Holdfast! The Nutrition, Ecology & Politics of Seaweed with Micah Woodcock — WildFed Podcast #036

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In this episode:

Micah Woodcock | Wild seaweed harvester & owner of Atlantic Holdfast Seaweed Company

Podcast discussion:

• Introducing Micah

• History of seaweeds

• Different facets of the seaweed industry

• Kelp aquaculture

• Genetically engineered seaweeds

• Seaweed is not a plant!

• Micah’s seaweed company — Atlantic Holdfast Seaweed Company

• Seaweeds that Micah works with and beyond

• Developing a relationship with the land where you’re harvesting

• Advice for sustainably harvesting seaweed

• Practical tips and techniques for wild harvesting seaweed

• Impact of tide on foraging

• Overview of Maine Rockweed issue

• Seaweed ownership

• The Golden Goose of management

• Thoughts on personal rights and entitlement when foraging

• Micah’s outlook on the future

Note: Since this interview was recorded, updated information has been released on the Maine rockweed case (discussed in the interview), and a court ruling has been issued. Here's a link to the most up-to-date info on the 'harvesting rockweed in Maine’ ruling.

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Note: The coupon code mentioned in this podcast for Slater Basketry has since expired — our apologies!

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Episode Resources: 

• Atlantic Holdfast Seaweed Company

• Micah on Instagram @atlanticholdfast and Facebook

• Desmarestia

• Carrageenan

• Larch Hanson — Maine Seaweed

• Maine Coast Sea Vegetables

• ReWild Yourself Podcast: Culinary Solutions to Eco Problems - Joe Roman #154

• Protist

• Seaweed Chronicles: A World at the Water’s Edge by Susan Hand Shetterly

• Kelp (Laminaria)

• Laminaria digitata

• Laminaria saccharina

• Alaria

• Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus)

• Dulse (Palmaria palmata)

• Nori

• Bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus)

• Paul Stamets

• Maine DMR

• Bob Steneck

• Mining Down the Biomass: From Cod to Kelp with Robert Steneck — WildFed Podcast #022

• Rockweed contention

• Court decision sets rules for harvesting rockweed in Maine

• Ryan Drum — West coast harvester

• Absalom Boston

• The Desert Smells Like Rain: A Naturalist in Papago Indian Country by Gary Paul Nabhan

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Meet micah woodcock

Micah Woodcock is a wild seaweed harvester and the owner and operator of Atlantic Holdfast Seaweed Company, a small company working to sustainably hand-harvest high quality sea vegetables from the Gulf of Maine. Their 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 millenia.

Website | Instagram @atlanticholdfast | Facebook