Arid Swales Update 20 Months After First Planting
This is another important video that shows how to restore hopeless looking desert land into productive land. This is an ongoing series about restoring degraded land that includes inspiring stories such as Greening the Desert (classic example), restoration of the Loess Plateau in China, Miracle Water Village, Water Man of India.
“After 20 months of growth, and 4 years of observing patterns in Al Baydha, Neal Spackman walks you through the swales and flood plain of the Al Baydha Project’s demonstration site.”
For more information, visit Al Baydha Project
This exciting project is in Saudi Arabia. Given the difficulty of food production in their climate, it would seem the government there would be investing in serious agricultural research like this. Before long they’ll be able to plant dates, figs, coconuts, etc. and create a forest garden like the 2,000 year food forest in Morocco. Done correctly, forest gardens need minimal long term maintenance.
Excellent! Great explanation of the combined role of “pioneer” generation and “later” generations of species of trees. The desert indeed does bloom!!
I wonder how long it takes to turn it into fairly decent farm land. It must be awfully difficult trying to restore land like this.
Hi Owen! It will never be fairly decent farmland, but we have seen improvements in biodiversity, hydrology, and soil creation, and it is productive at this point, allowing for the restoration of sustainable grazing and desert tree crops.
Restoring the land is part of what Dr. Vandana Shiva talks about in the very potent communication about the land and soil. Very much worth listing to..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crP5EVZdvLE
Thanks, I’ll take a look soon. And thanks again for the many excellent links you’ve provided over the years.
Any comments about this specific project? If they can turn this ‘wasteland’ into productive agricultural land then that will be very impressive. (I think they will. It just takes time.)
Restoring degraded land is a win/win situation. Homeowners get low cost land and eventual self sufficiency, and at the same time the earth is being restored.