06.08.2026 16:01
Timur and Handan Bulut, a couple who farm in Konya, host families they met on social media for free at their farmhouse, which they call a 'village hotel.' Instead of money, guests are asked to contribute labor in the fields and garden, and spending a few days at the farm offers both a break from city life and a chance to experience village life.
Timur and Handan Bulut, a couple living in the Karatay district of Konya, draw attention with their practices that go beyond the traditional accommodation concept.
37-year-old Timur Bulut closed his bakery in Konya during the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to his grandfather's farm in the Esentepe neighborhood. After initially engaging in animal husbandry in the early years, Bulut later turned to agriculture, growing products such as wheat, sunflowers, carrots, and potatoes.
NO MONEY INVOLVED, ONLY SWEAT
Bulut built a small and simple house consisting of a room, a living room, and a kitchen for his friends who came to the farm to stay. After marrying Handan Bulut two years ago, he began hosting families he met through social media in this house, which they call a "village hotel." The couple, who employ 7-8 workers during planting and harvest seasons for work on their farm, host families who want to experience village life and farming. The Bulut family, who take reservations via social media, do not charge the families they host for 2-3 nights for accommodation, food, or drinks; instead, they receive help with the work that needs to be done on the farm. Due to the accommodation capacity of the farm, the Bulut couple accepts at most one family at a time for 2-3 day periods.
"I SETTLED IN THE VILLAGE WITH A NEW BEGINNING"
Timur Bulut told the AA correspondent that he first engaged in animal husbandry on the farm he settled on in 2020, and that he filmed his daily work there and shared it on social media.
Bulut, explaining that his followers who reached out to him wanted to see the farm and spend time with the animals, said that upon these requests, he had a house built where guests could stay.
"WE EAT OUR MEALS TOGETHER LIKE A FAMILY"
Bulut, stating that they married Handan Bulut in 2024 and continued to live on the farm, noted the following:
"On our farm, we have a small house where we stay. We also have a house for our guests, which we call a 'village hotel,' with 1 bedroom, 1 living room, and a kitchen. We host people who want to touch the soil in our 'village hotel.' They experience village life, the soil, and farming with us for 2-3 days. We do not charge them any fee. They pay with the sweat they pour in our garden and field. We also determine the meal menu for them based on their work performance. If their work performance is good, then they benefit from Handan's excellent cooking and restaurant experience. We eat meals with our guests together like a family."
Bulut, explaining that guests sometimes sow seeds and sometimes clear weeds depending on the season, stated that they do whatever work needs to be done together.
Expressing that they form friendships with the guests who come, Bulut said, "Those few days actually feel like a few months to us because we spend a fulfilling time. We get sad when saying goodbye because we accumulate beautiful moments together. We share our table, eat our food, spend time together, work in the field, and also make videos, which is a way for us to gain friends from all over Turkey. We get to know many people."
"WE ASK OUR GUESTS FOR FRUIT SAPLINGS"
32-year-old Handan Bulut also explained that she ran a cafe and restaurant in Mersin, and settled on the farm after getting married.
Bulut, stating that she was tired of the complexity of city life, said she was excited about the idea of getting married and settling on the farm, and that she has been doing field and garden work with her husband for 2 years.
Handan Bulut, expressing that they do not charge any fee to the guests who come, said, "We also want to plant trees around the farm. There is an 8-acre plot of land behind our house. We want our guests to bring and donate a fruit sapling here. We want them to be able to say, 'I have a tree planted over there.' This year they came and brought their sapling; maybe next year we want them to come and harvest its fruit again. We also want to beautify our surroundings."
Yusuf Koştur, who came with his family from Adana, stated that he came to the farm to make use of his annual leave, saying, "We got in touch via social media. It's a peaceful life. We are very satisfied and liked it. I would recommend it to those who are curious; it's great for relieving stress."
Ayşe Koştur also said, "We wanted the children to meet the soil because they live among concrete. Besides, the purpose of this place is to bring people and soil together. What Mr. Timur is doing is a very nice thing. I couldn't bring my other children. We came with my little son, and we really enjoy him picking things with his hands. We picked zucchini, cucumbers, and peppers from the garden with our own hands. We prepared breakfast with them."