<![CDATA[I DREAM OF FISH

<![CDATA[I DREAM OF FISH - Blog]]>Mon, 25 Jan 2021 20:31:17 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[I Dream of Fish goes to Hawaii]]>Mon, 25 Jan 2021 20:26:53 GMThttp://idreamoffish.org/blog/i-dream-of-fish-goes-to-hawaii
Dear IDOF Supporters,
We wanted to give you an update on I Dream of Fish and what we have been planning during these past few months.

Due to recent times with the global pandemic, we have been trying to find a way to continue our efforts in helping people in need. We have had to put a hold on any new international projects due to Covid-19, which turned our efforts towards more local needs within the United States.

Hawaii currently has the highest rate of unemployment in the entire United States. The state has been hit hard due to the pandemic, with tourism being the state’s top industry. Sadly, indigenous Hawaiians suffer disproportionately from homelessness and poverty.

I Dream of Fish has been researching Hawaiian organizations that are in line with our mission to invest in youth, education, and ending world hunger. NALU Studies is a non-profit organization based in Hawaii whose mission is to educate at-risk youth on making responsible decisions for themselves, their communities, and the environment as future leaders. Their emphasis on the value of sustainable aquaculture by connecting modern science to indigenous cultural practices felt like the perfect match for IDOF.

I Dream of Fish is excited to support a $25,000 grant to NALU Studies which will help fund three student cohorts in 2021 during the Spring, Summer and Fall sessions. 30-60 students will go through this program where they will learn about aquaculture, indigenous cultural aquaculture practices of Hawaii fishponds, culminating in a research paper and a presentation at a public symposium. Students from the first cohort will be mentors for the following session, highlighting the importance of giving back to the community.

We want to thank all of our I Dream of Fish supporters, especially our monthly donors, for making this grant possible. I hope this grant can be one of the many ways we can continue helping kids in need. If you would like to continue to support our efforts to end world hunger, please donate here.

To learn more about NALU Studies, https://www.thepaf.org/portfolio-items/nalustudies/

Maholo,
Miles Lin and the I Dream of Fish Team

]]><![CDATA[Do frogs really taste like chicken?]]>Tue, 01 May 2018 07:00:00 GMThttp://idreamoffish.org/blog/do-frogs-really-taste-like-chickenDear Supporters,
In the spring of 2018, I visited our third aquaponic system in Kampong Cham, Cambodia. Our trip first began when we flew into Phnom Penh International Airport, where we were instantly hit with the surprisingly humid and hot climate. The next day, we drove to the aquaponic. Upon arrival, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the fish and the frogs for the first time. This aquaponic differentiates from our previous farms because we decided to include frogs, as it is a main food source for the locals.

One of the best parts of the trip was seeing what was only a mere idea in my head a couple years ago, to actually seeing it in person. I felt absolutely ecstatic, but knowing that hundreds of people would benefit off of the resources it would provide was even better. After touring the farm, it was time to get to work and do whatever I could do to help. First we started by cleaning out the frog pens of all the algae and unwanted dirt. This was a really weird process because I had to go into the frog pen and move them to the side so I could clean the floor. It was filled with a lot of laughs and jumping frogs. Right next to the frogs were the catfish tanks. There were three different tanks that separated the fish into 3 stages: frys, fingerlings, and the adults. We took a net and looked at the different tanks, and it was really cool to see the process of a fish maturing up close.

Next we went to the garden. In order to have an effective and sustainable garden, there is a lot of maintenance that comes with raising them. Part of this is pruning and we spent a couple hours doing that. This was a tedious process, especially with the humidity.

In addition to the site visit, we made sure to explore some of the natural wonders of Cambodia including a day trip to Siem Reap to see the Angkor Wat temples. It was pretty incredible to see these 12th century temples still standing. Some of the temples had been taken over by trees and plant life with root systems growing all around the structures. It was really cool.

This pretty much rounded up our trip, and my first visit to Cambodia was definitely a special experience. Despite the unbearable weather, being on the complete other side of the world was a big change. I look forward to going back and visiting again. Lastly, yes, frogs really do taste like chicken!

