One Man is Starting a Food Revolution in Gaza by Growing Organic Produce for His Community (VIDEO)

Hipsters in Brooklyn aren’t the only ones making rooftop gardens – one incredible man has created a micro-farm. Said Salim Abu Nasser has made his 200 square meter rooftop into a hydroponic Eden, right in the heart of Palestine.

He started growing his own vegetables because he worried that most of the produce that he was getting at this local markets had been exposed to potentially harmful pesticides. So, he constructed polystyrene panels to hold the plants while their roots dangle into the water system which has been enriched with all the nutrients plants need to grow.

Nasser claims that with one square meter on his rooftop he can provide the same amount of food that is grown on ten square meters of traditional farmland. As far as pesticides go, Nasser sprays diluted garlic on his plants to keep the bugs away instead of the chemical mixtures most farmers use. After six years of hard work, Said Salim Abu Nasser’s farm produces 7,700 pounds of clean, organic produce for his community. It is so incredible to see this man going out of his way to provide healthy food for his community, especially considering the struggles people in the area are facing.

Nasser is an inspiration to all of us amateur urban farmers and his successes should motivate us to emulate him in our own cities and on our own rooftops. Eating organic, local produce is one the best things you can do for yourself.  Plus it’s healthy for the planet too. Growing your own vegetables reduces carbon emissions by eliminating the transportation and refrigeration cost that are required to get produce to supermarkets and keep it fresh.

For more great tips on growing your own vegetables, click here.