Adasiyyih (The Story of ‘Abdu'l-Baha's Model Farming Community)

This book follows the story of the ‘ Adasí yyih community, a farming village established by ‘ Abdu’ l-Bahá , in what is now Jordan. Bahá ’ í s from Iran settled there and transformed a degraded parcel of land into the site of a thriving farm and prosperous community whose residents embodied the Bahá ’ í teachings. It was this farming village— along with several others in the region of the Galilee— that produced a surplus of crops, which enabled ‘ Abdu’ l-Bahá to keep famine at bay for so many people during World War I, a feat that would earn Him a knighthood from the British Empire. In time, ‘ Adasí yyih would become a model village for Jordanians, and Jordan’ s royalty would become frequent guests. Author Paul Hanley’ s extensive research, along with his deep interest in agricultural systems, provides a fascinating glimpse at this remarkable history and the lessons that can be applied to current agroecological efforts.