Introducing: Living Roots

Over the years, we at Handmade Palestine have tried to do something very simple, and very difficult: to serve our community with care, consistency, and dignity.

What started as a way to support Palestinian artisans has grown into something much wider—an ongoing commitment to cultural preservation, economic resilience, and environmental care. As this work has evolved, so too has our responsibility to structure it in a way that can grow, sustain itself, and give back more deeply over time. 

Introducing Living Roots

We have founded a non-profit called Living Roots, created specifically to support the work that has grown out of Handmade Palestine and our wider ecosystem of projects in Palestine.

Living Roots is designed to make it easier for people around the world to support this work in a consistent, transparent, and meaningful way. It offers a simple, tax-deductible way to contribute directly to long-term cultural, ecological, and community-based initiatives.

We invite you to sign up for our monthly newsletter and support our work through one-time or recurring donations. It is straightforward, secure, and directly connected to the initiatives we are building on the ground.

Living Roots. Supporting steadfast stewardship.

What your support helps build

A core part of our work has always been our partnership with Mashjar Juthour, a Palestinian non-profit land trust dedicated to conserving native nature, protecting heritage landscapes, planting trees, and educating our community about wildlife and ecological stewardship.

Recently, we signed a 30-year contract with the Ramallah Municipality to transform Mashjar Juthour into the first city botanical garden in Palestine. How amazing is that?!

This is an incredible milestone that feels both practical and symbolic: a space where ecology, education, and public life come together in a living landscape. It is a long-term commitment to beauty, biodiversity, and belonging. At the same time, this work continues to support Palestinian artisans by sustaining income pathways, preserving craft traditions, and ensuring that cultural knowledge remains alive and economically viable.

If you want to support our work in nature or generating income for artisans, we invite you to do so through donations and by sharing our stories. 

Just visit livingrootspalestine.org and sign up for the newsletter as well as donate a one-time gift or sign up for recurring donations.

US Tour with Handmade Palestine

Alongside this broader work, we are continuing our US tour with Morgan Cooper Totah, founder of Handmade Palestine.

Morgan is travelling across the United States, meeting local communities, sharing the story of Handmade Palestine, and showcasing the incredible craftsmanship of Palestinian artisans.

Each gathering is an opportunity to connect directly with people, share stories, and highlight the work behind each handmade piece.

If you are nearby, we would love to see you.

Upcoming Events

Pittsburgh

• Wednesday, June 3 (today) | 4:30pm–7:30pm 
• Khalil's Restaurant
• Speaking, crafts table, and fundraising event 

Washington, DC (Bethesda)

• Sunday, June 7 | 11:00am–1:00pm
• Bethesda Friends Meeting House
• Talk and community gathering 

Washington, DC

• Tuesday, June 9 | 3:30pm–8:00pm 
• Washington City Church of the Brethren
• Art sale, discussion, and crafts table + 6:30pm speaking session

These gatherings are at the heart of what we do. They are not just events—they are conversations. They are moments where craft becomes a bridge between people who may otherwise never meet.