MY LIFE STORY WITH WILD EDIBLE PLANTS:

When I was a child, I remember that my mother had an old thick book called: “Geïllustreerde Flora van Nederland”, written by Jac. P. Thijsse & E. Heimans & Heinsius. I used it to collect wild herbs, dry them in a wooden press, and then glue them in a book. It was wonderful to discover how beautiful & varied plants in nature are! But it came never in my mind to eat them. In 1976 I read a book called: “Lexicon der Geneeskruiden”, written by Mellie Uyldert. One day I went out, collected a lot, and cooked them. The tast was so extremely bitter, that I did not touch them for some time! But that book inspired me to start eating them ones in a while. 21 march 2016 is the day that I stared eating wild edible plants systematically almost every day! I go every morning to a parc nearby, and eat a litlebit just like a rabbit. The rest I take back home and make a raw smoessie with them, or cook a soup. Since then my health has improved very much! On my You Tube channel there is a video, here is the link:

• VIDEO ABOUT WILD EDIBLE PLANTS

EDUCATIONAL HIKES ABOUT WILD EDIBLE PLANTS:

I organise hikes in parcs in Amsterdam. For instance: in Rembrandtpark or nature area between Westerpark & Ruigoord. On the way I show what is edible and what not. We eat some right away & we collect some. In the house of one of the participants we make with it a raw smoessie. The number of people allowed depends on the size of that house. In general I think maximum 10 people. There is no minimum, as long as you pay. It takes a whole afternoon, and cost 50€, exclusive the ingredients of the smoessie. Please pay cash in advance.

FUTURE PLANS:

When these hikes in Amsterdam become a succes, I could organise bigger trips. Here are some possibilities:

• Daytrips by bicycle to protected nature area’s around Amsterdam.
• By train we organize hikes in further away places in Netherlands.
• Camping holidays in nature reserves in the most beautiful and wildest parts of Europe.

ORGANIZATION OF DAYTRIPS BY BICLYCLE:

• Meeting time and place is: 10.30AM in a restaurant on seventh floor of Main Library near Central Train Station. Oosterdokskade 143, 1011 DL Amsterdam.
• We wait 30 minutes for late comers, so departure will be at 11AM. We will try to be back in Amsterdam before 6PM.
• On the way to our destination, and back, we will follow as much as possible special green bicycle routes. The whole voyage we will look for wild edible fruits and leafy green edible herbs. If there are (vegetable) garden allotment parks, and (medical) herbal gardens along the route, we will visit them.
• Take 1 (winter) or 2 (summer) liters water, and food, with you. If you have a good quality bicycle, preferable with anti leak tires, it will be a nice experience for you.
• During the tour maybe I will make photo's and a video. I will use them for advertisement. If you mind that I will be taking photos and video’s of you, please let me know.
• Please invite your friends to come with you. And please also promote this event to your own network.
• If you have a different opinion about the way I organize these events, please let me know: when it is a good idea, I will change it.
• When the weather is bad, we will in stead improvise an other activity indoors, for instance a theoretical study and discussion meeting about self-sufficiency in Central Library, or learning how to prepare a delicious raw vegan meal with wild edible plants in the house of one of the participants in style of a potluck.

LUGGAGE FOR ONE DAY TRIPS:

• GOOD QUALITY BYCICLE
• BYCICLE REPAIR KIT
• BOOK ABOUT WILD EDIBLE PLANTS
• BOOK ABOUT SURVIVAL
• CLOTHES AGAINST COLD AND RAIN.
• CHAIN TO LOCK YOUR BYCICLE TO ONE OTHER BYCICLE
• WATER & FOOD
• SURVIVAL KIT
• SWIMMING DRESS & TOWL

CONTACT INFORMATION & LINKS: SEE LAST PAGE 36.