Gardener stories: Meet Ahmed

Ahmed Ibrahim Ismail lives in the Azar neighbourhood of Domiz 2 camp.

“I have a humble garden in my house, and I started working on it with my children two years ago. We have spent many good times in it, especially during the curfew for the coronavirus.⁣
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“My garden contains 20 different types of roses and trees. Each rose is a different colour from the others, and I have grapes, figs, cypress and pine.   ⁣
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“In 2019 I participated in the Lemon Tree Trust garden competitions. Thanks to the encouragement of our coordinators in the camp, I won second place in Domiz 2 camp.  ⁣
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“My family have benefitted a lot from my garden because we enjoy spending time in it, especially during the quarantine period.”  ⁣

Want to support refugee gardeners like Ahmed?

The Lemon Tree Trust welcomes one-off and regular donations.

To make a donation, please go to: lemontreetrust.org/donate.

Our core infrastructure costs are fully funded so 100% of your donation directly supports gardening projects and initiatives in refugee communities.

  • $1 / £1 can give a family a packet of vegetable seeds 
  • $5 / £5 can provide a family a basket of nutritious produce 
  • $25 / £25 can fund a Home Garden Starter Kit for a new family arriving in the camp, containing a Home Garden Manual, seeds, tools, a grow-bag and a children’s gardening activity

More refugee gardener stories

  • Watch our short films about why displaced people garden
  • Meet Khanki camp resident Hajar
  • Meet Domiz 2 camp resident Salih

Learn more about life in refugee camps

 

The 2026 Lemon Tree Trust Cooking Competitions have brought together people from different cultural backgrounds to share the dishes and food traditions that are important to them this October. Across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, our annual competition fixture continues to celebrate the diversity of local communities, while supporting people to connect through growing, preparing … Continued

Harvest time can be a good opportunity to get together, share what we are growing, making or cooking and raise funds for Lemon Tree Trust. Whether you share homegrown produce, enjoy a meal with friends or organise a garden gathering, there are plenty of simple ways to bring people together and support our work. Whether … Continued

Lemon Tree Trust supporter Katie Cox recently raised £1,000 for our work, plus £250 in Gift Aid, by organising an arts and crafts fundraising event at her home and in her garden. Katie is pictured above wearing a rather fabulous green shirt covered in lemons. Katie’s donation was made during our Tree & Plant Appeal, … Continued