3pm til 5 pm this Sunday (25th November) – Celebrating the old Stijl Tuin behind Huize Frankendael.
The day after, gardening contractors will dig up what’s left and begin to restructure the garden. Edward Clydesdale Thomson, artist in residence is organising gluwijn, hand tools, plant care advice and a good send off for the plants. The Yew trees will be moved to the local cemetery de Nieuwe Ooster Begraafplaats (which is also a national arboretum) so we won’t be touching them but everything else can go. That’s the mature Box hedging (buxus), Catnip, Day lilies, Japanese anenomes, Acanthus, spring bulbs, Artemisias and more and more and more.
The following day, restructuring of the garden will begin. The Stijltuin behind Huize Frankendael is an officially listed historic garden and whilst keeping the original design intact, new plants are to be added.
Every spare moment right now, I am working on the Urban Herbology Podcast.
Since 2010, I’ve been blogging here about how to forage in cities, craft local herbs and live in tune with urban seasons. I love to blog and teach these skills through my course, walks and River of Herbs, so that won’t stop. But I want to start sharing the amazing things that other urban people are doing to create a better life for us all.
The Urban Herbology Podcast will showcase people who; create paper from city weeds, turn conventional small businesses into shiny green gems, people who run community gardens, who guerilla garden for wild bees, who simplify their metro lives, experts in small scale hydroponics, urban farmers, city brewers… People who can help us to become a little more self-reliant every day.
I figure that podcasting is the most effective way to gather and share this information with you so that’s what I’m doing.
If you want to suggest inspiring green city folk who I should interview, please make contact! I’ve got a long list of special people who I’ve met over these 7 incredible years but I’d love to make it longer. Interviews can be face-to-face or over the internet so distance is no problem. Please use the comments box or email me at urban.herbology.lynn@gmail.com.
As soon as the Podcast goes live, I’ll be sure to let you know!
Gardening is good for you. Whether inside or out, spring, summer, autumn or winter, it is not difficult to see why. Being in contact with earth, plants, air and water feeds the soul, tones muscles, lifts spirits and aligns us acutely with the cycles of nature. As research about biophilia, horticultural therapy, woodland bathing and related topics mounts, I wanted to share a few thoughts about the importance of gardening in the city.
Some of my earliest memories are of gardens – growing lupins and marrows, following snail families, the smell of radishes, cut grass and just pulled potatoes, cress heads, apples, maggots and bee stings, blackberries, sweet blackberries, weeding, muddy nails, stone scratched skin, daisies and rose petal perfume. I think that I have been a gardener since birth. And I think that you have too.
People speak about gardeners having green fingers (or thumbs), about knowing what to do with plants, about experience, having a feel for it and so on. Experience amongst gardeners is most certainly wide ranging but I am sure that we all have green spirit within us and that spending time in nature helps it to grow. I love to see that spirit grow within those around me. It can manifest as a quiet self confidence, improved physical coordination, lightness of touch, imagination, appreciation of others, interest in life, a desire to learn more and a need to be to nature – often. When green spirit reaches the level needed, I see people literally blossom. It radiates from them, they appear bigger, bolder and more connected to nature. It then touches those around them and invariably causing the creation of more beautiful green places and a deeper respect for nature. Green spirit is a wonderful thing!
Due to my somewhat selfish desire to fill the world with green spirit, I began a project in 2012 called River of Herbs. The aim was to help more people, plants and wildlife to flourish in the city. Over the years, I have run free courses for individuals, schools and groups, in the name of the project and I have trained and built up experience in Horticultural therapy. The aspect of the project which I have loved most is the herbal orchards of Park Frankendael. I adopted them from the city council in 2014; four fertile patches of land, occasionally mowed, care homes for old fruit trees, shady retreat for dog owners. They are behind the grand old Huize Frankendael. Beneath the trees were about 20 sorts of wild plants, some edible, some not, all ‘weeds’. The aim was to create a garden base for River of Herbs, to teach people about wild herbs – how to grow them and use them. From the start the orchards have been blessed by incredible volunteers. Some come and go. Some come, connect and stay for a long time.
