The second project undertaken by Fez Riads is the upgrading of the plant boxes in the Kissariat Senhaji, between Tala’a Kebira and Tala’a Seghira. Just to remind you, these projects are funded by the guesthouses featured on the Fez Riads website www.fez-riads.com and supported by the visitors who stay in them.
Towards the end of February, Jamal carted a lot of manure and rich earth from the countryside, dug over the plant boxes and added the new mixture. Then we bought five orange trees from the plant nursery in the Mellah, hired a ’honda’ to transport them, wheeled them down the medina streets in several carossas and Jamal planted them.
The hairdresser in the square, Si Ahmed, agreed to water the plants carefully, and his extra water bill is paid by Fez Riads. We also bought him a hose for easy watering. We still need lots more plants and Jamal has plans to bring some oleanders from the countryside. But it’s starting to look much better already.
Despite some people’s doubts, all has gone well for the last three weeks. Children have not broken the trees, no-one’s stolen them, and the local shop-owners and flat-dwellers seem so pleased with the results so far that they’re fiercely protective. Last night some inebriated souls decided they’d rip out the trees to sell them (and maybe buy another bottle of rotgut). The hanoot owner came to the rescue! He prevented the drunkards from doing any damage, and has made a statement to the police. The trees are still there, sprouting new growth and blossoms.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
1 comment:
Hey congratulations ... it read like a lovely idea and I love the sense of community you described. I'm not sure you could get that where I live at the moment ... but maybe I'm wrong.
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