Demet Demir preserves ancestral seeds in Osmaniye

Demet Demir, a factory manager from Gaziantep living in Osmaniye, has dedicated her hobby to preserving ancestral seeds. Her interest began five years ago after tasting unique tomatoes in a village in Mardin.

Using a 1.5-acre garden in the Karaçay neighborhood, Demir cultivates a wide variety of heirloom crops, including 14 types of tomatoes, various eggplants, corn, peppers, and beans. She employs strictly natural methods, using animal manure and organic solutions like nettle concentrate and liquid soap instead of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

Demir has established a seed exchange network and has distributed free ancestral seeds to approximately 500 people across Turkey. Her goal is to ensure these traditional varieties are protected and passed down to future generations.