Turkey
Doanja Elementary School Love Farm

The Doanja Elementary School is located in Samsun, an industrial city in Turkey just 1,360 miles east of Istanbul. Doanja is near the middle of Samsun’s large wetlands, which are the world famous habitat of migratory birds and the center of the area’s rice production.

After participating in a Natural Agriculture workshop, the principal of the Doanja Elementary School approached Shumei to start a Natural Agriculture project at his school. There was growing concern about the harmful impact of industrial waste and agrochemicals on the wildlife and the environment as a result of the industrial development in the area. Many of the students were from farm families and they could benefit by learning about Shumei’s approach to farming in harmony with nature.

Shumei began working with the Doanja School in April 2006 with 40 students working diligently on a plot of land, which they called their “Love Farm”. Through the project activities, the children took care of the fields, cultivated 12 different kinds of vegetables and rice and observed the growth of the crops in their school farm.

By the fall of 2006, participation in the Natural Agriculture program had grown and the students were able to harvest rice grown completely without the use of agrochemicals, fertilizers, manure or compost. At first they did not believe they could do it. To celebrate their harvest the students made their own rice bags with a message about sustainable living and what they learned from Natural Agriculture. The message was as follows:

Our Farm of Love Project at Doanja Elementary School

As we grow crops, we learn, share, and become happy.
The most effective, the most economical, and the most sustainable way of protecting nature are Natural Agriculture and the life style that is environmentally friendly. To live with respect for nature is the only choice for the future of human kinds.

The Doanja Elementary School farm project helped to increase students’ interest and appreciation for their local farming culture, nature and beauty. Overall the Love Farm made an enormous impact on the children, their families and the community as a whole. Government officials and local media have even taken notice of the farm and have gotten involved with the project to raise awareness for the environment.

In 2008, the Doanja students presented the school farm project to visitors from another school and they were so impressed that teachers invited the Doanja students and teachers to the Ozlain Elementary School in the mountains. They are currently doing an exchange program and helping to teach others about Natural Agriculture.