Lemon Tree Trust

Thousands of seeds sown and saplings taking root! 🌱💫

Our teams have been busy at the Azadî and Hêvî community gardens, planting summer vegetables and tree saplings to create greener, healthier spaces for local families.

At Azadî, cucumber, tomato, aubergine (eggplant), pepper, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are sprouting alongside eucalyptus, pomegranate and cypress trees, plus seasonal flowers.

At Hêvî, the new polytunnel is full of life (final 3 photos). Despite recent snow ❄️, chinaberry, rosewood, flame tree and broadleaf hopbush seeds have been planted, along with 50 pomegranate saplings. Pepper, lettuce and aubergine seedlings are growing, ready to share with families soon.

Together, these efforts build on what we’ve achieved over the past few years, and with the new polytunnel at Hêvî, we’re now able to grow on a much larger scale. Thousands of plants and trees will reach Domiz 1 camp, Gawilan camp, neighbouring settlements and host communities, expanding our impact even further this year 🌿

👀 Tap through to see our teams in action. Huge thanks to Shalal, Youssef, Browen and Othman, pictured here, and everyone involved in making this planting possible.

Our heartfelt thanks to Zagros عربية for joining us at our Annual Cooking Competitions in Gawilan camp last month and sharing this wonderful feature.

Here’s what some of the competition entrants had to say:

👩‍🍳 "I am from the city of Qamishli in Syria and I take part in the competitions every year. Today I entered a dish from Kurdish cuisine that we call Sarupe, a traditional dish considered one of the most delicious and sought after in Kurdish cooking. And I hope it wins the admiration of the judging panel."

👩‍🍳 "This is my first time participating in the competition. The dish I presented is a waffle dish entered into the sweet category. It's served in a sandwich shape with cream, but I kept it simple for the contest, preparing it in small steak-like pieces for convenience."

👩‍🍳 "This is my first year participating in this contest. Every year it is held at here at our camp, Gawilan. I entered a dish called Nescafe into the sweet category, which contains Nescafe coffee, eggs, butter, vanilla and biscuits, and is served cold. We experience fun, joy and a change of pace with the competitions."

Keep watching until the end to enjoy a special dance performance by children from the local childcare centre.

Learn more about our Annual Cooking Competitions: https://lemontreetrust.org/news/2025-cooking-competitions-iraq/

#دهوك.. تنظيم مسابقة للمأكولات الكوردية في مخيم گويلان للاجئي كوردستان سوريا اشترك في Zagros عربية ليصلك كل ماهو جديد :https://www.youtube.com/c/Zagrosmedianetworkيمكنك مشاهدة القناة على القمر نايل سات على التردد 11354 عمودي للمزيد من...

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1. Meet Rûken, one of our Garden Facilitators

2. Check out the new portacabin and upgrades at the Hêvî Community Garden

3. See aubergines and other fresh produce being cultivated … and more!

Landing tomorrow, 30th September! Subscribe now through the link in bio.

Our much loved Annual Garden Competitions are back! 🏆🌿🎉

This year, we’re hosting seven garden parties across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to celebrate the creativity and dedication residents bring to their beautiful home gardens.

Here’s a little peek from the parties in Bersive 1+2 camps, Essian camp, Gawilan camp and Khanki camp....

Winners are presented with a certificate, small cash prize and a packet of our Sidra Blend Tea*. And of course, there is time to connect with fellow gardeners and enjoy a slice of celebration cake and refreshments 🍰☕

A big thank you to our amazing team for bringing the parties to life, and to , our partners and the camp management teams for their invaluable support in making these celebrations possible. We’re also incredibly grateful to our supporters who stand with us and cheer us on 💫

* All ingredients in our Sidra Blend (rose, lemon balm, rosemary, santolina, lavender & mint) are grown, picked, dried and blended by hand in our Azadî Community Garden in Domiz 1 camp.