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DESC Desert Food Forest

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Commenced:	01/10/2012
Submitted:	06/07/2012
Last updated:	07/10/2015
Location:	Dubai English Speaking College, Academic City, Dubai, AE
Climate zone:	Arid

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DESC Desert Food Forest

Academic City, AE

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First phase of the irrigation system is installed for the Desert Forest Garden

Project: DESC Desert Food Forest

Posted by Gaina Dunsire almost 12 years ago

The practical work has finally begun!

The practical work has finally begun on the Desert Food Forest in Dubai. With the approaching summer heat in the back of my mind, it was with a mixture of relief and excitement that the water tank and pump were delivered and installed this weekend.

The drip irrigation system will be a vital life-line for the garden, so a reliable pump is essential, and the water tank will act as insurance in case the water supply should fail. They have been installed out of sight on the roof of the building nearest to the amphitheatre. Connecting pipework will run discreetly down the outside wall and then under the plastic grass (yes I did say plastic grass) and small section of paving slabs, and into the amphitheatre itself.

One of the difficulties of this project will be that much of the work can only take place at weekends to avoid disrupting the school during the week. This will be particularly challenging with the delivery and mixing of 550 cubic metres of soil in the next 2-3 weeks. In an attempt to maintain the projects ethical and sustainable principles, I have had to fight against the use of imported, peat compost from Lithuania. Not only would this be destroying one ecosystem to create another, it would have considerable air miles and is full of NPK. Instead time has been spent researching and and sourcing suitable alternatives. As a result we are creating soil out of sweet sand (Dubai), organic fertiliser (made from composted plant and food waste in Al Ain) and coconut coir (condensed blocks shipped from India). Getting all these elements delivered and mixed together over a weekend is going to be, well, a learning experience at the very least. As they say here in Dubai, Insha'Allah we shall be successful.

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