Just Gerald
Seaweed Co.
Roberts Creek, BC
Twenty-five years of fermenting seaweed on the Pacific Northwest coast. Here's what I've learned — and here's where you can buy it.
Ask Gerald
Questions about kelp, soil biology, fermentation, or what to do in your garden right now — ask directly. Answers are grounded in the science and cited.
Twenty-Five Years
of Working with Seaweed
on This Coastline
I've been rinsing, fermenting, and studying seaweed on this coastline for 25 years — from Howe Sound up to Desolation Sound. Six regions, 20+ species, their ecology, their tidal zones, their traditional uses, and what makes each one distinct. The products I make from this work are used by growers across the Pacific Northwest, from Zone 6b in the BC interior to Zone 9a along the coast.
Everything I know about these organisms is in the field guide. Not a textbook. Not a pamphlet. The real thing, from someone who has spent a quarter century paying attention to this specific stretch of coast.
Key Species of the
Pacific Northwest Coast
Primary species for fermented kelp products
Forms iconic kelp forests along the coast
Dominant species of the higher intertidal zone
Prized for its umami flavour in culinary use
The Kelp I Ferment.
Fermented Slow.
I start with fresh Saccharina latissima from the BC coast, rinse it, and ferment it for 2–6 months using my own process. Small batches. Seasonal. A foliar preparation and a concentrated soil preparation — that's it. Works across all Pacific Northwest growing zones — from Zone 6b in the interior to Zone 9a on the coast.
A ready-to-use preparation applied as a fine mist to leaf surfaces. Made from slow-fermented Saccharina latissima from the BC coast. Effective across PNW Zones 6b–9a.
A more concentrated preparation applied directly to the root zone. Made from the same slow-fermented Saccharina latissima. Especially effective in Zones 8–9 where soil microbiome activity begins earlier in the season.
Understanding Coastal Macroalgae
Ecology & Conservation
Seaweeds are primary producers, habitat engineers, and carbon sequesters. Understand their vital role in BC's coastal ecosystems.
Scientific Techniques
From morphological identification to DNA barcoding — the methods scientists use to study and classify marine macroalgae.
Ethics & Ecology
Ethical practices, conservation principles, and traditional Indigenous knowledge of seaweed use across the Pacific Northwest coast.
Six Regions of the
BC Sunshine Coast
JUST GERALD SEAWEED CO. — ROBERTS CREEK, BC — PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Gerald's Journal
Seasonal guides for indoor plants and outdoor gardens — the applied science the product page can't cover.