Autumn in the Palestinian Kitchen: Harvest, Land, and Ecocide

Autumnal Foods

Autumn in Palestine is traditionally a time of harvest, of gathering around the table and cooking the food that has been part of family life for generations. Maftoul with heirloom pumpkin, stuffed cabbage, shorabat adas (lentil soup), spinach with chickpeas. Simple, nourishing food, with olive oil never far from the table. 

We love many of the recipes here from one of our favorite food content creators, Almond & Fig - https://www.almondandfig.com/autumn-recipes

Image: Almond & Fig

An Ecocide of Living Heritage

But it is incredibly difficult to talk about harvest and abundance when the very land that sustains Palestinian families is being destroyed.

It wasn't always like this. Palestinian families have tended their land and olive groves for generations, but the scale of destruction we are witnessing now is horrifying and utterly devastating. Illegal settler violence and harassment have escalated on a grand scale, with trees uprooted, groves bulldozed and farmers driven from their land. Settlers are rarely, if ever, held to account and are increasingly emboldened by an Israeli government that encourages and enables them, very often with the protection of the Israeli military. 

We hear directly from people witnessing this destruction: centuries-old trees torn from the ground, families prevented from reaching their land and generations of work wiped out. The settlements are illegal under international law. This is not simply the destruction of trees; it is the destruction of Palestinian livelihoods, heritage and a way of life.

These are not just trees or any grove. We are talking about people's livelihoods, family histories and a connection to the land that cannot be replaced. The destruction of Palestinian farmland and olive groves is part of a much wider environmental devastation. It is a strategic ecocide happening alongside the hideous and monstrous genocide of Palestinian people. The destruction reaches beyond homes and communities. It affects the soil, the trees, the crops and the ability of people to continue living from their land.

The Olive Tree and its Roots to Palestinians

For Palestinians, the olive tree is woven into everyday life. For the artisans we work with and support it is a necessity. 

• Its rich oil feeds families | Visit Shahed
• Its oil also makes traditional soap | Visit Nabulsi
• Its leaves create beautiful unique jewelry that will live on | Visit Nadira alAraj & Zaytouna Jewelry 
• Its wood is carved into Nativity scenes, religious figurines, bowls and kitchenware | Visit Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative, Gloria, Jack Nasrallah, and The Nasrallah Family

All of these artisans and more rely on the olive tree for their crafts.

When an olive tree is destroyed, all these livelihoods are affected. Farmers lose their harvest. Artisans lose the materials they have worked with for generations. Traditions become harder to sustain, and families lose another way of making a living. So we ask:

What harm have Palestinian-owned vegetable crops and olive groves ever caused anyone? 

Supporting Palestinian farmers and families who are reliant on the food grown from their land means helping protect their livelihoods, their traditions and their continued connection to the land. Supporting artisans whose craft is essential to olive oil and olive wood makes a huge and invaluable impact. 

This autumn, as we try to celebrate the Palestinian kitchen and the food that brings us together, let us remember where so much of it begins.

Ways to help!

There are different ways to stand alongside Palestinian farmers, artisans and the communities whose lives are so closely tied to harvest and to the olive tree. 

• Our Adopt an Olive Tree initiative is one way to support Palestinian farmers and help sustain the trees and the people who care for them.
• You can also support Palestinian artisans by choosing their olive oil and olive wood pieces, helping keep traditional skills and livelihoods alive.
• Another important step is to be mindful of where the products we buy come from. We encourage people to boycott Israeli products and products labelled 'Made in Israel'. Some goods sold under Israeli origin labels may actually come from Palestinian land, with their true origins obscured or misrepresented. Check labels, ask questions and look beyond the packaging.

Small choices matter, particularly when they help support Palestinian producers rather than industries and businesses benefiting from occupation.

Ultimately, this is about recognizing the people, the land and the traditions behind what we buy, and making sure Palestinian stories, craftsmanship and livelihoods are not erased. 

An olive tree is never just a tree. It is food, work, family, memory and heritage. Help keep Palestinian roots growing.