Ok, so, duckweed. How?

[jeff@rocketcitysoap.com]

Hello all,
I've heard a LOT about duckweed, and the wonders thereof. I have not yet found a step by step guide to growing the stuff. I seem to recall reading somewhere that somebody was collecting dog poop, and putting that in mesh bags to feed the duckweed. I can't find the article now that I'm ready to start on the duckweed project.
I intend to use 2 old bathtubs I salvaged as my duckweed grow ponds. I plan to make covers for the tubs out of window screens so I'm only growing duckweed, instead of duckweed AND mosquitoes. I've found an aquaponics dealer that will cheaply sell me a duckweed sample free from other water plants or parasites. So, what does duckweed need to grow? How do I care for my duckweed? Are there any pitfalls to avoid in raising duckweed? Is there a detailed duckweed guide available somewhere?
thanks a ton,
Jeff

[Julia in Asheville]

Hi Jeff, thought I might be able to help with this. I too never really found information on how to do this and my fish tended to eat more duckweed than I could produce. I started a worm farm of red wrigglers to also feed the fish, and I just happened to place the worm farm over the top of the tub of duckweed. As I watered the worm farm (dampening it as I put scraps in), the "water" dripped into the duckweed tub. This resulted in my inadvertently feeding the duckweed and they started reproducing quickly. It works like a charm and in addition to helping the duckweed reproduce, I use the "worm tea" that's created to water my starts for the growbeds. I found duckweed to buy at my local nursery that sells pond supplies. It costs about $2 a scoop which is a LOT of duckweed. I started with 2 scoops in early July and haven't bought any since. I feed my 35 tilapia a handful or two daily. I also feed them worms daily in addition to tilapia food. Hope this helps!

[jeff@rocketcitysoap.com]

thanks for the info. That does help :)