Sensational SEAWEED

BY JOANNA O’LEARY

Sometimes, the “weeds” are lovelier than the flowers.

Such is the case with Maine seaweed, a deceptively dully name for a collection of vibrant algae and plants that flourish along our state’s shore. Maine boasts more than a half-dozen different types of seaweeds in a rainbow of colors, such as dark green rockweed, brown-black horsetail kelp, yellow wormwood, olive-green bladderwrack, reddish-purple dulse, and purple-green Irish moss. These eye-catching hues bely distinct nutritional and medicinal properties: in addition to being an excellent source of iodine, seaweed contains prebiotics and sulfated polysaccharides (long-chain sugars), both of which promote digestive health. Research has also shown that seaweed may improve heart health and reduce blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol. These aforementioned virtues render seaweed one of the state’s richest (and arguably, less appreciated) natural resources.

Overseeing the harvest and processing of this robust botanical bounty is the Maine Seaweed Council. Established in 1993 by group of like-minded farmers, business owners, and scientists, the council’s general mission is multi-fold: to educate and inform the public and lawmakers with regard to the benefits of seaweed, to train aspiring harvesters, and to ensure the sustainability and fair use of natural seaweed resources.

In recent years, the council has focused its efforts on management of the seaweed industry by Maine in pursuit of its mission to promote sustainable harvesting and processing. Council members have developed methods for farming (e.g. mechanical harvesters, hand-harvesting, selective harvesting, and sun and air drying) to establish best practices for new and veteran harvesters.

MEET MORGAN - LEA FOGG AND JAKE PATRYN

One such veteran harvester that has taken up the mantle with regard to pioneering the most advanced processing techniques as well as advocating the importance of Maine seaweeds is Nautical Farms. The brainchild of wife and husband team Morgan-Lea Fogg and Jake Patryn of Machias, Nautical Farms was conceived while the couple was actually living in Colorado. After delving into the spectrum of impressive benefits of seaweed for the human body as well as for the planet, they returned to their home state to grow their own crops on their farm on Maine’s coast.

Nautical Farms is organically certified and deploys the latest technology to ensure the regeneration of its seaweed. Harvesting is conducted by hand and crops are dried in the sun prior to being processed and parceled in compostable packaging. Fogg and Patryn’s passion for seaweed’s versatility is evinced by the farm’s diverse products. Cooking enthusiasts and gourmands can deepen the flavor and texture of their food via the addition of kelp powder or alaria flakes.

“We are big foodies here at Nautical Farms,” said Patryn. “So [the] sky's the limit when it comes to adding kelp to meals. This time of year, when it's hot I love making fresh dishes like fruit salads with feta cheese, olive oil, and dried kelp, or blueberry salsa with kelp.”

In addition, the company offers a variety of self-care potions like rose and seaweed bath soaks and kelp and sea salt body scrubs. And to ward off bodily ills, Nautical Farms offers iodine kelp capsules.

Although Fogg and Patryn tend to many different seaweeds in their nautical nursery, they do cop to having a favorite child: “We love all types of seaweed, but right now our ocean-grown Sugar Kelp is our favorite. It's the most versatile type of seaweed we grow and can be used in bath products and in recipes or eaten straight out of the bag. Our customers love it, too.”

Maine seaweed is an environmental, medicinal, and economic marvel. Stop and smell the rockweed yourself by visiting and patronizing one of the state’s seaweed businesses. You may be surprised to find yourself a convert to kelp.