Centre for Minorities Research Podcast
Thank you to Rachael Jefferies for inviting us on to the Centre for Minorities Research Podcast to talk about our work.
The Centre for Minorities Research is based at the University of St Andrews, St Andrews in Scotland, UK. And the centre’s student-led podcast provides a space for students to creatively explore their research interests.
We’re delighted to feature on the first episode of season 2.
“Growing Flowers in the Desert: A Conversation with the Lemon Tree Trust will reveal how one packet of seeds can bring hope to even the most desolate of situations. In this podcast, Rachael Jefferies, a Master of Arts (Honours) student in French and German, explores the power of gardening with Jennie Spears from the Lemon Tree Trust. Discover stories of displaced individuals and see how the act of gardening becomes a common language of dignity between people and a bridge to build community.”
In the 30 minute episode, we answer questions, such as:
- How did it all start? What was the founder’s inspiration for creating the Lemon Tree Trust?
- What plants do people like to grow?
- How can people that have been displaced use their garden space to move on from their previous lives but also to bridge the link between their previous lives and their current situation?
- Would you say you have come across people who are new to gardening, as well as people who have always enjoyed it?
- Is there anything that we can do as listeners to support the vision of the Lemon Tree Trust?
Listen to the podcast episode.
Photo: Roadside Plant Store flowers, Kurdistan Region of Iraq © Britt Willoughby Dyer
Yesterday, team members Hamid and Othman led a women’s workshop in Hêvî Community Garden, bringing together beneficiaries to learn, share and grow in community. The session began with an introduction to the work of the Lemon Tree Trust, our vision and our ongoing efforts across refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps. In places where … Continued
Noora, originally from Damascus, Syria, cooks meals that remind her family of home, using fresh herbs and seasonal produce from her small garden in Gawilan refugee camp, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. “My mother taught me to cook. Now my children help me. I never give up on the recipes that remind me of home,” she … Continued
As we reach the halfway point of 2025, we are delighted to share some of the impact your support has made possible across our projects. Thanks to your support, our projects are creating meaningful change for forcibly displaced communities, improving access to fresh food, mental wellbeing, and opportunities for connection and belonging through community gardening. … Continued