Seaweed Feast on Monday 24 April 2023
From exploring the Western Cape's rock pools to being introduced to the wild flavours of our local seaweed. What an incredible experience it was to learn how to treat the delicate ecosystem with respect. We learned the sustainable way of harvesting a variety of seaweed and about the rich abundance of food found along our coastlines.
I'm so grateful for Just Africa Scuba & Reserve Edge who gave us an amazing opportunity to forage for ocean greens and join in on an incredible workshop. This hands-on foraging adventure was right up my alley. With Lindy Taverner by our side showing us an array of different seaweeds we learned how to identify the majority between the tidal pools and of course taste them all in their natural, raw state! From the gooey dead-mans-fingers to the intense briny flavour of the felty-fingers.
Our team taking advantage of this fun experience.
After our time in the morning sun gathering our own foraged seaweed, mussels, and kelp, we ventured off to a beautiful clay house with a stunning organic garden. In this cozy and earthy home, we had a delicious and interactive three-course meal prepared for us based on the ingredients we had earlier foraged. We ate and shared these meals together with such down-to-earth people.
Educational outings and adventures like these make meeting the people along the way, special (I also think eating gooey and slimy seaweed together really just adds something extra to the bonds made). We learned all the benefits of these seaweeds and kelp…
Here are some tips I learned if you also want to give it a go:
- Get a molluscs foraging permit from the post office (this includes foraging seaweed).
- Make sure the area is clean (don't go out and forage if the red tide is in the area).
- Only cut off a third of the seaweed attached to the rock (this ensures that the health of the kelp is maintained).
- Try foraging for invasive species.
I can honestly say that it is a MUST for any and all bucket lists. Discovering all these wondrous textures and flavours, learning more about a captivating sustainable lifestyle, and now we get to start our own coastal living journey...
Written by
Erin-Luca
A little bit more about the author:
My name is Erin-Luca (aka Beasly) and I joined the Career Development Program in January 2023 where I am currently diving my way to my Instructor certification. I was born and raised in the bushveld but the ocean has always had a firm hold on my heart. I have a great love for all things living beneath the water's surface and I am working toward a future where I will constantly be surrounded by the ocean and ocean-minded people.
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