I studied graphic design at school and have worked long enough in the industry to understand that I don't enjoy it very much.

I got interested in off the grid -hence sustainable- systems around 2004 looking for a way out of the consumerist culture I was helping to feed through my work, and thus came across permaculture, which incorporated everything I was looking for under one roof. I realized it would be possible to still enjoy designing, and yet feel clear in my conscience about the results.

I had been a very lazy gardener (containers of herbs and seedling experiments) previous to taking the PDC in Istanbul from Geoff Lawton and Bill Mollison. The course gave the impetus to start urban projects.

We have initiated Permablitz Istanbul with a few friends in February 2011, and have finished 10 gardens to date. Our blitzing projects have cooled down since the Gezi events in the summer of 2013, but we are looking to pick it up again in the fall of 2014.

My focus in the past couple of years has been on community building, recognizing that permablitzes are perhaps more to do with neighborhood/community building than simply gardening. I also find I am interested in deepening my understanding of and working with water after giving the Arid Landscape lecture in one of the part-time PDC courses in Istanbul.

Since completing my PDC I have volunteered at the first Mediterranean Permaculture Convergence and given a talk regarding urban food sources and local food maps at the adjoining Conference; appeared on various radio shows about Permablitz and urban permaculture; and have put together a 4+1 part series of Urban Permaculture courses with two other PDC friends, which we are intend to give as recurring courses throughout the year.

My mid-term aim is to keep working in an urban environment in the upcoming years to increase the sustainability of individuals thus putting pressure and demand on Municipalities to become more sustainable.