When I decided to live in the forest 6 years ago it seemed a radical decision to my environment. Actually, to live in nature was a lifestyle I had always dreamt of, because I spent most of my childhood in the Caspian seaside where my grandfather’s farm was located. Foods served at my grandfather’s dinner table were planted with great efforts on farm. Food was never wasted at that time, we used to value what we had in a simple and natural life and were grateful for things that life gave us. Today, the life I have chosen is actually based on that philosophy. Every day spent for production is a gift since I established Zeytune farm in Akkaya valley in Mugla. I established my farm to live and produce more wisely.
I chose a life in the pine forests by staying away from the noise and chaos of big cities where I listen to silence. Although I miss the cultural activities in big cities from time to time, I can feel that I am much happier, freer and more creative in nature, my heart beats excitedly and I make a difference.

Healing Power of the Forest

The closer I am to nature, the happier and more balanced I feel.
Beauty is actually everywhere, if I can understand it, I can feel its positive effects in all my cells. Nature is not only good for my soul, but also for my body and my creative power.
Chemicals emitted from trees and plants in the forest increase the activity of our natural killer cells (NK), which play an important role in our immune system.
Natural killer cells determines and destroys virus-infected cells and cells that tend to turn into cancer in our body. The forest heals our body!

Medicinal Herbs and Trees in the Forest

I start my day by walking with my dog in the forest and collecting medicinal herbs.
Every season has its own beauty, it is possible to live only by feeding in the forest.
The forest in Akkaya valley is also called the honey forest, there are wonderful plants for beekeeping.
Medicinal plants such as chasteberry, immortelle, thyme, caper (grasshopper), fenugreek, cactus fig (chervil), acacia, sycamore, morel, trees, fruits and mushrooms grow in the forest.
Go mushrooming is a fun activity to bring people together. Sometimes my friends and I look for saffron milk cap in the forest for hours. Saffron milk cap is one of the most beautiful food grows under the pine trees with its reddish orange color in humid forests. You can cook these mushrooms in stewpans, sauteed in butter or barbecued.
I bring medicinal herbs such as thyme, immortelle and lavandula stoechas black that I collect in the forest to my workshop on farm and use them in soaps and ointments I produce. Especially, immortelles which are included into the daisy family are used for beauty, care and anti-aging with proven effects on skin. It also has medicinal properties known as anti-inflammatory and anti-cyanosis.

Creative Power of the Forest

The more time we spend in nature in plenty of oxygen, the more our creativity improves. Positive effects of focus and problem solving ability on producing stem from the forest. Our minds get become calm as our energy is renewed and thus we feel much more happier.
It is already known that how important fresh food we have into our body is for general health. We understand that a holistic life is more important for our mind and spirit as well as our body. This lifestyle is more logical not just individually, but also for the health of our world and planet and every person can make a difference by living more responsibly.
I am often asked how my energy can be so high. My answer is actually very simple, because I love life, producing and contributing. I am always curious and learning is my desire. I never stop learning.

Forest fires

I feel very sad for hundreds of thousands of hectares of forests, settlements and living beings we have lost due to the fires happened in our country. We had to take some precautions in our farm and around us after such a deeply affected experience.
First, we meet my neighbors in the morning and collect the bottles that could cause the fire. Unfortunately, visitors throw bottles and garbage into the forest unconsciously. We place some warning signs in certain areas in the forest after we met with general directorate of forestry. We have created a crisis plan for our area with our neighbors.
We have created a pump system in our 120-ton pool that intervenes with fire hoses in a fire on our farm. In addition, we have placed 50-pound fire extinguishers in every corner of the farm.
We have bought an anti-burn substance and used it for trees around us. We have also placed at the entrance of the house and around the building. We have organized an emergency exit plan if we need to evacuate the farm urgently and we have learnt alternative ways to evacuate.
We have learnt evergreen plants which are fire retardant and contains low resin. All plants burn in a fire, but some plants burn more slowly. Some of these plants are: French lavender, aloe vera, agave, portulacaria afra, elephant bush. We planted these plants near the house.
Obviously, we reconsider our entire life after the damages and losses caused by fires in our country. We inquire our values, needs and desires starting from our own life. We still look for answers of these questions how we can protect more forests we own to have a more peaceful and free life, how we can save more this magnificent nature, and develop new measures.