Tag Archives: Urban Herb Walks

Gathering Herbs in May


Here are a few tips on what to take with you, if you go foraging in Amsterdam, or anywhere else for that matter…

Paper bags
Fabric/plastic carrier bag
Rubber/gardening gloves (stinging nettles)
Small scissors (nettles/elderflower/processing herbs)
Sun hat
St. John’s wort oil (sun protection)
Aloe vera gel (sun burn remedy)
Layered clothing
Waterproof jacket
Sturdy shoes/boots
Long trousers and socks (Lymes disease)
Drink
Water for hand/plant washing
Plant ID guide book
Mini magnifying lens
Foraging book
Paper/book and pencil (samples, notes)
Bread/trail mix
Clean small glass jars with lids (for instant processing of herbs, pesto jars are a good size)
Olive oil and/or vodka (for filling the glass jars of herbs)

Of course you don’t have to take any of these things with you at all and the list is not exhaustive. But if you head out with foraging in mind, you may as well be prepared.

if you intend to forage some kind of root (such as Wild Carrot or Burdock) then something to dig them out with would be needed. I don’t usually harvest wild roots, for ecological, health and social reasons but if it’s your preference then pack a trowel or spade!

Advertisement

Imbolc Herb Walk – Thank you!

Just a quick post to say thank you to everyone who came out on this chilly afternoon, to join me on the Frankendael herb walk.  It was lovely to share some of my favourite herbs with  you and also to learn from you.  We looked in some detail at nine herbs which are currently available and also spotted a few others which will be available soon. The herb tea and chat in Merkelbach afterwards also went down a treat!

Links to previous posts about a few of the herbs we looked at today:
Elder, Elderflower tea
Witchhazel
Sweet cicely
Birch oil – how to make cold infused oils
Wild rocket
Rosehip syrup recipes

I will be organising another urban herb walk in March and also a lotions and potions workshop sometime soon. More details to follow…

Wild Herb Walk in Amsterdam

I am organising a Wild Herb Walk in Amsterdam, this November. If you are interested in coming along, please contact me so I have an idea of the amount of interest.

This will be a relaxed walk, in an easily reached location, learning how to identify, gather and use some common medicinal and food herbs which grow wild in the city.  Many beautiful, interesting and useful herbs are available at this time of year so why not join us, learn a little about them and get to know a few other UrbanHerbologists at the same time?

Further details will be posted soon.  Please get in touch via email or in reply to this post if you are interested.