The Science of Seafeed
Combining tradition and modern knowledge
Where Is Seafeed From?
Seafeed is 100% foraged storm toss seaweed gathered from the beaches near Tignish, PEI by local farmers. The town’s name is derived from the Mi’kmaq “Mtagunich,” meaning “paddle,” because at some point someone had broken a paddle and been set adrift.
Settled by eight Acadian families in 1799, Tignish is now a fishing and farming community of just over 700. Lobster fishing is the heart of this community and Jude’s Point/Tignish harbour is the largest in the province, with at least 145 boats. On trap setting day, dozens of people can be seen gathering at one of the three harbours in the area, cheering for their family and friends heading out to sea.
Seaweed plays an important part in the culture and cuisine of the area and if you want to discover just how important it is, you can visit during the annual Irish Moss Festival.
What is a biostimulant?
What is a biostimulant, and more importantly, why do I need them for my garden? Biostimulants are soil and plant health enhancers that ensure your plants get the nutrients they need to thrive
They help keep your soil’s microbiome healthy and balanced and stimulate natural processes in plants to promote plant growth and improve plant quality. They improve the plant’s ability to collect nutrients from the soil and use them more efficiently and increase plant resilience to stressors like drought, excess heat, frost and pests. Biostimulants are also an important contributor in improving crop yield and quality.
They differ from fertilizer the way vitamins and dietary supplements differ from regular food for humans. They are effective in small quantities and help support the effectiveness of the fertilizers you are already using.
How Does It Work?
Seafeed is rich in biostimulant minerals and nutrients and biostimulants have been shown to be effective in supporting plant growth and maintaining soil health. So how do they work? The answer is nobody is completely sure because measuring cause and effect in plant science is very complex. Fortunately, measuring effect is not so complicated. Here is what we do know:
- Biostimulants can trigger different responses in the plant like the onset of flowering, growth of new roots and shoots, and defence mechanisms against environmental stressors and pests
- They help the plant become more efficient at gathering and using nutrients
- They not only act on the plant but can also optimize growing conditions for the plant by:
- Increasing beneficial soil microorganisms, the “good bugs”
- Improving soil texture resulting in better water and nutrient retention
You can read more on the science of biostimulants and plant growth here.
You can also read up on the science of seaweed as a plant biostimulant here.
Organic Since Forever
Seafeed is organic, foraged, and sustainable and because our seaweed is 100% storm toss, our harvesting has zero impact on the ocean ecosystem.
Gathered from the beautiful shores of Prince Edward Island and slowly dried by the warmth of the sun, Seafeed is certified organic through Pro-Cert and FDA registered. Located at the northwest tip of PEI, Tignish experiences the harshest weather on the island with salt spray and extreme winds. During the untamed storms that rock the waters, seaweed is torn from the ocean floor and washed ashore. This storm toss is hand-collected by local harvesters and spread on land to dry in the sun, the same way their ancestors have been doing since the early 1900s. We then meticulously sort and crush the dry material into the mineral-rich meal your plants love. That’s it – no additives, just the raw power of the sea and the storms.
100% Post-Consumer Recycled and Recyclable Packaging
We are constantly striving to reduce our impact on the environment and we’ve chosen recycled and recyclable packaging. For moisture protection and shelf life, we’ve chosen an easily recycled #2 plastic package. Although plastic isn’t the perfect solution, our recyclable packaging is made right here in Canada in a facility that reduces manufacturing waste and uses green electricity. And we’ll keep pushing to reduce our impacts wherever possible.
