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 how nature finds its way through the urban planning and technological infrastructure of Rotterdam. Accompanied by ecologist André de Baerdemaeker we will spread seed balls/bulbs through Charlois and its surrounding area, and discover what thrives between asphalt and concrete.

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 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.

André De Baerdemaeker is an ecologist for Bureau Stadsnatuur at the Natural History Museum Rotterdam. He previously worked as a biology teacher in secondary education. He is also a volunteer chairman of the board of Vogelklas Karel Schot, the bird sanctuary in the South of Rotterdam and the surrounding area. He was also involved in the nai010 publication 'Making Urban Nature' of De Natuurlijke Stad. As a born and bred Rotterdammer, André has always been concerned with the city's nature. There are few streets where he hasn't looked at a bird at some point.

Date: Sunday, 28th of April 2024
Time: 14:00 CEST
Duration: +/- 3 hours
Entrance: Free, including coffee/tea/pure claude/seed balls/bulbs (please register via: info@varia.zone)
Starting point: Varia (Gouwstraat 3, Rotterdam)

This project is supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL.