Willows were grown everywhere but especially in the Biesbosch. Willow twigs are used for many purposes: baskets, barrels, zinc pieces and much more. The osier-bed workers lived during the week in the osier-bed chain in the Biesbosch. They took food and cut the willows during ebb. Nowadays the willows are usually harvested by machine at the osier-beds.
There is still a group of 7 or 8 fanatic expert volunteers in the Biesbosch who keep the tradition alive. See http://np-debiesbosch.nl/ndtrc/in-het-spoor-van-de-griendwerker/
Especially when it was under ebb and flow influences, the willows were fed by sludge from the rivers. The workers lived during the week in osier-bed chain in the Biesbosch, they brought food, drew lots at the beginning of the week who could sleep in the middle of the row of beds (closer to the fire in the hut) and cut the willows during low tide . It was hard work in bad conditions; the willows were cut by hand during the winter period. The osier-bed workers have many traditions, customs and stories.
