OUR JOURNEY
Down by the bay
Long before they met, Justin and Wendy grew up with water as a central part of their childhoods. Justin became an avid sailor, sailing across the Atlantic when he was ten. Wendy spent her childhood on the Texas Gulf Coast. Her parents ran a seafood truck and a family fish shop in her small South Texas hometown.
Giving back
Driven by a desire to make a positive impact, Wendy and Justin initially planned to become kelp farmers. However, after encountering numerous challenges and speaking with experts, they pivoted to supporting existing aquaculture efforts. In 2020, they founded Lazy Point Farms under the Moore Family Charitable Foundation to address the common obstacles faced by growers. This nonprofit provides crucial support to kelp farmers across New York State, from NYC to Long Island. Working remotely from NYC, Wendy and Justin now empower these growers to build thriving kelp programs.
Building community
Over the past five years, we've built support structures to connect the seaweed community, bringing seaweed into local classrooms and sharing it through talks, samples for experiments, and support for Girl Scouts. Our efforts include analyses, food trials, processing support, gear grants, spool sponsorships, and partnerships with nonprofits, commercial growers, and municipalities.
Shaping seaweed’s promise to New York
Global seaweed cultivation faces shared challenges, often rooted in a limited view of seaweed as solely a commercial commodity. We believe seaweed's potential extends far beyond profit, enriching communities in countless ways.
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From nonprofits and urban farms to municipalities and individual projects, no plot is too small, no purpose too humble. This expansive approach unlocks seaweed's versatility and reveals its untapped potential.
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We think even homeowners with access to waterfront property should be able to grow seaweed just as easily as they'd grow carrots in their back yards. Seaweed should be on local shelves as healthy, local alternatives to imported products.
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It's not just about food or economics. We connect education, industry, art, and the intrinsic value of cultivation itself. Seaweed can be a catalyst for deep change, and we're committed to exploring its full potential.
