How We Transformed the Desert

[@samdave3745]

Following on your footsteps, I’m growing a food forest around my house in the middle of Abu Dhabi desert.

[@sielukettu]

So cool! Do you make videos about your garden? 🌱

[@k0mm4nd3r_k3n]

Even very amature videos would be cool 😎

[@janus878]

🙏

[@ariankarimi952]

UAE is horribly run; totally undemocratic and anti environment

[@alm_alb]

I hope you find success

[@ninemoonplanet]

I keep running into doubters, it's amazing how many people just will accept "there's nothing we can do". I finally understood the use of stoneworks for making swales. Lately I have found more people using permaculture and building a resilient long-term food forest. That's encouraging.

[@Kalamain]

The problem is that too many see the VERY hard work at the start as a killer for any projects. It **IS** hard work... But it shows results!

[@crazyjay6331]

Yes the entire world is brainwashed 😭

[@Kalamain]

@@crazyjay6331 Nah... Just ignorant and a little lazy. Most people just don't understand what is needed.

[@crazyjay6331]

@@Kalamain and why is that? Because it's hidden from them and they think that Co2 and heat is the problem when in reality it's the solution and because they think it's the main issue, it's perfectly fine to dump toxic chemicals and rubbish everywhere ect. They have been so brainwashed by consumerism, they don't even care, they think "new" technologies will "save" them, nicola tesla could give free electricity to the world 100 years ago. Any new technology that could save us is bought out and hijacked or buried.

[@crazyjay6331]

@@Kalamain and why is that? Because it's hidden from them and they think that Co2 and heat is the problem when in reality it's the solution and because they think it's the main issue, it's perfectly fine to dump toxic chemicals and rubbish everywhere ect. They have been so brainwashed by consumerism, they don't even care, they think "new" technologies will "save" them, nicola tesla could give free electricity to the world 100 years ago. Any new technology that could save us is bought out and hijacked or buried.

[@glennfiedler6236]

I'd love to see a video of the site in rain, and how it reacts after. Thanks Geoff!

[@TheWoodlandOrchard]

That's a great suggestion.

[@EddieGalois]

As it so happens, there is a video of rain on the site from a few years ago. It's in the greening the desert playlist on Geoff's youtube channel. The video is titled; "Greening the Desert: First rainfall of the Season" You'll have to dig a bit for it, but we all do a lot of digging here 👨‍🌾

[@TheWoodlandOrchard]

I'm enjoying studying on Geoff's current online PDC. It was the 'Greening the desert' project that convinced me to take a Permaculture route. I was struggling with poor, mainly sandy soil in the UK but realised that if a solution worked in this arid landscape, it was certainly going to work in my orchard to food forest transition here in the UK. 👍

[@brianquinn5060]

Been following you for years, love what you are doing for the Planet. Thanks.

[@GSBMxyz]

Inspiring as always. Thanks Geoff

[@almeidacheang7853]

show the rain again , my friend when the rain come again,nice to see!!

[@jallhktrj549]

Thank you, you give hope in a worried world.

[@TheRealHonestInquiry]

Excellent update on this amazing project! Hopefully this sort of inspirational work goes viral and infects the world with the hope of a greener future 🌴

[@nonoddingdog4682]

Awesome achievement. May your footsteps always be blessed.

[@BryceGarling]

Truly life changing stuff.

[@ichifish]

Wow, new camera! Always glad to see an update -puts a smile on my face every time. No water worries here in Japan, but I'm following in your very large footsteps!

[@damianvallejo2647]

This is awesome Geoff! Congratulations and thank you for sharing!

[@mano3867]

Great job, thanks. God bless you

[@busysaru888]

Brilliant how you've done this. I hope it spreads!

[@ColonelKlink100]

You capture some street runoff water at the speed bump for your property while possibly reducing erosion further down the street. Well done!

[@almeidacheang7853]

maybe one more bump, before that one( on top)the road few meters away( 10 meters)!!

