Atlantic Holdfast is a small company working to sustainably hand-harvest high quality sea vegetables from the Gulf of Maine. Our harvesting operation is based on a remote island in outer Penboscot Bay, 7 miles off Stonington, ME, where the strong currents, active surf, and full exposure to the open ocean have allowed these seaweeds to thrive for millennia.
The harvest is guided by the lunar cycle, occurring at all hours of day and night as determined by the tides, rising and falling as much as 13 feet in 6 hours. We travel in small boats to the kelp beds and exposed ledges to harvest, working quickly during the brief windows of time when access is permitted by the receding tide. We work carefully within this turbulent environment, selectively cutting each variety with specific techniques developed to ensure the long-term health of this unique ecosystem. Once landed the seaweed is immediately hung to dry, reaching a shelf stable condition within 24-36 hours, at which point it stores indefinitely.
These plants have evolved in one of the most turbulent ecosystems on the planet, and can lend some of their strength and tenacity to our bodies in holding fast during times of stress and transition.
Available from the 2022 harvest:
- Bladder Wrack
- Irish Moss
- Kombu Kelp
Will be available again after summer 2023:
- Wakame