Meet the Qatari farmer growing medicinal plants in the desert

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Mohamed Al-Khater developed a fascination with horticulture as a young person. Whereas rising up in Qatar, he turned fascinated by the completely different smells and smells he encountered.

“What intrigued me was the complicated aromas that sure vegetation have. I used to be very moved by the truth that sure vegetation had stunning smells, while others had pungent smells or no scent in any respect,” recollects Mohammed. “I realised that now we have so many fragrant vegetation right here which are native to Qatar. That realisation developed into a big curiosity within the medicinal qualities of vegetation,” he provides.

Rosie Lyse Thompson
Mohamed Al-Khater arranging medicinal herbs grown in Torba Farm, Qatar.Rosie Lyse Thompson

Mohammed suffered from a uncommon foot situation that triggered him every day ache and discomfort as a baby. Aromatherapy oils helped alleviate his situation. “Crops have so many therapeutic qualities. My love for important oils got here out of a want to utilise them for the well being points I suffered with. That introduction impressed me to review aromatherapy at a a lot deeper degree,” Mohammed explains.

‘Pure soil that nourishes and nurtures’

Torba Farm was established thirty years in the past by Mohammed’s father, Ali Mohammed Al-Khater. In 2014, Mohammed and his twin sister Fatma took over the operating of the power and remodeled it into certainly one of Qatar’s first natural permaculture farms. “Torba is derived from Arabic and means pure soil that nourishes and nurtures,” Fatma A-Khater tells Scenes.

Rosie Lyse Thompson
A set of medicinal herb bouquets grown and ready in Torba Farm, Qatar.Rosie Lyse Thompson

The farm produces a wide range of merchandise, together with natural fruit, greens, medicinal herbs, and important oils. “Torba goals to protect conventional native vegetation of the Gulf area. We've got heritage seeds and vegetation, and we develop many different vegetation from all over the world,” says Fatma.

Torba Farm produces over 60 several types of important oils within the in-house laboratory. The manufacturing of important oils begins within the discipline the place 1000's of vegetation are collected. “We typically produce the important oil of explicit vegetation two or 3 times a 12 months. Important oils have a really lengthy expiry date, so we will promote them for a very long time after making them,” says Mohammed.

Rosie Lyse Thompson
Mohamed Al-Khater distilling important oils inside Torba Farm's Laboratory, QatarRosie Lyse Thompson

‘Our heritage has loads to supply.’

Along with the farm, Mohammed and Fatma run an artisan retailer, on-line store and a weekly natural farmer’s market. “One of many main drivers for us organising Torba was that we wish to promote native merchandise. We consider that our land, our heritage has many treasured issues to supply,” says Mohammed. “Regardless of the tough desert local weather, most vegetation will develop very properly in the environment, supplied that we create the mandatory diversifications for them to develop,” he provides.

Torba farm is housed in over 250 thousand sq. metres of panorama and employs over 60 full-time staff. Each side of the farm was fastidiously designed to create an interactive expertise for guests. The farm goals to boost sensory experiences that individuals naturally discover in nature.

Rosie Lyse Thompson
An areal view of Torba Farm, Qatar.Rosie Lyse Thompson

“There's a part the place individuals can scent completely different fragrant vegetation. There are areas the place sensory experiences are predominantly visible. There's a backyard the place individuals can style edible vegetation and herbs,” says Mohammed. “Folks may hear birds chirping, crickets, frogs and toads all through the farm,” he provides.

‘Nature is a spot of therapeutic.’

Mohammed’s favorite location on the Farm is the underground water spring which was constructed utilizing conventional strategies. “The purity of the water is unparalleled as a result of it comes contemporary from the bottom. The sound of water is so therapeutic,” Mohammed says. “Nature is a spot of therapeutic, a spot the place individuals can reconnect to themselves. For me, there's a sense of connection to nature that's so deep that it blurs the strains between house and time,” he provides.

Rosie Lyse Thompson
Mohamed Al-Khater feeding camels in Torba Farm, Qatar.Rosie Lyse Thompson

When transport merchandise abroad, Torba has taken steps to cut back its carbon footprint in response to the rising menace of local weather change. The packaging of all its merchandise is constructed from renewable sources.

“We needed to be sure that any supplies we used to construct the farm have been pure. It was actually essential for us to search out methods to do the Torba mission sustainably. We're cultivating vegetation that naturally develop properly in our desert atmosphere. We wish to mix this with new expertise to offer longevity to the Torba mission,” says Mohammed.

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