All of the volunteers amaze me. We have welcomed research students, chefs, job seekers, couch surfers, retired people, dog owners, cat lovers, busy people, tourists, translators, writers, teachers, herb people, psychic people, IT people, number people, tired-out people, life/law/loved – struggling people, new people, local people, energetic people, artists, actors, jewelers, designers, whirlwind people, tranquil people, mature people, young people… so many people have volunteered and made their mark on the orchards. Together, we have laid paths, grown herbs and good friendships.
Japanese wineberry taste so good!
Lots more edible and medicinal herbs have been added to the orchard ‘borders’. Saffron, Sweet cicely, Japanese wineberry, Valerian, Motherwort and Sweet violets are probably my favourites. We have planted cherry trees, made Elder cuttings, nurtured seedlings and re-homed poisonous plants. We have built benches, a willow hut, a barefoot path, stung our arms and legs on nettles more times than I like to remember and drunk a lot of herb tea. We have worked together in the green, we have made a community garden and green spirit radiates from each of the volunteers. And how many of these volunteers arrived calling themselves a gardener? None. Well actually one, a wonderful chap who helped us to lay woodchip paths in 2014. But that’s not many is it?
Volunteers River of Herbs orchards July 2017
The measure of a good gardener is not how well they clean their tools, how long their runner beans grow or how weed-free their flower borders are. To me, the measure of a good gardener is how far green spirit radiates from their being and strives to improve the world.
River of Herbs orchards are open to the public 24/7 all year round.
We generally meet there every Wednesday morning, 10.30 – 12.00 unless the weather is stormy.
This morning, I led a small group walk around Park Frankendael and one of the adjoining streets. There are so many edible and medicinal plants growing here at the moment, it’s a real delight to see!
A few of the plants which we found were Mugwort, Elderflower, Hedge woundwort, Valerian, Indian strawberry, Daisy, Yarrow, Lime, Origano, Horsetail, Marshmallow, Comfrey, Sweet cicely, Catnip, Skullcap and Tansy.
Upon returning home from the walk, I’ve laid aromatic Tansy stems under my doormat (against basement odours and summer bugs), hung Meadowsweet stems to dry for a tummy soothing tea and drizzled Elderflower honey over chestnut, humus and cucumber crackers. Wild garlic seed heads are infusing in olive oil and a jar of Icelandic Fjällagras & Mallow flowers graces my kitchen. In other words – Life is good!
Heart felt thanks to Jurtina from Reykjavik for reaching out to me last week and asking for the walk. It was a pleasure to walk with you, Aline and the girls!
Well, we have reached the end of the Urban Herbology 30 day Foraging Challenge! Thank you for your support through messages and photos. They certainly kept me going and I hope that my posts kept you thinking a little about the topic too.
We’ve seen lots of wonderful plants over the past month. Lots has changed such as cherry trees blooming and fading, hawthorn flowers slowly developing haws, garlic mustard, cleavers and nettles reaching ever upward as tree canopies have greened. Lime leaves are now ready to eat in place of lettuce and hollyhocks will soon be in flower… I hope that you have been able to sense some of those changes and many others.
Yesterday was my second community gardening session at Tuin van Darwin. I now feel connected with that beautiful place and hope you will come and visit sometime. It is very special.
Amsterdam was scorching hot yesterday so I headed to the open air pools of Flevobad with my daughter. We cycled through Flevopark to get there and what a green treat that place is at the moment! It’s absolutely bursting with life. Dozens of herbs caught my eye and as ever garlic mustard is BIG there. Must be something in the soil or the smell of the graffiti artists spray paints.. Whatever it is, it works!
I also had my first sighting this year of Elderflower so the crazy syrup/fritter/fizz season is upon us! I’ll be traveling everywhere with scissors and paper bags for the next month. I do this usually but through May and June the scissors will be discrete and sharp, the paper bags numerous and that’s about all you’ll find in my work bag.
Yesterday was also an orchards day. We had a lot of work to do as the plants are growing at least 10cm per day, reaching for light because the fruit tree canopies are fully greened. Stinging nettle was my target. From now until September it crowds the path in the nettle orchard and that’s not very comfortable for visitors. So I took to the path edges with my gardening gloves and golden sycle. It’s actually made from bronze, cuts plants with panache and makes me feel like a real druid ovate!
