OUR WORK

Our Ocean Farm

Sugar Kelp grows on suspended lines an approved, commercial aquaculture lease in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Planting occurs in October and harvest is in April/May. We grow sugar kelp, a native species to Rhode Island waters, because it is the right thing to do in a world filled with question marks.

Oysters are farmed much of the year on the same lease as the kelp. We use bottom cages to grow oysters and sell to various markets in the state. In addition to intrinsically providing benefits to the ocean, oysters are a future-friendly food packed with vitamins and protein. In fact, if ten percent of the protein from beef consumption in the US was replaced with protein from oysters, the environmental benefit would be equivalent to taking 11 million cars off the road. Eat. More. Oysters. (Please)

Oyster Reef Building - Our farm is proud to partner with the State of Rhode Island, as one of many farms in RI to rebuild degraded natural habitat using oysters. The intricate three-dimensional structures of oyster reefs support up to 50 times more biodiversity than barren seafloors, providing vital nursery habitats for commercially important finfish and invertebrates.

Oyster & Kelp Programs

We know the value of experiential learning , especially to our youth. We offer farm tours and customized educational programs, summer camps, and day trips, and workplace team-building events.

Winter - Kelp season is in full swing and we offer tours and school year kelp programing, from the comfort and safety of the dock! For those who want a more in-depth learning, we offer 3-5 day programs spread throughout the winter, starting with planting the kelp lines at the dock, sampling and data collection, harvesting and connecting with customers! We also bring kelp and sea critters into the classroom for assemblies and science events. We also offer kelp internships for high school and college students!

Summer/Fall - Warmer weather means our farm experience day camps and tours! Offered by appointment, for groups from 1 to 40 people, we bring folks on the oyster barge to pull cages, explore sea life, swim, and even learn to drive the electric barge! For those looking for a personal experience, we partner with a local chef to host intimate farm dinners on the barge (limited to 4 people).

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Research & Collaborations

Rhody Wild conducts research to better understand the environmental benefits of kelp and oysters. Projects ongoing help improve the state of knowledge about kelp growth across the season, what types of marine life are attracted to the farm, how much nitrogen and carbon is kelp is absorbing, and more.

As a partnering farm with GreenWave, we annually collect growth and water samples to determine end of season yields and nutrient uptake & removal. We work with local non-profits to link research with school programs and annually mentor 1-4 students. The oyster reef building is a five year commitment to restore at least 1 million oysters into the natural environment and has dedicated sampling protocols to ensure it’s working. We work with Universities like URI and Brown University to boost our understanding of ocean farming and the many ecosystem benefits. Looking to partner on a research idea? Get in touch!

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