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.