Treasures of the Deep Book Club - The Seaweed Collector’s Guide

A beautifully illustrated little book that will open your eyes at the seaside

In this session, we will discuss ‘The Seaweed Collector’s Guide’ by Miek Zwamborn.

Seaweed is so familiar and yet its names - pepper dulse, sea lettuce, bladderwrack - are largely unknown to us.

In this short, exquisitely illustrated portrait, the Dutch poet and artist Miek Zwamborn shares her discoveries of its history, culture and use, from the Neolithic people of the Orkney Islands to sushi artisans in modern Japan. Seaweed troubled Columbus on his voyages across the Atlantic, intrigued von Humboldt in the Sargasso Sea and inspired artists from Hokusai to Matisse. Covering seaweed's collection by Victorians, its adoption into fashion and dance and its potential for combating climate change, and with a fabulous series of recipes based around the 'truffles of the sea', this is a wonderful gift for every nature lover's home.

About the Author

Miek Zwamborn is a Dutch artist, novelist, bookmaker, and translator. Her work is deeply rooted in the exploration of landscapes. During her field research, she traverses both time and space, delving into historical archives, travelogues, and scientific reports to unearth fragments that inspire her creations. Her body of work includes novels such as "Oploper" (2000, Meulenhoff), "Vallend Hout" (2004, Meulenhoff), and "De duimsprong" (2013, Van Oorschot), as well as the poetry book "Het krieken van sepia" (2008, Slibreeks), the seaweed anthology "Wieren" (2018, Van Oorschot), and the collection "Onderling" (2023, Van Oorschot). In addition to her literary works, Miek Zwamborn is known for her visual art, which has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland.

About Treasures of the Deep

A three-month pilot programme that takes the St Andrews Botanic Garden’s algal collection as its anchor and point of departure. Through a series of lunchtime talks, workshops, and an exhibition, we invite our audiences, local and international artists, writers, academics and organisations to explore seaweed as both a biological material and a medium for reflecting on broader environmental, social, and feminist issues. Together, we will examine how algal collections can inspire new ways of thinking, providing insights into our past, present, and future relationships with the natural world.

About the Reading Group

In this reading group, we’ll journey through texts that unearth narratives which encourage us to question, reflect, and reimagine what might come after the end. In shared conversation, we’ll ask what it means to live through moments of profound change, and how literature can equip us to witness and engage with these shifts.

Whether you are a seasoned reader of ecocritical literature, or someone simply interested in the intersection of the written word and the natural world, this group encourages diverse perspectives. We’ll be reading the chosen texts beforehand, and coming together to discuss them in a relaxed, open-minded atmosphere.

No matter your familiarity with the material, we encourage everyone to share their thoughts, and questions as we explore the themes together. As we go along, we’ll adapt our discussions to the group’s interests and pace, allowing room for both joint exploration and personal reflection.

Essential Information

Minimum age 18. Please bring your own reading/writing materials.

The entrance fee covers access to the garden, as well as tea, coffee, shortbread, and water. Free RSVP for those with exisiting admission tickets for this date, students and Friends Members.

As this is an out of hours event, please meet at the main gate to the Garden at 6pm. If you are running late, please notify Anne Daffertshofer via adaffertshoferstandrewsbotanic.org (Subject line: late/book club).

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Host or Publisher St Andrews Botanic Garden