Category: Blog

It’s been quiet on this blog for a long time, but life on the farm goes on, of course, and I’d like to give you a little insight today.

The first winter rains are here, and it is already quite green around us. The dates have been harvested and are being sorted and the farm appears in new splendour. The nest, the community place is being refurbished and made cosy for the winter. Preparations for the New Year’s Eve party are in full swing.

I have been here at Peace Wadi for 2 and a half weeks now and I am still enjoying it very much. I was looking for a place where I could spend 3 weeks in community, close to nature, where I could just be, and I have definitely found that place at Peace Wadi. Mohammad and Sally welcomed me warmly and from the first moment I felt at home.

The farm is huge and there is always a lot to do to maintain the grounds. Some things only hint at their former glory and could use a little more attention, but the magic of this place can still be felt.

Every day brings something new and there is always something to do. Collecting rubbish, gathering the old date palm branches, pruning trees and bushes, harvesting lemons, cleaning the common areas around the project and, of course, kilos of dates to sort. The latter is a very meditative affair, while there are also more physically demanding tasks. But also, tasks for rainy days like supplying the social media channels with new information.

In the morning, the day starts with a hearty breakfast together in the nest. Then it’s off to work, after which you can end the day on the terrace or the roof, with a view of Jericho and the border. 

What makes this place special are, of course, the people. Mohammad, who owns the farm and is the bedrock of this farm. Sally, who keeps track of everything and provides everyone with wonderful food, and more recently Mughira, who has already added a few new tables to the farm with his craft skills and oud sounds. And then, of course, many people come in and out of Peace Wadi. Airbnb guests who tell of their travels and adventures, friends and relatives, neighbours and volunteers.

I really enjoy my time at Peace Wadi. The warm air that still makes it possible to sleep in the outdoor loft. The view of Jericho from the roof, the date palms and banana trees that surround the farm. The campfires where sweet potatoes are almost always made. The conversations with the Airbnb guests and of course the exchange with the people here on the farm. To keep the vision of intercultural and intergenerational exchange alive.

Peace Wadi is located only a few hundred meters away from the Jordanian-Palestinian (under Israeli control) border. As such, the farm from time to time host guests coming back from Palestine or planning to cross the border to Palestine after spending time in Jordan before. Most of these travelers make it across the border. Some, however, don’t. I’ve unfortunately been one of the persons the Israeli border police denied entering the country.

I’ve been studying in Palestine and left the country to Jordan for two weeks after my Visa has been expired. As Israel hardly issues student visas for international students studying in Palestine, it’s a common way among international students and researchers to enter the country with a tourist visa and leave and enter again in order to receive a second tourist visa to cover the second half of the semester. Of course, when interrogated at the border you’re well-advised not to tell the truth of being enrolled in a Palestinian university.

I loved studying at Birzeit University as well as living in Ramallah and was resolved to leave and try to enter a second time to be able to finish my studies there. Thinking about leaving and entering the country kept my mind busy already weeks in advance. It’s been stressful not to know whether I could finish the semester as scheduled or should rather scheme a backup plan. I prepared well for the border crossing, discussed my story with friends, went over questions I might be asked and what I would answer, talked to people who’ve been in the same situation before. Unfortunately, it didn’t help.

When trying to cross the border (King Hussein Bride) for the first time, I’ve been interrogated by three people for in sum fifteen minutes but kept waiting in between for hours. What made me feel very uncomfortable was the way people spoke to and treated me. My impression was, that people weren’t willing to listen to me or try to understand what I was explaining to them but rather got an idea of what kind of person I supposedly were and which I couldn’t correct anymore no matter what I explained to them. I was send back to Jordan with the explanation that I would have been ‘illegal’ I did a language course while being in the country on a tourist visa only. What disappointed me the most however wasn’t the rejection itself, but that this decision wasn’t based on what I said, but rather on their unwillingness to listen to me and the impossibility to give an explanation of what I’ve been doing and planning to do in Palestine for the next months.

