna came easily. Camron works to bring in customers with her personality and conversational skills while Hanna prefers to stay in the shop, churning out pieces and happily remaining known only as Rooster. He credited Camron for her hard work.
"We do get along pretty good," Hanna said. "Brandi is awesome. She's really high energy and I'm totally opposite. I'm fine and dandy with the door shut, radio up, working in the shop."
The duo intends to open Rooster and Aunt B's Country Store as an attached business to the wood shop and aquaponics facility. Their location is near a well-used ATV trail, so once the store is completed and the fish are fully formed, they hope to begin selling to area businesses and individuals. They agree the store should be a family experience, with a focus on the benefits of organic food and repurposed materials.
"I don't think as individuals we should limit ourselves just to what we see," Hanna said. "We should always be looking past our visual sight. Dip down into the imagination, because that's where it's at.
"With a little hard work anybody can get there. Don't let go of a dream."