[@ren2ski]

The site is looking fantastic thanks for the update

[@louisegogel7973]

This is such a great chronological summary visually and explanatorily of this awesome desert project! May it be duplicated in its principles throughout the world!

[@gm2407]

Always love seeing this site.

[@MaxSwedenAgroforestry]

Great video!! Thanks for your effort in educating us in this amazing Journey!

[@johanneslaseur3876]

Geoff, you inspire me time after time. Would love to get involved somehow. Just made a greywater system in Catalonya.

[@BluBeatle]

Amazing work by your Family and all the great side farms as a result. Thanks for showing your efforts . Lov Ya 🙏😎🙏

[@javorgeorgiev6130]

We had record high crop losses to heat this year. Didn't rain much in spring and winter was snowless. I always look forward to any video on arid gardening for examples. I'll plant a few Mulberry cuttings for next year's shade. They're invasive, but they grow fast with zero care and put up great shade.

[@louisegogel7973]

Mulberries are awesome for human and animal food! You can dry them and add them to many dishes.

[@tonisee2]

Really great overview, thank you a lot! Even if I have tried to see all the content in KZbin about that site, those very early pictures were surprise to me - the reality was even more barren than I ever thought. You and your team and students have created an impressive example for people there and other arid places!

[@reraal]

Big transformation. I’m really sure a lot of houses around yours want to have that great house. I want to do this in Somalia

[@cis961]

Grande lavoro Geoff. complimenti !!!

[@roxanaramstrom]

Love it! Been following this project since the beginning. Would love a update on Abla.

[@flyingrabbit829]

I love it so simple and yet so efficient ❤

[@JenniferArrow]

Oh the speed bump is such a good idea!!

[@mojavebohemian814]

Thank you

[@franc859li]

Thank you Jeff, I'm trying to reproduce these technis in my granden. A greeting from Sicily

[@richermorin]

really cool great job

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Consider putting a mesh grate over that hole in the wall. As it is it seems to be letting in small plastic packets dumped roadside. Probably not a big issue (and it is also bringing in leaf litter which I know you do want), but not something you can just ignore either.

[@LUNGHIX]

Geoff nice video. I am starting soon project in Spain. May I invite you in a future?

[@guineapigfarmer6064]

Does you project have a name? A web presence? Will you host volunteers? Thanks

[@LUNGHIX]

@@guineapigfarmer6064 still not. I will start next year with a web presence. About volunteers I was not still thinking. I will share my progress from somewhere autumn next year.

[@Amadon247]

Hi, i'm one of Jeffs pdc graduates and i spend my winters in Spain (near Granada). Feel like connecting?

[@LUNGHIX]

@@Amadon247 I am having a plan to start in Murcia. It's close to you. I will let you know when I start.

[@alm_alb]

Take as much early photos as possible

[@xavierroy5254]

amazing

[@alpineflauge909]

awesome

[@CoconutInformation]

So inspiring! How many acres is the site?

[@Extremealgarve1]

Marvellous , marvellous, marvellous. hey Geoff. Ive looked everywhere online for Singapore daisy to buy and its nowhere to be found. Maybe the guys there fancy a little bit of income and can sell some?

[@tricky1992000]

Is there a weather station at the site? it would be nice to know the temperature, in comparison to the surrounding area.

[@ikbentomhendriks]

This is amazing! I am a bit curious about the role of compost. Research has shown that providing compost (specifically certain micronutrients) to growing trees causes the trees to invest less (sugars) into their relationship with beneficial fungi (because the fungi are there to provide them with those micronutrients. So, how is the compost used while still stimulating the trees to connect with the mycorrhizal fungi?

[@Amadon247]

Hi Geoff, How safe is it now at this site, concerning the Israel-Iran situation? I hope you all stay well!

[@geofflawton3198]

All is fine here no problems at all

[@carlvanmeerbeek7327]

I'd love to know the amount of water that is being brought in

[@asknwclips7672]

my question too.

[@alm_alb]

The run off water from the road side really helps.

