Nomad City

Meet , our first resident of this season! We were incredibly lucky to welcome him at our settlement, initially for two weeks, which ended up becoming two months. During this time he became a core member of our group, helping out with designing and constructing various structures, initiating lots of small projects such as cheese making, ginger fermenting, dandelion tea brewing... but he also shared many interesting thougths on how we can better live together. Liam often injected the element of play and care throughout all his projects, which made a deep impact in our view towards Nomad City and which will undoubtly influence our future activities. Even though we had to say goodbye to what we now consider as a very dear friend, there are still traces of him everywhere we look. See you soon Liam!

NL (ENG below)
In 2024 werden we geselecteerd voor het Burgerbudget van Stad Hasselt. We zaaiden vlas in heel wat achtertuinen in Hasselt en doorliepen we een half jaar lang alle stappen die nodig zijn om vlas te verwerken tot linnen. Hiervoor gingen we de traditionele tools samen herontwerpen om ze nog socialer te maken. We willen onze opgedane kennis dit jaar opnieuw delen met zo veel mogelijk mensen. Heb jij interesse om vlas te zaaien in je achtertuin en/of het vlas later te verwerken tot linnen? Schrijf je dan in via deze link: https://forms.gle/jqRhT5CwKcgmPsjCA

ENG
In 2024 we were selected for the 'Burgerbudget' from the city of Hasselt. We sowed flax in many backyards in Hasselt and went through all the steps needed to process flax into linen over the course of six months.This year, we again want to share the knowledge we've gained with as many people as possible. Are you interested in sowing flax in your backyard and/or processing the flax into linen later? Then sign up via this link: https://forms.gle/jqRhT5CwKcgmPsjCA

NL (eng below)
In de afgelopen weken ontwierp een prachtig plan voor de Nomad City tuin. Hij bracht eerst in kaart wat we allemaal de grond in wilde steken, vervolgens gingen we samen op zoek naar al dit plantgoed. We kochten hiervoor niks aan in de plantenwinkels maar kozen ervoor om bestaande planten te stekken en verwaarloosde struiken en bomen een nieuwe plaats te geven. Dankzij heel wat vrijwilligers kregen we bijna alles op één dag de grond in. Nu wordt het uitkijken naar het eerste oogstfeest! :)

ENG
Over the past few weeks, designed a beautiful plan for the Nomad City garden. He first mapped out everything we wanted to plant, then we went looking for all the plants together. We didn't buy anything from plant stores, but opted to take cuttings from existing plants and rehome neglected shrubs and trees. Thanks to all the volunteers, we got almost everything planted in a single day. Now we're looking forward to the first harvest festival! :)

NL (eng below): De afgelopen weken bouwden we stevig verder aan de huisjes op de site. Zo kon zijn constructie, na heel wat uren zagen en schuren, eindelijk in elkaar puzzelen. Ons kleine dorpje begint stilaan vorm te krijgen. Er viel deze maand ook iets te vieren want Nomad City blaast in januari 3 kaarsjes uit. We nodigden heel wat vrijwilligers uit voor een heerlijke maaltijd onder het winters zonnetje.

Eng: Over the past few weeks, we’ve been steadily continuing the construction of the small houses on the site. After many hours of sawing and sanding, was finally able to piece his structure together. Our little village is slowly beginning to take shape. There was also something to celebrate this month, as Nomad City turns three years in January. We invited many volunteers for a delicious meal under the winter sun.

NL (eng below): De afgelopen weken bouwden we stevig verder aan de huisjes op de site. Zo kon @oguzhaydn zijn constructie, na heel wat uren zagen en schuren, eindelijk in elkaar puzzelen. Ons kleine dorpje begint stilaan vorm te krijgen. Er viel deze maand ook iets te vieren want Nomad City blaast in januari 3 kaarsjes uit. We nodigden heel wat vrijwilligers uit voor een heerlijke maaltijd onder het winters zonnetje. Eng: Over the past few weeks, we’ve been steadily continuing the construction of the small houses on the site. After many hours of sawing and sanding, @oguzhaydn was finally able to piece his structure together. Our little village is slowly beginning to take shape. There was also something to celebrate this month, as Nomad City turns three years in January. We invited many volunteers for a delicious meal under the winter sun.

NL (eng below) Vorige week kregen we hulp van de 4ABK studenten van @pikoh_kunsthumaniorahasselt. Eén groep ging met @kela.a.me.keia aan de slag. Samen verzamelden ze grote takken die gebruikt werden om moestuinbedden af te bakenen. Ook werd er karton gelegd op het pad tussen deze bedden dat nadien met houtschors werd bedekt. Een andere groep ging met @stef.lemmens een vierde compostbak bouwen. Ze groeven eerst een kleine kuil waar dan fijn gaas over gespannen werd om de muizen op een afstand te houden. Nadien werden heel wat balken afgemeten, gezaagd en in elkaar geschroefd. @oguzhaydn en zijn team maakten ten slotte nog een modulair dak voor deze compostbakken. Enkele dakplaten werden op maat geslepen en vervolgens op een houten frame geschroefd. Dit eerste dak gaan we gebruiken om ons stro droog te houden. Onze stagiaire @indraillustrations documenteerde het hele proces! Merci voor jullie hulp en enthousiasme! ENG Last week we received help from the 4ABK students of @pikoh_kunsthumaniorahasselt. One group got to work with @kela.a.me.keia. Together they collected large branches that were used to mark out the vegetable garden beds. Cardboard was also laid on the path between these beds and then covered with wood chips. Another group worked with @stef.lemmens on a fourth compost bin. They first dug a small pit, over which fine mesh was stretched to keep mice at a distance. Afterwards, many beams were measured, sawn, and screwed together. Finally, @oguzhaydn and his team built a modular roof for these compost bins. Several roof panels were cut to size and then screwed onto a wooden frame. We will use this first roof to keep our straw dry. Our intern @indraillustrations documented the whole process. Thanks for all your help and enthusiasm!

