German-Palestinian society NIJMAH is working on renovating a kid’s playground using natural materials and setting up a permaculture garden
Permaculture may be new to the Middle East but with Jordan hosting the recent permaculture world conference and various organic farms sprouting up, the region is slowly catching up. In Palestine, there is already a permaculture farm named ‘Bustan Qaraaqa’ in Bethlehem encouraging locals to become more food independent and now another Palestinian community wants to establish a permaculture garden for children. In Jenin, the German-Palestinian society named NIJMAH is working on renovating a playground using natural materials and establishing a small permaculture garden.
The joint venture is in the early stages but a quick look at the current playground (pictured above) shows the dire state of current facilities and real need to replace it with safe and natural materials. What NIJMAH have in mind is something like one of the creations of the German ‘Kukuk’ company which designs playgrounds using natural materials and encourages the spirit of discovery.
An Environmental Profile of Jenin
Jenin is located in the north of the West Bank and has a population of around 250,000 people. As well as struggling with environmental issues familiar to the West Bank such as water shortages and poor waste facilities, there are also concerns over the local charcoal industry which creates a lot of pollution. Respiratory illness amongst the charcoal workers, who slow burn wood to create the charcoal we use for our barbeques, is rife and also affects the surrounding areas.
A recent study also found that water wells in Jenin were contaminated with pesticides due to uncontrolled industrial and agricultural activity. As such drinking from these wells could pose a potentially high health risk.
:: Images via Wael ElSaad/facebook.
For more on Permaculture in the Middle East:
Egypt’s Urban Agriculture Movement Is Growing
Jordan To Host International Permaculture Conference
Permaculture and Empowerment for Palestinians in the West Bank
Author: Arwa Aburawa
Arwa is a Muslim freelance writer who is interested in everything climate change related and how Islam can inspire more people to care for their planet and take active steps to save it while we can. She is endlessly suspicious of all politicians and their ceaseless meetings, especially as they make normal people believe that they are not part of the solution when they are the ONLY solution. Her Indian auntie is her model eco-warrier, and when Arwa is not busy helping out in the neighborhood alleyway garden, swap shopping or attempting fusion vegetarian dishes- with mixed success, she’d like to add- she can be found sipping on foraged nettle tea.
