To kick start the Journal this New Year, we were delighted to be in conversation with Cornish based mermaid and wild food forager, Rachel Lambert. A seaweed nutritional expert, Rachel talks about her passion for nature and coastal life, sharing delightful childhood memories of catching ladybugs and singing under the catkin tree. The inspiration from nature that guided her journey into wild food foraging. Rachel talks about the health benefits of seaweed, wild cooking, teaching and writing books. Rachel has shared her delicious signature seaweed Channel Wrack Mayonnaise recipe with us.
We’d love to know more about your story, the journey that lead to hosting wild foraging courses, what was your inspiration and how did you learn your skills and gain knowledge?
Nature has always been my friend. From catching ladybugs and singing under the catkin tree as a child to playing on boats and windsurfers as a teenager. I suppose most interests start in childhood and my dad’s self-confessed addiction to sailing strongly influenced mine. As children we clambered over barnacled boulders while dad sailed. We dove into clear waters amongst seaweed and jellyfish and played bat and ball in the lapping waves. I felt very at home around and in the ocean.
As a young adult I wanted to learn about nutrition and remember buying grey-looking kelp powder to sprinkle on my food. It tasted disgusting, but I wanted to boost my energy through natural B vitamins! In my early twenties my natural inquisitiveness into nature, food and well-being accidently collided with bushcraft and foraging. Suddenly my world turned upside down and I saw nature and plants in a whole new way. It was another 10 years before I started sharing what I knew, teaching and facilitating being another big passion of mine.
I learnt through books, through friends, boyfriends, colleagues and teachers such as Thomas Schorr-kon and the author Roger Phillips. The practice of eating nature enlivened me.
We adore seaweed, it forms the base ingredients in our skincare formulations, what do you love about seaweed? What are its most precious properties for you?
Seaweeds are truly amazing. The range of edible seaweeds I teach contain 46 different minerals and trace elements essential for the human body. Ranging from forest kelp 50 metres long to microscopic algae, seaweed is as diverse as the terrestrial plant life we live amongst. I love how I can make cough syrup from one type, bath in another and use stunning red ones raw for their umami flavour.
How long did it take to write your book and what were the most pleasing elements in its creation?
My second book; Seaweed Foraging in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly took just 6 months to write and photograph. Teaching seaweed foraging had become a bit of a specialism of mine, but writing the book helped me understand and respect seaweeds even more. I also learnt some new seaweeds just for the book. The most fun part though was experimenting in the kitchen with them. I remember having a little ceramic pinch pot of hand-dried and flaked egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) on my kitchen table. I tasted it daily until I felt I understood the flavour enough to start cooking with it. That was the birth of my seaweed praline recipe!
Why do you think people are so drawn to wild foraging?
Foraging can tap into many of our dormant instincts; satisfying a desire to provide food for ourselves and others, awakening a sense of discovery and adventure while innately connecting us to our surroundings. It’s what our ancestors have done since the beginning of time, it is built into our human design and feels good!
We believe that singing and music uplift the soul, you incorporate singing into your courses, what does singing do for you personally? And what does it do for the mood of others?
Singing helps me put emotion into movement in a way that words alone cannot. It helps me to connect to myself, others and the edible plants and seaweeds I sing about. It gives me joy and a feeling of fullness that comes from self-expression. Singing can break through barriers, bring laughter, harmony, a sense of oneness.
What is your favourite time of year and why?
I’m loving winter right now, the subdued colours, the crisp cold and surprising array of edible weeds available. Paths and beaches are empty and it’s my best time to write, reflect and create. Though ask in any season and I’ll probably praise its qualities and tell you why I’m loving it right now!
When is the best time to harvest seaweed?
Harvesting times for each seaweed are different. In spring and summer several seaweeds are at their best, while others grow and thrive in the cold winter waters.
Do you have a favourite seaweed?
No! My favourite seaweed changes depending on what I’m cooking and what flavour I’m into at that time. Possibly dulse (Palmaria palmata) to snack on right now…
Can you share a simple seaweed recipe with our mermaids?
Channel Wrack Mayonnaise (From my Seaweed Foraging book)
2 organic eggs
¼ tsp strong mustard
Pinch of fine sea salt
2 tsp white wine vinegar
1 heaped tbsp dried and ground channel wrack
175 ml vegetable oil
50 ml extra virgin olive oil
In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and stir in the mustard, salt, vinegar and channel wrack. Next, with the whisk in one hand and the oils combined in a pouring jug, drop by drop whisk in the oil. Dribble in the oil and whisk thoroughly. Taste and adjust flavourings if desired. Use in sandwiches, with salads, fish, BBQs etc. Store in the fridge and use within a week.
How would your dream day look?
Get up to a hearty breakfast and spend the day exploring the coast, perhaps a sea swim and finishing with a fire, warm jumpers and shared food on the beach with friends.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Every year I love watching the seasons changing, sharing the joys of foraging with groups and individuals and making the best of good company, nature. It’s the simple pleasures of life in Cornwall. This year I’m also looking forward to working with a team to put together a new foraging and cooking book and possibly travelling a little further than my home county!
To purchase Rachels books and courses go to https://www.wildwalks-southwest.co.uk
