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Sea / seaweedBecause Seaweed is low on calories, packed with easy-to-absorb proteins, vitamins, minerals and lipids it can protect against environmental pollution and ward off ageing. Most enzymatic functions in our bodies depend on minute amounts of these bio available trace minerals/elements. The high density of nutrients can help to complement your diet, and is extremely important for many other reasons as well. Perhaps the most important is that these nutrients maintain/replace cell membranes in structure and function.An important part of our activities is the promotion of seaweed and seaweed products in general in a general sense.
Our involvement with seaweed did start in 1976 and has been continued until now.
The presence of large amounts of seaweed nearby, an ideal location. Stimulated by our mentor and neighbour Patrick Crowly.
Photo showing Ballycrovane pier.Based on the commotion which we did get when improving the access to our house/parking we learned that the spot is ideally suited for development and use in recreational activities associated with water. The sheltered location priceless and obviously much in demand, valuable and must now be worth a small fortune.
An introduction to Seaweed.Seaweed are macro algae, and plants that live in sea water. Seaweed does not have roots or blood vessels, but feeds from the sea water directly.
Some seaweed is free-floating, but the majority grows attached to hard surfaces, such as rocks and shells. The best seaweed lives along the shores in the shallow region of the of the ocean known as the intertidal zone, the area between high tide and low tide. In addition, there is the sub-tidal zone, which can only be reached by use of a boat, and dragging or other mechanical devices. Depth up to 40 meters. Seaweed needs the light from the sun. Seaweed harvesting is done by cutting with a knife or sickle at low spring tides, however some can be collected after it has have washed up after storms. Seaweed tends to make rocks very slippery for those walking on rocky shores and edges.
Also, there are strong tidal currents, and long sloping ledges. The seaweed is cut and put in plastic bags and carried on one’s back to the nearest road for transport. The next step is air and sun drying. Most of the seaweed is air dried because of the constantly present south west winds, and to a lesser extent, the sun. The weed is spread on nets, sheets, or put on wires. Experience.When we came first to Beara in 1974 for a holiday, we could not have imagined living there. We met and were introduced to several local people in the area, including Patrick Crowley, who lived close to the sea. A bachelor with a great love for the sea. His cows were able to climb rocks and mountains, swim across to the islands. Patrick had developed however into a specialist who seemed to know everything about the sea, its creatures, and seaweed. He was one of the few in the area who had this kind of knowledge. He was a kind of scholar.
Most men were bachelors living on small farms. They were lonely men who worked hard but had little money. Patrick enjoyed talking about the sea, and everything associated with it, but no one around him seemed to care. We taped most of his stories about the sea, fish, shellfish, crabs, and seaweed, but unfortunately the tapes got lost over time. It is until much later, we saw the importance and the value of his knowledge about seaweed and importance to mankind. It is clear now that seaweed could prove to be a cure for man made and effluent diseases. We knew that many of these anecdotal stories had important truths at the heart. They proved to be scientifically right. Patrick was far ahead of his time. He handed me the golden key to a world unknown to me, which I am now promoting.Being different was not accepted within the small community and still is, he being lonely.
His house is still there but it’s now a ruin, as seen from the road. At that stage, we having a family of our own of which we had to take care of, only brief visits to Ireland were possible. When our children left home able to pursue the old dream and we did discover the real true value of what he left us. I did keep my end of the bargain with him by publishing all the information he handed to us on the net, offering free access to everybody anywhere, the big community the world. The word/knowledge now steadily spreading. Seaweed use & harvesting.
If you want it use as source of fuel, more economical ways must be found to harvest and process.
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