Tidal Treasures: Foraging for Seaweed (Half Moon Bay)

At low tide, the ocean pulls back to reveal an underwater forest – feather boa kelp floating in verdant pools, little rockweed sprouting from the sand, and on the underside of rocks, the twisted braids of black pine seaweed.

With nearly 12,000 kinds of seaweed in the ocean, algae are responsible for most of the oxygen we breathe, serve as carbon sinks, and are a nutrient-rich superfood.

By activating our sense of taste, touch, and smell, naturalist Tanya Stiller will guide us in ethically harvesting and protecting the regenerative power of seaweed after the sun rises over Half Moon Bay. After filling our buckets to the brim, we’ll learn creative ways to use our foraged seaweed in cooking and skincare alike!

Through reciprocal foraging practices, we’ll collectively explore:

• how to ethically identify, harvest, and protect a diversity of seaweeds 🍙
• seaweed’s benefits for the climate and its medicinal uses in food and skincare 🌍
• our relationship with the rhythm and cadence of ocean tides, the moon, the seasons, time, and seashore ecology 🌝

Note: This workshop starts early to ensure we are able to see a diversity of seaweeds at negative tide.

What's Included

• A cozy cup of tea & seaweed treats 🍵
• Ziplocks & markers for organizing your gathered seaweed 🏷

What to Bring

• Comfortable clothing for spending time outdoors, such as a jacket, hat, warm socks, etc.
• Shoes you don’t mind getting wet (preferably close-toed!) with wool socks
• A bucket or container for collecting seaweed
• Mesh bags for rinsing (i.e. re-used potato sacks, orange bags)
• Scissors