Seaweed

Used by many cultures for centuries by many cultures for food, medicine and technology. I was surprised to see the number of products made in Morocco containing seaweed.  I always think of it as a desert culture. True, one side is desert.  But the other side is coastline.  Morocco has coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.  Agadir is famous for its sardines. 

There are hundreds of varieties of seaweed or sea vegetables, as some call them. 

A good source of edible seaweed is Ocean Harvest Sea Vegetable Collective

http://www.ohsv.net/

You can collect it yourself. When collecting seaweed, it is important to both observe local laws and natural law.  Natural law requires that we don't take more than we can use regardless of legal limits and that we harvest sustainably so that the plants can continue to thrive.  Along the Sonoma Coast, we can harvest 10lbs. wet per day.  It is best to get a fishing license.  Always go with other people when harvesting, making sure someone is on the beach who can go get help.  Even though you are not that far out, you can get hurt.  Seaweed covered rocks are slippery.  While you are intently harvesting, a wave can come up and knock you down.

For the most extensive article on the value of seaweed for health read:

Sea Vegetables for Food and Medicine

by Dr. Ryan Drum

His website is a wealth of information on sea vegetables and herbs. He gives classes and workshops.

www.ryandrum.com

Click here to get his tapes and CDs.

Another source to purchase seaweed is: 

  My Products  

I use seaweed in several of my products because of its healing qualities. It is very nourishing for the skin. 

The Hammam bar contains Kelp, Black Cumin Seed oil, Beldi (black olive soap, Ghassoul (clay from the Atlas Mtns. in Morocco), Argan oil and Essential oils. Inspired by the Hammam (traditional bath and massage in Morocco).

Round bar  $5.50   

Rectangular bar   $7.00  

The Caribbean Queen soap also contains Kelp.  In a Shea Butter soap with a Tropical scent (Lime and Coconut).

$5.00  

The Sea Witch Salve has Bladderwrack or Fucus, collected at the nearby Sonoma Coast. The bladderwrack is gathered sustainably, dried, powdered, and then used to make an infused oil. This infused oil is one of the ingredients in the salve. 

It also contains infused oils of Comfrey, Self-heal, Calendula, St. John's wort, and Chickweed, Black Cumin Seed oil, Cocoa butter, Beeswax, Vitamin E and a blend of Essential oils.  

1/2 ounce  $6.00  

1 ounce  $9.00  

To see my other products

Go to The Souk