SELECT Magazine Fall 2020 | Page 20

A merchant bringing his wares to market in Marrakech WHAT’S THEIR SECRET? Here, the entire philosophy of farming is unique. Less than 30% of land in Morocco is privately owned. Nearly half of the country is communal land, with the majority of farmers operating on fewer than 12 acres. Unlike the U.S. with its abundant monoculture — the modern practice of using private land to farm a single crop — Moroccan farmers lean on ancient wisdom. Instead of rows and rows of identical crops, imagine a lush forest garden that almost supports itself, often without the intervention of modern machines or chemicals. Roaming cattle graze on the dropped shells and hulls of almond trees, which in turn, thrive on the soil fertilized naturally by the cattle. Guavas, mulberries, tamarind and no fewer than 17 varieties of citrus flourish in the shade of tall date palms. Donkeys carry bags spilling over with bananas, figs, pomegranates and other fruits and nuts. It’s a style of polyculture farming that’s been practiced since Biblical times. 18 | SELECT · 2020