What You Need to Know About Selling Plants on Etsy

 This last springtime I learned something about Etsy - that there are many people who want to buy garden plants at that time of year to maximize their growing season. 

"What is THE GROWING SEASON?" you ask, in disbelief.

Well it turns out that Northeners, often referred to as Yankees, can only grow plants outside in the late spring, summer, and early fall. So they are just going outside as we are just returning to the inside in a kind of opposite effect.

I was reminded of this fact when I decided to try to sell some of my extra papyrus plants on Etsy this last March and April. By March and April, my water gardens were overflowing and plants were literally bursting out the sides and bottoms of their pots. Forehead smack, that ruins my pots! So I took many photos and listed the yellow cannas, which bloom first, the taro, and the papyrus.

Turns out that no one really wants to buy taro and cannas, likely because they are available at box stores most everywhere, but boy did the papyrus sell! I sold 9 sets of three rooted plants each at a very reasonable price, all within the span of two weeks. It was so fast that Etsy literally held my payments because they thought I had been frauding people somehow. But I did sell the plants so they eventually paid me.

One more thing about selling plants on Etsy - I have sold about 20 to 30 plant sets now, and in those orders have had two people whine and complain that the plants they received were not what they ordered. So...I am going to have to raise prices to make up for the bad apples. Just like Walmart. I mean, where do you think I learned that from?

Duckweed versus Water Hyacinth, Which is Right for Your Homestead?

Duckweed and water hyacinth are two aquatic plants that are increasingly being considered as potential sources of livestock fodder. Both of these plants are able to grow rapidly and prolifically in water bodies, making them attractive options for farmers and ranchers looking for cost-effective, sustainable feed sources.

In this blog post, we will compare and contrast duckweed and water hyacinth as potential fodder sources, looking at their nutritional value, ease of cultivation, and other important factors.

Nutritional Value

One of the most important factors when considering any feed source is its nutritional value. In this regard, both duckweed and water hyacinth have a lot to offer. Duckweed is rich in protein, with some species containing as much as 45% protein by dry weight. It is also a good source of essential amino acids, as well as vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin B12, iron, and calcium.

Water hyacinth, on the other hand, is high in fiber and also contains significant amounts of protein (up to 15% by dry weight). It is also a good source of minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. However, it is important to note that water hyacinth can accumulate toxic compounds such as heavy metals, which can make it unsuitable for consumption in certain areas. (They both bioaccumulate, though less research has been performed on duckweed and azolla for that purpose. It would be wise not to consume or allow animals to consume any plants that may be contaminated with large amounts of heavy metals.)

Ease of Cultivation

Another important factor to consider when comparing duckweed and water hyacinth as fodder sources is their ease of cultivation. Duckweed can be grown in a variety of water bodies, from small ponds to large-scale wastewater treatment systems. It requires relatively little maintenance, and can be harvested multiple times per year. However, it is important to note that some species of duckweed can be invasive and may require careful management to prevent them from spreading to other water bodies.

Water hyacinth, on the other hand, can also be grown in a variety of water bodies, but requires more maintenance than duckweed. It grows best in warm, tropical climates and can be sensitive to changes in temperature and water quality. Additionally, because of its potential to become invasive, water hyacinth may require more careful management than duckweed.

Environmental Impact

Both duckweed and water hyacinth have the potential to provide a number of environmental benefits in addition to their use as livestock feed. Duckweed, for example, has been shown to be effective at removing excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, reducing the risk of algal blooms and other water quality issues. It can also provide habitat for a variety of aquatic species.

Water hyacinth, on the other hand, can help to prevent soil erosion and reduce water evaporation in areas with high temperatures and low rainfall. It can also provide habitat for a variety of aquatic species, including fish, turtles, and birds. However, as mentioned earlier, water hyacinth can also become invasive and may require careful management to prevent it from spreading to other water bodies.

Cost and Availability

Finally, when considering duckweed and water hyacinth as fodder sources, it is important to consider their cost and availability. Duckweed is relatively easy and inexpensive to cultivate, and can be harvested multiple times per year. It is also available in a variety of forms, from fresh to dried, and can be fed to livestock as a supplement or as a complete replacement for other feed sources.