NL (Eng below) Het landschap verandert en toont zijn herfstkleuren. De bladeren vallen en krijgen een nieuwe bestemming. En hoewel de zon nog elke dag wat vroeger zakt, lijkt ze ons toch heel wat warmte te schenken. We proberen elk beetje daglicht goed te benutten om verder te bouwen aan de toekomst van dit project. Bedankt aan alle helpende handen van de afgelopen weken. Ondertussen kunnen we binnen, in de warmte, al koken, afwassen en samen dromen over wat we met dit project nog allemaal willen bereiken. ENG The landscape is changing and showing its autumn colours. The leaves are falling and finding a new purpose. And although the sun sets a little earlier each day, it still seems to offer us plenty of warmth. We try to make the most of every bit of daylight to keep building the future of this project. Thank you to all the helping hands of the past weeks. In the meantime, inside the warmth, we can already cook, wash up, and write out together what the new vision for Nomad City will be.

NL (ENG below): 

Vandaag gaven we onze energie aan de bodem. @hillenrob maakte een prachtig tuinplan waarvan de contouren werden uitgezet met houten paaltjes. Met heel wat enthousiastelingen verzamelden we bladeren rondom de site die we over de bodem uitstrooiden om het gras te verstikken. Met dit 'bladerdeken' wordt de bodem de komende maanden klaargestoomd voor de aanplant van bomen, struiken en groenten. We gingen eerder ook al een kastanjeboom en aalbessen oppikken bij @stadhasselt die we al meteen in de grond konden zetten. @ivasenkomasha ging aan de slag met rode biet en maakten een heerlijke Russische Borsjt als afsluiter van de dag. ENG

: Today we devoted our energy to the soil.
@hillenrob created a beautiful garden plan, the outlines of which were marked with wooden stakes. Together with many enthusiastic helpers, we gathered leaves from around the site and spread them over the ground to smother the grass. With this “blanket of leaves,” the soil will be prepared over the coming months for planting trees, shrubs, and vegetables. Earlier, we also picked up a chestnut tree and red currants from @stadhasselt, which we were able to plant right away. @ivasenkomasha worked with red beet and made a delicious Russian borscht to close the day.

In the past weeks @stef.lemmens and @kela.a.me.keia kept working on one of the houses, designing various furniture. It's slowly coming together! @oguzhaydn also started building the foundation of a new structure and @hillenrob has designed a solid plan to start growing food on the land. To give us some energy @ivasenkomasha made a delicious pumpkin pie that was grown in the garden of @hillenrob. They already planned their next collaboration in which red beet will be the protagonist. We also feel the days shorten, which doesn't always match with our energy. But we try to adapt, to slow down.. with some meditation on the rooftop while the sun is setting on our skin or by illuminating the early darkness with a campfire theatre/movie night. These times we are also reflecting on what this project is and can become. What vision do we see for Nomad City as a group? What are our goals for the next years? How can we increase our impact?

ENG

On the 30th of November we will give some love to the soil of our new land. We will add compost and mulch, make pathways for garden beds and work out a plan for growing food.

You can join us between 11h-17h at Gouverneur Verwilghensingel 5 in Hasselt. Sign up via the link in bio > Activities

NL

Op 30 november zullen we wat liefde geven aan de bodem van ons nieuwe PIKOH land. We zullen compost en mulch toevoegen, paden maken voor moestuinbedden en een plan uitwerken om hier voedsel te produceren. J

Je kan meedoen tussen 11h-17h aan Gouverneur Verwilghensingel 5 in Hasselt. Schrijf je in via de link in bio > Activities

ENG On the 30th of November we will give some love to the soil of our new land. We will add compost and mulch, make pathways for garden beds and work out a plan for growing food. You can join us between 11h-17h at Gouverneur Verwilghensingel 5 in Hasselt. Sign up via the link in bio > Activities NL Op 30 november zullen we wat liefde geven aan de bodem van ons nieuwe PIKOH land. We zullen compost en mulch toevoegen, paden maken voor moestuinbedden en een plan uitwerken om hier voedsel te produceren. J Je kan meedoen tussen 11h-17h aan Gouverneur Verwilghensingel 5 in Hasselt. Schrijf je in via de link in bio > Activities

The days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping. The perfect time to slow down, reflect on what we have done so far and look back on warm summer memories. Here are some of them captured through the lens of

The days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping. The perfect time to slow down, reflect on what we have done so far and look back on warm summer memories. Here are some of them captured through the lens of @staffrans

Week 15! We were invited by to organise a walk around there communal space. For this we build a small kitchen on our cargo bike that we took with us to the city park of Hasselt. Here the participants were invited to explore the variety of plants that grow here. With an app and some determination books we were able to collect some plants to make a fresh tea and a wild pesto spread. Afterwards we asked the participants to write a small story from the perspective of the plant they just foraged: What was it thinking? Was it happy to be noticed or sad to leave its environment? This small excercise was meant to reshape our perspective towards these plants. Can we take better care for them if we get to know them? If we dare to become dependent from them once again? We also organized our first Wednesday Workdays in which we welcomed Alina and Dimitri with his two children. Together we worked on finishing the raised garden beds and working on the house. also did some landscaping work to prepare for a new construction. We also ended our first residency season by saying goodbye to .null after his two week stay. Thank you for all the help and the warm conversations!