Seaside Foraging Workshop, September 21 - Clovelly
Seaside Foraging Workshop, September 21 - Clovelly
Learn the what, where, and how of coastal wild food
Sunday, 21st of September - 10am to 12:30pm
Have you 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 on a 2.5-hour workshop learning the what, where and how of collecting a meal from the seashore.
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 the 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 the possibility to meet, touch, smell, and even taste the plants. Always eat in small amounts as a start.
This is a family and pet-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 is often 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.
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Diego is an edible weeds 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 the best-selling book Eat Weeds, now available with a wipeable cover here
Check a media review of Diego's works here> and his Gardening Australia segment here> and the appearance on Better Homes and Garden here>
WHEN: Sunday, 21st of September, 10 am to 12:30 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
FREE for 5 yo and under
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) before the event. This voucher can be used against any workshop of 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.
Frequent Asked Questions
Are we going to be harvesting plants and seaweeds? No, we will learn about plants and seaweeds. We will only collect a few samples, leaves, and flowers here and there, and with those, we will discuss ID features. The main aim of the workshop is to empower you with identification skills, learn about ethics and legalities, and then you will know yourself how and what to do.
Is this suitable for elderly people or less mobile people? No, this workshop happens along a beach and on rock platforms. It’s easily accessible but not suitable for people with mobility issues. That said, we will not walk far, only about one kilometre, and it will take us three hours to do it, so plenty of rest along the way. Bring a portable stool if you need to rest regularly.
Can we try the plants and seaweeds? Yes, I will offer samples of the plants and seaweeds we talked about for you to try. I 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, I 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 we will go ahead, just bring an umbrella. Plants are so much happier when it rains and will be the chance for you to look at species when they are 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. I 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. I love questions and if you have any burning ones just let me know in advance or on the day and I will endeavour to provide you with answers or follow up with links that would help in your quest.
“I recently did a Coastal Foraging workshop with Diego Bonetto and Oliver Brown, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Knowledgable and professional presenters, they have sparked a transformation in how I see the food around me. With due caution, they explained the greens/weeds/seaweeds we pass every day and opened up a world of new foodstuffs. Each source was identified, evaluated, and demonstrated, with the legal and ethical perspectives explained also. Since that day, I have (ethically) foraged in my own coastal area and put what I learned into practice, supplementing my diet with what is growing in abundance around me. I have also started cultivating, rather than removing, some of the weeds in my own garden to gather them as food. Will be back for another workshop!”
“Thank you for such an informative tour. I really appreciate your generosity in sharing your knowledge and stories and all with such a humourous flourish.
”
“Hello Diego,
I just wanted to thank you for the great workshop on Saturday, I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to pursuing this more.
It is certainly astonishing to think how ignorant most of us are of all of this opportunity around us.... I’m constantly looking at my feet now to see if I can spot any edible weeds!
Thank you for making it a fun morning.
Best wishes,”
As recommended by:
We acknowledge the original custodians of the land where this workshop will take place, and pay our respects to elders past, present and future.
Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
