The Nomad Garden is a small experimental garden in the Sahrawi refugee camps of southwest Algeria. Founded in 2018 by Mohamed Salem Mohamed Ali Mohamed, a Sahrawi farmer and artist, the garden was born out of an urgent necessity. For years, the Sahrawi people have relied heavily on humanitarian aid. As that aid has dwindled, our community has faced rising health crises, including widespread anemia caused by a lack of diverse, nutritious food. We realized we needed a local solution. We wanted to prove that we could grow our own food—even here in the desert—and live more independently.

Because our people are historically nomadic with no agricultural background, this is a long-term journey. When we first started, there was simply no blueprint for growing plants in this desert. So, we began to experiment with plants, animals, and soil to see what could survive. Due to lack of  funding, we take things one step at a time: we select a few manageable experiments, see them through to the results, and then move on to the next. Our goal isn’t just to grow food in a harsh environment, but to find solutions that fit people’s unique cultures and customs. If a farming method works but isn’t culturally embraced, we simply keep experimenting until we find a method that makes everyone happy. We try to find different options.

The garden is more than a source of food; it is a living piece of art, a sculpture in the middle of the desert. It is how we confront displacement and climate change, utilizing tools, knowledge, and imagination. Through art, we create systems that are both beautiful and functional, learning as much from the process as we do from the outcome. Art has played a vital role in our journey because it gives us the power to create solutions and question the status quo. It helps us challenge the norms that tell us what can and cannot work.  We experiment, we try, and we question: why?  What if?  And what can we do! 

                                                                                                           🌱 Learning and Sharing 

We regularly meet with others who share our passion—like Yougiha, a gardener, Mohamed Sleiman Labat, founder of Motif Art Studio, multidisciplinary artist and farmer; and Taleb Brahim Khalil, an agricultural engineer and founder of Algaada Center. Together, we exchange ideas and imagine the future of sustainable agriculture in the camps. Because there are no agricultural supply stores or desert-farming guides here, the garden has naturally evolved into an educational hub. People visit us to see what works and to learn how to start their own small gardens.

                                                                                                           🌾Seeds and Sustainability 

Our ultimate dream is complete self-sufficiency. To get there, we are building an organic seed library filled with plants and trees proven to survive in the desert. This seed bank will help the community access adapted seeds, preserve local biodiversity, and move toward independent food production. Every experiment, whether it succeeds or fails, adds to our growing library of knowledge on how to farm using minimal water and recycled materials.

                                                                                                            🏡 The Structure of the Garden

 Built entirely on the premise that sustainability is possible with limited resources, the Nomad Garden features:

• 2 greenhouses
• 7 sanduponic raised beds
• 2 pools for fish and ducks
• 4 animal houses
• 1 compost site and 1 storage area
• A protective surrounding wall made from recycled tires

                                                                                                               🌍 A Symbol of Hope 

The Nomad Garden is not merely a source of sustenance; it is a breathing monument to what happens when human imagination meets resilience. What began as a small experiment has blossomed into a model for sustainable desert living. Through patience, observation, and innovation, we’ve learned that life can thrive in the harshest of conditions. Here in the middle of the desert, surrounded by sand and wind, the Nomad Garden grows—and with it, grows hope for a healthier, more independent future