After this first rejection, coming back to Peace Wadi has been very relieving. Here, I found a place to rest and sort my thoughts, but also to find new energy and strengths for a second attempt. The second time I tried to cross the border I went to Sheikh Hussein Bride up north the Jordan River. This attempt failed as well, but before being rejected I’ve been hold in place at the border crossing for half a day and only released fifteen minutes before closing hour. This time I was interrogated over and over again by in sum four people. Some interrogations took longer, some only a minute or two. What they all had in common was that I was asked the same questions again and again which was very tiring. Furthermore, I was pat down and wand with a metal detector by to female border guards as well as asked to pull of my jeans. Several people sifted through all my luggage. My electronic devices were examined separately. I had to present my flight ticket proving that I’ve booked a flight back from Tel Aviv. All in all I again spend hours at the border only to in the end receive the same decision which is that I wasn’t allowed to enter again as I’ve been there on a tourist visa before already. This however must have been clear to all the stuff from the first hour on when the scanned my passport for the first time. This time I didn’t leave the with disappointment but with anger and rage. Again, the decision that I should not be able to enter was already made from the beginning on but still the stuff made me to go through all their interrogations, luggage, and body checks.

At least, I hope, I kept them so busy that others could maybe pass a bit easier. I would have loved to spend another few months in Palestine, study there, see my friends and have the chance to say them goodbye at the point of time I chose to leave. However, it’s also not more than this and I can only imagine how hard, stressful, and tiring the crossing and (the risk of a) rejection must be for the ones having their homes, families and close friends there.

No border, no nation, end occupation!

Are you already stressed about New Year’s Eve and can’t decide where and how you want to celebrate? With the whole family or rather at a party with friends?

Why not join us at Peace Wadi and celebrate with the friends of the Khubaizeh Festival. We want to end the old year together in nature and come together in the power and peace of this place. Over delicious food, we say goodbye to 2022 and look forward with anticipation to the future and the Khubaizeh Festival coming soon.

We welcome the year 2023 with Oud sounds and a live DJ. You can dance with us into the new year or sit around the campfire.

We look forward to welcoming you at Peace Wadi from 8 p.m. and celebrating the new year together with you.

The price for the evening is 50 JD (35 JD if you register before the 25^th December), registration under Zain Cash: 0795527397

New project: organic farm tomatoes!

PeaceWadi is looking for a food entrepreneur. Next to the bees, moringa and dates we harvest on our permaculture farm venue, we are now ready to take the next step. Are you interested to contribute to the Jordanian food market hands on? We are looking for someone to grow our dry tomato products into a success for the Jordanian market!

What are we looking for?

1. Produce the first organic dried tomatoes of Jordan with us
2. Design a marketing campaign, give the product a digital place on the web and take the first steps in marketing sustainable Jordan food production
3. Grow together with us as a food innovator, marketeer and social entrepreneur in the Jordan valley & Amman!

Why join PeaceWadi & JoReC?

• PeaceWadi has an existing network to sell organic eco-friendly food products, online and offline
• We successfully passed the exploration phase for our new product, together with our partner JoReC – now we need talents to extend our success!
• JoReC dedicates itself to finding smart and practical solution against waste and smartly reusing resource streams – dried tomatoes is one of them
• Our attitude towards any new project is humbleness and enthusiasm – we want to learn from you and inspire all of us
• PeaceWadi and JoReC have all the means to make this project a success together with you

PROGRAMME EXTENDED DUE TO SUCCESS

Are you bored in the lockdown?? Would you prefer to spend the lockdown in the countryside instead of between concrete? Then we have just the solution for you! The PeaceWadi Lockdown programme starts on Thursday night and helps you through the lockdown week end. Isolate yourself with your friends and family on the farm, have fun in our workshops and take a dip in the pool!

• Jordan Ecotourism venue
• Breakfast & Dinner included
• Thursday night – welcome BBQ
• Friday morning – Date Molasse Workshop
• Friday night – Pizza & Date Cake demo
• Saturday morning – Moringa pruning & growing Workshop
• Sunday – funday
• Maximum 15 people for your and our safety
• Organic Pool & beach showers
• Bring your favorite food and drinks!
• Private transportation will be easiest – otherwise a taxi from Amman costs +/- 25JD
• Programme is 70 JDs a person

Contact Mohammad Atiyeh for your stay on +962 79 55 27 397

The joy of having a tree nursery

We cleared out a storage area and turned it into a nursery for moringa seedlings. (Other plants might follow soon.) They require only a bit of water every day and spread so much joy. Everybody who takes a tour of the nursery starts smiling about the mighty little plants which grow visibly every day.

