Perhaps the most defining quality of being Palestinian is a deep love of a land — the land. The soil itself, the contour of the hills, the wash of the sea on sandy beaches, the fragrance of citrus groves, and the ancient gnarl of olive trees in fields of golden grass. In Palestinian life, this bond is visceral.

Not a day goes by that our family does not miss the sand of Gaza, the taste of its grapes, the West Bank hills folding into haze, or the aroma of its olive oil. For now, that landscape is out of reach, shaped by politics and myth. But we have been fortunate to find another corner of land to love and nurture: Malhada Velha, in Beira Baixa, Portugal.

Malhada Velha is 66 hectares of healthy, organic land — olives, cork, citrus, fruit trees, and flocks of sheep that regenerate the soil. Here, we are finding our feet again as shepherds and farmers, learning to protect the land, support biodiversity, and work in ways that honor the dignity of the earth.

Every day offers the chance to begin again. At Malhada Velha, we are beginning again: recreating pieces of our Levantine world through olive and citrus, golden landscapes, shepherding, and traditional crafts. From wool for handwoven rugs to jams, marmalades, and olive oil, we are learning to make the most of this land’s bounty. It is a new day — and there is so much ahead.