Looking to buy some live duckweed to try out at your homestead? Look no further than this excellent Etsy store, run by Knotty Pots.

Water hyacinth, on the other hand, may be more difficult and expensive to cultivate, depending on the location and water quality. It is also less widely available than duckweed, likely because it is illegal to buy/transport in some areas, including Florida. Water hyacinth may require more effort to harvest and process for use as livestock feed, as it is larger and heavier.

In conclusion, both duckweed and water hyacinth have the potential to be valuable sources of livestock feed, depending on a variety of factors such as their nutritional value, ease of cultivation, and local and regional laws.

Duckweed: The Versatile Homesteading Crop with Multiple Benefits

Homesteading, or the practice of living self-sufficiently off the land, has seen a resurgence in recent years as people seek to reduce their reliance on commercial food systems and live more sustainably. One plant that has the potential to be a valuable addition to any homestead is duckweed. This tiny aquatic plant has a range of benefits that make it an ideal addition to any homesteading operation.

One of the main benefits of duckweed for homesteaders is its ability to be grown as a high-protein feed source for livestock. Ducks, chickens, and other poultry will happily eat duckweed, which is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. In fact, some homesteaders have reported that their ducks and chickens will actively seek out duckweed when given the opportunity. This makes it an ideal food source for homesteaders who are looking to raise their own livestock and reduce their reliance on commercial feed.

In addition to being a valuable food source for livestock, duckweed can also be used as a natural fertilizer for crops. Duckweed is able to absorb nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the water, which can then be used to fertilize plants. This makes it an ideal addition to any homestead garden, as it can help to increase soil fertility and improve crop yields.

Another benefit of duckweed for homesteaders is its potential as a source of biofuel. Duckweed is rich in oils, which can be extracted and converted into biodiesel. This makes it an ideal crop for homesteaders who are looking to produce their own fuel and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Duckweed is also an excellent source of compost. Because it is rich in nutrients and breaks down quickly, it can be added directly to compost piles to help speed up the composting process and create a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Another way that duckweed can be used on the homestead is as a natural insect repellent. Studies have shown that duckweed contains compounds that repel insects such as mosquitoes and flies. This makes it an ideal addition to any homestead pond or water feature, as it can help to reduce the number of insects in the surrounding area.

Despite its many benefits, duckweed can be challenging to grow, particularly in colder climates. Duckweed requires warm water temperatures and plenty of sunlight in order to grow and thrive. This is why it is a superior option for Florida. However, with the right conditions, it can be a valuable addition to any homestead operation.

One approach to growing duckweed on the homestead is to create a small pond or water feature specifically for growing duckweed. This can be as simple as a plastic container filled with water and placed in a sunny location. Duckweed can be added to the container and allowed to grow and multiply, providing a valuable source of food for livestock and a natural fertilizer for crops.

Another approach to growing duckweed is to use an aquaponics system. Aquaponics is a system of agriculture that combines hydroponics (growing plants in water) with aquaculture (raising fish). In an aquaponics system, fish are raised in a tank and their waste is used to fertilize plants that are grown in water. Duckweed can be added to the aquaponics system as a natural filter, helping to remove excess nutrients from the water and improve the overall health of the system.

In conclusion, duckweed is a valuable plant that has a range of benefits for homesteaders. From its ability to provide a high-protein food source for livestock to its potential as a natural fertilizer and source of biofuel, duckweed is a versatile crop that can help homesteaders become more self-sufficient and sustainable. While it can be challenging to grow in colder climates, with the right conditions, duckweed can be a valuable addition to any homestead operation.

Want to try out duckweed at your place? You can pick up some from me from my Etsy store here

Duck Potato, Sagittaria platyphylla, Delta Arrowhead

     I once stole this plant from a ditch at the community College. No really,  I really did do that. I wasn't arrested either. It almost tops the time I took cattail from the ditch at the hospital. I wasn't arrested then either. 

     Actually I didn't know what this was until it made a pretty white flower, and now I love it. I had wanted to buy duck potato because I had read that it's edible to, well, ducks. Possibly rabbits? Not sure. But now that I have this plant, all I have to do is propagate it, and I will have unlimited duck food! Mwa haha.

