Organic rooftops farm in Palestinian Refugee Camps

Unquestionably, Lebanon is moving closer to a state breakdown, which is plunging the nation farther and deeper into chaos. State-run schools are not working, banks are still stealing depositors' wealth, the value of the local currency is declining, and there is still a shortage of energy. Individuals are going through a difficult winter and are having to rely more on themselves every day.

The urban rooftop project is hopefully still ongoing, thanks to your contributions and other external helps. Families as a whole get some relief when they have access to their own vegetables and herbs and are guaranteed to receive a minimum amount of nutrients in the form of minerals and vitamins. Some people would only eat grains if they didn't have access to those free vegetables.

Jafra started installing greenhouses on each participant's rooftop to increase the profitability of the rooftops, particularly during the winter when fewer varieties are growing. The greenhouses were custom-made to fit each rooftop's specific terrain and participant expectations.

Whether they are still newly installed, some of the greenhouses are already productive and participants enjoy not only their harvests but also the new settings on their rooftop and the daily activity it provides to them. Season after season, the participants learn new techniques and become more professional. In a next step, Jafra will intend to develop the peer-to-peer knowledge transmission to equip new rooftops of the refugee camps in Lebanon. Your new contributions will serve to equip the new rooftops.

A difficult summer has just come to an end in Lebanon where, despite the deteriorating situation, the rooftop owners taking part in the urban rooftop project continued to take care of their plantations to prevent them from dying under the scorching sun. Fortunately, your kind donations made a difference in the situation because enough water was provided to everyone and several rooftops were equipped with drip irrigation systems to prevent overusing the already limited water supply.

Many different herbs and vegetables could be harvested during the summer and eaten by the participants and their families, but not only them. Many of our urban rooftop farmers started to produce enough to share. For instance, Manal shares the majority of her harvests with the people who live in her building. As a result, the neighborhood is given a pleasant atmosphere and a renewed sense of community.

Jafra is currently preparing the rooftop owners for a fresh beginning—a new season. This means that each camp receives additional trainings. Meanwhile, owners are prepared to receive a greenhouse each within a month. In order to have greenhouses constructed by Jafra volunteers in time for Lebanon's winter, measurements are now being made. Whether participants own rooftops with a large planted surface or plant smaller surfaces like balconies or window sills, Jafra's agronomist continues to follow up with all of them.

With the support of your past donations, we were able to install drip irrigation systems on some rooftops; nevertheless, we still have to equip the other half of our planters and still need to buy fresh water for those who are the less well-off. The economic situation is getting worse by the day and, with the prospect of a further high rise in costs at the beginning of November—all taxes are expected to cost 10 times as much as they did previously— our gardeners still count on your generosity.

We strive to help people develop self-reliance so they won't consider taking perilous routes out of the country in search of a better life somewhere else.