Mayor Eşki: “We sowed effort, and now we harvest smiles”

Women across Bornova have begun harvesting winter vegetables in the six Urban Gardens established by Bornova Municipality. Mayor Ömer Eşki joined the harvest in EVKA-4 alongside the women, emphasizing that the gardens both encourage production and strengthen social solidarity. He also announced that new gardens will soon be established in Doğanlar, Altındağ, and Çamdibi. Across Bornova, hundreds of women are cultivating natural produce on a total area of 25,900 m².

Bornova Municipality’s Urban Gardens, located at six different points across the district, were filled with excitement as harvest season arrived. Women happily gathered the cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, and cabbage they had grown, while Mayor Eşki and his wife Beste Eşki joined the celebration at EVKA-4—home to the largest urban garden in the district.

“We are in Turkey’s largest urban garden”

Speaking during the harvest gathering in EVKA-4, Mayor Ömer Eşki highlighted the social, economic, and communal value of the gardens:

“Here in EVKA-4, we are in Turkey’s largest urban garden. In this garden we have kale, broccoli, spinach… And beyond that, we have community-oriented municipal work, reconnecting people with agriculture, offering enjoyable social activities for homemakers, cooperating with neighborhood leaders, and uniting with citizens.

First and foremost, we sowed effort here. Today, we are harvesting the smiles of our citizens as the result of that effort.

We will continue increasing these activities throughout Bornova. We made the largest one here, and now we will build even larger gardens in Doğanlar, Altındağ, and Çamdibi. Our İnönü and EVKA-4 neighborhood mukhtars are here with us, and this garden is shared by their residents. They even jokingly debate over whose garden it is. We told them: There is no need to argue—we will build more gardens. This way, we can reach even more residents.

Some people ask whether these gardens are granted to them only once. The answer is no—residents can continue to harvest here as long as they wish. For new requests, our Agricultural Affairs Directorate will evaluate idle park areas and empty lands, increasing not only the number of gardens but also the number of residents benefiting from them and the total amount of produce harvested.”

25,900 m² of cultivation in 9 neighborhoods

Bornova Municipality allocates free 25 m² plots to women participating in the program. Seedlings are provided by the municipality, enabling women to grow both summer and winter vegetables, support their household budgets, and offer natural produce to their families.

Distribution of Urban Gardens in Bornova:

• Pınarbaşı Urban Garden: 2,500 m² – 42 women

• Altındağ Urban Garden: 4,000 m² – 58 women (Koşukavak & Birlik Neighborhoods)

• Mevlana Urban Garden: 2,400 m² – 75 women

• Işıkkent Urban Garden: 4,000 m² – 52 women (Işıklar & Egemenlik Neighborhoods)

• Rafetpaşa Urban Garden: 1,000 m² – 20 women

• EVKA-4 Urban Garden: 12,000 m² – 234 women (EVKA-4 & İnönü Neighborhoods)

In total, cultivation takes place across 25,900 m² in 9 neighborhoods.