Our goal is to spread the word about this incredibly diverse plant by enlarging our own moringa orchard at the farm and sharing the seedlings with everybody who is interested in growing their own moringa trees. If you want to learn more about moringa check out this blog post: https://peacewadi.com/2020/09/28/moringa-wonder-tree/.

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Moringa wonder tree

Peace Wadi promotes permaculture and one of our favorite plants here is the moringa tree because of the minimal resources required to grow it and the fact that almost the entire tree can be used as either food or fertilizer.

The name

Moringa oleifera is also known as drumstick tree from the shape of the seed pods or horseradish tree from the taste of the roots or ben oil tree from the oil derived from the seeds. It’s fast-growing and drought-resistant.

Use of the plant parts

Almost every part of the plant is edible. The young green seed pods and the leaves are used as vegetables. Mature seeds can be eaten raw, cooked or roasted. The roots are shredded and used as a spice of a sharp flavor which resembles radish.

Here on the farm we dry the leaves and use them to make tea or as an extra ingredient in traditional Jordanian food. After drying the leaves we also grind them into powder to use it as food supplement for additional vitamins and minerals in our meals.

Oil extracted from the mature seeds can be used as food supplement or base for hair and skin cosmetics. Its biofuel potential is currently being studied. What remains after extracting the oil is referred to as seed cake and can be used as fertilizer or to purify water.

Cultivation

Moringa loves sun and heat and therefore favors semiarid, tropical and subtropical climate. The soil should be neutral to slightly acidic, sandy or clayey. Depending on temperature and water the trees will flower once or twice a year or even all year-round.

Here on the farm we cut back the trees once a year to 1m height which improves leave growth.

Source: Wikipedia

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Moringa is helping to prevent and cure diseases the benefits include to reduce symptoms of stomach pain, headache, heardproblems like high bloodpressure and can relief menstrual cramps.

Moringa can be prepared as a vegetable or included in soups, but mostly the leaves and fruits are used, especially for preparing tea.

After drying the tea leaves until they are crisp, they should be grinded and stored in a dry container. To prepare the tea just add hot water, lemon or sugar. Enjoy!

We harvested the seedbags of the tree and put them in the sun to dry.

They can be eaten like peas or rosted like nuts and contain a high amount of vitamin C, B vitamins and dietary minerals. Oil can also be made from them. It has no smell and resists rancidity.

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The unofficial “Spa Adventure Tour” is one of several activities you can do during your free time if you volunteer at Peace Wadi . Mohammad took us few hours before the sunset to the Canyon in which we hiked through the source and got a bath in the hot mineral water of the valley. We could have a natural massage thanks to the strong waterfalls. We didn’t see any foreign tourists in the area, but there were lots of Jordanians from Amman looking to unwind in the water. It’s a nice way to have an authentic experience. We could meet and take pictures with Jordanian people, but above all, we were so glad to see the beauty of nature.

 

After this relaxing time, we moved to salt water and drove to the Dead Sea, which was right across the road. We found a deserted place where it seemed as if no humans had walked before. We had to hike a few minutes through the sand before reaching the sea. As the ground got more and more muddy, we knew that our target was getting close. Finally our feet touched the water as we watched the beautiful sunset over Palestine. We didn’t wait to rub the famous mud all over our bodies before we tried to swim in the salty water of the Dead Sea.

The longer you keep the mud on yourself, the more you benefit from its health benefits. Plus it makes for a nice memory; and all of this for free! After applying a few mud masks and floating in the salty water, we ended our trip at a restaurant eating Jordanian Shawarma and Kebab.

It was an amazing day, all thanks to Mohammad!

Jonna, Elena, Cindy, Bryant and Yael (volunteers from Netherlands, USA and France).