Hedera helix, the common ivy, European ivy, or just ivy, is a species of flowering plant of the ivy genus in the family Araliaceae, native to most of Europe and western Asia. A rampant, clinging evergreen vine, it is a familiar sight in gardens, waste spaces, and wild areas, where it grows on walls, fences, tree trunks, etc. across its native and introduced habitats. As a result of its hardy nature, and its tendency to grow readily without human assistance, ivy attained popularity as an ornamental plant, but escaped plants have become naturalised outside its native range and grow unchecked in myriad wild and cultivated areas. Synonyms include Hedera acuta, Hedera arborea('tree ivy’), Hedera baccifera, and Hedera grandifolia. Other common names are bindwood and lovestone.

Common Ivy is rich in saponin. This element is a natural detergent and foaming substance. It’s a surfactant that is effective at lifting grease, dirt and grime from clothing and textiles. In order to grasp saponin out of the plant you need to make a decoction (a concentrated liquor resulting from heating or boiling a substance, especially a medicinal preparation made from a plant).

During the workshop Lovestone, we will gather and walk around the surroundings of A Tale of A Tub in order to identificate, look at its habitat and collect the leaves of common ivy to prepare a decoction. Together we will go through the steps needed to grasp the saponin out of the plant as well as develop and write down together a recipe tailored around our convivial gathering.

Language: English
Tickets: 5,00 euro
For this workshop, there is a maximum of 15 participants

To reserve a ticket, send an e-mail to info@a-tub.org
Please bring a small glass jar or bottle, so you can take your natural laundry detergent home.

Photo credit: Juri Velt

ELENA BRAIDA (1994, IT) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Amsterdam with a degree from the department of interior architecture at the Sandberg Instituut, NL. In her work she investigates the spatial discourse between notions of conviviality and publishing, the generational transfer of oral and written cultural heritage and their domestic and public domain. Since early spring 2023, she is the co-founder of Blooming, a publishing house dedicated to the investigation of seasonal crafts and their methodologies. Elena works as a cook, organizes workshops and writes about culinary methodologies.