GREENING THE DESERT

Lodges "Land of the stars"

Realization of a design for the creation of an ecolodge in the middle of the desert.

This design was born from a meeting with Pierre Yves Marais, founder of "Terre des Étoiles" utopian and visionary, he asked me to offer him a design to create an oasis in this desert place, in less than three years, the magic has operated ....

Create an oasis in the desert. Such was the crazy dream, the seed sown to transform utopia into reality: Terre des Etoiles, an Ecolodge arisen in the heart of a hilly mineral universe, not far from Marrakech the Imperial. "Sow, plant, create life ..."

https://www.terredesetoiles.net/

Mission: Design and set up a productive oasis in the middle of the desert ...

Creation of a market gardening plot and an orchard in order to supply the kitchen of the place. Design, production, training.

Duration of the assignment 3 years.

Creation of a vegetable garden,
Creation of an orchard,
Installation of drip irrigation,
Creation of a garden of aromatic and medicinal herbs,
Creation of a basin, aquatic ecosystem,
Fodder and green manure test plot to complete

feeding dromedaries,

Installation of micro-dams in the thalwegs to slow down erosion,
Creation of a composting and vermicomposting area to recycle the site's waste (manure from camels, goats, sheep, horses and kitchen waste),
Installation of windbreaks all around the site,
Greening of hotel spaces,
Training of the crop manager and staff,
Access to borehole water at 110m, slightly salty, solar pump.

General informations

Site: 4.2 ha
Energy: Solar panels
Access to borehole water at 110m, slightly salty, solar pump.
Market gardening: 1500m²
Orchard: 4000m²
Aromatic garden: 500m²
Cereals / green manure: 3200m²

The project in pictures

THE DESIGN (Preparation of areas)

Draft Design in PDF

Planning your project

Design is the feasibility study of a project taking into account the resources of the place, your time, your resources and your objectives.
The realization is done in stages according to the means implemented, the seasons of installation.
The design is carried out on the basis of plans, budgets, implementation stages and schedules.

PRODUCTION FOOD

Market gardening

System: 1500m² area installed as a terrace on the level line (swales).
Solar exposure: Nort / East, enjoying the morning sun, in the shade of the hot late afternoon sun.
Wind exposure: due east, sheltered from the prevailing winds coming from the sea by the western plain (150 km as the crow flies).
Drip and gravity irrigation for green manure / fodder.
Human resource: a manager and third-time seasonal workers.

ORCHARD

Fruit tree production

System: Area of 500m² installed in stone terraces on level lines (swales).
Solar exposure: due west, hot at the end of the summer day.
Wind exposure: due West, prevailing wind coming from the sea by the western plain (150 km as the crow flies).
Drip and gravity irrigation for green manure / fodder.
Human resources: a manager and third-time seasonal workers.

AROMATIC AND MEDICINAL GARDEN

Production of plants for herbal teas, cooking and care

System: 1500m² area installed in terraces on level lines (swales).
Solar exposure: due east, taking advantage of the morning sun and in the shade of the hot late afternoon sun.
Wind exposure: due east, sheltered from the prevailing winds by a traditional house.
Gravity drip irrigation for green manure / forage.

VEGETATION, HEDGE AND ANTI-EROSION SYSTEM

Create hedges, corridors, vegetate erosion areas

System: Double hedge corridor fruit trees and pioneer trees (Fabacéa) all around the site.
Micro-dams along the thalweg to slow down the water and infiltrate it to fight against erosion.
Creation of anti-erosion swales for the same purpose.
Gravity drip irrigation.

THE PELVIS

Aquatic ecosystem, insect bar and diverse fauna

System: Bean-shaped basin of 25m².
Structure of the "loamy / sandy / clayey" soil requiring a tarpaulin for waterproofing (recovery of a truck tarpaulin).
Water plants for pond balance and shade.
Gambusia fish, against mosquito larvae and whose droppings participate in plant nutrition.
Zen space.

WORKSHOP, CONFERENCE, AWARENESS

Welcoming, exchanging, educating

Permaculture training.
Welcoming schoolchildren on the theme of resources, sustainable development and reforestation.
Conference on the theme of ecology.
Various workshops, Yoga, well-being etc ...