Marie Power grew up on the Copper Coast — that stretch of Waterford coastline between Tramore and Dungarvan that takes its name from the copper mines worked here in the nineteenth century. The seaweed was always there; it wasn’t until 2006 that she started paying it serious attention. By 2008, she was leading foraging walks along the Irish coast. She hasn’t really stopped since.
Forager, Teacher, Producer
The Sea Gardener is three things at once: a foraging and coastal ecology education business, a range of seaweed-based food products, and an ongoing effort to make Irish people less afraid of the ingredient that covers their coastline.
The walks and workshops — seaweed foraging, rocky shore ecology, wild food cook-ups, beach picnics — run for individuals, families, and groups across the coast. They’re hands-on, grounded in Marie’s professional background in wildlife and ecology, and structured to leave participants with practical knowledge rather than a vague sense of enthusiasm.
The Sea Garden Products
The product range includes natural bars incorporating certified organic Irish seaweed — Almond & Orange, Coconut & Lime — as well as a Mushroom & Black Olive Caponata made with Kelp, Dilisk, Sea Lettuce, and Sargassum. The products are stocked at Ardkeen Quality Food Store in Waterford and listed on Discover Ireland — a small but meaningful retail footprint for a genuinely artisan operation.
Marie also published The Sea Garden, a guide to seaweed cookery and foraging that has become a reference point for anyone wanting to understand what to do with the stuff once they’ve picked it.
Marie Power has been walking Waterford’s coastline with curious people for nearly twenty years. The Copper Coast, it turns out, is an edible larder — if you know where to look.
The Sea Gardener
Copper Coast, Co. Waterford
🌐 theseagardener.com
📧 marie@theseagardener.ie
