The Sea Gardener featured on Nationwide recently. 

On Friday March 20th, the spring equinox, solar eclipse and a full moon all aligned to create one of the best tides for seaweed foraging. So we headed to the strand and talked about seaweed uses, seaweed cookery and Hilitetv captured it all on film in the beautiful setting of Kilfarassey Strand, near Fenor, Co.Waterford. On this seaweed workshop, we could all see where the phrase Sea Garden originated - looking at the amazing rock pools and what was growing and living in them, and learn from The Sea Gardener how they could make us more healthy and how to connect fully with the source of our food and experience the living earth.

The piece also included a visit to the kitchen in which The Sea Gardener foods  - snack bars and caponata - are made, and a tasting at the local Supervalu store in Tramore

Click on this link to see the piece:

http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10407838/

http://www.rte.ie/.../#pos=389

Come and see us at the Courtyard, Curraghmore at the inaugral Bluebell Festival on Sunday May 3rd.

https://www.facebook.com/CurraghmoreBluebellFestivalinassociationwithSERT?fref=ts

We'll have lots of seaweed goodies, old Waterford favourites like Dilisk and Sleabhcan, and tips on seaweed uses you might be surprised by! Our book The Sea Garden, now in it's 2nd print run, has everything for the forage and seaweed cookery enthusiast.

Here we share scientific research on seaweed from Scotland - on the role seaweed can play in increasing iodine intake. Iodine levels in soil have been depleting as agriculture becomes more intensive, so seaweed, especially the brown ones, are a useful source of this important mineral. Note that too much is not good either. 5g dried kelp per day is a guideline, although this varies, as mineral levels in seaweed fluctuate through the seasons.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/avenue/issue57january2015/news/headline_378684_en.html

Forage & Beach Walk at Rathmoylan Cove, Co. Waterford on Sunday August 10th at 11 am.

Book via website or phone / email me directly.

We will explore the seaweeds of this lovely little cove near Dunmore East, identify the edible ones and explain how to use them in everyday cooking. Expect to pick some to bring home in time for lunch!

Sargassum muticum / Wireweed is appearing more frequently on Irish shores.

This brown seaweed came from Japan, it is believed, in commercial oyster spat It's edible - quite tasty - but is on the list of invasive alien species.

After a fantastic weekend of foraging and cooking at the Dungarvan Food Festival here are some photos from the event!

Another beautiful backdrop was provided by Dunhill Castle for the Power Clan Gathering on May 31st We had great fun with sleabhcan in a skillet pot, seaweed smoothies and the POWER BAR – a high protein health bar with dilisk and kelp.

KiIlfarassey Strand provided a beautiful backdrop to yesterday evenings forage. The edible species were easy to find and we sampled some wild dishes afterwards. Thanks to the Calmast team for organising the Bealtaine Festival of Outdoor Science and to everyone who came along.

The book title was in fact inspired by an image like this of a rock pool at Kilfarassey in summer 2012. A colourful arrangement of plants, stones and sand filled with seawater – just like a miniature sea garden.

Sunset Beach Foraging Walk at Kilfarassey Monday May 20th. 7 pm.

Booking essential with Bealtaine Festival.