Just Add Water: The Blooming Marrakech Plain!

Just Add Water: The Blooming Marrakech Plain!

Just Add Water: The Blooming Marrakech Plain!
For 7 years or more, areas of Central and Southern Morocco had been experiencing severe and growing drought. No greater an impact of this could be seen than across the Marrakech Plain, just a few kilometres to the northwest of Marrakech. Expected winter rains over these
lowlands and expected snowfall on the High Atlas mountains simply had not arrived in any significant amounts, year after year. As a result, the countryside had turned into an area of dusty creams, fawns and browns. Arable farming had become almost non-existent and the grazing of sheep and goats an almost pointless activity (with livestock being taken out more for daily exercise than for gaining any real sustenance). Consequently, farming communities have been suffering greatly. With no natural pasture, and the cost of animal fodder becoming unaffordable for most, sheep and goats had been sold off at markets and farmers’ incomes had diminished rapidly producing much hardship. Similarly, with no cereal crops such as wheat and barley to harvest, this has meant that village communities were no longer self-sufficient in this basic foodstuff and had to buy in flour, its costs rising too. If you have ever eaten real, home-made, traditional bread in a Moroccan farmer’s home, you will know how totally delicious and nutritious it is, especially when eaten with home produced butter, olives, olive oil and honey (an inevitably along with Moroccan tea, laced with countryside herbs). Along with this severe aridity, another sad and consequential environmental loss was the lack of the sight and sound of birds, a great sensory loss to a degrading landscape. Butterflies too no longer flitted around. But, JUST ADD WATER! What a difference returning rains and snows can bring. The October 2025 to March 2026 months have brought exceptional rains and snowfalls last seen about 20/25 years ago. The joy and hope that this has brought to this area can readily be seen in the faces of people all across the Marrakech plain and beyond. Hope has returned for good times again. Reservoirs are full, water tables have risen, soils are moist, wells are full and the rolling landscape is now a vast swathe of many tones of cheerful greens. Just add water and, indeed, Morocco blooms … and booms! Over recent days, travelling around the Marrakech Plain (only about 20/30 minutes from
Marrakech), has been a delight. It now smells differently too, that rich, earthy smell suggesting bounty to come. First activity to notice are the many farmers now out with their flocks of sheep and goats, grazing freely on lush grasses. As the animals fatten then their
value increases at market. Also, healthier animals mean stronger lambs/kids that are now appearing as Spring becomes summer. No wonder that a friendly raised arm and hand given to a farmer as you pass by gains a reciprocal, meaningful response. Then the land itself is a wonderland. As the first of the winter rains began to fall, farmers discussed whether to throw seeds on their land. It could of course have been an expensive gamble with little or no return; would the rains continue? But, decisions made, they threw seeds and waited. And now, in early April, their barley and wheat plants stand tall, erect and with filling seed heads. The prospect of a good harvest is anticipated. However, along with this hope, the growing conditions must continue to be positive ones from now into early summer – warmth, sunshine, occasional light rains are still needed in order to maximise the harvest. Always lurking is the concern that perhaps a hailstorm or torrential rain could snap and flatten the growing crops. There “ain’t no chickens till the eggs have hatched” as might be said. The return of birds and birdsong is a joy to relish. Take time to stop and listen to the peace and quiet of the Marrakech Plain and the thrilling and trilling chirps and songs of the birds heighten the pleasure of being in “the now” of the area. Stop, ltake time, unwind, listen, smile. The birds now have nesting sites and food a plenty for themselves and their chicks. Their sweeping swoops and dives show their joy too at having their homeland back. Only green colours now? Not at all! Seeds that have lain dormant for years are now also bursting out to carpet and dot the Marrakech Plain with a vivid “Impressionistic painting like” colour palette. Creams, yellows, whites, pinks, purples, reds abound. The delicate red of poppies are such a sign of the vigour of these hardy plants whose seeds have lain dormant for so many years. Yesterday, a glorious early summer’s day, brought even more additional colour to the Marrakech Plain. Families from the Plain’s farming villages and families out from Marrakech were seen all over the Marrakech Plain, adding their own colour to the landscape. Motorcycles, bicycles, saloon cars, small trucks had brought families out to picnic amongst the glory of it all. Coloured blankets, folding chairs, picnic spreads and, of course, many glinting teapots in the sunshine! Back to nature, back to simple pleasures, back to simplicity, back to the joy of nature’s provision. Taking time to explore the Marrakech Plain and its surrounding Jbilet Hills is a total thrill, a joy and offers simple, pure delight. Arrange your day away from the city clamour, take time to “be in the now” of potential bounty, bounty for the farmers and nature and bounty for you as you savour the joys of getting back to simplicity, back to nature.