May 30-June 1, 2025- Mendocino, CA

Service Description

We will introduce you to the taxonomy of seaweeds and do two morning trips to the shoreline to collect different varieties of seaweed, like nori, kombu, sea palm, turkish towel, and bladderwrack. We'll also learn to cook them, and prepare spa treatments. Focus on seaweed identification, health benefits of seaweeds, intertidal ecology and restoration of kelp forest, sustainable wild tending and harvesting practices, understanding of Native American territories and right to food resources, and tastings of a couple cooked seaweed dishes, plus preparation of simple and traditional Japanese and other seaweed recipes, and learning to prepare seaweed spa treatments and luxuriate in these preparations SCHEDULE Friday, May 30th 5-8pm Slideshow on "Seaweeds for Health" and Dinner. In the slideshow, you will learn tools of the trade, seaweed identification, and about the medicinal, edible and seaweed spa treatments that we will explore further in the following two days. I may send this out in advance for you to preview at your own pace. Saturday, May 31 7:30-10:30 am Low tide is at 9:09am. Our goal is to meet at 7am and get out to the ocean site by 7:30am so we have time to get to our site and safely forage before the tide rises. 10:30am We will go into town to get a little coffee / eat breakfast. (optional) 11:30am We'll get back to camp and learn how to dry the seaweed you just harvested so that you can take them home tomorrow. 12-2pm - LUNCH We will learn to cook a couple of seaweed-based recipes that we will enjoy with lunch, and then eat lunch. We will have free time after 2pm, or we can go on a hike to look for sea salt, or inland into the forest, & enjoy the beautiful environment, lay on the Big River beach, or stroll through the cute and quaint Mendocino Village. Or get a massage from SJ! OPTIONAL: Evening- We will have a seaweed infused wood-fired hot tub! If there is interest we can prepare two different seaweed spa treatments - a facial mask & hair rinse. Sunday, June 1 8:30-11am Low tide is at 10:02am. Our goal is to meet at 8am and get out to the ocean site by 8:30 am so we have time to forage and gather seaweeds before the tide rises. 11 am We will head back to Elderflower Farm and pack up. LODGING Camping at Elderflower Farm is included, or you can book your own accommodations ($49 discount) nearby and meet us at Elderflower Farm for the demonstrations during the day. Please see FAQ page for cancellation policy and things you need to bring.