]]><![CDATA[Lego Batman Movie Fundraiser]]>Wed, 01 Mar 2017 08:00:00 GMThttp://idreamoffish.org/blog/lego-batman-movie-fundraiserOur 2017 Fundraiser on Feb. 5th featuring The Lego Batman Movie by Warner Bros. was a big success. We sold out of every seat and raised over $26,000. This money will be used to help solve world hunger through aquaponics and farming in needed communities around the world. We have so many communities who are waiting for development projects and this gets us one step closer to helping them. Thank you all for your support. If you would like to continue to give, click here. And be sure to sign up for our newsletter here so you can follow our new projects.

]]><![CDATA[Aquaponic System at an Orphanage in India]]>Mon, 29 Sep 2014 16:56:30 GMThttp://idreamoffish.org/blog/aquaponic-system-at-an-orphanage-in-indiaIt's been a few months now since returning from India to visit our first aquaponic system in Southern India. I want to update all my friends, family, and supporters on the trip, what we did, what we accomplished, and what our plans are going forward.

After 4 flights and traveling over 21 hours from Los Angeles, we finally arrived in Tenali, India. We were greeted with a beautiful song and dance from the children at the orphanage where they ended their final dance by throwing flowers at us and giving me beautiful flower leis.

We spent most of the week getting to know the aquaponic system which included gender checking of the fish, planting seeds for the new harvest, and checking water temperature and pH levels. For the gender checking we had to go into the water and grab the fish to look at their spine and under their bellies. It was really fun.

What we accomplished-

Meeting the kids at the orphanage and hearing some of their stories about what an impact the orphanage has had on their lives.
Planting seeds for the new harvest (eggplant, curry, peppers)
Gender checking to see if the fish are mating on their own to increase the fish population naturally
Testing the pH levels and making adjustments
Discussing how to keep the water cool enough for the fish when it's 105 degrees outside

My favorite parts of the trip were getting to meet the kids at the orphanage, fishing in the local Indian river, gender checking, and planting the eggplant seeds. My least favorite things were the 105 degree heat, the humidity, and the mosquitoes. Eating with my hands wasn't that great either.

Overall, I'm really excited about what we're doing here and I can't wait to go back and see how the fish and plants grow. We have definitely learned a few things on this system that we hope to put into practice on the next project. Thank you all for donating to make this project possible. A special thanks to Suresh, Cory, Carli, Garrett, and Mark for making this trip so fun. Namaste!

Here's the aquaponic system, almost complete. Five raised beds for planting and a large fish system for hundreds of fish.

We planted eggplant (my favorite), red & green peppers, and multiple types of curry (one of India's favorite spices)

Visiting one of the local communities that live along the riverside. What a welcoming group of people. My cheeks are still sore from all the pinching!

]]><![CDATA[Results of our first fundraiser with the Lego Movie]]>Tue, 04 Mar 2014 04:10:53 GMThttp://idreamoffish.org/blog/results-of-our-first-fundraiser-with-the-lego-movie

An unbelievable event where so many friends and family came out to support I Dream of Fish. We sold out of every seat in the theater and raised over $37,000 to go towards ending world hunger with fish!!!!

Everything IS Awesome!

Thank you to Crowdrise for making this process so much easier. Our original fundraising campaign on Crowdrise.

]]><![CDATA[First fundraising event]]>Tue, 31 Dec 2013 00:13:25 GMThttp://idreamoffish.org/blog/first-fundraising-event

I have some exciting news that I can't wait to share with all of you. I'm still working on sponsors and details but I'll give you a hint- it's going to involve Lego and Warner Bros. It's going to be epic!

]]><![CDATA[My first blog entry, ever!]]>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:10:40 GMThttp://idreamoffish.org/blog/my-first-blog-entry-everIt's March 15, 2013 and this is the first post on my blog. I am so excited to start the I Dream of Fish Foundation! I have loved fish my entire life and now I get to share my love with other people. How exciting!]]>