New Season Begins in Community Gardens

Having increased the number of community gardens across Bornova to 9 and expanded the total urban agricultural area to 50,000 square meters, Bornova Municipality has launched the winter seedling planting campaign with the participation of 1,160 women producers. Joining the planting activities and sharing the excitement of the women producers, Mayor Ömer Eşki said, “The greatest power in the world is the power of production. You are as strong as what you produce in the world; and even within your own home, you are as strong as what you produce.”

A new season is bringing excitement to the community gardens established by Bornova Municipality to support urban agriculture, make women’s labor more visible, and bring healthy food to people’s tables. Following the end of the abundant summer harvest season in the district’s community gardens and the solidarity field in Yakaköy, winter vegetable seedlings have begun to meet the soil. Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki personally joined the seedling planting activities held at the Pınarbaşı and Altındağ Community Gardens, sharing in the excitement of the women producers.

Mayor Eşki: “You Are as Strong as What You Produce, Both in the World and at Home”

Speaking individually with the women during the planting activities in Pınarbaşı and Altındağ and planting the first seedlings together with them, Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized the importance of production in social empowerment. Mayor Eşki said:

“The greatest power in the world is the power of production. You are as strong as what you produce in the world; and even within your own home, you are as strong as what you produce. Our urban agricultural areas covering 50,000 square meters and our 9 community gardens are not merely places where vegetables are grown; they are living spaces where our women contribute to their household economies, socialize and strengthen solidarity. Transforming idle areas into lush, productive spaces in this way and seeing a smile on your faces makes us very happy. Our goal is to leave no neighborhood in Bornova without a community garden and to increase this number even further.”

Women Producers Thank Bornova Municipality

The 1,160 women producers thanked Mayor Ömer Eşki for the opportunities provided by Bornova Municipality, stating that free plots, soil, water and seedlings had opened an important new door in their lives. The women explained that they not only gained an economic benefit, but also found relief from the stresses of city life by connecting with the soil. They carefully watered the winter seedlings and gave them their first life-giving water.

1,160 Women Connect with the Soil in 9 Community Gardens

Bornova Municipality has transformed urban agriculture into a major production network by creating green, breathing spaces within the city as an alternative to concrete development. The number of actively operating community gardens across the district has risen to 9, while the total urban agricultural area in Bornova has reached 50,000 square meters together with the Yakaköy Solidarity Field. In these extensive production areas, 1,160 women from Bornova cultivate their designated plots, enjoying the opportunity to farm within the city while making a significant contribution to their household economies.

As part of the winter season, the women are planting a wide variety of healthy vegetables across these large agricultural areas, including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, lettuce and leeks.