Feeding the soil that feeds us
Jonathan & Denise >
This year, feeding the soil that feeds us has started with three trailer loads of rotting seaweed from Smercleit. A storm had thrown a quantity of seaweed over the low concrete sea-wall, covering a track with a thick layer of Bladder Wrack. As no-one had done anything about it, and the seaweed was quickly becoming a sticky slimy mess, we reversed the trailer right up to the seaweed, and set about forking the weed over the side of the trailer – the easiest uplift of seaweed ever! After three such trips, on three successive afternoons, we now have one trailer load – half a tonne or more – mixed into the compost heap, and two have been used mulching the rhubarbs, cardoons, fennel, blackcurrants, redcurrants, gooseberries.
We’ve still to collect – from the beach itself, fresh seaweed thrown up by storms. However at the moment the beach is choked with kelp with its long stems, and that’s too bulky and awkward for our small-scale methods. Storms over the next few days are likely to clear the kelp and recharge the beach with – hopefully – a mixture of bladder wrack, sea-grass, and other smaller seaweeds.
The blackbirds of our garden are waiting for the next load : there’ll be all those tasty sand-hoppers, and lots of other goodies to eat!
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I find the kelp doesn’t last as long as the bladderwrack either. The ribbon bits vanish really quickly. The stems last a bit longer and the dogs love them but are not encouraged! I ‘ve got a friend up this weekend – I wonder if she’d enjoy some seaweed collecting!
J & D > There’s something really special about a fine (or at least dry) winter afternoon on the beach amongst the shore birds, getting some exercise with a purpose to it. Unless the seaweed is already very rotten, the smell is of the sea. And there’s something really satisfying about bringing back home something that’s fundamentally, profoundly good, costs nothing other than the labour in winning it, and with the promise of more goodness to come. And there’s always next year to look forward to, too! We agree about the kelp : it may be free, but we can afford to wait and be picky. A mixture of seaweeds is ideal, and then a few ribbons of kep are fine : but we always snap off the ‘bones’ and leave those on the beach!
Nothing better than good rich soil!!!! Love it!
Truly, a gift from the sea!
What an amazing gift from the winter storms! Storm here are not so helpful.
D > It is a gift. One that we should never take for granted. We express our gratitude at every meal.
Praise God and Amen! 🙂
J and D > Amen!