Happy midsummer, frothers!
2022 was such a HUGE year for Moonrise Seaweed Co., we'd like to take a moment to reflect on everything that has happened thanks to the support of all you legends.
The year started off strong with our wildly successful crowdfunding campaign – HOLY MACKEREL was that a win. The funds raised have propelled the regenerative seaweed farming project forward throughout the year, but even more importantly allowed us to reach out and connect with you - our mad little community that keep us on track and give us the motivation we need to keep trying. Early in the year we also launched our online store, and began supplying our very first (and greatest) stockist, Village Greens of Willunga Creek. After a long, quiet winter we had an awesome spring surprise – the wonderful Sustainable Table offered us funding and support to continue our consultation with Kaurna First Nations, and move forward with our applications for our own seaweed farm here in South Australia (still a work in progress! But watch this space...). These past few months we've had some productive meetings with government, had our fisheries licence renewed for 3 years with an expanded suite of species, submitted many, many funding applications, and are currently doing some upskilling around business planning and digital strategy – it's been a time of renewed focus, as we get ready to really take things to the next level in the new year.
We also have some exciting new product offerings coming in 2023, and to make way for these we are ceasing production of our lovely contract manufactured pasta and soap. For the business moving forward, it makes more sense for us to bring our production in-house and streamline our product range, but we've had a wonderful experience collaborating with L'Abruzzese and Vasse Virgin and will remain loyal customers of these artisanal, South Australian makers. We still have some inventory available (including limited bulk 5kg boxes of pasta), but will be retiring the Pulse Pasta Twists, Sea Shells Organic Pasta, Gluten Free Penne and Sailor's Cure Hand Soap in the new year – so stock up now if you're a fan.
We also wanted to let all you seafood lovers know about an upcoming event that we're ambassadors for. The Apollo Bay Seafood Festival is happening February 17-19. Definitely worth checking out, particularly for their conversations program, which explores how we can live in harmony with the land and water. Often we find our values align more closely with the regenerative agriculture movement than with the fisheries and aquaculture sector, so it's great to see the two worlds coming together to find common ground in the principle of stewardship.
Ok, we'll wrap this up now! Wishing everyone a happy and healthy end to 2022, filled with sunshine and saltwater. Be kind to one another, and tread lightly on this little blue planet. Catch you in the new year – let's make it a good one.
Chloe & Brad
P.S. We've been sleeping on this one, but we've finally added a Gift Card option to our shop. Want to treat someone in your life to some vitamin sea?
P.P.S. Got a spare minute over the break? We're trying to build up our business profile, and would hugely appreciate if anyone would leave us a review.
Wonderful work - onwards and upwards Chloe & Brad!