In 1917, an organization called the Bond van Volkstuinders was founded. Their purpose was to give poor people a place to grow their own food. What a FANTASTIC idea. These gardens are still flourishing all over Amsterdam—29 complexes with a total of about 6,000 plots. Some of you may be thinking "so what?". You've seen the tiny little things in High Park, Toronto. Hang on. These Dutch gardens are incredible. They're very close to the city (in some cases right in the middle of it) but you feel as though you're in the middle of the forest. I'm obsessed! Every time I go to Amsterdam I set off on my bike in search of new ones. Apparently the waiting lists to assume care of one are decades long. I can understand why.