BEYKOZ PERMACULTURE ECOLOGICAL PARK
On March 17 2021, a protocol was ratified by Permaturk Foundation and the Municipality of Beykoz District in Istanbul. In compliance with the protocol, the construction of Turkey’s first ecological park started, which has a total area of 5.9 acres in the Kanuni Urban Forest.
The location was selected because the Beykoz District has the most green/rural area in Istanbul and building an ecological park here complies well with the primary goals of Permaturk Foundation.
As a leading example, the Beykoz Permaculture Ecological park aims to demonstrate the positive implications of ecological revitalization, rehabilitation of degraded soils, methods of growing crops completely in fully natural ways and showcase how to reduce the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon in plants and soil.
By the end of October 2021:
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Sample garden beds are ready to produce agro-ecological food.
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Modification of topography and planting of trees are completed.
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In the following months, the community garden, the activity area and the geodesic greenhouse will be complete. Also, an area with abandoned buildings next to the site will be transformed into an ecological neighborhood.
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Farmers operating in Beykoz District will be trained as agro-ecological producers.
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In summer 2021, Permaturk Foundation and municipal officials of Beykoz paid visits to farmers on site. Upon conducting a comprehensive survey, staff members listened to their problems and needs.
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In the following days, Permaturk Foundation and the Municipality of Beykoz will contrive a roadmap to transform farmers into agro-ecological producers.
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In the following months, trainings and workshops in the eco-park will be provided for farmers.
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While popularizing agro-ecological production methods and creating opportunities for city-dwellers to access healthy food, Permaturk Foundation aims to demonstrate to producers that there are possible multiple-benefits of applying agro-ecological methods, such as creating a better income while protecting and restoring nature and soil.
BEYKOZ PERMACULTURE ECOLOGICAL PARK TRANSFORMATION
Autumn 2020
As a result of the negotiations with the Beykoz Municipality, a protocol was signed with the Permatürk Foundation regarding the transformation of 24 acres in the Suleiman the Magnificent City Forest in Beykoz into an Ecopark.
A self-sufficient design was made in the area with the principles of Permaculture Design, where natural methods are cultivated, the surplus is dedicated, and these methods are taught in the Community Gardens.
Ekopark arazisi üzerinde bilgi topladıktan sonra projenin olası bileşenlerini tartıştık.
Winter 2021
The designs of the application and detail projects and the negotiations with Beykoz Municipality continued throughout the winter.
After the design processes of Beykoz Ekopark's project, work began on the area.
Spring 2021
As the work continued on the area with the warming of the weather, it turned out that the land was filled with soil on the concrete floor. In order to turn the problem into a solution, changes were made on the design.
First, the vehicle roads were worked on the area, then ponds and drainage holes were created so that the trees could develop and excess water could go away.
Deep plant beds and Hügelculture mounds were created and prepared for planting for summer vegetables.
Örnekler oluşturabilmek için Beykoz Ekopark içerisinde çeşitli sistemlerin uygulamaları yapıldı.
Summer 2021
Summer vegetables started to be planted while the insulation materials of the ponds were being made.
Ekopark started to develop with the efforts of volunteers from all over Turkey.
Powdery Mildew Disease occurred in pumpkins in August and most of the harvest was lost.
Seeds were taken from the first harvest left to seed.
500 trees and saplings were planted in the ecopark.
Autumn 2021
While the plants in Beykoz Ecopark continued to grow, those ready for harvest were collected.
Pickles, which were set up with the volunteers, were distributed to everyone around.
The waterproofing of the ponds has been completed.
Walking paths were created in the pasture area designed to store carbon.
At the end of the autumn season, insemination was done in the pasture area and Hügelkultür Mounds.
Kendilerini Ocak-Nisan ayları arasında vereceğimiz Permakültür kursumuza davet ettik.
Winter 2022
The designs of the Community Garden and Activity Center projects and discussions with Beykoz Municipality continued throughout the winter.
Winter vegetables were produced and summer vegetables were seeded in the greenhouse.
Spring 2022
The bee seeds thrown in the autumn sprouted and became a food source for the bee population in the region.
The seeds of summer vegetables were brought together with the soil.
Workshops were held on the projects we carried out on the Transformation of Organizations.
Organic waste brought by Beykoz Municipality was laid in the Community Garden area and the top soil layer was started to be formed.
Deep plant beds were supplemented with compost and vermicompost, which we converted our own organic wastes.
Solucan gübresi ve bölgeden gelen organik atıklar ile yapılan kompostlar ile takviye yapıldı.
Solucan gübresi ve bölgeden gelen organik atıklar ile yapılan kompostlar ile takviye yapıldı.
Summer 2022
The seeds sown in the spring began to grow and the first harvests were left to seed.
After mowing in pastures, an increase in mushroom population was observed. It is aimed to form a soil layer by the decay of the Üçgül and Alfalfa species that have been cut and deposited.
With the completion of the automatic irrigation systems, the plants were watered regularly.
Soil mixtures of deep and raised plant beds were reconstructed with vermicompost.
Compost piles were created from grass cut in the Kanuni Sultan Süleyman City Forest and different kinds of fertilizers in different forms in certain regions of the land.
Mineral supplements were added to the soil with lime, sulfur and compost teas.
Winter vegetables were seeded at the end of July.