Feast Tofino 2013
Every year Tofino hosts their amazing month long FEAST! event..this year Tofino Paddle Surf teamed up with Tofino Urban Farm Co. to present – START WITH SUPERFOOD: Standup Paddle Board Cruise
Our participants developed basic paddle boarding skills while exploring our bays and seaweed patches, sampling and learning about all the amazing properties and uses of our abundant seaweeds for health, in the kitchen, in the garden beds and in the home spa! We learned about local, sustainable gardening practices that use our coasts’ abundant nutrient rich superfood seaweed as we cruised in the sunshine on paddleboards, enjoying a fun and easy way to experience our bountiful local waters. We ended with a simple feast on the beach of seaweed salads and smoked salmon tofu pockets, pickled bull kelp on sea salt bread and creamcheese and of course, dark chocolate. Amazing!
Why is Seaweed Healthy?
Growing in the ocean, seaweed picks up a range of minerals and other nutrients. It is a fairly simple food, making it easy for the body to break down and release the healthful substances inside, providing a variety of vitamins and minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, iodine, potassium, phosphorus, iron, bulk fiber, and vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, and K).
Similar to how humans appreciate the nutritional content of seaweeds (nori in sushi for example), so do our garden vegetables. As a fall mulch, the nutrients from the seaweed will stimulate plant growth, strengthen plants and build their resistance to disease and stress. A vegetable garden will provide highly nutritious produce when strengthened by our ocean’s bounty; seaweed.