SEASIDE FORAGING WORKSHOP WITH DIEGO BONETTO AND OLIVER BROWN.

Ever walked along the coastline and wondered about all of those plants, seaweed and seafood?
Are they edible? How do you harvest them? How do you positively identify them? Are you allowed to collect them?

Join Sydney forager Diego Bonetto and wild food expert Oliver Brown on a 3-hour workshop learning the what, where and how of collecting a meal from the seashore.
This is a rare opportunity to learn from two of Sydney’s most knowledgeable people when it comes to sourcing food from the land and sea.

Oliver is an archaeologist with an obsession with where food comes from and how it gets to the table. This has made him enough of a forager, fisher, hunter, gardener, beekeeper and cook to take on the challenge of going for a year living on wild and homegrown food with just ten other ingredients allowed into the kitchen. All while keeping up the office day job and family life in suburban Sydney.

Check the work of Oliver on his Instagram Fat of the Land and Sea and this feature on ABC's Gardening Australia.

Diego is an edible weed advocate renowned for his offering of urban foraging workshops. Building on the knowledge acquired while growing up on a farm in Italy, Diego introduces people to the ever-present food and medicine plants that surround us. He collaborates extensively with chefs, herbalists, environmentalists, and cultural workers promoting a new understanding of what the environment has to offer. Diego is the author of best-selling book Eat Weeds.

Check a media review of Diego's works here>, his Gardening Australia segment here> and the appearance on Better Homes and Garden here>

WHAT WILL WE DO?
We will take a walk from Gordons Bay to Clovelly's northern headland (Shark Point) and learn about the most common edible seaweeds, coastal wild food, seaside plants and their uses from an indigenous and cosmopolitan perspective.
We will touch on issues of legal restrictions, ecology and fragility of ecosystems, stewardship and care for the land and sea.

This is an informative workshop designed to empower people with identification skills. Participants will receive material on the day and follow up links so to progress with their own research. The knowledge is old and widespread and this learning experience will empower participants by giving them the possibility to meet, touch, smell and even taste the plants.  Always eat in small amounts as a start.

This is a family-friendly stroll by the sea. Dress for the weather and bring your camera and notebook if you wish to retain the information. Venturing onto the rock platform can be slippery and will depend on wave conditions. Please note this workshop is not suitable for people with restricted mobility as we will be walking on uneven and slippery surfaces.

As part of the workshop, you will receive follow-up resources with links for further research.

WHEN: Saturday, August 17 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

WHERE: Meet at the bus shelter at the end of Clovelly Road.

COSTS:

$80 Adults
$150 friends in forage (two adults)
$60 Concession/Pensioner/Child/Underemployed

FREE Under 5 yo

Please get in contact if you cannot afford this experience as we have a sponsorship program.

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE FINALISING YOUR BOOKING.

This is an all-weather event. We will only cancel the outing in case of heavy rain or dangerously gusty winds, via email and phone call 2 days before the date, offering a place on another tour. 

Refund Policy: Due to the nature of the event, we will not issue any refunds for unused tickets sold. Please make sure you are available to attend before you finalise your booking. 

Reschedule Policy: If you need to reschedule we can offer you a Gift Voucher up to four weeks (4) to the event. This voucher can be used against any workshop to the same value, and is valid for three years. If less than four weeks notice is given you can pass on the ticket to someone else.

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Frequent Asked Questions

Are we going to be harvesting plants? No, we will learn about plants. We will only collect a few leaves, flowers and seaweeds here and there and with those, we will discuss ID features. The main aim of the workshop is to empower you with identification skills so that when you go back home you can recognise with confidence some useful plant, seaweed and seafood in your own garden or your local beaches.

Are we going to scramble in the wilderness? No, no bush bashing although we will walk on rocks and on uneven surfaces. Venturing on the rock platform will depend on the surf conditions on the day.

Is this suitable for elderly people or less mobile people? Unfortunately, this particular workshop is not suitable for less mobile people. Please check the other workshops as they are better suited.

Can we try the plants? Yes, we will offer samples of the plants we talk about for you to try. We believe taste memories are just as important as touch, smell and look.

Can I come with my dog? No, sorry. Unfortunately, sections of the coastline we will be walking through are not pet friendly.

Can I bring the weeds from my garden for you to identify? Yes please, We love to help to identify treasures growing in your yard!

What if it looks like it’s going to rain on the day? If there is a chance of rain I will let you know and we will go ahead, just bring an umbrella. Plants are so much happier when wet, it will be the chance for you to look at species at their best. If heavy rain or strong winds are forecasted, I will cancel the workshop and either refund your ticket or move your booking to another date.

What if I change my mind or can no longer attend? Please make sure you can attend before finalising your booking. We understand that unexpected events happen, so in case you can no longer come, pass on your ticket to a friend. See this as when you buy a concert ticket. If you cannot go anymore, give a present to someone you know they would enjoy it.

Can I ask specific questions on the workshop? Absolutely. We love questions and if you have any burning one just let us know in advance or on the day and we will endeavour to provide you with answers or follow up with links that would help in your quest.

I acknowledge the original custodians of the land where this workshop will take place, and pay my respect to elders past, present and future. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.