Farkha agricultural revival: protecting crops, feeding families
Farkha is a Palestinian village in the central West Bank and the first eco-village in Palestine, well-known for its long-standing traditions of farming, voluntary work, and activism. The village aspires to become completely self-reliant by the end of the decade. Local leaders have been encouraging autonomy and sustainability for many years through rooftop rainwater harvesting, organic home gardens, and chemical-free agriculture, with a village-beautification plan, community-operated kindergarten and civic center, and a women's cooperative. With that cooperative, women cultivate the land and make from it various products such as processed food and organic olive-oil-based cosmetics, for the international and local markets. After learning about certified organic and environment-friendly production methods, Farkha's community eco-farm now produces extra-virgin olive oil and the village exports its organic oil and products to several European countries .
Open Collective Europe Foundation is a Belgian public utility foundation that provides fiscal hosting, grantmaking, and transparent fund administration for mission-aligned initiatives across Europe and beyond. We act as a legal and financial intermediary for hosted initiatives, helping them receive and manage funds, process expenses, and operate with strong financial controls while remaining distinct from the foundation itself. Our work supports open, civic, social-impact, and philanthropic projects through accountable infrastructure, transparent reporting, and practical operational support.
Project story
Grow Your Food – Harvest Your Freedom
Resistant Local Economy – Farkha Village, Palestine
Farkha Village, located in the Salfit Governorate of Palestine, has long been known for its deeply rooted agricultural identity. For generations, local families have preserved rich farming traditions and extensive ecological knowledge, maintaining traditional agricultural practices until today.
The village contains approximately 6000 dunums of agricultural lands — nearly half of its total area — despite having a population of only around 1,900 residents. These lands include:
About 2000 dunums of olive groves
Areas dedicated to almonds, figs, grapes, and other fruit trees
Open-field crops such as wheat and legumes
Rain-fed and irrigated vegetable farming
Home gardens present in nearly every household
Until the mid-1990s, agriculture and livestock were the primary sources of food and income for the village. Nearly all agricultural lands were actively cultivated, and livestock farming was an essential part of daily life.
However, Farkha is located in the occupied West Bank and faces many challenges due to the israeli occupation, especially since the establishement of a new settler outpost on its land. Over the years, agriculture in Farkha gradually declined.
The Challenges of Farkha - Occupied Village
Systematic abuses from the occupation such as:
Continuous land confiscation, and the establishment of the new outpost in 2024, reaching today 1250 dunums declared as israeli state lands.
Restrictions preventing farmers from accessing 3000 dunums of their lands, wich includes 70% of the village’s olive trees.
Settler violence against farmers, protected by the israeli army, leading farmers to fear working on their land. When farmers resist by simply being present on their land, they face the risk of being blacklisted, leading to restrictions on freedom of movement and job losses, or being arrested and beaten.
Confiscation of “al Yanboa“ one of the two water springs to turn it into a pool for recreational purposes for settlers.
Wastewater discharge from nearby settlements.
Release of wild boars that destroy agricultural lands.
Surveillance system with drones, hidden cameras and unreasonable searchs and seizures.
Absence of effective governmental protection or agricultural support systems.
Migration of young people towards urban employment and fast-income jobs, as a result of the expansion of the colonization, settlers attacks on people and harmful local economic policies.
As a result, the villagers can no longer cultivate many of their agricultural lands, except for some olive groves and household gardens. Despite these challenges, Farkha remains internationally recognized for producing high-quality organic olive oil. Around 400 dunums are officially certified as organic farms, exporting olive oil to several European countries since 2007.
“The Land is Ours” Cooperative – Farkha
In 2019, a group of young people from Farkha established “The Land is Ours” Cooperative – Farkha, a grassroots community initiative aiming to revive agriculture, strengthen food sovereignty, and encourage local self-sufficiency.
