Palestinian Farmer Turns Pumpkin Patch into Eco-Farm and Women’s Cooperative

JENIN, West Bank / PNN – By Yara Mansour

Standing atop the green hills of Marj Ibn Amer in the northern West Bank town of al-Jalama, Manar Shaaban surveys her thriving pumpkin farm—affectionately known as “Beit al-Qar’iyyat” or “The House of Pumpkins.” What began as a backyard planting project has grown into a full-fledged agricultural hub, eco-tourism site, and women’s cooperative, offering organic produce and homemade pumpkin goods.

Shaaban, a resident of…