The combination of fresh vegetables and fish, lobsters, crabs and other seafood can make for a memorable meal. For example shrimp, oysters and many white fish are complimented by lemon while crab cakes are delicious with a fresh sliced garden tomato. Lobsters are served with a fresh corn on the cob. Other seafood items taste best with herbs such as cilantro, basil or oregano.

Many of the most famous seafood recipes are include garden fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs in their list of ingredients. Shrimp Scampi is one of the most popular seafood dishes consumed in the USA. Most scampi recipes include shrimp with garlic, lemon and fresh herbs.

Another famous seafood recipe, New England clam chowder uses garden tomatoes, onions and carrots.

Seafood lovers' gardens vary by location but might include greens, corn, lima beans, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, squash, onions, shallots, garlic, dill, chives, parsley, cilantro, oregano and more.

Discarded seafood parts can enrich your garden and provide much needed minerals to your soil without harsh chemicals or additional expenses. Shrimp, lobsters and crabs all have a hard shell that can be added to your compost pile or buried in the garden. Fish bones, scales, skins and carcasses are other excellent additions to your garden soil. Even seaweed, rinsed to remove the salt, makes a superb mulch or compost additive. These are all simple, environmentally friendly, natural ways to dispose of seafood discards while enriching your garden. The results can be amazing!

Other seafood by products may not be needed for compost but can be used or recycled in some way. Clam shells make great walkways, or other fill for other projects. Mussel and oyster and other shells can be crushed and made available to poultry that need the calcium in order to produce strong egg shells. These seemingly small habits come together to form pattern of sound environmental stewardship and economic practices.