Good news!
I will be at the local foods festival in RI on August 4^th. Here’s a link http://www.farmfreshri.org/about/localfoodfest.php

The chef from Chez Pascal in Providence is going to use a few of my seaweeds in his dishes. It is at a restaurant and inn called Castle Hill in Newport, RI where all of their cooking oil is turned into biodiesel and all of the waste including dinner ware will be composted at the event! I just read the description of the farm that makes the compost- it sounds like a great operation. I am excited to have more opportunities to connect with local farmers. I am really thankful that the Farm Fresh community in RI is so supportive and welcoming to me and my seaweed. By the way, they sell my seaweed at the farmer’s market at Armory Park 3-7pm on Thursdays and downtown farmers market at Kennedy Plaza and Exchange Terrace Fridays 11-2pm.

I have met some resistance in Western Mass because their locavor movement is so strong and my product isn’t local enough for certain markets and events. I am interested to see if I can get to know some people on the ‘inside’ and discuss with them the value of my seaweeds. Our waters here in Maine are perfect for seaweed harvesting because they are cold, less polluted (at a distance from point sources polluters) and there is excellent surf and nooks and crannies where many of the seaweeds like to grow. I think it’s a loss to not offer such an amazing food, and me as a resource to educate people about its value.

Please share your ideas about eating locally! I remember being inspired by the diagrams in Fukuoka’s book One Straw Revolution- where he beautifully charts a Japanese local diet. It was so refreshing in its simplicity. I whole heartedly believe in earth care and people care! Incorporating the seaweed work and food into my life helps me in meeting my need for caring for myself and the earth.

And speaking of RI and Western Mass, my other two home bases… We had 4 visitors this week that brought so much joy to our big secluded home. Julie from Shutesbury, a long time seaweed customer of Larch’s felt a strong pull this summer to come check out the surf. I enjoyed her company so much- her appreciation for nature- cluing me in on bird calls and her knack for inquiry. She is an amazing communicator and shared so much with me. I also had 3 friends from Providence visit, Marguerite, Scott and their tiny person Elska. We got so lucky because the weather shifted and the sun popped out! Elska had her first boat ride as we harvested Ascophyllum (rockweed) for the compost pile and then Scott came out for a digitata and alaria harvest. We all went on a field trip and visited my friends’ farms and bakery in Brooksville. And we shared some mighty delicious meals! There are so many beauties in the world.