In Bornova Municipality’s six Urban Gardens, 481 women grow their own vegetables in plots allocated to them free of charge, contributing to local production. As they enjoy reconnecting with nature and socializing with one another, Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasizes that the project brings abundance to the city through women’s labor.

Among the six Urban Gardens established by Bornova Municipality approximately one and a half months ago, the largest — Evka-4 Urban Garden — has become a living space where women meet production and rebuild their connection with nature. As the winter vegetable seedlings planted in the soil continue to grow, the women cultivating the garden experience both the joy of producing and the pleasure of socializing.

“We didn’t inherit land from our parents, but our Mayor gave this to us”

Mine Aynur Sarıyel, one of the women producing at the Evka-4 Urban Garden, explained what reconnecting with soil means to her:
“None of us inherited land from our parents, but Mayor Ömer gave this place to us. We plant and harvest here, and we have a wonderful time. We socialize here, we make friends. We planted our crops in the soil, and hopefully God will grant us the chance to enjoy the harvest.”

Another participant, Sabiha Ergül, expressed her gratitude:
“We thank Mayor Ömer very much for offering us such an opportunity. We planted many wonderful products here and also got the chance to socialize.”

Urban Gardens are blooming with women’s labor

Bornova Municipality offers 481 women the opportunity to grow their own products through its six Urban Gardens located in Pınarbaşı, Altındağ, Mevlana, Işıkkent, Rafetpaşa, and Evka-4 neighborhoods.

Each participant is provided with a 25-square-meter plot free of charge, along with seedlings supplied by the municipality. By producing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, okra, onions, spinach, and more, women both contribute to their household economy and provide their families with natural and healthy food. A total of 481 women are now part of the productive process across 25,900 square meters of cultivated land.

Eşki: “Bornova grows more prosperous with women’s labor”

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki highlighted that the Urban Gardens project creates both social and economic transformation:
“Our women are not only consumers in this city, they are also a powerful part of production. Through Urban Gardens, they reconnect with nature and experience the joy of producing in solidarity. Bornova will become more prosperous and stronger with the labor of women.”