The Sea Gardener

Inishbofin Summer School

We will explore the rocky shore, forage for seaweed and learn how to use it in cookery, in gardening and in skincare. Then sit down to a supper based on this inspiring indigenous food.

Marie Power, The Sea Gardener, is a seaweed forager & educator, food producer and author of a cookbook & foraging guide called The Sea Garden.  She has now begun to produce a range of seaweed-based foods.

This all grew out of a keen interest in rocky shore ecology and she now enjoys this combination of her passion for food and ecology.

You can find more information about The Sea Gardener online at www.theseagardener.ie  & on social media.email: marie@theseagardener.ie. Tel 086 8124275

More background info.

Her journey with seaweed began as a child and developed with an interest in rocky shore ecology. As a volunteer with the Irish Wildlife Trust, she ran wildlife & ecology events and when she brought along her seaweed scones, soup & cookies to one outing in 2006, the response was so positive, it led to forages for Dungarvan Food Festival and other local festivals & events.

Requests for her recipes led to the publication of The Sea Garden –a guide to seaweed cookery & foraging in 2013. The book is now on its second print run and interest in seaweed, forages & health is growing.  It is for sale in over 30 good books shops around the country and online.

The Sea Gardener launched a range of healthy protein snack bars in 2014, and soon after, a savoury caponata, all containing  their own special blend of seaweeds.

The products received a positive reaction in the artisan food shops of Waterford & Kilkenny and were selected for the Supervalu Food Academy in March 2015 –now stocked in stores in Waterford, Cork,  Wexford and The Butler’s Pantry shops in Dublin & Wicklow.

Marie’s background is in management & training consultancy and she holds an Med.in Education. The Sea Gardener business  is  an evolving one, with interest in foraging, cookery, healthy eating and food provenance appearing to be the main drivers. Seaweed has always been part of Ireland’s coastal food heritage and is undergoing a revival of interest – The Sea Gardener makes it look and taste good for a wider public!