Summary: Host: Holli Cederholm Editor: Clare Boland Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond. This month: The December 2023 episode of MOFGA’s Common Ground Radio explores seaweed, a source of food, fertilizer, and carbon sequestration off the coast of Maine. The majority of the episode is a panel discussion on seaweed — called “Is Seaweed the Solution to Climate Change?” — that was recorded at the 2023 Common Ground Country Fair in September. The panel was organized and facilitated by Bridget Huber from FERN, the Food and Environment Reporting Network. The guests were: Nichole Price, a benthic marine ecologist with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine; Aurora Burgess, seaweed aquaculture coordinator at Atlantic Sea Farms in Biddeford; and Severine von Tscharner Welcome, of Smithereen Farm in Pembroke, who is also a co-founder of Seaweed Commons. Guest/s: Aurora Burgess, seaweed aquaculture coordinator at Atlantic Sea Farms in Biddeford. Bridget Huber, a staff writer with FERN, the Food and Environment Reporting Network. Nichole Price, a benthic marine ecologist with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine. Severine von Tscharner Welcome, of the Greenhorns and Smithereen Farm in Pembroke. FMI Links: “A Precautionary Approach to Seaweed Aquaculture in North America: A Position Paper by the Seaweed Commons” — seaweedcommons.org Atlantic Sea Farms — atlanticseafarms.com Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences — bigelow.org “Climate savior or ‘Monsanto of the sea’?” by Bridget Huber — thefern.org/2023/06/climate-savior-or-monsanto-of-the-sea Food and Environment Reporting Network — thefern.org MOFGA Certification Services’ “Guidelines for Organic Sea Vegetables” — mofgacertification.org Running Tide — runningtide.com Seaweed Commons — seaweedcommons.org Smithereen Farm — smithereenfarm.com Tags: Seaweed cultivation and wild harvest Seaweed propagation/seed sourcing Seaweed for carbon sequestration Climate change Opportunities and challenges in cultivating seaweed for carbon storage Marine ecology PFAS/arsenic uptake of seaweed About the hosts: Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a long-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA. Caitlyn Barker has worked in education and organic agriculture on and off for the last 17 years. She has worked on an organic vegetable farm, served on the Maine Farm to School network, worked in early childhood education and taught elementary school. She currently serves as the community engagement coordinator for MOFGA.
