FROM SEA - Get by with a little kelp

What do you get when you put a naval clearance diver, a former craft beer brewer and a surfer with a degree in solar wizardry together? Southern Seagreens.

These seaweed farmers are growing native kelp off the coast at Flinders. As a regenerative seaweed farming business, it’s a win for both our water and for us. Southern Seagreens works with the sun and the sea to grow kelp that’s packed with important vitamins and minerals and is capable of sequestering up to five times more carbon than land-based plants.

“Our primary aim is to grow the most sustainable and nutritious food possible,” said co-founder Cam Hines. “This entails the farming of native kelp at Flinders. Seaweed is a zero-input crop, requiring no soil, fresh water or fertilisers. It mops up impressive amounts of carbon and happens to be super-high in protein and nutrients important for our health.

“We also dive for wakame in southern Port Phillip. It’s an invasive yet super-tasty kelp species. By removing the wakame from the water, we are helping the native kelp grow and re-establish.”

Southern Seagreens currently has two kelp products available. The first is dried wakame, which is a perfect addition to a variety of dishes such as soups, salads, pasta sauces, poke bowls and stir-fry for a delicious flavour boost.

The second product available from Southern Seagreens’ website is furikake. This was developed in the early 1900s as a food sprinkle/topper to ward off calcium deficiency and malnutrition in Japan. Since then it's become something of a staple in pantries across Japan and Hawaii. This is an all-natural, umamipacked furikake that will boost the flavour and nutritional benefit of everyday foods. Some might call furikake a superfood because it provides more iron than meat and more calcium than milk. Its delicious combination of ingredients includes dried Victorian kelp, organic toasted whitesesame seeds, organic black sesame seeds, organic chickpea miso powder, brown sugar, and lemon myrtle powder. Add it to rice, eggs, avocado, salads, tofu, fish, roast vegies, soups, or almost anything.

Southern Seagreens

28 Collins Rd, Dromana

www.southernseagreens.com

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