Palestinians innovate with hydroponic gardens

  • A Palestinian teenager plants lettuce at the Lajee Centre’s hydroponic rooftop garden in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem on October 22, 2021. Photos by Heidi Levine for The National
    A Palestinian teenager plants lettuce at the Lajee Centre’s hydroponic rooftop garden in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem on October 22, 2021. Photos by Heidi Levine for The National
  • Lettuce, parsley and green onions grown on the community rooftop garden.
    Lettuce, parsley and green onions grown on the community rooftop garden.
  • Majd Khawaja, 26, with Palestinian teenagers attending a workshop on hydroponic farming at the rooftop garden.
    Majd Khawaja, 26, with Palestinian teenagers attending a workshop on hydroponic farming at the rooftop garden.
  • The garden does away with the need for soil and, instead, relies on nutrients flowing through water to grow plants.
    The garden does away with the need for soil and, instead, relies on nutrients flowing through water to grow plants.
  • Residents of Aida refugee camp, which is in the occupied West Bank, created the rooftop garden in 2014.
    Residents of Aida refugee camp, which is in the occupied West Bank, created the rooftop garden in 2014.
  • Cucumber plants grown on the rooftop garden.
    Cucumber plants grown on the rooftop garden.
  • Hydroponic farming entails pumping air, water and nutrients through a system that allows plants to grow at a faster pace than they would in soil.
    Hydroponic farming entails pumping air, water and nutrients through a system that allows plants to grow at a faster pace than they would in soil.
  • The initiative seeks to teach refugees facing water shortages how to grow healthy food using sustainable techniques.
    The initiative seeks to teach refugees facing water shortages how to grow healthy food using sustainable techniques.
  • Shatha Alazzeh, head of the Lajee Centre’s environmental unit, checks a lettuce plant on the rooftop garden.
    Shatha Alazzeh, head of the Lajee Centre’s environmental unit, checks a lettuce plant on the rooftop garden.
  • Aida residents who are part of the community centre’s health programme help to look after the plants and take the produce home.
    Aida residents who are part of the community centre’s health programme help to look after the plants and take the produce home.
  • The rooftop garden, as seen from the entrance to the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem.
    The rooftop garden, as seen from the entrance to the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem.
  • Palestinian teenager Saaden Alan ,14, plants lettuce during a workshop held at the rooftop garden.
    Palestinian teenager Saaden Alan ,14, plants lettuce during a workshop held at the rooftop garden.
  • A parsley plant grown in a plastic cup using hydroponic farming techniques.
    A parsley plant grown in a plastic cup using hydroponic farming techniques.
  • Palestinian teenagers with lettuce they intend to plant on the rooftop garden.
    Palestinian teenagers with lettuce they intend to plant on the rooftop garden.
  • Hydroponic pipe systems allow for innovative farming techniques that save water and also avoid the use of pesticides.
    Hydroponic pipe systems allow for innovative farming techniques that save water and also avoid the use of pesticides.
  • Transforming corners of the camp into gardens will not remove the need to buy vegetables grown elsewhere but has the potential to improve the community’s resilience.
    Transforming corners of the camp into gardens will not remove the need to buy vegetables grown elsewhere but has the potential to improve the community’s resilience.
  • The team behind the project hope to take it to other refugee camps in the West Bank and also to Gaza, Lebanon and Jordan.
    The team behind the project hope to take it to other refugee camps in the West Bank and also to Gaza, Lebanon and Jordan.
  • Rooftops are the only option left for Aida inhabitants who lack arable land but are interested in growing their own crops.
    Rooftops are the only option left for Aida inhabitants who lack arable land but are interested in growing their own crops.