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Taking time to live well
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Taking Time to Live Well

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Photography: Alamy

Photography: Alamy

Nature | Seaweed Weather Forecasting

Iona Bower January 16, 2021

When there’s little else to forage, seaweed is still plentiful. But as well as being good to eat, did you know it can also act as your very own Wincey Willis? 

Hang some seaweed outside and if it feels dry to the touch the weather should be fine, whereas if it feels damp rain be on its way. It’s not a completely failsafe forecast, being based only on the fact that if there’s moisture in the air it may indicate rain soon to come. If it’s VERY wet, it may simply be that it’s actually raining already. But it’s a bit of fun. 

Here are a few more ways you can tell the weather without switching on the radio or TV.

  • Have a look at the dandelions. If they’re closed it will be clouding over. 

  • See if you can spot any bees. They don’t tend to leave the hive when rain is on the way. 

  • Notice what leaves are doing. Those with soft stems will go a little limp when there’s stormy or blustery weather on the way to allow wind to blow them about without snapping them.

  • Arrange a very elaborate picnic. Around 20 seconds after you’ve spread the blanket on the ground, it will almost certainly begin to rain.

Discover more about seaweed, how to forage it and eat it in our January issue with our feature A Winter’s Tale. It starts on page 36.

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More from our January issue…

Featured
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Jan 27, 2021
January | a final thought
Jan 27, 2021
Jan 27, 2021
Seaweed alamy.jpg
Jan 16, 2021
Nature | Seaweed Weather Forecasting
Jan 16, 2021
Jan 16, 2021
Tinker and Fix_June20_114.jpg
Jan 12, 2021
Organise | an excellent toolbox
Jan 12, 2021
Jan 12, 2021

More foraged finds you can eat…

Featured
Broad beans.jpeg
May 10, 2025
Recipe | Spring Beans on Toast
May 10, 2025
May 10, 2025
Sloe and nut 3.jpg
Nov 5, 2022
Recipe | Sticky Sloe and Nut Clusters
Nov 5, 2022
Nov 5, 2022
Seaweed alamy.jpg
Jan 16, 2021
Nature | Seaweed Weather Forecasting
Jan 16, 2021
Jan 16, 2021
InNature Tagsissue 103, Issue 103, foraging, seaweed, winter, winter nature, nature, seaside
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Feb 27, 2025
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Feb 27, 2025
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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