The Spring Orchard

 In the heart of the picturesque Ein Kerem neighborhood, local residents have turned a garbage dump into an attractive urban green space. When the Arab village was abandoned in 1948, the valley became a jungle of refuse and wild vegetation. Rehabilitation began in memory of a local boy who was killed in a terrorist attack. Activists built paths, set up sitting areas and restored old agricultural terraces. Today the garden has a newly planted orchard with more than 80 fruit trees and lots of community activity including parties, yoga, tai chi and meditation classes, as well as school and kindergarten events. There is a composter at the site.