Category Archives: Apprenticeship

365 Frankendael day 171

365 Frankendael, Apprenticeship, , ,

Today a photo of a fresh, beautiful and delicate plant which is a gift to the urinary system. This is Pennsylvania Pelitory (Paretaria pennsylvanica).

The first Urbanherbology Apprentice group meet for the first time today – what a joy to meet and share with those lovely gifted people! We made simple tinctures from this plant, in the woods of Frankendael and by coincidence saw my neighbour and her dog Tobias (my inspiration for learning about this plant) as we walked to the harvest site.

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We found many other lovely, useful plants this morning. Ground ivy (Glechoma hederaceae), Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) and Himalayan balsam being amongst them. Here’s a link to a useful old text entry, about Ground ivy.

One topic of conversation was Wild carrot (Daucus carota), it’s traditional uses and recent related research. Here’s a link particularly for the apprentices – it will lead you to you to a little more information about the plant, including Robin Rose Bennet’s informative article and also by coincidence, a photo of the black rose hips and the unfortunately named Birthwort, both were mentioned whilst we walked. I’m really looking forward to hearing how you all get on this month!

365 Frankendael day 136

365 Frankendael, Apprenticeship, Foraging, Potions, Wild herbs, , , ,

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red clover

Today I harvested a few handfuls of Red Clover blossoms to make a small jar of tincture, three large leaves of Ground elder, to chop finely and add to our dinner and sat quietly in a beautiful, tiny grove, within the woodland part of park Frankendael.

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Ground elder

The grove is somewhere I’ve walked by many times, have harvested little from and yet it drew me completely within itself today. This place has a wonderful energy about it, filled with sounds of the city and yet, cool, shaded, green, earthy, nurturing and sheltering. Sounds of birds chattering around me, branches crack as squirrels and other small animals climb around. Just the place to launch the apprenticeship course, I think. To sit on the ground here is a beautiful experience. I smell Ivy all around me and feel supportive earth beneath me. It is a magical place.

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Grove in Frankendael park

I feel delighted that I will have an opportunity to take several people there, to share my love of this place and of the plants which choose to live in the city.

2012 Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship

I’ve been giving urban herb walks and workshops for some time now. After being asked for more from some of those who attend, and reflecting on the matter, I’ve decided to offer an Apprenticeship course which will begin this October. Those who join me on this journey will be shown ways to make use of and engage with, the the wild places in towns and cities. The course is open to anyone who yearns to learn such things, with someone to help them as they travel along the path and to be in the presence of a small supportive group, of other apprentices.

Whilst away on holiday, I slept on my ideas and the needs of those I meet in Amsterdam. From this I have written the syllabus. The course will cover Herbology and nature based spirituality topics, which I hope you will find interesting and relevant.

For details of the course please see the new Apprenticeship page and follow the link to look at the syllabus.

The course is planned for a maximum of 8 apprentices, meeting once a month, for one year (or 18 months if desired). The day of the week is yet to be finalized. I am planning on Mondays but if you have a strong desire to join me and another day in mind then let me know. 3 places are currently reserved. If you’d like to join me on this journey of self discovery and urban herbal wonders then please make contact.