Urban Farming in Istanbul – Workshop

Istanbul Workshop

Urban farming in Istanbul has a rich history that is currently under threat. Overdevelopment and real estate speculation are destroying some of the city’s last historic market gardens, or bostans, which go back to the 16th century and have been a crucial feature of Istanbul’s social life and environment. Site visits to the last remaining market gardens throughout the city will allow students to study and document urban farming. Of particular focus will be the bostans in Istanbul’s central neighborhoods of Yedikule and Piyale Paşa as well as the few remaining bostans along the Bosporus. Together with their wells and cisterns, these produce gardens offer a glimpse into the histories and contemporary practices of urban farming in Istanbul.

Students will meet gardeners, scholars, politicians, and activists in order to understand both the unique farming techniques used by the gardeners and the ongoing struggle to preserve their working spaces. We will explore the relationship between the gardens and the working-class neighborhoods in which they are located. In addition, we will discuss the broader environmental problems of contemporary Istanbul, home to over 15 million people. At a time when urban farming has become central to discussions of the future of the city, this workshop poses several key questions. How can we study the history of the soil in the city and those who till it? How have practices and models of urban farming changed over the centuries? How do different cities differently structure the relationships between people, built environments, plants, and water? What are the boundaries between the urban and the agrarian? What are the political and economic forces that create or destroy farming spaces in the city? How can urban farming benefit the many and not the few?

Students will gain 3 ECTS credits. The workshop will be led by Dr. Aleksandar Shopov (visiting fellow at RCC and currently authoring a book on the history of farming in Istanbul) and Arielle Helmick (managing director of RCC).

The deadline for application is March 1st. An introductory session will take place in the early spring (to be announced). Please write a 3-page motivational letter and send it as a PDF to arielle.helmick@carsoncenter.lmu.de. 

Participants will have to prepare a presentation in Istanbul and/or write a 5 to 7 page blog post in hindsight. There will be 100-200 pages of required readings (including a novel) to be done as preparation before the workshop.

For introductory videos to Istanbul’s bostans see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmAE7R1GKak

https://reclaimistanbul.com/2016/01/16/we-are-yedikule/