Category Archives: Projects

Urban Outsiders Exhibition at Huize Frankendael

October 7, 2012365 Frankendael, Placesart, exhibition, Frankendael, nature, sculptures, Urban outsidersLynn

I had an invitation to the launch evening, on Friday, of Urban Outsiders at Huize Frankendael. I managed a quick whizz around the exhibits just before the end of that event. It contains some really beautiful things, from a walk in Permaculture style caravan to illuminated flower pictures, to unusual herb photos to interesting branch sculpture. I’m far more earthy than arty but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back to have a slow look inside.

I recommend anyone interested in the melding of art and nature to visit Urban Outsiders, at Huize Frankendael by the 4th November. The agenda shows when the exhibition is teamed with other interesting events – such as a breakfast, guided tour and meal.

The three outside exhibits can be viewed for free but entry to the house (and I really enjoyed the chance to nose around in there!) is only €3.50 for adults (free for children).

I don’t know if the lady in I spoke to in Merkelbach will ever read this but here is one of those Jerusalem artichokes (NL: Aardpeer)

365 Frankendael day 169

October 6, 2012365 FrankendaelGlennie kindred, Hedera helix, Ivy, Ogham sticksLynn

I managed to get an enormous dog poop on my bicycle whilst taking this photo today! Worth it though. This is just a fraction of the mature Ivy (NL: Klimop, Hedera helix) which is currently lying beside the Middenweg, alongside the cycle and footpaths that pass by Park Frankendael. It got me quite excited, I need Ivy wood of a decent thickness and fresh, to complete my Ogham stick set. So now I have some. Not sure what Ogham sticks are? Have a look at the work of Glennie Kindred. They are rather like Rune Stones, a simple way of coding information which can be used to answer intuitive questions. The symbols have been found on Druid artifacts. No one can be certain of how they were used but it’s clear that the tree Ogham represented common trees. Ivy requires other trees to grow tall but it does none the less.

365 Frankendael day 168

October 5, 2012365 Frankendael, ForagingRose, Wild parsnipLynn

Beautiful autumn scenes in many city streets today. Here are taken leaves on Pythagorasstraat.

Here’s an interesting herb in a tiny spot. I think it’s Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). If it is the root would theoretically be edible but the leaves are certainly not.

A beautiful edible and medicinal Rose, still in bloom, at the end of the street I live in.

Another, now covered in maturing hips.

So many plants continue to bloom at the moment. There is so much to collect or forage if it’s wanted (and clean).

365 Frankendael day 167

October 4, 2012365 Frankendael, ForagingChickweed, Elder, Gallant soldiersLynn

Today a geveltuin (pavement garden) overflowing with delicious and nutritious Chickweed! (Stellaria media). The people who maintain this are probably more fortunate than they realise.

Also today a lovely healthy and overwhelmingly useful Elder shrub (Sambucus nigra) growing out of a pavement wall join.

And lastly a lovely Gallant soldiers plant, in a similar location.

365 Frankendael day 166

October 3, 2012365 FrankendaelDandelion, rocket, YarrowLynn

A few more useful street herbs which I found this afternoon in the Watergraafsmeer…

Yarrow, still flowering beautifully in areas where grass mowers can’t reach them.

Here’s a mish-mash of edibles and medicinals growing against an apartment block. Wild Rocket in flower, Dandelion, Yarrow and more. There seem to be hundreds of lush Dandelion plants alongside the Middenweg at the moment. Far to close to the road to be very healthy but useful for relocating perhaps.

Funded River of Herbs Course!

October 3, 2012Growing herbs, River of Herbsenvironmental volunteers, funding, grants, River of herbs, trainingLynn

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation is currently offering a limited number of grants (vouchers) to environmental volunteers who want to follow workshops/trainings in the area of nature and landscape management. If you want to learn how to participate in the River of Herbs project then this could be you!

River of Herbs is an innovative urban green initiative which aims to:

Increase the amount of edible and medicinal herbs growing in urban spaces.
Fill dull spaces with beautiful flowering herbs
Help urban wildlife
Increase food security
Encourage community participation in the care of urban spaces.

