sustainable living

Soil 1.0 | Sunday, 24 April 2022 | Our longest running training, Soil 1.0 by greensquaremeter delves into the microbiology of soil and soil mixing for sustainable plant care. We look into why different plant species require varying types of soil, properties of soil, and preparing soil mixtures. We also discuss how to choose plant species to suit your habitat, routine care for tropical, succulent, and cactus species, and problem prevention and solutions. Soil 1.0 is an ongoing workshop; follow greensquaremeter for updates!

Creative Climate Chats | Wednesday, 7 October 2020 | Creative Climate Chats, hosted by UK-based Julie’s Bicycle, were a series of discussions with interesting people about their work and journey into climate change. Along with two other speakers, Jess - one of NADAS' founders - shared how her experience of participating in Julie's Bicycle's Creative Climate Leadership programme in 2017 has impacted our team's work at NADAS.

Green Tales of the City | Wednesday, 7 July 2020 | An online panel and film screening hosted in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Istanbul. ‘Green Tales of the City’ is an international documentary directed by Gwen Jansen, portraying stories of people working in institutions and NGOs to create green projects in the city and inspire action in the Netherlands. The screening was preceded by Green Tales of Istanbul, presentations from Kokopelli Şehirde, Sıfır Çöp Platformu, Kent Çiftçisi and Orman 6, and an introduction from Jansen.

Fermentated Pickles | Sunday, 15 December 2019 | In this workshop, renowned Begüm Yaramancı #tursukralicesi shares her deep passion for pickling -  one of the world's oldest food preservation methods. The workshop delved into the intricacies of pickling, including an introduction to fermenting pickles, their health benefits, steps to using the brine method, and pickle tasting!

Compost: From Trash to Treasure | 1  December 2019 | Compost is the biological decomposition of organic waste by bacteria, fungi, worms and other organic matter. It is one of nature’s efficient recycling systems, rich in nutrients and a perfect fertilizer for plants. During this workshop led by Evren Yıldırım we discovered how to recycle kitchen waste with home-scale composting systems, including vermicomposting and bokashi. 

Introduction to Permaculture | Saturday & Sunday, 23 - 24  November 2019 | Permaculture is a design system that can help us create more sensible, sustainable and resilient ways of living. This two-day course led by Orman 6, introduced participants to permaculture ethics, principles, and design methods, including water management and food forest design. The course summarised content from the 72-hour Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course and Bill Mollison's Permaculture: A Designer's Guide.  

Growing Mushrooms at Home | Sunday, 27 October 2019 | Mushrooms are one Earth’s mysterious creatures. Approximately 90 percent of plants form symbiotic relationships with fungi (the kingdom of which mushrooms are a part). Mushrooms are also high in fiber and nutritional value, containing potassium, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. In this workshop led by Burcu Arıkan, founder of iyiekim, we were introduced to these wondrous organisms and guided through the steps to growing oyster mushrooms at home.

Paper Making | Saturday, 6 July 2019 | In this workshop led by artist and printmaker Ahunur Özkarahan, and Minteha Emel Argan, we were introduced to two papermaking techniques: recycled papermaking, integrating  dyeing techniques and flowers/plants; and papermaking from 100% natural materials, such as leaves and grass. We also looked into how these homemade papers can then be used for printing and painting. 

Oils and Extracts | Sunday, 27 January 2019 | Led by Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Expert and author, Nazım Tanrıkulu, this one-day workshop was a comprehensive introduction to oils and extracts. Topics discussed included the use of oils in cosmetics, essential oils, medicinal oils and their extraction, preparation of tinctures, and natural cosmetics recipes.