ABOUT KELP

What is sugar kelp?

Sugar kelp, or Saccharina latissima, is a brown marine algae native to Rhode Island waters. Like other marine algae, sugar kelp is not a plant and does not have roots, but rather a holdfast that stations it to the ground in the wild. As with all kelp, it is ecologically vital, being a primary producer and offers food and structure for other marine life.

Sugar kelp not only grows wild in Rhode Island, but it can be cultivated, or grown by people, through the practice of aquaculture or what we like to call “sea gardening”. Sugar kelp is unique to other cultured species in Rhode Island like shellfish, in that it is a winter-only crop, with planting happening in the fall and harvest in the spring. During these few months, sugar kelp can go from seedling to nearly 15 feet. Imagine if our backyard gardens grew that fast?!

Kelp is Delicious & Nutritious

Filled with essential micronutrients and vitamins, kelp is the perfect power food. There are local and regional companies making products ranging from kelp noodles to kelp burgers. Used in sushi, salads, and more recently in everything from granola bars to Sea-Chi (think kimchi with kelp), it’s a healthy, sustainable way to eat local and feel good. Check out a few of these kelp-inspired recipes!

Kelp and other marine algae are also used in everything from toothpaste & shampoo, to ice cream & gummy bears! You’ll be surprised: Check out the ingredient list on products you buy every day. If you see “algin”, that is an emulsifying and bonding agent extracted from kelp.

Since kelp is beautifully seasonal, our fresh-to-you kelp is only available from February to April each year - Pre-order here!

Kelp in Other Things!

Animal Feed - Our kelp is available dried for your livestock, chickens, and even pets! Recent research from the University of California, Davis shows that feeding cattle certain seaweed can reduce the amount of methane they produce (a greenhouse gas contributor) by more than 82 percent. Order your kelp online today!

Soil Amendment -

Bioplastics - Companies are using kelp and turning it into plastic alternatives (i.e. straws, containers, drink pouches), a biodegradable, sustainable solution to our plastic waste crisis around the world.

Biofuel - Kelp is a viable source of renewable energy. Unlike other biofuels, it doesn't take pesticides or fertilizer to produce, and it's naturally fast-growing.

Art & Inspiration - The history and lore of kelp stretches across the globe thousands of years. Even today, we work with local artists, furniture makers, and even textile experts to explore uses for kelp in our every day lives. My favorite: nature art by my niece and nephew :) @peacefulpause

Kelp as an Ecosystem Superhero

More and more data & publications are proving the myriad of ecosystem services that kelp provides. Kelp has enormous potential to capture and remove carbon from our earths system, helping to mitigate climate change. In fact, studies have shown that on a global scale, seaweeds can sequester nearly 200 million tonnes of CO2 every year, as much as the annual emissions of the state of New York. Kelp is also excellent at absorbing nutrients like nitrogen from the marine environment.