When The New Arab first arrived at Azad’s farm near Halabja, he was deep in conversation with local blacksmiths to help construct a new structure for his beloved fruit trees. Yet as Azad would later tell us, these aren’t just any normal fruit trees, but rather a “symbol of pride for the Kurdish nation.” The 50-year-old gardener has dedicated 35 years to exploring new innovative methods to garden, and has been revered both regionally and internationally for his achievements; the most notable of which has been a tree which has been grafted 81 times. But life hasn’t always been so rosy. Azad was …