The Mahonian

“How ‘bout we offer a giant platter of fried chicken on the party menu?” And so it was.

Next Sunday 3/5, we’re hosting a floral class with Page Elliott] and Pono Brewing]. Tickets include a workshop on building a stunning arrangement, snacks from , and a couple beers from Pono Brewing].

INFO & TIX HERE: themahonian.com/flowers

This is an arrangement we made out of Portland yards (pre-snow storm). But we’re beyond excited to learn from Page Elliott]. 🤍🌸

If you can’t make 3/5, we’re doing it every month. ☺️ Details our website.

Yesterday we spent the day shucking purple urchins. Tomorrow, we feature them in a dinner with The Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA)] to discuss the issues we face with the decline of kelp forests.

Urchin eat kelp. A lot of it. And as nature intended, that’s not an issue. But…the things that eat the urchin—sea stars and otters—have nearly disappeared. With few preditors, the urchin populations are going nuts! Like, 600 million urchin on the South ORegon Coast alone. 🤨

We now find ourselves in a sticky situation: kelp are being consumed faster than they’re growing. Ecosystems that depend on the biodiversity within the kelp forests are diminishing. Because of this, food systems are punctured, coastal communities struggle, and climate change is pushed along.

But we see hope. There’s a band of people coming together to do something: divers, biologists, sea farmers, fisher people, chefs, and beyond: forming the ORegon Kelp Alliance (The Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA)]).

Can we simply eat more uni and save kelp forests? No. Sadly it’s not that simple. The complex solution is still being researched and discussed. That’s how we can help right now: tell the kelp’s story, because it can’t, and support groups like ORKA.

Check out oregonkelp.com to learn and get involved. And, support groups like who are boots on the ground, sharing their love of the ocean to help protect it.

We’ll have a tank of live urchin on Sunday 2/19 for our free “Sea all the Snacks” event, showcasing packaged goods made of seaweed. For more info, click the link in our bio (RSVP required).

💐 Fresh stems at every event. 🤍

Just a beautiful twirly whirl of veggies as a welcome snack tonight.

That is a plating guru.