Greening The Desert Project is an interesting demonstration site that you can visit near the Dead Sea, about 50 mins drive from Amman. It has been created in 2008 by the non-profit organization Jordanian Association For Environment Quality. It showcases permaculture, which is a self-sufficient and sustainable way of agriculture. The site is demonstration site, a class room, serves as an example which can be replicated elsewhere in Jordan. Last not but least it is a tourist attraction or site where you can both learn and relax.
About Permaculture at Greening The Desert Project
All food is organic, no pesticides or chemicals are used. Houses are built of clay using a natural way of cooling, energy is created through solar panels as is hot water. Waste water is filtered and re-used for irrigating plants. Furthermore, there is a plant nursery to grow new plants. Chicken are supporting the composting of food trash, which results in great new material for the plants. Showers and toilets make use of water saving and composting. Also, rain water is being harvested. On the project site there is a communal kitchen used for cooking, learning and demonstrating. Locals produce and process food. In the outside yard you can eat the organic food planted at the site.
Cafe at Greening the Desert Project
When you first arrive to the site, you will enter through the lovely designed modern cafe. Everything served there is of course local and organic. Fruits for juices are from the project site. Coffee was tasty and staff was welcoming. You also have the possibility to buy some small handicraft items such as soap or local dates and eggs, which we did and both were yummy.
Understanding Permaculture at Greening the Desert
After we enjoyed our drinks, we started a guided tour through the site. Our guide was a local woman who was an expert on permaculture and the food-animal system. She explained everything to us very well in excellent English. We wandered from the housing and the compost toilet to the plant nursery and the chicken-compost area which also has rabbits living mainly underground. After that we saw all kind of different trees from Fig Trees, over Lemon trees to Pomelo. It was however not the season, so we did not see much fruits. There was a plant nursery and little terraces were being used for water harvesting.
The shower complex was clean and had solar panels installed. Everything in the site has its purpose and it is very interesting what can be created in such a climate. The weather us surely warm, but with average rainfall in this area, agriculture does not work without additional irrigation. I found it all very interesting and we learned a lot. After the tour we had a quick look in the recently established Ecolodge.
Ecolodge at Greening the Desert
The Ecolodge opened a few weeks ago and is welcoming guests in six differently styled room with some traditional Jordanian interior. Everything is basic but clean, new and cozy. The warm weather of the Dead Sea area is always attracting visitors who are escaping the cold of Amman. It is right within the project site in a very quiet area and gives you the possibility to enjoy the organic food for breakfast or dinner either on the terrace or on the rooftop with a view up to Jerusalem, if weather allows.
If you consider a visit or a tour, you might wanna get in contact before and also inform yourself about the prices. For more information on the project, the cafe, the lodge and the people behind it see below:
Greening the Desert on Facebook
Greening the Desert on Instagram
The Ecolodge on Facebook
Website about the project and its research (in Arabic)
Location: Near the Dead Sea on the way to King Hussein Bridge
Can you book a night there? any time from 29 december to 7th of January?
Dear Muna, please contact them. They do provide accomodation. Keep in mind though it is very remote and basic. But if you look for some quite place to rest, I think it is good. So contact them and ask.