Get to know the Common Dirt of Charlois; from the neglected patches of soil around the platan trees to the community-run street gardens. Together we will investigate together how nature finds its way through the urban planning of Rotterdam and how residents and municipality interpret these differently. Will you join us?

On April 20, Easter Sunday, we are organizing the first try-out of the Common Dirt Map. On this brand new walking map you can see all the different pieces of urban nature in and around Charlois. The map was designed by Varia member Niek Hilkmann and was created after a series of excursions with ecologist André de Baerdemaeker. The Common Dirt Map collects knowledge that was gained during these routes and was created to generate enthusiasm for all the nature that the district has to offer. During this try-out we will try out the first version of the map by walking through Charlois together. The route is approximately 7 kilometers long and leads from Varia along the Maastunnel towards the Zuiderpark and back.

Common Dirt is an ongoing series of events organized by Varia, in which we take a critical look at the cross-connections between biology and technology in Rotterdam. Every season we take a walk to investigate how these two influence each other and how developments in nature and urban policy are entangled. Central to this is an interwoven vision of urban nature, in which the way nature accomodates to city life offers hints and hints for our own survival in times of growing urbanization. This series falls under Varia's Homebrewing research thread. Through this research we aim to co-create understandings through collaboratively experimenting with others, and de-mystify current technological practices in order to share and question them more easily.

Date: Sunday, 20 April 2024
Start: 13:00h CET
Duration: +/- 2 hours
Participation: Free (please register via: info@varia.zone)
Starting Point: Varia, Gouwstraat 3 (3082 BA Rotterdam)

This project is supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL.