Seaweed Field Excursion (Lopez Island, WA, Sunday, May 17, 2026)

Seaweed Field Excursion: Harvesting and Home Processing

Sunday, May 17 | 9:00 AM-2:00 PM | Lopez Island, WA

Seaweed Field Excursion: Harvesting and Home Processing is a field-based class centered on developing the skills, awareness, and confidence needed to responsibly harvest seaweeds for personal use.

Together, we’ll spend extended time in the intertidal zone learning to read the shoreline, identify harvestable species, and understand how seaweeds survive and thrive in one of the most dynamic ecosystems on the planet. This class moves beyond observation into practice, offering the opportunity to harvest small amounts of seaweed and foundational guidance for handling and preserving your harvest.

Our work in the field emphasizes thoughtful engagement with these local ecosystems: recognizing seasonal rhythms, evaluating site conditions, and harvesting in ways that support continued growth and ecological balance.

What We’ll Explore

• Identifying locally harvestable seaweeds

• Reading the shoreline: tides, substrate, and ecological patterns

• Seasonal growth cycles and harvest timing

• Evaluating harvest sites, including pollution considerations

• Sustainable and beneficial harvesting techniquesHarvesting small amounts for personal use

• Foundational uses of seaweeds as foods for nourishment and vitality

We will also touch on post-harvest handling and introduce key considerations for drying and storage. An optional pre-class Zoom session covers drying in more depth, from harvest preparation through storage (see below).

During our time together, we will also prepare a simple seaweed-based preparation for participants to enjoy and take home — carrying the experience of the shoreline into immediate, practical use.

Who This Is For

This class is for students who:

• Want hands-on experience harvesting seaweeds

• Are ready to begin harvesting for personal use

• Want to deepen their relationship with local marine ecosystems

• Are interested in working with seaweeds as foods for everyday use and health support

You’ll Leave With

• Confidence in identifying and harvesting local seaweeds

• Practical skills for evaluating shoreline conditions

• Experience harvesting in a thoughtful, sustainable wayF

• Foundational knowledge for bringing seaweeds into your home

• An introduction to culinary and wellness applications of different seaweed species

• A deeper relationship with your local shoreline ecosystem

Preparing for Seaweed Harvest: From the Intertidal to Your Pantry

2-Hour Pre-Field Zoom (Optional)

Sunday, May 3 | 3:00-5:00 PM (Zoom)

Optional session for students enrolled in the May 17 field class.

This online session supports preparation for harvest and establishing a home drying practice.Topics include:

• Harvest preparation (licenses, species expectations, planning)

• Transporting and rinsing seaweeds

• Drying fundamentals and setup options

• Testing for dryness, quality control, and storage

• Alternatives to drying

• Site selection and environmental considerations

My general seaweed drying guidelines are available here. We will touch briefly on drying in the field class, but many aspects of the drying process are difficult to demonstrate in that setting. This session explores those nuances in more depth.

If you plan to harvest seaweeds during class and don’t already have experience drying them, this session is strongly recommended.

A recording will be available for those unable to attend live.

Important

Participants must hold a valid Washington State shellfish/seaweed license and are encouraged to review WDFW recreational seaweed harvesting regulations in preparation for our work together.

Students planning to dry seaweeds at home should review my Seaweed Drying Instructions in advance. The optional Zoom session is recommended for those who are new to drying.

Enrollment limited to 15 participants

Preparing for Seaweed Harvest Pre-Field Zoom: $50

Space is limited and early registration is recommended.

Register for the Preparing for Seaweed Harvest (Zoom) here.