About Us

Who we are

Aquapotic

We're a small, family owned and operated cannabis cultivation company in Sturgeon Lake, MN. We grow exclusively using aquaponics — hence our name, AquaPOTic. We're a licensed microbusiness with the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management.

Aquapotic logo
Our goal

Grow quality cannabis while leaving the lightest footprint possible.

What drives us

Our Values

We strive to prioritize environmental sustainability, which is part of why we chose to grow with aquaponics instead of soil or standard hydroponics. It's not the easiest, but it's very sustainable - and fun.

Environment First

Every decision — from facility design to fertilizer — starts with one question: what's the smallest footprint we can leave?

Craft Quality

Small scale means hands-on attention. Every plant is tended by the same people who built this place from the ground up.

The team

Who are we?

We are currently a two-man operation (three, if you count Flipper the dog).

Together we run every aspect of our business, from caring for the fish to trimming the plants. There's no "management" here — just us, doing the work we love.

We are: nerds

Aaron Bode

from Moose Lake, MN

Aaron grew up in Northern Minnesota with a deep interest in how things work. He gravitated toward building and experimentation from a young age, taking things apart to understand them and developing a strong interest in sustainability and environmental systems.

He handles the engineering side of Aquapotic — facility planning, system design, 3d printing everything, and anything else that requires figuring out how things work.

Siebe van den Broek

from 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands

Siebe grew up in the Netherlands with a deep fascination for aquatic ecosystems, plants, and animal care. He's designed and built many aquariums and ponds over the years, mostly with small tropical fish. Bringing fish into Aquapotic wasn't only for sustainability, it's also a passion.

When Aaron's chaos leaves loose ends, Siebe's patience and attention to detail tie them off. He's the one who notices the small things before they turn into problems. His steadiness is a big part of why the whole system actually works.

How we got here

Our Story

After meeting during an exchange year in the Netherlands, Siebe and Aaron spent 5 years on opposite sides of the Atlantic pursuing education and careers. After a long wait and loads of paperwork, they were able to reunite and marry in Minnesota, where they now live and work together.

Despite growing up in different parts of the world, they share many of the same values. Both were raised in families that emphasized curiosity, hands-on learning, and respect for the natural environment.

Over time, their shared interests naturally converged. Aaron's passion for sustainable systems and engineering, combined with Siebe's deep knowledge of aquatic and plant care, led them to explore aquaponics as a way to grow plants efficiently and responsibly.

Today, Aaron and Siebe operate their small cultivation business in the woods of Northern Minnesota. They hang out with their dog, cats, and fish, and do their best to produce some high-quality weed.