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England, essex

I have been to the beach today to collect seaweed,
I presume I spread it out and wash it off with clean water/
then do I just spread it on the ground or maybe put it through the shredder?
how much is too much?
can I over do it?
I am thinking of getting more while I can
cheers
Mark

11/30/2014 11:32:43 AM

England, essex

emmmmm

12/2/2014 9:46:37 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Mark, 40 years ago there was always a yearly trip to the beach in the fall to collect bull kelp. Dad would let it sit in the weather (rain) for a month or so and then we'd chop it up and incorporate it into the soil for further decomposition. We also added it to the compost pile in layers with the grass and leaves. Very labour intensive....now that I'm in the big city, and because it is just more convenient, we buy the dried kelp meal that is commercially harvested, processed and sold in 50kg bags.

If and when we return to Vancouver Island, I'd likely start collecting it again and composting it like we did back in my Dad's day.

12/2/2014 1:22:46 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

We would add 300-400 lbs of fresh seaweed per 1000 sq ft each year....

Now, We use about 50-100 lbs per year of the dried and prepared kelp meal worked into the soil in spring along with the cover crop of rye. Every second year I add a bag of alfalfa meal to go along with the kelp meal.

12/2/2014 1:30:42 PM

England, essex

nice one, just what I was looking for ;-)
might even go back and get another load now,,
cheers
Mark

12/2/2014 3:40:48 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Glenn lives in a cooler climate like yours and look what he grows!

Gives me hope and maybe head down to the beach myself ;)

12/2/2014 5:05:39 PM

England, essex

well I have 15 bags all washed on my drive, ready to get another load soon,,

hope you have luck like I did when I went,
been waiting forever to get conditions right

12/2/2014 5:43:12 PM