GREEN...a picture is worth a thousand words, and this one is no exception. To the right you can see a hill that shows a lot of erosion, next to a fence with trees on the right side. The trees are part of a large reserve that the government has set aside. There is a huge problem here with deforestation. The rural people have cut trees to use for wood to heat their homes a bit, to use for cooking, and to make furniture. They also pile up the many rocks and then plant wheat every year. Now there is an erosion problem. It seems that the solution is so obvious in a country where there must be at least 300 days of sunshine every year. I do understand that the King does have a solar project going on. I sure hope so. Just like anything else, it is a complex issue. What seems to be a solution now for some people creates a problem in the future for others.

Just a nice picture of a little road and olive trees that I liked and thought I would share. The other is a great little gate that captured my attention on my morning walk.

You'll need to click on this photo
of the hillside; it is an image of
shepherds abiding by their fields
by day. If you're wondering what
they sheep are eating, you're not
the only one! The remains of the
wheat harvest, is about it!

This is a typical property divider. A rock wall with bramble bush (for lack of a better name) then prickly pear cactus on top of that. These barriers not only define property lines,but work well to keep people/animals in/out. They are very astute about making sure that it is clear what is their property, just they are very careful to secure the doors to their homes. When I asked a local person about it, they said even though it is such a highly religious countrym there are those who are bad, and can't be trusted.