Small-scale farming has become a lifeline for residents of Ukrainian villages devastated by Russian occupation, where unemployment, damaged infrastructure, and mine contamination still linger three years after liberation.
"Just recently, I couldn't have imagined knowing so much about growing cucumbers and tomatoes," said Meriam Yol, who now leads the NGO Volonterska in Kharkiv.
Behind the counter of Warehouse Seven, a popular youth spot in the city, Yol displays fresh vegetables, cheeses, and seasonings such as basil- and dill-infused salt.
The produce comes from territories once under Russian control and liberated in Ukraine's September 2022 counteroffensive.
The Deoccupation Store supports residents of these villages, where life remains precarious with fighting still raging only 20km away.
In Studenok, a village near the frontline districts of Izyum and Donetsk, residents who once worked in the resorts of nearby Svyatohirsk were left jobless after the invasion.
Homes and roads were destroyed, severing economic ties.
"At first, we delivered basics like food or clothes," Yol said.
"But we realised it's important to help locals sustain themselves again."
With backing from donors, the NGO purchased greenhouses and seeds, enabling villagers to grow tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers for sale.
In her garden, farmer Yulia Korchma shows a small pond, actually a crater left by a shell explosion, as boxes of harvested vegetables are loaded into a van.
"My family has lived here for generations," she said.
She returned home soon after the Russians withdrew, restoring her land despite the risk of unexploded shells and anti-personnel mines, known as petal mines, that can maim with a single misstep.
While minefields make traditional farming dangerous, greenhouses provide a safe and vital alternative.
Inside, rows of peppers and cucumbers flourish.
Each week, dozens of crates of vegetables are shipped to Kharkiv, with sponsors covering transport costs to keep produce affordable while ensuring farmers earn a modest income.
Deliveries are sorted at the Bagazh marketing school, where classrooms double as storerooms before products reach restaurants or the Deoccupation Store.
Though Russian advances have again forced some locals to flee, the program keeps hope alive for those determined to stay.
"This year, I am growing sweet potatoes for the first time. Next year, I want to try asparagus," Korchma said.
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