We finally got some duckweed! What’s duckweed, you ask? Duckweed is a tiny ,floating aquatic plant often found in lakes and ponds. It is considered invasive by some, and it will spread if left unchecked. In fact, under ideal conditions duckweed can double in size every 24-36 hours. It is extremely efficient at pulling nutrients out of water, so it is often found in small ponds with large catchment areas and runoff.

Duckweed can be used as both a fertilizer high in nitrogen, or as livestock feed high in protein. Chickens, rabbits, goats, horses, pigs and of course ducks will all nibble on duckweed. Fish, especially tilapia, will completely annihilate it, so it’s best to keep it away from them if you want any left to regrow. Duckweed is also used in greywater systems where it thrives on the high nutrient water, and is then composted to safely cycle the waste water.

For now, we have our duckweed in a kiddie pool while we figure out a way to best utilize it. The goldfish in our hand dug pond have gotten a few snacks, and they love it so we need to figure out a way to keep it from being completely decimated. But we plan on using it as a supplemental source of protein for our laying birds, and as another way to cycle nutrients on our homestead. Duckweed!