Partly from a desire to understand the Middle East better, and partly because people told her she shouldn’t, Cathi studied Arabic and Islamic Studies at Exeter University and lived and travelled in the region in her early 20s.
Inspired by friends who had lived in Palestine alongside communities suffering aggression, she first visited the West Bank in 2003. A passion for supporting sustainable, organic food and farming combined with her experiences there led her to co-founding Zaytoun.
She remains excited about truly sustainable farming, access to farmland and clean water for all, and the vibrant culture of the Middle East. She now works part-time for Zaytoun, and is about to embark on establishing a new community supported market garden with her family.
