Comments on: Letters from Jordan: ‘Greening the Desert – the Sequel’ Site Contrasts Against Jordan Insanities

By: JBob

JBob — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:59:58 +0000

Craig, why rationing is bad: http://mises.org/daily/526

By: Jake Stokes

Jake Stokes — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:18:45 +0000

The Disi project in Jordan is being constructed by the Contractor GAMA – http://www.gama.com.tr/en/holding/ongoing_project_list__clientproject
It is worth noting that it was a Build operate Transfer type of construction. BoT is usually implemented to eliminate government bureaucracy (graft?), inefficiencies and delays. But this also assumes transparency in the selection of the contractor and ability to deliver. The project and its background is currently the subject of investigation by the Corruption Commission. Findings are not yet public and its not clear what the scope of the corruption investigation is. The big question to ask is: will the project as being constructed now, deliver what the consumer is going to pay for? or is already paying through elevated (future) costs? Some would say that the project is hard wired to self destruct!! For a major ‘fossil’ water resource (a heritage of the past 10 000 years, when the water was formed) this would be a great shame.

By: Khadijah

Khadijah — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:59:43 +0000

As an American permaculture junkie living in Yemen, I have been following the Greening the Desert project with intense interest. The misuse of water is one of many things that Yemen and Jordan have in common. Here it is mostly due to the use of the majority of the water resources to grow the narcotic qat. I have read estimates as high as 85 percent! At the same time they import vegetables and fruits that could grow here. In some of the mountain provinces, though, you see incredible examples of terrace gardening, and huge old cisterns to collect the rainwater.

By: Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor

Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:50:03 +0000

Thanks for the kind words people. I’m glad you appreciated the post and pics. Although, I should say that I’m just documenting it a little. The real people to be praised are Nadia and Geoff Lawton, the people involved with PRI Jordan, and the many volunteers who have helped along the way. Nadia has been a particularly strong driving force to see this project get off the ground – a noble effort for her people.

Yes, JBob – Indeed, an entrepreneurial soul could quickly do the math there. You can get a bottle of store-bought water in Jordan for about 30cents. Bottles of water in Australia, Europe, etc., usually cost about $2 or more. So, the free hand could make a ‘killing’ here. You could export Jordan’s water and undercut Evian and others by selling it in richer economies for less than ‘name brand’ H20. It’s a beautiful picture, isn’t it…

Back to reality… instead, the Jordanian government has had to deal with its dire water situation by rationing:

http://reliefweb.int/node/260730

It forces farmers to grow crops that don’t require so much water. Obviously this can’t be very strict, as they’re growing bananas and other crops that actually require a lot of water. I wonder what they’d grow and export if there was no rationing at all? What would stop them? Common sense and objective concern?? Nah, wads of cash usually dispels such noble traits quite quickly, I’ve noted – particularly in those who live by the ’self interest solves all’ magic mentality.

By: Cecilia Macaulay

Cecilia Macaulay — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:52:16 +0000

I especially loved the photo of the empty straw bale room. Thats where I want to sit, with the curtain softly fluttering, when life gets hard.

By: Chris McLeod

Chris McLeod — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:46:15 +0000

Hi Craig,
What an inspiring article and site. I’m unsure whether it’s my imagination or not but when I compare the September 2011 photo to the June 2010 photo I reckon the surrounding village has slightly more vegetation. You are all doing an amazing job. I started here with no top soil, but the environment is not even a tenth as harsh as Jordan. I’m noticing that slowly after many years I’m starting to have some impact on the neighbours and they are slowly changing their old methods. Hopefully it will accelerate!
Regards
Chris

By: Geoff Lawton

Geoff Lawton — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:20:10 +0000

All the pioneer species are chosen for their hardiness first and most of the legume trees naturally inoculate in Jordan. Shade creation, wind shelter and mulch production with minimum water and nutrient requirements with maximum growth rate and hardiness are first choice except allopathic species in these extreme conditions.

The first return of surplus to any well designed system intending to increase soil quality and quantity should be organic matter and that is true in any climate or landscape. This is a practical expression of the third ethic of permaculture in biological terms. If you have this approach to your designing and establishment of permaculture systems you will go further and faster towards stability, fertility and productivity.

By: coevicman

coevicman — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:56:05 +0000

Fabulous article and magnificent photos.
I am surely stating what we all think daily: Craig your daily editorial work is much appreciated.
You keep us all connected and positively inspired daily.
Blessings.

By: SOP

SOP — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:40:37 +0000

Excellent writeup, Craig. Always looking for new information from the Jordan Valley Permaculture Project and this was a worthy update, particularly the finer details e.g. species planted. Are these inoculated fixers, or just mainly used for their hardiness and other qualities?

Is there any chance of a walkaround video?

By: Edith Wiethorn

Edith Wiethorn — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:12:39 +0000

Thank you for this thoughtful report & for working to provide PRI with world-class communication.

It is wonderful to see these nitrogen-fixing trees listed together. Are you aware of nitrogen-fixing
trees for northern climates beyond these two?

(1) in zone 4 central Idaho, USA high-desert @ 6500′ we see old Locust trees, more than 12′ caliper. Will look some Locuststreet-trees in our town again tomorrow.

(2) Carragana, or Siberian Peashrub. Varieties here grow to ~15′. My grandparents’ farm north of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada used Siberian Peashrub for long, beautiful barrier hedges that were a powerful bee plant. In full bloom the hedge droned like a pipe organ warming up. They would be useful along poultry runs because the copius Mung-sized seeds flung by shattering pods provide high-protein chicken forage. I think the seeds could also be caught on sheets for human food.