MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed – Felek Tülay collects flower seeds from Hevsel Gardens and plants them on her balcony. After they bloom, she sells them to make a living. “Before, I used to sell them one by one but now I have expanded my business and sold them in bulk,” Felek Tülay said, who turns her balcony into a flower garden.

She turns her balcony into a small flower greenhouse

Felek’s family moved from Mardin to Diyarbakır city center 25 years ago. She has grown flowers on her balcony for 10 years, “I began to do this job because I was tired of sitting at home and not working. I pick roses and pomegranates from Hersel Gardens and then take their seeds at home. I also plant tree seedlings and flowers in the flowerpots to grow them at home.”

She sells each flower and seedling for 10 TL

Felek previously took soil from Hervsel Gardens to grow the flowers on her balcony, “But now I bring soil by a tractor because the number of flowers has increased. I first plant seeds and flower seedlings in flowerpots. When flower buds begin to form, I put them in a plastic bag and renew the soil. I sell my followers and seedlings for 10 TL to gardeners or people.”

“I am happy to do what I love”

Felek told us that she sells the flowers in bulk and that she is happy to do what she loves. “I sometimes go to the cemetery located near Mardinkapı on Thursdays to sell my flowers or seedlings in bags. I set aside the money I earn for myself and my children. I have become younger since I started doing this job. When I sit at home doing nothing, I have a headache but when I put my flowers into the soil, I have no headache. I am happy to do what I love.”