[@Hunar1997]

Please make another "soil report update" video

[@fritzfamiliavideos]

Show 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Kalamain]

Looks brilliant! In the plot, do you only use local, native plants or do you bring in plants to establish them?

[@ronk4073]

Would this system work with out tanking in outside water?

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Would the area survive if there was no delivery water (mains/trucks) for a while?

[@MyJoss13]

do you use biochar to hold more water and microorganisms in the soil?

[@b_uppy]

He likely would if it was a best solution scenario. Believe he made a video a few years back on some aspect of biochar. Think it's a lower priority unless something makes it a best case scenario under the circumstances. For example something needed to be disposed of, rather than composted, etc.

[@TheRealHonestInquiry]

I agree with b_uppy. Biochar is great; in this instance it's probably viewed as lower priority than using the would-be burn material to turn into compost. At a certain point you will have a high enough % of organic material in your soil and microorganism biodiversity, that making char out of the organic material will give you more of a benefit than more compost or mulch. Wouldn't hurt to run the experiment in a small test area to see if it has some overlooked benefit of course.

[@geofflawton3198]

Yes we have run plenty of biochar experiments and we do not see any particular benefit unless you are in the wet tropics near the equator.

[@geofflawton3198]

We have but with no real benefit, you need to be in the wet tropics near the equator to get any benefits.

[@b_uppy]

@@geofflawton3198 That makes sense, where the mulch degrades so quickly whereas biochar is more stable and is less likely to be moved "away" by insects, etc.

[@HeatherNaturaly]

I was always under the impression that a swale couldn't be more than 2 feet deep, but yours, created with rock walls, are much deeper..it would seem.

[@olsim1730]

The swale is above the wall

[@alm_alb]

Allahuma barik Mashallah. May Allah protect you and your whole family.

[@ashleyporterroy4043]

Do you have an estimate of the costs it has taken to get to this point? I'd love to do it, but my issue is the financial aspect of it all. Any tips and tricks to save money in certain places is appreciated! I live in Northwest Arizona, USA! 😊

[@Greenmahn333]

👍

[@gabrielparker5691]

Is the humanure composted on this site? If not, it should be.

[@therealmr.incredible3179]

You’ve done an Amazing Job mate, But it’s time to Expand!

[@geofflawton3198]

We are every year

[@therealmr.incredible3179]

@@geofflawton3198 More More More! Keep the Show Running!

[@louisegogel7973]

And time for each and every one of us to expand the principles and apply at least a tiny bit here and there… it all adds up.

[@therealmr.incredible3179]

@@louisegogel7973 I want to see what that entire Valley looks like when it’s turned Green and Beautiful….Obviously that’s Nigh Impossible but I’ll take the Next Best Thing, My Imagination and More Expansion.

[@Ninja-yi7rr]

Are you concerned about chemicals coming in from the road?

[@Collin4486]

🌜

[@smoothswales8238]

If every person on the planet planted one tree, that would be roughly 8 billion trees planted. If everyone planted one tree a year, that would be 8 billion x (# of years lived averaged). If everyone planted a tree a month that would be 8 billion x 12 x (# of years lived averaged). If everyone planted a tree a week that would be 8 billion x 52 x ( # of years lived averaged). If everyone planted a tree a day that would be 8 billion x 365 x (# of years lived averaged). We do not have a economic problem, we do not have a land problem. We have a cooperation problem. Let's cooperate and fix the issues we face. This is a directive to act. Plant a tree. Protect the future.

[@SouthFloridaSunshine]

Yay, first!

[@SouthFloridaSunshine]

Love your passion and achievements! Greening the desert places is amazing, whatever country you achieve it in , it never gets old seeing the incredible resurrection the land takes over time through your designs.

[@RoyatAvalonFarms]

What a beautiful place in an otherwise miserable part of the planet.

[@justinarnold7725]

I'd suggest you get out of Jordan whilst you still can Geoff

[@geofflawton3198]

We are all ok and understand our situation, this is what we do.

[@louisegogel7973]

@@geofflawton3198You are blessed and blessing all around you with the principles you have been brining to the world. We appreciate you!