     Supposedly the underground tubers are eaten by ducks and snapping turtles. It sounds like a great plant to grow. Supposedly it can be propagated by transplanting the tubers. Also supposedly, it was a major food source for the Native Americans that lived in the Okeechobee area. 

Pond plant question

 

Hi. I’m in Riverview. I have a small pond 4’x4’, with waterfall. Looking to get some plants for it. Can’t find anywhere. Lily, hyacinth, etc. Havecsny suggestions? Thanks, Matt iy, hyacinth, etc. , Matt

Welcome to the world of pond plantings! I have several large and small ponds here at my house in spring hill, the taro in the picture I originally purchased from a vendor at one of the USF botanical gardens spring or fall events. It was tucked in behind stuff and very overlooked. My whole garden theme is permaculture and edible, and of course it is hard to find and grow most of those plants well. We can feed Florida with water plants if people were just open minded.

I have this black Taro and the regular large elephant ears, and papyrus. I also have water hyacinth, which I eat, the rabbits eat, and the ducks I got this spring love to eat. I bought them originally online, possibly because you aren't allowed to sell it here due to it invading local waterways (it is a problem at some state parks south of here.) I sell it on Etsy here and can ship it to you.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1206813854/water-hyacinth-edible-floating-plant?ref=listings_manager_grid

And grow it in all of my ponds, none of which have waterfalls or circulation.

One of my other favorite pond plants is cannas, of which the native variety has yellow flowers. The leaves and corms are edible.

I have experimented with azolla and water cress, neither of which worked out for my big pond, possibly due to frog predation or heat stress. I use goldfish as my mosquito control in the two larger ponds and nothing or bt dunks in the smaller ones like in the picture.

But you asked where to get these things. Hmm.. there was a pond place I liked very much in Dunedin, it is small but has a lot of different (expensive) lilies, which I am not as interested in. You're in Riverview so you're not far from Tampa Pinellas and Sarasota, maybe you could find the local pond shops and let me know! As far as edible plants, there is a very nice nursery in Howie in the hills I quite enjoy called A Natural Farm. And I'm always scoping the sales at any botanical gardens I stop at, like nature coast botanical gardens by me and boo tower gardens near Orlando.

Huh. Riverview. You can grow avocado and sugarcane there. The cannas might not even freeze in the winter there. I'm jealous.

Pretentious Flower

      It must think it's hot stuff being the biggest only flower blooming in the entire neighborhood. Also pretty much every plant in this picture I would be willing to part with.

Do Ducks Eat Tradescantia Purple Heart?

 

    Things are so expensive. A bag of plain chicken food without the additives to promote egg laying is about $20. When you factor in the cost of the baby duck food I have already given them, at this time I have spent about $40 in nothing but feed for these ducks. That makes them kinda expensive if I was owning them for meat. So any supplementation that I can give them from my plants would be a good thing.

     Between the corn sprouts and the water hyacinth, I have learned that they will eat Spanish Needle, but they won't eat Papyrus. And today I covered their splash ponds in Tradescantia Purple Heart, also called Moses in a Boat. It's a lovely succulent that grows in deep shade and is used often around here as a groundcover. Previously I had determined that the rabbits do indeed like it.

     Covered the splash ponds in Purple Heart, and then went on to do the next chore. By the time I turned around they were eating everything in sight, including the Purple Heart.

     That day they didn't finish their chicken crumble food or the corn sprouts because they filled up on healthy plants.

     Ducks love water hyacinth.

Water Hyacinth Recipe

      The hardest part about eating vegetables might be the texture. Or maybe because it's unusual, or not native to your culture. People question the safety of vegetables they have never heard of, as if it must be unsafe to eat if it's not available at the store, which is illogical. There are a great deal of vegetables we probably should be eating because they are sustainable and local, but aren't. Is that because big business controls everything?

This recipe is great with frozen broccoli if you have no mushrooms.

Water Hyacinth with Mushrooms and 🧄

A recipe by Chrissy.

-  4 cups water hyacinth, sliced into strips the size of green beans.

- 2 cloves of garlic, minced

- 3 teaspoons olive oil or your favorite oil, sunflower is good but coconut is so so.

