Training Testimonials

“I recommend Friendly Aquaponics’ trainings to anyone that is interested in making money by using the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture. I learned a lot more in four days from the Friendly Aquaponics training than I did in one full academic week at the University of the Virgin Islands! Tim and Susanne will take you by the hand and show you the aquaponics system step-by-step and even build it for you. They explain everything in layman’s terms until you can understand how the system works and even after the training they are readily available for follow up questions or concerns–with their support and advice, I built my system within 30-days and I am awaiting for organic certification inspection in the 1st week of December 08. I love Tim, Susanne and their family.” (In this statement, Vinny refers to his organic certification inspection: we are certified through Oregon Tilth, and they have said that “as long as people build their systems exactly as Friendly Aquaponics has done, then their certification process will be a slam dunk.” Needless to say, Vinny is getting inspected through Oregon Tilth, even though he’s in Louisiana!) ***Update January 2009: Vinny passed his Certification Inspection with flying colors!
-Dr. Vinny Mendoza, Ph.D., USAF (Ret.), Kenner, LA

“…a very ambitious and well thought-out program.”
-Dr. James Rakocy, Ph.D., Professor and Director of University of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Experiment Station (UVI), and the driving force behind their 25 years of research done on aquaponics in the academic setting.

“You are an inspiration, and are doing so much to empower people and communities to take control of their own food security. This course was life-changing.”
-Leyla Cabugos, MS Botany, UH Manoa, and Founder of the Urban Roof Garden Project, Honolulu, Hawaii

And from our October 2009, 4-four day Training, with 42 participants:

“I am so excited about the whole time I spent in your class and at the farm. I can not remember the last time I have experienced such a rewarding seminar. It is hard to believe that you are so generous to have shared with us all the details of your last 2 years hard work. You have made our job easy compared to what you have endured. I am spreading the word everywhere I can. As soon as I get a system up and running well I plan to invite all the people I can to come see it.

I want you to know that I have never met 2 people who exhibit so much Intelligence, are so Innovative, and possess so much Integrity. I was a great honor to sit in your class and to have the privilege to eat with you at your home.”
-Raychel Watkins, Waianae, HI

“Tim, Susanne and Family: Thank you very much for your training. I tried to say thanks before I left, but was at a loss for words. I also have a quite varied background, (professional welder, machinist, mechanic, farmer, computer programmer, software consultant, painter, etc.) and thus, I am in awe of very few men when it comes to creativity and the breadth of knowledge and abilities and experience. Tim, I am in awe of you. You not only have an incredible range of knowledge and talents, that knowledge is deep as well, and your ability to implement your knowledge is incredible. Some can think it, some can do it, some can teach it. You do it all, need I say more. Thanks for who you are and what you do! Susanne, The same goes for you, but on a different plain. You are on the personal plane. I appreciate your perspectives and enthusiasm. You have proven to be a most worthy opponent of the most recalcitrant government agencies and corporations. I so much appreciate your open sharing of the trials and tribulations you have gone through to get you where you are and your encouragement for others! Thanks again.

I know we have only a small hint of the incredible effort and stress your family has endured over the last few years. The stress involved with the situation in which you found yourself cannot be communicated. I know that.

I want to work with you guys in the future in any way I can. You have the solution to a huge number of the world’s issues. The biggest challenge will be to communicate the solution as far and as wide as possible, and prevent the people who control our government (along with the rest of the world), the large corporations from taking this solution from the rest of us.

Since I am one of the few who have attended both your training and the other intensive aquaponics training available on the mainland, I must say there is simply no comparison. Though the other training was valuable, you covered many more issues, covered them in much more depth, provided more complete and practical knowledge. You left no stone unturned to do your very best to insure that everyone in the training could be successful in Aquaponics if they chose to do so. I also appreciated your willingness to say you didn’t know, if you didn’t know!

Thank you very much! You guys must be totally beat after such an extraordinary training! And thank your children for participating. That is so missing in our world today. It looks like there is finally light at the end of your very long tunnel. I certainly hope so, you deserve it.”
-Joe Weatherby, Boise, ID

Lettuce Testimonials

Sold under the brand name “World Tribe Foods” with a 15 day freshness guarantee!

The quotes below are from a few of the people who make a special point to buy our lettuce, even if they have to come to the farm!

“Sweet, crisp, yummy!” Dr. Marcel Hernandez, Naturopathic Physician, Pacific Naturopathic Center, Kapulena, Hawaii

“In 20 years of organic gardening in the ground, this is the sweetest lettuce I have ever eaten.” Linaka Washburn, Honoka’a, Hawaii.

“Grrr! Best lettuce I’ve ever eaten!Now I just have to figure out how to open the bag!” Christopher Flynt, Tucson, Arizona

“I like our lettuce, it’s Hawaiian.” Jack Friend, age seven, Kalopa, Hawaii.

“Lettuce is healthy. Mom makes me eat it a lot.” (Admittedly, Jack is somewhat biased! But he does eat a lot of our lettuce!) Lucky Friend, age six, Kalopa, Hawaii