How to Start a Kelp Farm

Guided Course and Community


How to Start a Kelp Farm is a 6-week guided learning journey through GreenWave’s Ocean Farming Hub. You can watch the 2023 session recordings below and sign up for the Hub for updates on future opportunities!

Program


Week 1: Dive In

January 10

GreenWave’s Co-Founder, Bren Smith, and Director of Training & Support, Lindsay Olsen, invite you to kick off this learning journey with a farmer-to-farmer dockside chat. Experienced kelp farmers from across the country will gather to offer words of advice to those just starting out. We’ll discuss common misconceptions about kelp farming, speak to trends within the industry, and tell you what you really need to know if you’re thinking about taking up this line of work.

Speakers:

Bren Smith, Co-Executive Director, GreenWave

Bren Smith

Lindsay Olsen, Director of Training & Support, GreenWave

Adelia Myrick, Founder, Alaskan Sea Greens

Dave Blaney, Founder, Point Judith Kelp Company

No assignment this week.


Week 2:
Site Evaluation

January 17

This week we’ll dive into the art of picking a productive site for kelp farming. We’ll learn from experienced farmers and scientists about the importance of nutrient availability on kelp farms and discuss the biophysical factors that make a site suitable for farming. We’ll also consider: how you might work to gain social license, or buy-in, from in your community when selecting a location for your farm; why it’s critical to understand the Indigenous use of the waters where you’re looking to farm; and how access to your site will dramatically impact the way you farm.

Speakers:

Tela Troge, Shinnecock Kelp Farmers

Tela Troge

Dr. Schery Umanzor, Marine Biologist and Assistant Professor, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Schery Umanzor

Sean den Adel, Co-owner & Operations Manager, Noble Ocean Farms

Assignment:

Review the mapping resources available for the state you wish to farm. After your research, select a prospective site and complete the site evaluation workbook.


Week 3:
Gear Selection & Farm Design

January 24

It’s time to get technical. This week we’ll learn about three common array types that are used to build different types of kelp farms: the single line, five-line and catenary array. We’ll hear from farmers and marine engineers on the pros and cons of each system. We’ll discuss what buoys, anchors, and gear might be required based on the different factors of your site, and we’ll leave time to answer any specific design questions that came up while constructing your own farm designs in GreenWave’s Farm Design Tool on the Hub.

Speakers:

Cliff Goudey, Principal at C. A. Goudey & Associates

Cliff Goudey

Alf Pryor, Owner/Operator at Alaska Ocean Farms

David Bailey, Aquaculture Research Associate, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Assignment:

Understand GreenWave’s Farm Design Tool by watching this tutorial, then start using the Farm Design Tool to design your future farm.


Week 4:
Business Planning

January 31

At this point in your farm journey you might be wondering, how much is this all going to cost? In this live session we’ll hear from GreenWave’s Market Development team on how to build a basic financial model for your farm and estimate when you could expect to break even. We’ll hear directly from farmers who have built successful businesses why at first it may feel like you’re doing more marketing than farming. Deciding where and how you’ll sell your kelp is a critical step in the process.

Speakers:

Sam Garwin, Director of Market Development, GreenWave

Sam Garwin

Grace Collery, Market Development Program Manager, GreenWave

Grace Collery

Suzie Flores, Farmer and Owner, Stonington Kelp Company

Suzie Flores

Assignment:

Use your farm design values to create a basic financial model for your farm Ocean Farm Basic Financial Model.


Week 5:
Leasing & Permitting

February 7

To make your farm official, you’ll need to ultimately gain permissions from your local, state, and regional authorities. This process will vary from state to state and region to region. We’ll hear from representatives at state permitting agencies who handle high volumes of ocean farm applications on what factors make a successful application. Additionally, a farmer who recently navigated the permitting process will offer his advice on how to work with your permitting agencies to make this process as smooth as possible.

Speakers:

Michelle Morris, Permit Coordinator at State of Alaska, ADFG

Mike Spranger, Kelp Farmer (WA)

Assignment:

Use the Permitting Agency Directory to learn about the regulatory agencies in your area. List all the relevant permitting agencies in your region and what is required of you.


Week 6:
Reflection &
Next Steps

February 14

We’ll convene in this final session to share reflections, address any unanswered questions, and point you to further courses and resources as you work to launch your farm business!

Speakers:

Colleen Francke, Owner and Operator, Summit Point Seafoods

Assignment:

Reflect on the following questions:

  • Is ocean farming for you? Why or Why not?

  • Could you see yourself in a different role within the industry? If so, which? 

  • What’s the biggest barrier you face moving forward? 

  • What lingering questions do you have that weren’t answered in this course? 

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