About the Author
Tamra Fakhoorian has a deep committment to global sustainable living through renewable energy and waste nutrient recycling. She consults on algae and duckweed production as well as integrated farming systems in the US and abroad.
As an avid duckweed enthusiast, Tamra grows and incorporates duckweed biomass in compost for organic fruits and vegetables. In an effort to become more energy independent, she single-handedly retrofitted an older country home to be near-zero energy. She cooks with solar ovens on a routine basis and gives workshops on the subject for area students.
This spring, she is seeding the first of many ponds for duckweed production. Watch for her organic, quality products on store shelves in Western Kentucky and surrounding region as well on online.
Tamra serves as co-founder of International Lemna Association and Director of Communication for em[POWER] Energy. She is the past president of National Algae Association Mid-South Chapter. Volunteer work also includes the Farmer to Farmer integrated farming program in the Caribbean, and Masons on a Mission- helping build fuel efficient concrete stoves for Mayan families in Guatemala.
She is also current president of Toastmasters, Intl. Paducah, KY chapter where she likes to remind everyone that, “Friends don’t let friends communicate poorly.”
Tamra is available for speaking engagements. Connect with her at tamraf9@gmail.com 270-356-0208
I have study not one particular write-up on your blog. You’re a major lad
Hi, I am just starting to get duckweed growing here in Summerfield, Florida. I am very impressed with your site, and hope to work up to max production in my small ponds.
I am now trying comfrey tea to feed the duckweed, along with my aquaponic water. I have found a slight amount of aeration helps but it seems to be a trick to find just the right amount.
There seems to be an ideal temp range for these plants as they are growing faster in 1 inch verses 4 inches,
Thank you for you awesome blog,
Mart
marthale7 ( youtube )
Mart, thank you for such a nice complement. I haven’t thought of using comfrey tea for my duckweed, although I do use compost tea as a “foliar” feed occasionally. A neat idea if you’ve got lots of comfrey handy. If your duckweed is growing faster in 1 inch of water vs 4, I agree, it’s a temperature difference. Warmer water temps speed up growth until it gets in the high 80′s. Then it peaks and starts declining as temps get into the 90′s. Shallow trays work quite well indoors. I’ve had good luck growing duckweed on plain soil as long as it stays consistently moist. I sometimes use a bit of duckweed on my shallow potted plant soil to get a feel for how dry my pots are from a glance. (primarily cactus)
Are you aerating your compost tea or your duckweed? Can you tell me more about that?
Cheers,
Tamra
I have just made this video, should help to answer some of your questions.
Yes I am aerating the duckweed with fish pumps. I am also have a bilge pump to stir up the water a bit.
Going on our idea that it is a temp difference, I believe that I will use a meat thermometer to test the difference between the duckweed that is growing better than the other, and see if I can come up with a method to even out the temperature I do have a couple solar heater panels for pools, may try using them with the bilge pump to raise the temp in the deeper areas.
I might try your compost idea, I have found from other videos that you can grow plants in wallmart bags, perhaps one could grow plants in them and also increase the nutrients in the water by the compost leaching out nutrients in the water.
I think you would also be interested in a video:
Olomana Gardens: Permaculture & Aquaponics
This guy uses duckweed to feed to his chickens, horses, and ducks.
Cheers!
Hi I’ve just found your site via science on the land and I’m quite excited by your love of duckweed and it’s potential – we have plenty on our pond! The nutrients all run off the farmland above us and arrive in our pond. It’s like a mini landscape with mountains and plains. Anyway, I was wondering, do you think my cows would eat it?
Hi Thinking Cowgirl, glad to meet you! I’ve seen pics of cows eating it. (I don’t have cows, so live vicariously through others on that score.) As cows are ruminants with four stomachs, there is debate about how much actual protein gets assimilated into their system due to bacteria converting it to nitrogen. Studies have shown it as going both ways. It won’t hurt the cows as long as it’s part of a balanced feed ration. Consider the percentage of water- 94-95% in your calculations. If the roots are 1/4″ or so, it’s got plenty of nitrogen and therefore protein probably in the 28-38% range. If roots are longer, then the protein lowers in favor of starch production and ash accumulation. The micro nutrients will be a bonus. As long as your uphill nutrient source isn’t a manufacturing plant, you should have pretty healthy duckweed. Thanks for your interest. Send me a picture!
I love your description of what it looks like on your pond. Am into the beauty of duckweed as well. Am just not as good at capturing it on camera as I’d like to be.
What a beautiful sight. The brcnahes look like they are dancing. Today we passed a cow pond covered in green algae, but it certainly did not look anything like this. It was yucky…this is gorgeous. genie
Thanks for visiting my blog and providing some great advice on duckweed. I will be reading up on its many uses on your site.