Urban Edibles

Boskoi

2010-08-20T00:28:00.000-07:00

We are working on a mobile version of the Urban Edibles map.
It is called Boskoi and works on mobile phones with GPS and internet connection. For now the first test version is being developed for Android phones, but in future Iphone and perhaps other platforms will be looked at. It is opensource and free.

Radio Interview:

2009-08-18T02:54:00.000-07:00

An interview about the map on the Dutch radio Worldservice available here.

How to add a plant to the map.

2008-12-20T02:43:00.003-08:00

You can mail it to us (foamlab (at) gmail.com) if you don't want to log-into google-maps, or:

1. you log into google-maps.

2.push this button.

3. drag the little balloon to the right spot. Type in the name of the plant and some details if needed.
(We'll add Dutch/English translations.)

4. save it.

Fruit have red balloons and herbs have green balloons.

ethical considerations

2008-12-20T02:43:00.001-08:00

Let's take good care of our wildlife. Some suggestions:

Asking Permission

When ownership of a plant or tree is unclear we suggest you ask, rather than take. Let's not get too enthusiastic and steal people's fruits.

How much do I really need?

A tree full of ripe fruit can be really exciting but how much will you use before it goes bad? How much can you carry? Decide before you pick. And do actually eat what you've gathered.

Will my harvesting leave an impact?

This includes visual impact, impact for animals and future harvesters and last but not least the impact on the particular plant you are picking from. It is imperative to pick in a balanced and selective manner. The last thing we want is to damage the sources from which we harvest! In fact planting some extra edible native wild plants would be fantastic. Wilde Bertram has a great living library of them.

Consider chemical contamination

Watch out! Don't pick on suspicious spots, like near the harbour or heavy industry. Also homeowners also tend to use pesticides like Roundup on their stuff. Needless to say, it’s always best to get information on the harvesting site if you can.

adapted from the Portland site.

Winter time.

2008-12-10T05:34:00.000-08:00

Work on the map will be slow in winter, because spotting plants is difficult this time of year. But we do try and add as much as we know for now. And we'll be contacting botanic experts in the region. A British pocket guide for foraging can be downloaded here: pdf