2024 LTT Annual Garden Competitions: Winners Announced! 

Lemon Tree Trust (LTT) has proudly announced the winners of its expanded annual garden competitions for 2024, recognising a record-breaking 180 winning gardens across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 

The competitions, which took place in nine refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps, saw 20 gardens from each camp being awarded prizes. 

A growing tradition 

Since the inception of the garden competitions in 2016, interest from gardeners across the region has grown remarkably. The first competition held in Domiz 1 camp received 50 entries. By 2023, the number of entries had soared to over 2,300 across nine camps. 

Participation and judging criteria 

Participation was open to any resident with a passion for gardening. This year’s judging criteria were refreshed to consider various types of gardens: 

• Best flower gardens 

• Gardens with a special focus on recycling 

• Vegetable gardens 

Every garden reflected the unique personality of its gardener, whether as a peaceful retreat, a safe play area for children, or a productive space for growing food. 

Resourcefulness was on full display, with remarkable creative use of limited materials for features like picket fencing, water fountains, and vertical planting schemes made from recycled items.

Celebrations and prizes

Each camp hosted a celebratory garden party where winners were awarded cash prizes and certificates signed by LTT and camp managers. The parties included refreshments and a handcrafted celebration cake – because no good party is complete without a cake! 

Prize breakdown: 

• 1st Prize: $150 

• 2nd Prize: $100 

• 3rd Prize: $70 

• 4th & 5th Prizes: $50 

• 6th & 7th Prizes: $30 

• 8th – 18th Prizes: $20 

• 19th & 20th Prizes: Fruit trees (e.g. lemon, pomegranate, fig) 

A coordinated effort 

The competitions are coordinated by LTT’s Operations Manager, Aveen Ibrahem, who lives in Domiz 1 camp. Aveen leads a team of camp coordinators who distribute seeds and plants, encouraging the creation of home and community gardens. These efforts highlight the mental and physical health benefits of gardening and ways to enhance local environments. Together, Aveen, the coordinators, and LTT’s central gardening team shortlisted and selected the winning gardens. 

“The expansion of LTT’s annual garden competitions is bringing our community closer together, sparking incredible creativity, and showcasing the resilience of residents across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It’s truly amazing to see the transformative power of gardening, even in challenging circumstances.”  

– Aveen Ibrahem, LTT Operations Manager 

View the winners 

Scroll down to see a selection of photographs showcasing the 1st place winning gardens from each camp. 

Gawilan camp

Sabah Abdulhanan won 1st place in Gawilan camp and the garden party took place on 2 June 2024.

Kabartu 2 camp

Khatun Rasho Khalaf won 1st place in Kabartu 2 camp and the garden party took place on 4 June 2024.

Kabartu 1 camp

Khatun Rasho Khalaf won 1st place in Kabartu 1 camp and the garden party took place on 6 June 2024.

Essian camp

Saifi Abbas Khalil won 1st place in Essian camp and the garden party took place on 6 June 2024.

Domiz 2 camp

Najah Mahmoud Mahmoud won 1st place in Domiz 2 camp and the garden party took place on 11 June 2024.

Khanki camp

Alham Eido won 1st place in Khanki camp and the garden party took place on 13 June 2024.

Bersive 1 camp

Nawaf Joko Hofo won 1st place in Bersive 1 camp and the garden party took place on 23 June 2024.

Bersive 2 camp

Sherine Qasim Khalaf won 1st place in Bersive 2 camp and the garden party took place on 25 June 2024.

Domiz 1 

Ali Mohamed Khaled won 1st place in Domiz 1 camp and the garden party took place on 28 June 2024.