Hello Readers,

I was really looking forward to the second annual Maine Seaweed Week this spring. It runs from April 24th - May 2nd and was founded by my favorite Portland seaweed shop, Heritage Seaweed. Last year, many restaurants ran amazing specials with seaweed incorporated into their dishes and drinks.

This spring, we’re finding ourselves in a pandemic, therefore, it’s understandable to not be able to peruse all my favorite restaurants and their creative menus. I was afraid that there wouldn’t be anything happening for seaweed week; but instead, I loved what happened more. Now, I’m learning how to cook with Maine seaweed from home.

My love for seaweed started when I was young. As a little girl, I always found beauty in the colors of rockweed and bladderwrack. I grew up on the New Meadows River; a quiet saltwater river sandwiched between West Bath and East Brunswick/Harpswell.

My neighbor, Linda, would let us cool down in her cove and play in the rock pools at low tide. It created a fascination of saltwater flora and fauna for me, and it inspired a tattoo I had done on my right arm for my 25th birthday.

Can you find all three seaweed in this picture? Hint: One of them are my earrings from Nikki Pilgrim.

And that’s how I started the name of my blog: the rockweed writer. Whenever I write I am reminded how much Maine’s coast means to me.

But, now, I’m learning just how amazing seaweed is. On the first day of Seaweed Week, there was a free online video where I learned how to ID and forage for northeastern seaweeds for edible, topical, and even artistic use. I learned so much and I wanted to share why it’s so important for Maine’s future. Even National Geographic is calling kelp farming the “knight in green shining armor.”

Nutritionally

Maine seaweed grows in our cold, clean ocean water; which means it concentrates the rich vitamins and minerals found in the sea into it’s biomass. These minerals include: iodine, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and zinc. It’s also high in antioxidants and fiber. The benefits and awareness of sea vegetables in diet and self-care products is becoming more and more recognized. If the taste or texture is something that is difficult to muster, a lot of people find that freezing pureed seaweed into ice cube trays and popping them into a smoothie is an easy way to get started. Or, you can purchase them from Atlantic Sea Farms already frozen and ready to blend.

Sustainability

One of the amazing things about seaweed is that it doesn’t function like a normal plant, because it’s not a plant. It’s macroalgae. It exists and thrives just by being in the ocean. There’s a process to creating the submerged lines for the kelp farms to grow, but unlike traditional farms, these products don’t need to be watered, fertilized, be treated with pesticides, or even require land. Just the ocean required.

The Maine seaweed farms do not disturb the natural ecosystems; instead, they help them by producing oxygen, taking up carbon, and creating more habitat for underwater organisms.

There’s definitely been debate about those who forage wild seaweed and remove large quantities of it, and those concerns are valid. You should only take seaweed that is not attached to anything. Seaweed is important to the natural saltwater ecosystems around Maine and provide invaluable shelter to many of their organisms.

Economically

There are over 30 kelp farms in Maine! Maine Seaweed Week (April 24th-May 2nd) occurs during the kelp harvesting month. Many of those who lobster in the summer are able to grow kelp all fall and winter long during their “off-season” and then harvest in the spring. It’s an incredible way to diversify our Maine coastal community’s economy without depleting any of our natural resources.

By supporting Maine seaweed farms, you’re helping yourself, the environment, and Maine’s economy.

Plus, I think it’s delicious.

So far, I’ve been purchasing sheets of frozen Maine seaweed from my local natural foods stores and when I’m out of fresh greens I’ll substitute kelp. You can see an example of a soup I made at the end of this blog post. But I just purchased a beautiful new recipe book that incorporates seaweed into pesto, bread, dark chocolate, kimchi, salads, and even cocktails!

Another way to help the cause (and yourself) is by purchasing hair and skincare products. I’m obsessed with Seaweed Bath Co. — I get to take baths with seaweed and feel like an actual mermaid. It’s amazing.

Below I will link my favorite seaweed online resources for those who are interested!

Heritage Seaweed is Maine’s spot for all things seaweed, it’s a great place to start for curbside pickup in Portland or shipped to your house.