Today we’d like to introduce you to Alanna Kieffer.
Hi Alanna , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Through seaweed farming and coastal foraging, I have gained a deeper love and appreciation for the PNW ecosystem and the food it provides, our sustainable seafoods, and all the people and power behind them.
I’ve worked for marine science education organizations since I was in high school on the Oregon Coast. From Oregon’s Haystack Rock to California’s Catalina Island, I’ve taught people of all ages about a wide variety of ocean ecosystems. Through Pacific Northwest tide-pooling and Channel Island diving, I’ve been submerged in these wild spaces and had the privilege to share them with so many.
Growing up in a family of chefs and food lovers, it’s no surprise that food and the ocean have become central to my work. Today, I get to share that passion with others through guided coastal foraging experiences, ocean-to-table workshops, and educational storytelling about the Pacific Northwest’s intertidal ecosystems.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been bumpy and smooth all at the same time! Starting a business is inevitably scary. But it’s also fun. There are always struggles of feeling like I don’t know what I’m doing or that I struggle with imposter syndrome, but truth is everyone is figuring out everything as they go! And as I can keep reminding myself of this, it puts the fun back on top.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Shifting Tides is my workshop series and educational platform dedicated to sharing the wonders of our wild intertidal ecosystems, coastal foraging, and the edible treasures found along the Oregon Coast. Through hands-on tidepool tours and foraging workshops, I help people connect more deeply to the marine environment, exploring everything from seaweed and shellfish to coastal ecology and sustainability. Shifting Tides is about bridging science, stewardship, and experience to create meaningful, immersive moments by the sea.
I’m a passionate Oregon Coast tidepool tour guide, foraging guide, and lifelong advocate for the Pacific Northwest’s incredible coastal ecosystems. My love for the ocean runs deep, and I’m so grateful to have a platform and community that allow me to teach others about our marine environments and inspire care for this beautiful coastline we call home.
For the past four years I’ve been working for a land-based seaweed farm growing Pacific Dulse, helping to build awareness and a market for sustainably cultivated seaweed. This got me extremely passionate about food systems, specifically around Oregon caught seafood. My passion for seaweed has deemed me the “seaweed girl” around town and seaweed foraging is now something I specialize in.
This led me to became co-founder of Winter Waters, a culinary event series celebrating sea vegetables and Oregon sustainable seafood, held each February. It’s a gathering of chefs, fishers, and ocean enthusiasts who share a common goal, showcasing the abundance and importance of our regional waters.
Through my work as a tidepool tour guide, foraging educator, and coastal conservation advocate, my mission is simple: to help people fall in love with the ocean and understand its power, resilience, and importance in our daily lives. The story of our coast is ever-changing, and I’m here to help tell it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shiftingtidesnw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shifting_tides_nw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiftingtidesnw/
Image Credits
Sophia Knox, Michelle Horsey, Rachelle Hacmac
