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Save Olive Farm: Support Young Farmers in Wildfire Recovery
0% complete
$9,692 raised of
93 donations
Overview:
On August 8, 2025, a fierce forest wildfire raged for 10 hours, destroying 63% of the Bir Umut Çiftlik ecological olive farm, which is lovingly run by a young Turkish couple. By the time the wildfire had passed the village of Zeytinli, Bayramiç, 500 of the 800 olive trees had been damaged. Despite Defne and Caner’s efforts to protect the farmland, 100 of those trees were completely lost. In just one day, the fire swept through 42,000 square meters of an ancient olive grove and consumed not only their trees but also their primary source of income, years of hard work, and their deep-rooted yearning for the land.
For Defne and Caner, olives are the heart of their young ecological project. The philosophy and goals of this project are to sustain biodiversity, uphold clean farming practices, and nurture a living connection to heritage and community. Your support will help these young farmers survive and endure this crisis and rebuild their dream of sustainable, ecologically focused agriculture. Every contribution not just helps these farmers, but also brings life, renewal, and resilience back to the land.
This fundraiser will directly support the following critical efforts (see "Fundraiser Goals" section below):
- Rehabilitating the olive trees and restoring the health of the land;
- Providing essential income during the difficult years when olive production is minimal;
- Covering urgent costs such as seeds, farming tools, and irrigation systems; and
- Expanding and preparing the land to grow wheat and vegetables for food and income.
Video Interview Following the Wildfire at The Bir Umut Çiftlik Farm in the village of Zeytinli, within the Bayramiç District of the Çanakkale Province, Turkey
In Their Own Words:
We are a young couple who moved from the city to the village in pursuit of farming. Since 2021, we have been producing clean and fair food products traditionally made by hand in Zeytinli Village, Bayramiç, in the northern Kazdağ region of Çanakkale. We do this by respecting the vitality and diversity of nature and soil, by adopting local production and rural development, by preserving and multiplying the ancient seeds of our fertile land, and by practicing sustainable farming methods for future generations. We are on this path to take a closer look at the cracks within the food and agriculture systems, to participate in production in a way that protects ecological balance and future generations, to keep learning, and to share that knowledge. Our names are Defne and Caner.
After graduating —Defne with a degree in Computer Engineering and Caner with a degree in Business Management— we spent 2020 gaining field experience: Caner volunteered at Leeds Meanwood Valley Urban Farm in England, while Defne volunteered at various ecological and organic farms across Turkey. In 2021, we worked together as volunteers at several farms in the villages of Bayramiç, Çanakkale. We observed the climate, people, and culture of the region —how things are grown and done. Eventually, we decided to settle down here and join in the production. Since then, we have been focusing on the region’s local seeds and agricultural practices.
With awareness, curiosity, love, and respect for history, nature, and culture, we migrated to the countryside and are striving to make farming our profession. Inspired by the potential that these lands have nurtured, given birth to, and carried for thousands of years, we want to honor our values and safeguard them on the land.
The Wildfire:
On August 8, 2025, a wildfire broke out around 1:24 p.m. in the Bayramiç district of Çanakkale. Fueled by 93°F (34°C) heat and winds blowing at 56 mph (90 Kmh), the fire quickly spread. Within a short time, the flames reached the villages of Zeytinli, Saçaklı, Ahmetçeli, Doğancı, and Pıtıreli.
This wildfire has marked the beginning of a long-term economic crisis for the region’s small producers and villagers. It will take at least 2–3 years for the burned trees and fields to bear fruit again. During this time, villagers have lost not only their homes but also the lands that sustain their livelihoods.
The wildfire reached the village of Zeytinli, Bayramiç, by 4:00 p.m. on August 8, 2025, and raged for 10 hours, damaging 500 of the 800 olive trees in the Bir Umut Çiftlik farm. Despite Defne and Caner’s efforts to protect the farmland, 100 of those trees were completely lost. The fire swept through 42,000 square meters of olive groves, spread across four separate parcels. In total, this amounts to 63% of their farm, which covers about 66,700 square meters (6.7 hectares / 16.5 acres).
The main danger was over by August 10, but the struggle to keep the surviving trees alive had just begun. From August 11 to 21, Defne and Caner hauled water 6 kilometers by tractor on 19 separate trips, delivering a total of 42 tons of water to their groves — a daily effort to save what remained of their farm.
Having lost most of their olive farm and with no expectation for any crops for more than 2-3 years, Defne and Caner now rely solely on modest wheat and vegetable crops, which are insufficient to sustain them. They need support to scale up not just in processing and distributing their harvest, but also in quickly acquiring seeds and preparing the land for immediate expansion to secure food and income.
Fundraiser Goals:
Since 63% of the olive grove was destroyed or damaged and the farm is managed solely by its young and determined owners, the recovery process will take at least two years, even with extra help, and yield minimal harvests. The essential steps for rehabilitating the field are listed below.
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Farm Recovery and Resilience Expenses
Total Estimated Cost: $26,000
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1. Recovery Expenses — $5,800
Carrying water to 3 olive gardens for 400 trees in the dry seasons (June–October) for at least the next 2 years: $2,800
- Labor: $2,000
- Fuel: $800
Removing fallen, damaged branches and debris of 100 mature trees: $1,000
- Labor: $750
- Transportation fuel: $250
Organic soil enrichment materials (manure and fertilizer) for damaged trees and soil recovery: $2,000
- Organic supplements: $1,500
- Labor: $500
2. Precaution / Long-Term Expenses — $4,500
Plowing neighboring corners of the gardens to improve resilience to fires: $1,000
- Labor: $500
- Fuel: $500
Fire extinguishing equipment for the farm: $500
Building an underground irrigation system for one olive garden (100 trees), making it more resilient to future fires: $3,000
- Irrigation system: $1,000
- Digging and labor: $2,000
3. Maintaining Existence / Resistance — $9,000
Increasing sesame and wheat production to sustain the farm: $6,000
- Land rent: $500
- Seeds (wheat & sesame): $2,000
- Fuel: $1,000
- Labor: $2,000
- Machinery rent (planting & storing): $500
Contribution to village council for building closed-system pressurized water pipes (for emergency/fire use): $3,000
4. Future Project: Water Well for 3 Burned Gardens — $6,700
Building/digging a water well for gardens without water access (requires engineering approval and feasibility study): $6,700
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Social Media Contact:
Photos & Videos Of Wildfire Impact:
Google Drive (Public): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QaWqRvjU_EoI6vBxq30VYdMdEO7VlvD3?usp=sharing
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