Iman Mostafa embarked on a bold journey by allocating a portion of her family’s land to establish Hazel Farm. Embracing the innovative concept of “agritainment,” Hazel Farm seamlessly merged agriculture and entertainment, providing visitors with immersive experiences that harmonized farming and leisure.

The core mission of Hazel Farm is to raise awareness about the importance of organic food, clean eating, and environmental stewardship. By actively involving visitors in the farm’s processes, Iman aims to allow her visitors to foster a deeper connection with nature and promote responsible environmental practices.

The adoption of agroforestry practices plays a pivotal role at Hazel Farm. It is one where a wide variety of crops are planted next to each other, integrating trees and shrubs into the farm’s crop and animal farming systems, yielding environmental benefits, and eliminating the need for pesticides. By capitalizing on the natural pollinators of one crop to safeguard others, Hazel Farm created a harmonious ecosystem that was inspired by “the old way of doing things”, according to Iman.

Upon arriving to Hazel Farm, we were greeted with a cool breeze as we set foot under a high red-brick dome that hosted a buzzing kitchen, water coolers, and a small retail showcase of the farm’s fresh produce. The space then extended into a spacious wooden gazebo where families took a break from the sweltering sun and enjoyed each other’s company. Their children, having completed a curated tour of the farm’s diverse crops, gleefully roamed through the fields while others gravitated towards the dedicated kids’ area near the entrance, equipped with swings, slides, and even a small zipline swing.

Their next excursion was to hop onto Hazel Farm’s tractor and set about a treasure hunt that would see them uncover additional plant and crop varieties beyond the gazebo’s immediate radius and discover nearby farm animals and new habitats. Next, they were to be offered lunch under the breezy gazebo using the vegetables and herbs they picked a couple hours earlier, completing their farm to table experience and indulging in the fruits of their own harvest.

Iman, whose entrepreneurial journey is currently being supported by Nahdet El Mahrousa, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the capacity building sessions she had attended so far. She highlighted how the financial management sessions have been crucial in how Hazel Farm is now choosing to handle its finances and she’s looking forward to more. Iman is yet to continue her incubation program which will continue supporting her with different facets of running her business, from marketing and strategy to operations and HR. And while eager to make the best out of the program, Iman is specifically looking for help in building a solid team to expand her product range, services, and impact even further.   

Arriving at Hazel Farm is like reaching an oasis in the middle of the desert. Wandering through the fields one goes through a rich aromatic experience due to the wide diversity of crops, from beetroot, arugula, pepper, iceberg lettuce, to an assortment of herbs like basil, lavender, peppermint, thyme and more. The shaded area offers a relaxing and comfortable ambiance for visitors to kick back and relax, surrounded by green fields and skilled individuals crafting fresh baked goods, including the exquisite feteer meshaltet. It truly is an experience to remember!