DoubleDogFarm
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Aquatic Fern Azolla

Here is another little project. I have some Azolla growing in a 5 gallon bucket in the greenhouse and some in 2 large Rubber-maid tanks. Take a look at this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA-mjXsPBsU&feature=player_detailpage I will be doing something like this next. Instead of just soil, I will be spread dredging from my duck pond over the plastic liner. The slurry will be made from duck manured bedding. Inoculate with the Azolla. 15 days according to the video, that's pretty amazing at what temperature. I probably should have started this project in the spring. I will over winter the Azolla in the greenhouse.

Here is another video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5AUIXBF5Pw&feature=player_detailpage

Eric

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!potatoes!
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nice. will check out the vids when I have time. been interested on growing some of this since seeing it in c. deppe's book...one day...

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soil
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that second video is crazy, its like in two languages at once.

seems like a great way to cycle nutrients for animals. if I see or hear of anyone with azolla in there pond ill have to give it a try for my chickens. I bet you could dry it easily and store it for winter use.

DoubleDogFarm
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The second video is crazy isn't it. :lol: I think she said Azolla is 25-35% protein. You would think it would make great animal feed.


Eric

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I used to have an inground bathtub/pond. A few other similar but smaller eco niches for a variety of things including things I just liked to see grow. Azolla, scooped from a nearby lake, was one of them. My four ducks and five chickens kept it from covering the water's surface. The one concrete mixer pan in my fenced garden had to have handfuls scooped out periodically for the poultry, and for the viability of the mini-pond. Maybe the butterflies still would have liked it, but the frogs and small fish like at least a little open water for air and mosquito larvae.

Life is an adventure.

DoubleDogFarm
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Some picture of my Azolla experiment.

This first tank has more algae than Azolla, but they do have some relationship. This tank has a glass window covering the top.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20-%20Acona%20Ducks/Azolla001.jpg[/img]

The second tank seems to have more Azolla and little algae. I'm keeping this tank open.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20-%20Acona%20Ducks/Azolla002.jpg[/img]

Looks like it's a hit with the ducks, so next summer I will be ramping up the production.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20-%20Acona%20Ducks/Azolla007.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20-%20Acona%20Ducks/Azolla003.jpg[/img]

Eric

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PunkRotten
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If you have Koi or goldfish they love it too.



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