Why Fish? Connecting Land and Sea
The sea is rich in essential nutrients that support soil, plant, and human health. These nutrients fuel the soil microbiome, creating a healthy ecosystem for plants. Historically, fish migrations and marine foods brought these nutrients to land, but modern developments like damming rivers and coastal settlements have disrupted this cycle.
Our fish-based garden booster restores these critical sea minerals back into the soil, supporting biodiversity and soil health. Fish fertilizer is an ancient practice, used by indigenous peoples for centuries, and we aim to honor these techniques on Chumash land.
Our Journey into Soil Health
We got a tip from our friends at White Buffalo Land Trust that it's actually not that hard or technically challenging to turn fish scraps into fertilizer. They showed us how to ferment our fish waste with molasses and lactobacillus to create fish hydrolysate, a liquid soil amendment that is rich in micronutrients. The process was fun and rewarding, and turned us on to learning more about the importance of living soil and the role of ocean-derived nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems and food production.
Our “fertilizer project” got the boost it needed nearly a year later, when we connected with the amazing team at Ganna Walska’s Lotusland, Santa Barbara’s premier horticulture botanic garden. In partnership with Lotusland, Get Hooked received grant funding from Eric and Wendy Schmidt to produce, refine, and test our seafood hydrolysate for Lotusland , moving to replace imported products with our local, “home-grown” option.
What is Living Soil and Why Does It Matter?
Living soil is rich in organic matter and microorganisms that cycle nutrients, critical to organic and regenerative agriculture. Industrial agriculture has depleted our soils through the use of conventional fertilizers, tilling, and pesticides, leading to long-term environmental damage. Healthy soils are essential for reducing chemical reliance and promoting resilient farming systems.
The Process
We create our fish fertilizer by fermenting ground fish with molasses and lactobacillus, a beneficial bacteria. The mixture ferments for 8 weeks, then is strained to create a micronutrient-rich solution ideal for foliar spray or soil drench. About 90% of the fish is digested in this process, providing vital nutrients for your garden.
Our Fertilizer in the Press
INTERESTED IN MAKING SOME YOURSELF?
If you’re interested in making this yourself at home, complete the form below and we’ll share our recipe with you. If you’re a fish processor and you’d like to turn your fish waste into fertilizer like we did, connect with us directly at info@gethookedseafood.com and we can offer assistance.
