CREATING A GARDEN: PREP WORK FOR BAMBOO

The wall on the north side of the property is shared with an empty lot next door. We are prepping the holes for planting a line of clumping bamboo, perhaps with other tall plants, in the fall when it cools down.

 

CREATING A GARDEN: RAINWATER HARVESTING AND PATH DEVELOPMENT

Spring 2024:

The entire section of the olive grove was graded slightly so rainwater would flow from the trees near the wall, across the path and into the next row of olive trees and garden beds. Next, we dug some shallow trenches from the wall berms and across the first row of trees and the path and into the next row of trees to accommodate excess rainwater with which we are occasionally blessed.  Then we filled up the trenches with gravel to slow the flow of that rainwater, and tested the system. Water was pumped into the first berm and as it became filled, water began to flow across the path and into the second row of olive berms. Satisfied we had it right, we graveled the rest of the path. This path serves two functions; first as a pleasant walkway through the grove and more importantly, as a water catchment area. The gravel slows down any excess water, allowing it more time to seep into the soil beneath, replenishing moisture to both rows of trees.

 Water moving across the path from one berm to another.

It is May in Morocco, the desert is blooming and our olive trees are showing off their baby olives.

June 2024: Secondary olive garden pathways are being created.

CREATING A GARDEN: PREPARING FUTURE BEDS IN OLIVE GROVE

I have dozens of spider plants growing on my terrace in town, so I harvested some of the babies and planted them in several of the berms. I have my doubts if any of them will survive, as spiders need shade. We will see if the trees provide enough relief from the Moroccan sun.

 

I am designing three major garden areas on the property. The other two areas are still just plans on paper, but the olive grove garden is being developed. I will be spreading sheep manure and putting down a thick layer of straw. 

CREATING A GARDEN: BUILDING A PATH BETWEEN THE TREES

 

The soil on the property is a heavy clay that dries in clumps-very dense, they need a pickaxe and shovel to  be broken up. The guys are spending countless hours doing just that. The emerging pathway will still need more work to get the clay crumbled.

CREATING A GARDEN: REPAIRING AND IMPROVING OLIVE TREE BERMS

 With construction temporarily halted, the development plans were turned upside down. Time was better spent on creating than waiting, and work began on the olive garden. With six established, fruit producing trees already on site, plans were made to improve the primitive condition of the area. This southern portion of the site was graded for better irrigation and rainwater harvesting, degraded tree berms were rebuilt and a path between the trees was laid out. With an IBC water tank on site, regular watering of the trees is now possible.

Without a water source until we get proper authorization, we need to have water trucked in to the site. Birds always appear shortly after the trees are watered. 

Notice the degraded condition of the berm around the tree. Most of the berms were in this condition, unable to hold very much water in place.

We started the berm replenishment with mounds of clay soil, added river rocks on top and secured them in position with adobe.

Two of the hardest working men I have ever met apply the adobe mud on the berms.

ADOBE BRICKS!

Two hardworking young men from a small village outside of Marrakech made a whole lot of adobe bricks before construction was halted. We had them trucked to the site, waiting for building to resume. 

BUILDING BEGAN...AND DELAYED

Building of the studio got off to a good start, with a crew digging out the foundation of the studio. It came to a grinding halt after 2 days though, because it turned out that we did not have the proper authorization.

LAYING OUT THE BUILDINGS

With most of the property cleaned up, it was time to lay out the buildings. The studio will be nestled in the southwest corner of the property, and the house will be placed in the center of the land. 

 

BAMBOO PALACE

Shortly after the return to Morocco following the September 2023 earthquake, a skilled metalworker was hired to build the superstructure for a temporary shelter while work was being done on the property. It came roped down on a tuktuk, looking far too large. Placed in a temporary location, it was covered in woven bamboo, and a  plastic "roof" was tied on. It was furnished with two couches for resting during the heat of the day, a table and some chairs. Melfas from the Sahara region were draped inside and a firepit was made with river rock nearby so coffee is always available on site. Another bamboo structure was also delivered; this dome shaped small structure is used by Moroccans for a hamman-it is later covered with concrete for this purpose. The bamboo hammam is used for a toilet shelter and tool storage and eventually, the "bamboo palace" is destined to become the olive garden gazebo.

Some fresh wheat straw from Souk Telet was spread over the dirt floor, and a carpet was purchased as well.