While planning our trip we found a the Bustaan Qaraaqa permaculture farm to stay at just outside of Bethlehem and since we were going to be there over the holidays we thought this would be the perfect place to stay over Christmas. I'd love for you to learn more about Bustaan Qaraaqa and if you ever get the chance to visit or stay there I highly recommend that you do.
What is a permaculture farm? Simply put it’s a method of farming/living that strives to be self sustaining of the land. (but its so much more)
We were greeted by a woman with the most cheerful attitude and contagious laugh who welcomed us and after dropping off our bags we were headed out for a tour of the farm efore the sun went down. Some differences about permaculture:
- Instead of using wasteful indoor plumbing for a restroom they only have an outhouse. This cuts their reliability on the water they may or may not get from the Israelis drastically.
- They recycle all class jars into walls by cementing them together. It’s a slow process to add on but recycling is recycling and they almost have enough to complete the storage room they’ve been collecting for.
- Instead of using harmful and expensive dish washing soap they mainly use cut up lemon slices to wash and scrub dishes. Initially I always get a lot of resistance when I mention this but I’m not a germ freak by any means I subscribe to the theory that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger and they have been doing this for years with no casualties. If it’s good enough for them, it’s certainly good enough for me! In addition to saving cost, using excess citrus it also allows them to recycle their water for crops and other things.
- They also have chickens on the land, instead of a garbage disposal they scrape all dishes into a bin and use it to feed the animals. That was one of my jobs while on the farm, I loved watching them all freak out as I walked up and throw the bits over!
- In another effort to use less water from outside sources they collect rainwater in cisterns for their crops. In the city of Jerusalem Palestinians are not allowed to use Cisterns as this right is given to the Israeli citizens.
- They also grow, prune, and maintain several olive and citrus trees as well as other foods in their garden. Learning to prune olive trees in the Middle east was surprisingly fun and a great addition to my bucket list!
They help educate Palestinians on how to farm in a sustainable way and also to discover new ways to make the most of what the Palestinians can do for themselves. Their objective and presence is very well respected and welcomed by the Palestinians but for the few who own and maintain the farm this dream has come with a cost.
Many travel sparingly knowing that their frequent travel from and to the West Bank may bring unwanted attention from the government and may cause more hassle than it’s worth. The two women who have been with the farm since its beginning have given up their homes one of which is from the US. When I asked her about her life and what had led her to live on the West Bank she told me of her passion for travel but it was her refusal to pay taxes and live in a country that supports causes she cannot condone. Many would scrutinize her choice to leave the States to live such a humble and seemingly difficult life for the cause of someone else but I found myself wishing I were as strong as she.
On our walk back from the city square I proceeded to pick her brain, when asked if she was happy here and if she missed home she replied something to the effect of, The US is not my home, this is my home. My life here matters, what more could I ask for? If I were home in Oregon I would have a job, bills, maybe a family but for what? I have a purpose here and they need me, my family doesn’t. She tells stories of places traveled, things done and people she’s met and says in complete confidence that she couldn’t imagine herself in any life that would be more fulfilling then here in Palestine…
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