Since moving into my latest Amsterdam flat about a year ago, I have been dreaming about putting the beautiful 5 x 2 meters squared/ South-facing balcony to good use. Last year was a first attempt, and it went quite well. This year, I am curious to know: how much can one really grow on a… Read More As local as it gets: watching the (edible) balcony garden grow
It’s mid-March, although with snow and frost in Northern Europe, you can’t really tell. Still, as the days get longer, the birds return and the crocuses pop out of the thawing ground; spring is in the air. Store windows change their displays to spring clothes or BBQ grills, but I have become occupied with a… Read More Urban permaculture & balcony compost
As the days get longer and winter draws to a close, the time to prepare the fields for the coming spring season approaches – not just in the countryside, but also in the city. While it is still too early to plant outside, preparations of the garden beds are already underway. In Amsterdam, I am… Read More Preparing for the spring: urban agriculture style
In September 2012, I attended the Amsterdam Harvest Event, hosted by ‘Farming the City’ and Cities Magazine. Local farmers and urban agriculture enthusiasts were invited to sell their produce (produced in or around Amsterdam) or share ideas. At the Harvest Event, I learned about Cityplot. “City Plot is an urban farming collective that supports people… Read More Urban Compost: it’s all about the worms
The Urban Observer 