Ocean Organics, of Waldoboro, Maine, has been processing a variety of cold water North Atlantic seaweeds to formulate fertilizers for over 40 years. Their techniques are both sophisticated and sustainable. In this video, vice president George Seaver explains how they farm rockweed, AKA bladder wrack, and extract the liquids that become a high performance additive to fertilizers — used for a wide variety of applications, from vegetables to golf courses.
The daily life cycle of rockweed is intensely stressful. As the tides ebb and flow, they are alternately, at low tide, completely exposed on the rocks to which they’re attached, and at high tide, completely submerged in salt water. In the summer they withstand air temperatures that exceed 100º F when exposed, then quickly tolerate frigid water temperatures when submerged. In winter, air temperatures plunge below -10º F, and water temperatures dip below freezing. They go through these cycles twice a day every day of their lives.
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