First Harvest Excitement at Altındağ Community Garden

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki visited the Altındağ Community Garden, established as part of the Community Gardens Project implemented by the Directorate of Agricultural Services, and met with local women tending their summer vegetables. The project transforms underutilized public land into productive gardens while supporting women's participation in agriculture. The first harvests, ranging from paste tomatoes to black-eyed peas, have now begun.

Hands in the Soil, Friendships in Bloom

The Altındağ Community Garden has become not only a place that contributes to household budgets but also a vibrant social space where strong neighborhood bonds are formed. Women cultivating the plots allocated to them free of charge are experiencing the joy of working the soil for the first time and sharing the fresh produce they have grown themselves.

Seval Hocaoğlu (52)

"We planted two types of tomatoes—paste tomatoes and local varieties—along with peppers, eggplants, and black-eyed peas. This will be my first harvest. It was my first time participating, and it has been a wonderful experience. I had never planted a garden before; it's a first in my life. Thanks to our Mayor, we've had a great time. We are very happy and grateful for this opportunity. We hope the project continues. We've also made wonderful friendships here with people I had never met before."

Ayşe Öymen (68)

"We planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and black-eyed peas. I harvested some tomatoes and eggplants a few days ago, and we've already started eating them. They are incredibly delicious—nothing compares to vegetables you've grown yourself. We've built wonderful friendships here, and I've shared my harvest with my neighbors and siblings. The staff here are also very supportive. I sincerely thank our Mayor and Bornova Municipality for providing us with this opportunity."

Nevin Kahveci (66)

"We harvested plenty of produce here last year, and this year we've started harvesting again and sharing it with our neighbors. I love working with the soil, and I'm very happy here. I usually grow my own pepper seedlings, and I've been planting them here for the past two years. Homegrown vegetables have a unique flavor—they're much tastier than anything you can buy. I'd like to thank our Mayor for making this possible."

Goal: A Community Garden in Every Neighborhood of Bornova

By transforming idle municipal land, Bornova Municipality has established six large community gardens across the district. What began in Altındağ with 53 garden plots has expanded to Pınarbaşı, Mevlana, Işıkkent, Rafetpaşa, and the two largest sites, EVKA-4 (244 plots) and Doğanlar (278 plots), benefiting hundreds of women throughout Bornova.

During his visit, Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that the community gardens are far more than places where vegetables are grown—they are symbols of sharing, solidarity, and community.

Mayor Eşki stated:

"Through our Community Gardens, women reconnect with nature while experiencing the joy of producing together in solidarity. Our goal is to ensure that every neighborhood in Bornova has its own community garden, giving every resident the opportunity to connect with the soil. With the dedication and hard work of women, Bornova will continue to grow stronger and more prosperous."