The cooperative launched a village-wide campaign under the slogan:
“Grow Your Food – Harvest Your Freedom”
The initiative focuses on restoring home gardens and empowering families to produce their own food using traditional and ecological farming methods.
Between 2019 and 2023:
The number of active home gardens increased from 90 to 230
Seeds and seedlings were distributed annually to local families
Many households achieved partial food self-sufficiency
Community-based exchange and solidarity markets were revived
Today, the cooperative is working to transform these gardens into fully ecological farms.
Reviving Field Agriculture and Livestock
Since 2022, the cooperative has expanded its work to include the restoration of field crops such as:
Wheat
Barley
Legumes
This initiative directly supports the revival of livestock farming, which historically formed a central part of the village economy.
In the early 1990s, nearly every household raised sheeps and working animals, with an estimated 3,000 sheeps across the village. In the 2000s, after the 2nd Intifada and the economical crisis, people started looking for money in occupied Palestine and in the settlements, and neglecting livestock farming.
The results of the initiative have been remarkable:
10 young farmers returned to field farming in 2023
25 farmers joined in 2024
More than 48 farmers are participating in 2025.
65 farmers spread on 150 dunums in 2026.
This has already contributed to a visible return of livestock breeding in the village.
Qamar el Balad Eco-Farm
Qamar el Balad is an educational eco-farm, which main goal is to bring expertise to farmers from the village and from other villages, to agricultural engineer students and to international volunteers. Qamar el Balad is part of the world eco-villages network. Another important goal is to produce organic food in order to reach food sovereignty.
Since its creation in 2016, Qamar el balad has:
provided (processed) vegetables self sufficiency and an additional source of income for five families of Farkha. 3 of them are from Gaza and are stranded in the West Bank because of the genocide war.
developped and exchanged traditional agricultural practices.
hosted hundreds of volunteers and agriculture students.
Other Initiatives
To confront these challenges, the village launched various collective initiatives, such as:
Fencing approximately 110 dunums of agricultural lands surrounding the old town area and located on “al Jiza” the hill facing the village.
Protecting “Badran” the 2nd water spring water spring by fencing it, fixing the stairs and bringing electricity with the participation of more than 100 volunteers, and by organising visits there to ensure a presence.
Organising a volunteer work festival in August in the last 30 years with both local and foreign volunteers, aiming to strenghten the (international) solidarity and bring more visibility.
Organising solidarity presence during the olive harvest season, especially on the lands surrouding the new outpost.
These lands historically served as the village’s food basket and grazing area. Protecting and cultivating these lands collectively helps ensure:
Long-term agricultural sustainability
Strenthening farmers resilience in the face of settelment expansion and occupation policies.
Protection of farmers’ livelihoods
Food sovereignty
Community resilience and connection to the land
Our Vision
We believe that collective farming, ecological agriculture, volunteerism, and local solidarity are essential tools for strengthening Palestinian resilience and preserving the relationship between people and land.
Through community participation and practical action, we are building a living model of resistance through agriculture, self-sufficiency, and cooperation.
Project Impact and Funds Allocation
Enhance household self-sufficiency by:
Increasing the number of house gardens producing organic food. Currently 35 of the 230 house gardens are ecological. In order to raise the number of eco-gardens, we need to establish models of ecological farms, and to provide essential tools, such as fences, native seeds and education on the propagation of the seeds.
Training women on food processing, especially the young ones.
Building biogas units for producing gas from animal manure.
Expand the agricultural lands used for the production of cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, as well as animal fodder, and increase the livestock by:
Fencing these lands to protect them against settler grazing encroachment.
Rehabilitating abandoned water wells on the lands and using them for agricultural irrigation.
Establish the first student environmental cooperative in Palestine.
Set up an agricultural learning station in the 2 schools of the village.
