1. 

It’s taken quite some time, but I’ve finally decided on the type of fence I want around the land. I’d prefer to have no fence at all, but if we are going to plant trees, anything infact, I have to guarantee that they won’t be eaten by roaming goats or donkeys. The only way to ensure this is to put up a fence and of course the guys would prefer that this was high and metallic.

I’ve gone slightly less modern, based on bamboo. The only problem was that when wafi and I were doing this it was freezing…snowing infact…and yes, whilst Wafi only intended to carry on till finished…I was all up for tucking my mitts away before they froze off. And so we carried on….

I’ve become somewhat obsessed by roofing. I’m trying to decide what to do to try to ensure that I maximize this space and yet keep prices down. Of course I’ll be using it for rainwater harvesting, but also for water heating…anyway, watch this space!

Conversations I’ve had with the Regional Director of Tourism seem to indicate that they don’t like the idea of Glamping. Now this doesn’t mean that they won’t happen, but it does mean that I can’t plan to have the toilet/shower block as it is. What does that mean…..? That these buildings will need to be redrawn and probably taken down….. but it’ll be better!

More on the preparation of the land and here we have Mohammed adapting the idea of

raised beds to include bamboo walls. They’re working out really well and I’m very pleased. Only thing to do now is to fill them with plants. In the end I think that my main aim with all of this work is to have the land and buildings in place for Easter 2018, which is when I’d hope we’d open, with beds raised and pouring with crops and trees matured and looking enticing for future production.

Of course I’m not the only one planting and this is now the time when everyone else begins preparing their land for the next kif harvest.

Along with the traditional/beldi crop, there is of course Mexicana and Pakistana, but the new kid on the block is Kitikana….though I think it’s too strong for me.

Despite the weather, I managed to get the tent up. Fuck it was cold at night but lovely to be up on the land and sleeping with the sound of the river next door. Mind you, then it started pouring with rain and I ended up putting up habiby’s tent. Both dryer and warmer…..must mean that spring is in the air!

Habiby also came in to her own as she transported 100 trees from Bab Taza to the land.

She looked as if she was trying to camouflage herself and sneak through the Rif un noticed…. Which of course didn’t work. Lots of attention given to UK Landrovers packed with trees.

Back on the land and I have to add this image of an almost finished last set of stairs….almost, which is better than we’ve

managed before. Could we finally be completing all of the building on the land? No chance, there’s still bits of other stairs and the reed bed system.

But we’re ticking off the list and given the amount of rain we’ve had, I think you can call this progress. Certainly we’re on target having finally gotten the trees in to the ground.

A veritable forest in waiting!