Five years ago, a busted old swimming pool sat out of commission on the property of a foreclosed home in Mesa, Arizona, and from that damaged amenity, the Garden Pool movement was cultivated.<\/p>\n
In 2009, Dennis and Danielle McClung bought that foreclosed home and empty swimming pool in need of expensive repairs. Instead of fixing up the swimming pool, McClung transformed the swimming pool into a self-sufficient, mini ecosystem. McClung built a plastic cap over the old swimming pool and began cultivating food where people once swam.<\/p>\n
The Garden Pool featured a closed-loop ecosystem where tilapia, algae, and duckweed flourished alongside broccoli and sweet potatoes. McClung\u2019s goal was to feed a family of five and within a calendar year, their Garden Pool saved the family 75 percent on their grocery bills.<\/p>\n
Before long, the idea grew into a movement and Garden Pool, the 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was formed. Today, according to the Garden Pool website<\/a>, Garden Pools are being built around the globe as a sustainable solution to modern \u201cfood production challenges.\u201d Grist featured the Garden Pool in an article<\/a> late last summer and praised the growth of the Garden Pool.<\/p>\n