Hey again- Spring in Trinidad is like the forest stretching awake after a long nap—soft sunbeams, surf, and the smell of damp earth and blossoms. It’s also when the first edible greens start pushing through the soil, when the sea offers up fresh gifts, and when local markets shake off their winter quiet. If Part 1 was all mushrooms and misty pies, Part 2 is crunchy, salty, and full of that bright-green energy we all crave by March.
Spring’s Wild Harvest: Seaweed, Sprouts & Early Blooms
You don’t need to be a chef to forage in spring. You just need good boots and a sharp eye. Along our rocky shores and forest edges, the edible world wakes up fast.
What to Look For:
- Sea Lettuce & Nori: Found clinging to rocks at low tide. Great for drying and crumbling onto rice, popcorn, or into soups.
- Miner’s Lettuce & Chickweed: Tender forest greens that make for a perfect spring salad.
- Wild Fennel: Grows in sunny patches along roadsides. The fronds are perfect with citrus and fish.
- Salmonberry Blossoms: Not quite fruit yet, but edible and beautiful. The berries come later—bright pink and tart.
Where to Go:
- Moonstone Beach tidepools: Head there in the early morning for seaweed and salty air.
- Sue-meg State Park: Forest trails here hold hidden patches of miner’s lettuce and chickweed.
- Big Lagoon Spit: Watch the shorebirds, then forage the upper dune edges for coastal greens.
Safety Notes: Always check for red tide warnings before harvesting anything from the ocean. And never take more than you need—the forest feeds everyone, but only if we’re gentle with it.
Farmers Markets, U-Picks, and Local Flavor
By late March, local markets start showing off. It begins slow—a stand with just leeks and lettuce—and then suddenly there are baskets of rainbow radishes, duck eggs, and bundles of lilac.
Markets to Know:
- Arcata Plaza Farmers Market: Saturdays, 9am–2pm. The heartbeat of Humboldt’s food scene. Bonus: live music under the trees.
- McKinleyville Farmers Market: Smaller, quieter, but with some true hidden gems.
- Blue Lake Farm Stand Loop: A spring weekend favorite—make a lazy loop through Blue Lake and pick up jams, seedlings, and roadside eggs from honor-system coolers.
Locals Tip: Bring cash, a basket, and an appetite. Vendors love to chat if you’re curious about their produce.
Eat Like It’s Spring: What We’re Craving
Coastal Picnic Staples
- Local smoked salmon from Murphy’s Market
- Fresh sourdough and wildflower honey
- Pickled sea beans (find them at the fancier booths or make your own)
- Humboldt Fog cheese
What to Sip
- Spring kombucha flavors from It Takes Two Ferments
- Herbal teas with fresh nettles and lemon balm
- Locally roasted coffee
Sweet Things
- Lemon-lavender cookies
- Sea salt fudge from Trinidad Bay Eatery
- Honeycomb from the bee guy at the Arcata market
First Friday Art Nights Begin (May)
- Art, music, and food stalls start popping up downtown again.
Spring is a love letter from the land. Everything is waking up, sprouting, blossoming—and that includes us. Whether you’re harvesting seaweed before breakfast, buying greens, or sipping something floral by the fire, you’re part of the cycle. Eat with the season, walk slow, and maybe keep a wildflower in your pocket.
See you on the trails,
Lisa & Taylor
Camp Trinidad
