One problem presented itself when Saleh first envisioned his one of many projects was the lack of green plots and landscape designers who can create green spaces in Palestine. However, more issues are pressing modern-day Palestinian farmers: be it water availability, competition or mobility.

“I’m the son of a Palestinian refugee, and we don’t own a land so, I work on other people’s gardens and green spaces,” Saleh explained. He foresaw it as an opportunity to root himself in the ecological scene, in Palestine.

Saleh who is an unwavering believer in Permaculture and sustainable living practices went on a conquest for knowledge and came back with a name for his sustainability-ridden business – Mostadam which means “sustainable” in Arabic.

Mostadam and the helping hands:

Aside from having a support system, Saleh was also self-taught. The entrepreneur added knowledge to his profound hands-on experience while living in the eco-center. He learned more skills through online courses and continues to read about Permaculture and edible landscaping. “The courses took the knowledge I acquired and gave it a structure,” Saleh said.

Saleh refers to workers and employees as “partners”. “Presently, as a company, I can’t sustain having an employee since work comes in the form of projects so, I can only afford project-based workers,”  he continued.

Workers differ in roles and services and a great example of that is collaborating with Alaa’Eddeen Hilu, Founder of Resign, a Bethlehem-based initiative where Hilu couples upcycling with design.

“[Alaa’] was more or less present during each project I ran,” Saleh says of Hilu, who himself praised Saleh’s project for being “a very unique addition to the Palestinian environmental scene.”

“I haven’t met someone that thinks in such a sustainable way of creating, not only useful Permaculture products but also sustainable, educating and engaging ones,” Hilu said. “Mohammad and I work on replacing Permacultural products that are made of materials, to ones that are upcycled from waste. We also develop new upcycled products that can provide Permacultural services and quality.”

Mostadam’s wide audience and outreach:

Saleh’s no-address policy is no hindrance: the entrepreneur works from gardens and stretches his activities to include Jericho, and Nazareth, as well as countries like Turkey, France, and soon, Wales. “People in certain areas in Palestine other countries ask for my services by name,” Saleh remarked.

He deliberately uses the term “edible landscaping”: “I went for that term as well as terms like ‘food forests’ because it denotes a format that I’d like to reach people through.”

“They have the knowledge, experience and network. Working and designing comes from an ideology and worldview that makes all projects contribute to a bigger view and are not stand-alones,” says Annelys de Vet Designer and Founder of Disarming Design from Palestine, a Ramallah-based project aimed at creating alternative narratives of modern-day Palestine.

“With each project Mostadam really grows and so does its impact,” de Vet continued. “I believe they have to grow, since what they do is so important, and sincere,” she added.

Challenges or opportunities?

Mostadam is not devoid of obstacles and challenges. Saleh marked “spreading awareness” as the biggest challenge. He is a self-appointed educator taking on the responsibility to make sure the self-sufficient living solutions are seen and widely spread.  

Hurdles did not stop him from being detail and quality-oriented. Saleh transcends facets of the challenges through his talent. Besides nature and gardening, Saleh has a talent in motivating groups, and stimulating people to take on their responsibilities,” de Vet stated. “He is a good teacher, gives people responsibility and loves to share and develop knowledge.”

New projects or just milestones?

Once Saleh became eligible to teach Permaculture, he did not hesitate to start his very first course on Permaculture, which took place in March 2017. “I became one of the few Palestinians that can teach Permaculture and offer certificates for completing the course,” added Saleh. “I wanted it to be reachable in Arabic since those who cannot speak English may miss it altogether.”

To Saleh, Permaculture can appear in various forms, be it art or social activism, especially that Mostadam Eco Design is not site-based. “I’m trying to make Mostadam a tool that attracts more projects in Palestine,” Saleh continued.

The Permaculture enthusiast is keeping busy; Saleh along with Hilu is also developing a new product named “The Aquaponics Tower” or “The Green Tower”. The pair are planning on attracting an audience through this shop, called The Sustainable Product Market. The shop will be a platform that allows green entrepreneurs around Palestine to sell green products such as vertical gardens,  jewelry, birdhouses, solar panels, heirloom seeds and more.

Additionally, Saleh is busy with other projects such as Ecological Academy (in the ideation stage), another approach aimed at the welfare of green entrepreneurship in Palestine.

Mostadam Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MostadamEcoDesign/

Mostadam Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/mostadam_eco_design/

Photos: Courtesy of Mostadam Eco Design.