DÖNÜŞTÜR GİTSİN continues to carry out projects that will benefit women

In a world where soil is being made infertile by the wrong methods and recklessly destroyed, we need to remember, and remind others of, the truth of an old indigenous saying: “the earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth!” Because the most basic principle of the relationship between people and nature begins with respect for the soil.

For the soil to escape its current state, in which no yield can be obtained without chemicals, it needs to be nourished in correct and natural ways. At this point, composting the food waste generated in the home will provide the nutrients the soil needs in a much more natural way. As you might guess, the main person who manages household food waste is the woman. If the woman takes responsibility for the food waste in the home and becomes its manager, she will take ownership of that waste.

With this in mind, as “Dönüştür Gitsin” we have rolled up our sleeves to expand our work aimed at helping individuals in urban life, and especially women, to reduce their food waste, and to also reach women working the land in rural areas. In our “Dönüştür Gitsin Training and Application Centre” project, which we are currently focusing on, we aim to create an application model to bring natural permaculture methods to women in rural areas.

Work is continuing at full speed on our “Training and Application Centre” in Sacayağı Village in the Pınarbaşı district of Kayseri, one of the villages in the very centre of Anatolia that struggles with harsh and arid climate conditions and where the organic matter content of the soil is below 1%. Here, production models compatible with existing conditions will be demonstrated (Bokashi compost, worm compost applications, contour lines, use of natural animal manure, farming on wicking beds, garden greenhouse applications, etc.)

Our main goal is to increase the organic matter content of the soil and improve its water-holding capacity, making it fertile.

In addition to soil analyses on site, we completed the measurements of the area where on-site permaculture applications will be carried out. We created the contour lines and laid the foundations for interaction with bokashi compost and animal manure.

When women in households living in the village start producing in their own gardens with the skills they will gain through this project, they will also be leading the way for men.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our project supporter and adviser Prof. Dr. Volkan Dündar, who has been with us since the start of our project, and architect Mr Vedat Şahin, who generously supported the site planning.

We would also like to share with you, our valued followers, a topic we are very excited about: with our Dönüştür Gitsin Training and Application Centre Project, we have applied to take part in the “Women of the Earth” competition organised every year by a world-famous cosmetics company.

Run worldwide since 2001 and to be held in Turkey for the 6th time, the Women of the Earth competition aims to ensure the protection of a plant species or natural areas for the benefit of the environment, to make a sustainable contribution to the welfare of society through an action taken for the environment, and in this context to support “women’s freedom and gender equality”, as well as to raise awareness among children and young people on an environmental topic. In line with these goals, it rewards projects implemented by environmentalist women from all over the world.

We will be eagerly awaiting the results of the competition, whose applications will be evaluated in November.

With love

Dönüştür Gitsin