- 1 cup mushrooms, frozen is ok.

Put the oil and garlic into your favorite cast iron skillet and bring to medium heat, then add mushrooms and sliced water hyacinth. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes, stirring and turning often.

Eat the Water Hyacinth

Raw

     If you want to grow your own food, you may have to open up to the idea of eating some fruits and vegetables that are not commonly found at the grocery store. And if you live in Florida, you're going to be working with a whole different plant set and growing season changes than them Yankee gardeners. All this flexibility in diet isn't easy, most people eat the foods that they were raised eating and find trying new foods to be difficult.

     Water hyacinth is my new favorite local food. It's a water plant that grows in warm water, and is well known for how quickly it creates baby plants. In the past it has been used to pull toxins out of water sources, indeed, water purification is one of it's advantages. After I had added it to my pond the water instantly cleared and the fish became visible. Because the pond water is kinda yucky, I feel that water hyacinth should always be cooked, and I handle it like it's contaminated with E.coli (as it may be after the great manure spill of 2016). 

     According to Green Deane, the best way to eat water hyacinth is to stir fry, and I completely agree. With oil and garlic preferably. It has a taste not dissimilar from some good fresh green beans, which are hard to come by nowadays. The texture is decidedly different, as the air bulbs are crunchy and airy, like eating potato chips, and can be a bit chewy. Overall I would say that water hyacinth is quite palatable.

     Water hyacinth is very different from other fruits and vegetables. Because it is so unusual I couldn't get the kids to try it, what a shame! It's so easy to grow in the pond - right plant, right space - that is seems to be ever bearing. Like ever bearing crunchy green beans! Even if the kids never eat it, I know I can eat it and the rabbits do quite enjoy the green bits (they won't eat the roots.)

     This video talks a little bit about how water hyacinth is used at this lake to feed local livestock, including chickens.

 

Kiddie Pool Gardening

   I have been wanting to plant cannas into a kiddie pool for years. Maybe I wasn't brave enough before. Maybe I just didn't " have the time". Either way, I somehow managed to bring home a kiddie pool late this last spring.
     I wanted to make sure it was sunken into the ground for two reasons: to protect the corms of the cannas from temperature extremes and to keep the edibles hidden from the NSA/the Sheriff's Secret Police. I would really like the dirt and water to be able to insulate the cannas enough in the winter that they will no longer need protection.

   Managed to dig the shallow pit in less than an hour. After placing the pool, I took it out a few times in order to get it leveled - which was when I discovered the front yard was sloped at much steeper angle than I had ever realized.
     Once the pool was mostly level I filled up the water and began placing some plants in it - which was when I realized that though the pool looks shallow it is actually deeper than the height of my one gallon nursery pots. The plants were rolling/ floating sideways and then were losing their surface soil and mulch. I decided to fill the floor of the pool with plant matter from plants that I didnt want to keep, mostly African orange honeysuckle and purple Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart' (which I am unclear if it is edible or not.) I raised the floor of the pool about an inch, then began filling it with a few plants.

     It was at this point that I had to break for the week, which gave me some time to think about pool pond garden. I decided to try putting a few fish in there. The next week I hit the local Walmart and bought 3 goldfish, knowing that one or all would probably die. Then I repotted a bunch of my cannas since I now had space to place them. I ended up filling the entire pool with pots, and didn't see a single goldfish as I did so - the water was a bit brackish at this point. Almost all of the cannas survived dividing and replanting, and most have bloomed now that a few months have passed.

    I have been taking the plain red cannas out of the front yard and putting them into the back. I am going to be taking them out to the forest garden and the river garden, both of which have low areas which are moist at this time of year. I plan on keeping the yellow, yellow/orange, peach, and pink cannas here in the front. It's my hope that they will cross and make new colors. I have potted up two volunteer seedling cannas I found in my yard, plus saving and planting any seed.

Back Yard Pond Gardening

November, 2018

     After I moved into this house, my daughter and I dug a pond garden in the back yard. Then I lined it with expensive 6 mil liner from the big box store, a purchse I will never make again. Not that I am not happy with my pond, but I found a larger liner 50 mils thick for half the price. Then I placed some patio pavers around it, that I had gotten from my mom.

