WHAT WE DO
Why grow kelp?
As a sea gardener, I grow kelp on lines in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island in the winter season. Planting occurs in October/November and harvest is typically over a few days in April/May.
I grow sugar kelp, a native species to Rhode Island waters, because it is the right thing to do in a world filled with questionable choices. Partnering with a local oyster farm, I am not just growing kelp, I am helping to improve the health of our local waters and our planet.
I know others want to help repair our damaged marine ecosystem and do what is right for their local environment, economy, and personal health. Rhody Wild Sea Garden’s can help YOU help the PLANET.
Where does our kelp go?
Once harvested, our kelp will take one of three paths:
Market for food - Fresh, dried, ground, or frozen, Rhody Wild kelp is delicious and nutritious and is sold to restaurants and food purveyors.
Made into products - We are working with local and regional innovators on R&D to create bioplastics and other future-friendly products out of sugar kelp.
Animal Feed - We are working alongside animal agriculture experts to evaluate the nutrient content of our sugar kelp and develop a superior replacement to traditional grain supplements for cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. Using local kelp for local animals is better for their health and for the planet.
Soil Amendment - We provide end-of-harvest kelp pieces to land-based farmers who can enhance the soil for their seedlings and crops.
Ecosystem Services – Primed by the GreenWave Kelp for Climate program, we are striving to advance the ecosystem services marketplace for small kelp farms in New England.
Kelp education
We know the value of experiential learning and education. We offer ecotours of the farm, community harvest days, customized tasting events, and resources for kids and community. We also offer customized tours for school groups of workplace events. Winter paddleboard yoga amidst the kelp forest for your next work retreat, anyone?
Kelp research
Rhody Wild conducts research activities to better understand the environmental benefits of kelp. We have projects underway to understand the types of marine life that is attracted to the farm, how much nitrogen and carbon is absorbed, sediment composition beneath the growing kelp, growth rates, and more.
Rhody Wild is proud to be working alongside some of the regions leading aquaculture experts at the Scott Lindell Lab at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to better understand kelp strains, benefits to the environment, and growing practices. Many thanks to Dave Bailey and team for their insights and mentorship!
OceanFarmr has created a customized app that allows us to manage our farm and collect scientific data to advance our knowledge about growing kelp and the environmental benefits it provides.