A 67-year-old former driver found a peaceful new chapter in his life after leaving Istanbul and returning to his native village, where he took up beekeeping and expanded his operation from four to 30 hives.
Ismail Çınar left Kula village in Kırklareli during his youth and moved to Istanbul to live with his sister. He worked in various jobs in the metropolis before spending nearly 35 years as a driver.
After retiring, Çınar decided to return to his birthplace in search of a quieter lifestyle.
He settled in the village in 2022 and began producing honey with four beehives, both to adapt to rural life and to make productive use of his time.
Over time, he increased the number of hives to 30 and began making a living by producing organic honey.
Çınar said he was happy to live away from the stress of Istanbul and had found a sense of peace in the village.
Describing the village as a beautiful place, he said he wanted to further increase the number of his beehives.
“After years in the metropolis, I became tired, I find peace while spending time with my bees. It is something that cannot really be described, a different feeling. You do not realize how time passes. When there is honey, you find another kind of peace,” he said.
Çınar said caring for his bees had made his time in the village enjoyable and expressed regret that he had not returned sooner.
He encouraged people who had the opportunity to move to their villages and experience rural life.