July 2019

   During the storm season of 2018 the pond flooded badly enough to draw the plants up and out of their pots. I recovered most of them, but some died off or were eaten by who knows what.

Animals must visit the pond a lot more than you would suspect, because last month I found a plant uprooted and a paver pushed into the water. Then I found this cute tortoise unable to climb his way out.
     I learned at the pond shop nearby that most people who have ponds put a lot of value into their fish and their waterfalls. I grew up in Florida, what the heck is a waterfall?? Fish are necessary to control mosquitos, so I began shopping for the black mosquitofish that are at the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens and couldn't really find them. Okay, I will admit, I didn't look too hard. Instead I bought some feeder goldfish for $0.20 each. Most have died off or disappeared, but I have counted as many as five 6-inch long goldfish at any one time. I don't feed these fish, they live on bugs and algae.
The water is pretty clear, but there is quite a bit of sediment at the bottom. Once in a while I scoop it out into the garden.

The Ginger Family

     While trying to discern if Stromanthe was a type of ginger, learned a few things:
     -The ginger order (Zingiberales) is a large one, including 68 genera.
     -Most members of Zingiberales are herbacious perennials with rhizomatous root systems (Wikipedia).
     -Straight from Wikipedia, the families of Zingiberales include
          -Cannas
          -Costus Spiral Gingers
          -Heliconias
          -Orchidantha
          -Musa Bananas
          -Maranta Prayer Plants
          -Strelitzia Bird of Paradise
          -Zingiber Gingers
     Most of the members of the Zingiberales Order are tropical or subtropical. Cannas are native to the new world, while most Zingiber gingers are native to Asia.
     Zingiberoides members have adapted to Southeast Asia's monsoonal climate, becoming dormant in the dry season as underground fleshy rhizomes. Marantas, Heliconias, and Cannas have adapted to swampy areas and have their rhizomes rooted underwater.
     Asarum canadense "wild ginger" of Eastern North America is actually not a ginger, and is not edible. If eaten it causes permanent kidney damage as it contains aristolochic acid. Try saying that 5 times fast.
     Members of the Maranta family can have Rosmarinic acid, a caffeic ester. Arrowroot is a member of the Maranta family. So is Stromanthe, so it is possibly edible and possibly awesome.

Another Canna for Sale

     While this particular Canna is small and easily transportable, I have several more of this variety that are more than 6 feet tall with lush and thick foliage. This canna produces bright red flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds. As I am sure you know, Cannas love full sun and water, and make great pond plants. This would be a fantastic Mother's Day gift for any mom on your list. $5.
Have many other beautiful plants that are attractive to hummingbirds and bees, including sage and ginger.
     Thank you for your interest! Feel free to ask questions.
   - Knotty Pots

Buy this plant from me - Dwarf Red Canna

This morning I snapped a quick picture of this dwarf, red Canna. This is its first bloom of the season.
As you may know, Cannas love full sun and plenty of water. It's difficult to overwater them! Cannas can be placed into a pot in a new or existing pond, or planted out in the ditch that might exist in your yard.
I was thinking $5 or a trade/barter would be a good price, as this is a 100% organic offering of an edible plant beautiful enough for the front yard.
Thank you for checking out my plants. More offerings to come in the future. Ok to ask questions, even dumb ones.
-Knotty Pots
Chrissy

Florida's Department of Making Water Gardeners Sad

On this list, all the plants are illegal.

These species can only be grown in licensed, permitted, and inspected nurseries which have taken measures to ensure no possibility of escape for these plants.

     While some of these plants are unfamiliar, others are sources of human and animal nutrition that should not be disallowed in non-tender areas. For example, non-native water hyacinth is a favorite food of manatees and is reported to be well-received by cattle, goats, and rabbits. It's one of the main plants that I wanted for my pond, since it has beautiful tropical flowers and is edible. A few other plants of making people sad are water chestnuts, water spinach, and water lettuce.

Girl Builds Pond, Part Seven

Papyrus, Cannas, 'Fruit Punch' Mint, Taro.

Girl Builds Pond. Part Six

Girl Builds Pond, Part Five

Girl Builds Pond, Part Four

Girl Builds Pond, Part Three