Hêvî Community Garden prepares for extreme summer heat
Summer has arrived at Gawilan camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Temperatures will soon reach 45°C across the region and will remain high during the summer months. The 92 families growing food at the Hêvî Community Garden are preparing for the intense heat but they need support to keep producing fresh food through the challenging months ahead.
Transitioning to summer crops
“Since the garden opened about six months ago, I’ve been harvesting winter crops like onions, garlic, parsley and lettuce,” says Ibtisam Ahmad Hassan, one of our gardeners at the Hêvî Community Garden. “Now we’re planting summer vegetables like okra, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers.”
Originally from Qamishli in Syria, Ibtisam fled to Kurdistan 12 years ago and now lives in Gawilan camp with her family. They are one of the families benefiting from a raised growing bed at the Hêvî garden.
“We love the vegetables we grow and use them in our daily cooking. Things like aubergine, tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, molokhia, rocket, spinach and parsley,” she explains. “My family’s favourite dishes are fattoush, tabbouleh, stuffed vegetables and all kinds of fresh salads.”
“This garden is more than just food. It’s a space where we leave our burdens behind, recharge emotionally and even save a little income,” adds Ibtisam.
Shifting from winter to summer growing requires different infrastructure. High temperatures and scorching winds can damage or destroy young plants without proper protection.
A space for community traditions
For many, the garden is also a place to maintain cultural connections.
“Thanks to this garden, we now have a place to bake bread and practice the traditions we were raised with. Our shelters are too small for that,” says Guljin Mustafa. “Each month, Lemon Tree Trust provides us with four kilograms of flour. We’re grateful for the opportunity and we hope for more support to keep this garden alive.”
Originally from Kobani in Syria, Guljin and her family fled to Kurdistan 11 years ago. They have been living in Gawilan camp ever since. Today, Guljin tends her own small plot in the Hêvî garden, where she grows okra, parsley and plenty of hot peppers – her family’s favourite.
“We use hot peppers in almost everything we cook,” she says with a smile. “Our favourite dish is spicy kibbeh nayyeh. We never get tired of it.”
She adds, “My family also loves tanoor bread and I come here to bake it in the traditional way. While the dough rises, I water my plants and harvest what’s ready. It brings me such joy and peace.”
The community bakery is an important part of the garden, as Syrian flatbreads, khubz, can’t be made in the shelters due to the lack of ovens. Daily bread is a central aspect of Syrian food culture.
Meeting demand
Othman Qewas, the garden manager, is originally from the Syrian city of Kobani. Since fleeing the war in Syria in 2015, he has lived in Gawilan with his wife, two daughters Ronak and Newroz, and son Lawan. He highlights the need for greater support.
“When we first launched the garden, we received over 250 applications but we could only accommodate 92 families. In time we want to welcome more families but for now we need to improve our current facilities ahead of the high temperatures this summer. That’s why we’re appealing for additional support.
“We want to create a shaded rest area for gardeners and add a polytunnel to both protect crops and increase productivity. We of course also want to provide more seeds and trees and eventually add a playground for the children.”
Read our full interview with Othman here
Summer priorities
Three items are urgently needed now:
A resting area
A shaded, canopied space with seating where women can take tea together, exchange seeds, swap gardening tips and take part in workshops. It will provide a safe, welcoming space for women and their children to come together, build friendships and strengthen community ties.
(Target: $700 USD / £518 GBP / €617 EUR)
Refreshments
Tea and light snacks provide a chance for gardeners to refuel during sessions, while also creating moments for connection and conversation.
(Target: $60 USD / £44 GBP / €52 EUR)
A polytunnel
This will allow us to start seedlings under partial shade, shield young plants from hot winds, and introduce drip irrigation and shade netting, boosting our ability to grow more food and increase food security for families as we head into the autumn season.
(Target: $200 USD / £148 GBP/ €176 EUR)
Total needed: $960 USD / £710 GBP / €846 EUR
The garden currently produces around 600kg of food monthly. With proper heat protection, this could increase significantly during summer months when fresh food is hardest to grow.
If you’d like to help the Hêvî Community Garden continue operating through the hottest part of the year, please consider making a donation.
Thank you so much.
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