Urban Herbology Apprenticeship — Hawthorn Group
About the event
The Urban Herbology Apprenticeship is a small, hands-on learning group for people who want to develop a deeper relationship with plants and nature in and around Amsterdam. The Hawthorn group begins in September 2026, with ten Sunday workshops spread across the year. There are a maximum of six apprentices in the group, allowing us to learn together as a small community and really get to know the plants, places and seasonal changes around us. This is not a series of ordinary foraging workshops. The year gives us time to build knowledge and practical skills gradually, returning to places and plants as the seasons change.
What we'll do. across the ten workshops we will:
• Work closely with local plants and their seasonal cycles • Explore Amsterdam's wild and cultivated places • Learn to recognise and respectfully interact with useful plants • Make useful herbal preparations, foods and other plant-based creations • Explore local habitats and observe how they change through the year • Forage and learn practical skills • Share food, stories, observations and ideas • Develop a deeper sense of connection with the natural world around us
Between workshops, apprentices also have access to the Urban Herbology Library, with online lessons, recipes, plant information and practical resources to explore whenever you want to go deeper. The emphasis, though, is on learning together in person. You don't need to arrive already knowing lots about plants. Curiosity, attentiveness and a willingness to learn are much more important.
Hawthorn Workshop Dates All workshops take place on Sundays, from 10:00–14:00: 27 September 2026 25 October 22 November 24 January 2027 14 February 21 March 18 April 23 May 27 June 29 August The workshops take place in Schellingwoude (Amsterdam Noord) and the Watergraafsmeer (Amsterdam Oost) with locations chosen according to what we are learning and the season.
Who is it for? The apprenticeship is for anyone who feels drawn to learning more about the plants and nature around them — anyone interested in living more sustainably in the city, whether you're already an enthusiastic forager and herb crafter or are just beginning to look more closely at the green world of the city. You might have a garden, allotment or balcony, or simply walk through Amsterdam's parks and streets wondering what is growing there.
You don't need any previous herbalism or foraging experience. What matters most is curiosity and a desire to spend a year learning, making, exploring and paying attention.
Places are limited There are only six places in the Hawthorn group. This is a full-year apprenticeship with Lynn Shore rather than a single Meetup event, so please read the full course information and check that the workshop dates should work for you before registering. Full details and registration: [https://urbanherbology.org/join-uh-apprenticeship/](https://urbanherbology.org/join-uh-apprenticeship/)
The cost of the full course (10 workshops, 1 year) is either a Single payment of €1000 or Four payments of €300 (totalling €1200) 1st payment is required on registration 2nd, 3rd and final 4th payment monthly therafter.
I'd love to welcome a small new circle of apprentices this September and see what grows from a year of learning together. — Lynn
If you have questions, feel free to send me an email or app. Lynn.shore@gmail.com 0627 596 930