Only hands are required for foraging but some tools make the job much easier.
Meditation for today: What are your favoured foraging tools?
Today’s mantra: There’s a flowering Elder around the corner with my name on it! It’s also home of a million creatures who need those flowers more than me.
Day 26 and a busy work day for me so less free time outdoors than I like. But I did teach several classes in the school garden today and for that I am extremely grateful!
Lady’s bedstraw: photo credit Carlijn Potsma
Children and gardens go together; always something to touch, taste, explore, watch and wonder at. Always changes to notice and lessons to learn. Strangely, I notice that adults often think that children are completely different beings to themselves. Thinking that they have completely different needs and interests. Of course we are different in many respects but where plants, nature and wonder are concerned, we are all the same. It’s there and it’s part of us all.
Pensylvania pelitory: photo credit Carlijn Potsma
My highlights today were:
1. being shown how to drink dew drops from Lady’s mantle leaves (by a 5 year old),
2. being instructed in how to make a crystal waterfall from its leaves (by a 4 year old who finds English a big challenge) and
3. helping another 5 year old offer the school secretary a salad of Hairy bittercress, which he had carefully weeded out from between our marshmallow seedlings and washed clean.
All of those children have issues which can make school a challenging place for them at times. In the garden they literally bloom before my eyes and build skills which help them to handle their challenges better. It would be hard to give this job up!
Today’s meditation: What got you totally enthralled when you were a child? What are your earliest nature memories? Do you still do that thing, perhaps in a grown up sort of a way? If not, why not and would you actually like to?
Today’s mantra: Everyone has a smiling little boy or girl inside.
Have may you noticed how the plants are growing a mile a minute at the moment? When I walked in Park Frankendael yesterday, I entered a space that I haven’t visited for over a week. I was amazed by how tall the woodland geraniums have grown. Their flower heads are building fast as the plant energies move upward and the plants prepare for their most fertile phase.
We are entering the peak time for harvesting herbs. The moments before a herb flowers are often its most potent. Some herbs are already flowering and you have sent me gorgeous photos of many of these. But most herbs will flower throughout June and July. At midsummer I will be out with my pocket sized scissors, paper bags, hip flask of brandy and clean jam jars – ready to harvest and craft herbs at the moment I fond them at their peak. I will harvest some flower spikes before they have a chance to offer their wears to the bees and butterflies. But I will also nurture those plants throughout the year and will only harvest what I need, whilst leaving most to bloom.
Do you have your heart set on harvesting a particular herb and crafting it this summer? If so, find out the peak power time of that plant and plan to find it then.
Today’s meditation: How are the plants around you changing right now?
Today’s mantra: I am awake and aware of the life around me.
(PS – if you are one of my apprentices, there are two gathering days coming up. First one is Friday 2nd June).
The sweet smell of Japanese roses (Rosa rugosa) now fills the air in parts of Amsterdam, as Dana has found today.
These are near prefect urban herbs with edible leaves, strongly scented edible flowers and enormous soft hips set on rugged protective shrubs – a dream for forward thinking landscape architects!
The problems I find with them are 1. the time consuming need to hard prune each autumn and 2. that the landscapers mostly set them close to busy roads!
If you do find them growing in their thousands at relatively clean locations, consider if you could harvest just a few flowers to set up a honey infusion or something else of help your family and freinds.
Photo credit Elodie den Otter
Also today, delicious dandelions from Elodie! What a welcome addition to a meal these leaves and flowers offer! If you can find them in a clean location simply enjoy.
Today’s meditation: If I (you!) were a city planner, what would grow where in my home town?
Amsterdam was scorching hot yesterday so I headed to the open air pools of Flevobad with my daughter. We cycled through Flevopark to get there and what a green treat that place is at the moment! It’s absolutely bursting with life. Dozens of herbs caught my eye and as ever garlic mustard is BIG there. Must be something in the soil or the smell of the graffiti artists spray paints.. Whatever it is, it works!
Urban Herbology 