The Land is Our Cooperative – Farkha
Farkha Village – Salfit Governorate – Palestine 🇵🇸🌿
Project updates
Team
Farkha agricultural revival: protecting crops, feeding families
Farkha is a Palestinian village in the central West Bank and the first eco-village in Palestine, well-known for its long-standing traditions of farming, voluntary work, and activism. The village aspires to become completely self-reliant by the end of the decade. Local leaders have been encouraging autonomy and sustainability for many years through rooftop rainwater harvesting, organic home gardens, and chemical-free agriculture, with a village-beautification plan, community-operated kindergarten and civic center, and a women's cooperative. With that cooperative, women cultivate the land and make from it various products such as processed food and organic olive-oil-based cosmetics, for the international and local markets. After learning about certified organic and environment-friendly production methods, Farkha's community eco-farm now produces extra-virgin olive oil and the village exports its organic oil and products to several European countries .
Open Collective Europe Foundation is a Belgian public utility foundation that provides fiscal hosting, grantmaking, and transparent fund administration for mission-aligned initiatives across Europe and beyond. We act as a legal and financial intermediary for hosted initiatives, helping them receive and manage funds, process expenses, and operate with strong financial controls while remaining distinct from the foundation itself. Our work supports open, civic, social-impact, and philanthropic projects through accountable infrastructure, transparent reporting, and practical operational support.
Project story
Grow Your Food – Harvest Your Freedom
Resistant Local Economy – Farkha Village, Palestine
Farkha Village, located in the Salfit Governorate of Palestine, has long been known for its deeply rooted agricultural identity. For generations, local families have preserved rich farming traditions and extensive ecological knowledge, maintaining traditional agricultural practices until today.
The village contains approximately 6000 dunums of agricultural lands — nearly half of its total area — despite having a population of only around 1,900 residents. These lands include:
About 2000 dunums of olive groves
Areas dedicated to almonds, figs, grapes, and other fruit trees
Open-field crops such as wheat and legumes
Rain-fed and irrigated vegetable farming
Home gardens present in nearly every household
Until the mid-1990s, agriculture and livestock were the primary sources of food and income for the village. Nearly all agricultural lands were actively cultivated, and livestock farming was an essential part of daily life.
However, Farkha is located in the occupied West Bank and faces many challenges due to the israeli occupation, especially since the establishement of a new settler outpost on its land. Over the years, agriculture in Farkha gradually declined.
The Challenges of Farkha - Occupied Village
Systematic abuses from the occupation such as:
Continuous land confiscation, and the establishment of the new outpost in 2024, reaching today 1250 dunums declared as israeli state lands.
Restrictions preventing farmers from accessing 3000 dunums of their lands, wich includes 70% of the village’s olive trees.
Settler violence against farmers, protected by the israeli army, leading farmers to fear working on their land. When farmers resist by simply being present on their land, they face the risk of being blacklisted, leading to restrictions on freedom of movement and job losses, or being arrested and beaten.
Confiscation of “al Yanboa“ one of the two water springs to turn it into a pool for recreational purposes for settlers.
Wastewater discharge from nearby settlements.
Release of wild boars that destroy agricultural lands.
Surveillance system with drones, hidden cameras and unreasonable searchs and seizures.
Absence of effective governmental protection or agricultural support systems.
Migration of young people towards urban employment and fast-income jobs, as a result of the expansion of the colonization, settlers attacks on people and harmful local economic policies.
As a result, the villagers can no longer cultivate many of their agricultural lands, except for some olive groves and household gardens. Despite these challenges, Farkha remains internationally recognized for producing high-quality organic olive oil. Around 400 dunums are officially certified as organic farms, exporting olive oil to several European countries since 2007.
“The Land is Ours” Cooperative – Farkha
In 2019, a group of young people from Farkha established “The Land is Ours” Cooperative – Farkha, a grassroots community initiative aiming to revive agriculture, strengthen food sovereignty, and encourage local self-sufficiency.
The cooperative launched a village-wide campaign under the slogan:
“Grow Your Food – Harvest Your Freedom”
The initiative focuses on restoring home gardens and empowering families to produce their own food using traditional and ecological farming methods.
