[Conservation] From Seaweed to Saveur: Denis Private Island looks to Doorstep for Fertilizer

The seas around Denis provide the island and its hotel with an abundance of produce as well as recreation: from the fresh seafood used daily in its cuisine, to the renowned diving and fishing excursions available just minutes away from shore.

But for the island’s keepers, the sea is also the source of a rich but unheralded fertilizer: seaweed.

At the onset of the southeast trade winds that begin blowing around May, literally tons of seaweed drift to the east bay know as Belle Etoile. According to Denis owner Mickey Mason, the seaweed that washes up onshore is mixed with chicken and cow manure for use in the vegetable gardens, which have become much more prolific since its introduction.
Seaweed is believed to have over 60 trace minerals and nutrients, along with hormones that can help plants grow. It also does not need to decompose before adding to soil, and is a natural preventi