I have put together a River of Herbs training course, which you can sign up for and if you apply quickly the package will be totally covered by the available grants. My training course (worth 125Euro per person) falls way below the 1000 Euro maximum voucher request per applicant. I want this project to make a positive impact on the city so I’d love as many people as possible to get involved.

The deadline for applications to the Ministry is November 9th. But if you are interested in this you should contact me immediately so I can group you with others and make the application.

River of Herbs Training Package:
5 practical meetings (each 2 hours and on Sundays, in Amsterdam) covering the following topics, each time we meet. This training will give you the skills you need to confidently set up Urban Herb Meadows, keep them going, use them safely and involve others in the project too.

1. Ethical Urban Seed Collection and Storage
2. Identifying Spaces (tiny and large) for Urban Herb Meadows
3. Preparing, Planting & Caring for Urban Herb Meadows
4. Community Involvement with River of Herbs (sharing, helping, sharing)
5. Harvesting and Safely Using Plant Material from Urban Herb Meadows
6. Internet Mapping of Urban herb Meadow Locations and Blogging
7. Being run by Lynn Shore, each session will also include:
– an Urban Herb Walk
– printed info about the medicinal and edible properties of suitable herbs for the project
– the opportunity to stay in touch via my Urban Herbology Facebook group – a slice of cake now and then!

Please let me know straight away if this is interesting to you. lynn.shore@gmail.com

Dates for the training to be fixed in the next few days but all will be on Sundays, starting in January, to give more people the chance to participate and get this project really flowing through the city!!

365 Frankendael day 165

October 2, 2012365 FrankendaelYarrowLynn

Today is the second birthday of this website. I’m pleased it has survived and that a few people have been encouraged to nibble on a nourishing city weed or two after reading an entry. That was the original intention of setting up Urban Herbology.

Today I found a lovely unstrimmed patch of herbs, at the foot of a lamp post on Hugo de Vrieslaan. It is home to Stinging nettle, Yarrow (shown Achillea millifolium here), Ground elder and more. Quite a useful little patch of untamed plants!

365 Frankendael day 164

October 1, 2012365 Frankendael, ForagingGarlic mustard, ground elder, Hawthorn, IvyLynn

Today a few useful plants growing around the bike racks just inside of park Frankendael…

Seedheads of Garlic Mustard (Allitaria ). Too late to harvest many now but a good indication of where their successors will grow.

Beautiful Hawthorn (Craetagus monogyna) berries (Haws).

Ground elder (Aegopodium podograria), in it’s last edible throws before dying back for the winter.

Ivy (Hedera helix), always useful as an external skin stimulant, not for eating.

A Garlic mustard plant in it’s first (non flowering) season. A space to watch next spring.

365 Frankendael day 163

September 30, 2012365 Frankendael, Evergreen herbs, ForagingBurdock, Dandelion, ground ivy, MugwortLynn

I met Youko and one of her friends, in the park today and she asked me about herbs which will be available at the end of October.

Here is one which will be around because it’s an evergreen herb. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacae) is not closely related to tree and wall climbing common Ivy (Hedera helix) but it does like to grow in semi shaded areas. I found this beautiful patch close to the Hugo de Vrieslaan bridge exit of the park (inside). It tastes minty, makes a good digestive tea and I sometimes like it with chocolate or potatoes.

Burdock (Arctium lappa) may still be looking good then but will be way past it’s best. Today it’s looking OK, if a little nibbled by something.

Another herb which will still be very useful for the forager’s plate, come the end of October, is Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). It’s in the middle of Ground ivy in this photo. If the leaves are looking less than appetising, chase down and dig up the taproot. Give it a good scrub at home and use it’s medicinal energy reserves to fuel yourself. Dandelion is often used as a cleansing, strengthening liver tonic and is a well loved vegetable in several European countries. It can be used as a coffee substitute, as a roasted (bitter) vegetable in it’s own right or can be usefully grated into other food to as a bitter dimension. Dandelion is thought of as a weed by most so is unlikely to be missed. But if you begin whipping out the roots from clean locations for your pot, please ensure that you spread every dandelion clock you see around town, next summer! An interesting way of cooking the flowers (they may still spring up through the autumn) is mentioned here.