Hello there! My name is Marta and I am very happy to meet you all. Like Marisa, I also live in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, but on the side close to the volkstuin and the Nieuw Meer. I have not yet foraged near my home, but I am glad to hear so much advice, I will definitely begin with the places advised by Lynn and check out the space/activities mentioned. Below my very dirty student housing there are some pretty decent gardens that I am quite interested in. The area is quite busy, but some bushes shelter most of the ground from traffic. Nettle grows abundantly there and also something that looks like (but I am not sure is) elderflower. I planted some black kale in the fall and it did not do too well, but it is also still alive. Could I take this as a good sign that the soil is not too polluted? As far as the basic questions go, unfortunately foraging is not legal in Amsterdam, which I find absurd. But if done according to the ACLES principles then it is well tolerated. I think in general, foraging is much more popular than I thought. Searching the web for Module 1 I even found someone’s MA thesis on it (a wonderful read, highly advised, title is: urban foraging and commoning). I know a lot of my friends are very interested when I talk about it and told me they would like to join me on walks with Lynn next time I go. Overall, I think the general situation is that world events are putting pressure on our unsustainable lives and knowledge that is truly worth having (like knowledge of plants and what can be foraged) may once again regain its standing in the future.
Urban Herbology Apprenticeship
Foraging, Growing and Using Herbs in Cities