Between 2019 and 2023:
The number of active home gardens increased from 90 to 230
Seeds and seedlings were distributed annually to local families
Many households achieved partial food self-sufficiency
Community-based exchange and solidarity markets were revived
Today, the cooperative is working to transform these gardens into fully ecological farms.
Reviving Field Agriculture and Livestock
Since 2022, the cooperative has expanded its work to include the restoration of field crops such as:
Wheat
Barley
Legumes
This initiative directly supports the revival of livestock farming, which historically formed a central part of the village economy.
In the early 1990s, nearly every household raised sheeps and working animals, with an estimated 3,000 sheeps across the village. In the 2000s, after the 2nd Intifada and the economical crisis, people started looking for money in occupied Palestine and in the settlements, and neglecting livestock farming.
The results of the initiative have been remarkable:
10 young farmers returned to field farming in 2023
25 farmers joined in 2024
More than 48 farmers are participating in 2025.
65 farmers spread on 150 dunums in 2026.
This has already contributed to a visible return of livestock breeding in the village.
Qamar el Balad Eco-Farm
Qamar el Balad is an educational eco-farm, which main goal is to bring expertise to farmers from the village and from other villages, to agricultural engineer students and to international volunteers. Qamar el Balad is part of the world eco-villages network. Another important goal is to produce organic food in order to reach food sovereignty.
Since its creation in 2016, Qamar el balad has:
provided (processed) vegetables self sufficiency and an additional source of income for five families of Farkha. 3 of them are from Gaza and are stranded in the West Bank because of the genocide war.
developped and exchanged traditional agricultural practices.
hosted hundreds of volunteers and agriculture students.
Other Initiatives
To confront these challenges, the village launched various collective initiatives, such as:
Fencing approximately 110 dunums of agricultural lands surrounding the old town area and located on “al Jiza” the hill facing the village.
Protecting “Badran” the 2nd water spring water spring by fencing it, fixing the stairs and bringing electricity with the participation of more than 100 volunteers, and by organising visits there to ensure a presence.
Organising a volunteer work festival in August in the last 30 years with both local and foreign volunteers, aiming to strenghten the (international) solidarity and bring more visibility.
Organising solidarity presence during the olive harvest season, especially on the lands surrouding the new outpost.
These lands historically served as the village’s food basket and grazing area. Protecting and cultivating these lands collectively helps ensure:
Long-term agricultural sustainability
Strenthening farmers resilience in the face of settelment expansion and occupation policies.
Protection of farmers’ livelihoods
Food sovereignty
Community resilience and connection to the land
Our Vision
We believe that collective farming, ecological agriculture, volunteerism, and local solidarity are essential tools for strengthening Palestinian resilience and preserving the relationship between people and land.
Through community participation and practical action, we are building a living model of resistance through agriculture, self-sufficiency, and cooperation.
Project Impact and Funds Allocation
Enhance household self-sufficiency by:
Increasing the number of house gardens producing organic food. Currently 35 of the 230 house gardens are ecological. In order to raise the number of eco-gardens, we need to establish models of ecological farms, and to provide essential tools, such as fences, native seeds and education on the propagation of the seeds.
Training women on food processing, especially the young ones.
Building biogas units for producing gas from animal manure.
Expand the agricultural lands used for the production of cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, as well as animal fodder, and increase the livestock by:
Fencing these lands to protect them against settler grazing encroachment.
Rehabilitating abandoned water wells on the lands and using them for agricultural irrigation.
Establish the first student environmental cooperative in Palestine.
Set up an agricultural learning station in the 2 schools of the village.
The Land is Our Cooperative – Farkha
Farkha Village – Salfit Governorate – Palestine 🇵🇸🌿
Project updates
Team
Location
Palestinian Territories
Round 3
Jul 1-21, 2026
Supporting community-led nature projects around the world.
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