Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Geoff takes us on his first walk through the Greening the Desert site after returning to Jordan, on an unscripted tour full of insights about resilience, soil fertility, shade strategies and plant partnerships that turn bare ground into abundance.
Key Takeaways:
- Observation first: Even in challenging environments, close observation reveals what’s working and what needs care.
- Plant partnerships matter: Species like lucina and purslane work together to shade the soil and build fertility fast.
- Shade is survival: In arid climates, canopy layers and living mulch dramatically reduce water stress.
- Abundance returns: What began as bare earth now supports a thriving ecosystem — proof that design can transform even the toughest sites.
- Continuous learning: Every season teaches new lessons about resilience, adaptation, and abundance.
Tree Species Mentioned:
- Lucina / Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) – nitrogen-fixing, fast-growing, mulch producer
- Purslane / Sea Purslane (Portulaca oleracea / Sesuvium portulacastrum) – groundcover, reduces evaporation
- Grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi) – fruit tree
- Citrus (general) (Citrus spp.) – includes oranges, mandarins, other varieties
- Fig (Ficus carica) – fruit tree
- Papaya (Carica papaya) – fruit tree
- Guava (Psidium guajava) – fruit tree
- Olive (Olea europaea) – hardy tree, drought-tolerant
- Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) – flowering, drought-tolerant
- Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) – fruiting tree
- Mulberry (Morus nigra / Morus alba) – fruit tree
- Mango (Mangifera indica) – fruit tree, protected microclimate
- Custard Apple (Annona reticulata / Annona squamosa) – fruit tree
- Pomegranate (Punica granatum) – fruit tree
- Hibiscus tiliaceus (Beach Hibiscus) – mulch producer, hardy shrub
- Albizia (Albizia lebbeck) – shade, biomass, nitrogen-fixing
- Aloe Vera (Aloe vera) – groundcover, under citrus
- Singapore Daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata) – groundcover, reduces evaporation
- Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus / Melaleuca citrina) – ornamental, shade tree
- Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) – ornamental, shade tree
- Poinciana / Flamboyant (Delonix regia) – shade, ornamental tree
- White Cedar (Melia azedarach) – ornamental, shade tree
- Brazil Spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) – perennial edible groundcover
- Purple Leaf Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) – groundcover, edible
- Mother of Millions / Mother-in-law’s Plant (Bryophyllum delagoense / Kalanchoe spp.) – succulent, ornamental
- Kangkong / Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) – edible aquatic plant
- Banana (Musa spp.) – fruiting, tropical understory
*To support us in making more videos:*
► Sign up for our newsletter and the Permaculture Circle—Geoff's curated collection of 100+ free videos: discoverpermaculture.com/thepermaculturecircle
► Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/geofflawtononline
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► And most importantly, enjoy your permaculture journey!
#permaculture #greeningthedesert #permaculturedesign #regenerativeagriculture #soilhealth #foodforest #forestgarden #desertfarming #sustainability #sustainablelandscaping
Geoff takes us on his first walk through the Greening the Desert site after returning to Jordan, on an unscripted tour full of insights about resilience, soil fertility, shade strategies and plant partnerships that turn bare ground into abundance.
Key Takeaways:
- Observation first: Even in challenging environments, close observation reveals what’s working and what needs care.
- Plant partnerships matter: Species like lucina and purslane work together to shade the soil and build fertility fast.
- Shade is survival: In arid climates, canopy layers and living mulch dramatically reduce water stress.
- Abundance returns: What began as bare earth now supports a thriving ecosystem — proof that design can transform even the toughest sites.
- Continuous learning: Every season teaches new lessons about resilience, adaptation, and abundance.
Tree Species Mentioned:
- Lucina / Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) – nitrogen-fixing, fast-growing, mulch producer
- Purslane / Sea Purslane (Portulaca oleracea / Sesuvium portulacastrum) – groundcover, reduces evaporation
- Grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi) – fruit tree
- Citrus (general) (Citrus spp.) – includes oranges, mandarins, other varieties
- Fig (Ficus carica) – fruit tree
- Papaya (Carica papaya) – fruit tree
- Guava (Psidium guajava) – fruit tree
- Olive (Olea europaea) – hardy tree, drought-tolerant
- Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) – flowering, drought-tolerant
- Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) – fruiting tree
- Mulberry (Morus nigra / Morus alba) – fruit tree
- Mango (Mangifera indica) – fruit tree, protected microclimate
- Custard Apple (Annona reticulata / Annona squamosa) – fruit tree
- Pomegranate (Punica granatum) – fruit tree
- Hibiscus tiliaceus (Beach Hibiscus) – mulch producer, hardy shrub
- Albizia (Albizia lebbeck) – shade, biomass, nitrogen-fixing
- Aloe Vera (Aloe vera) – groundcover, under citrus
- Singapore Daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata) – groundcover, reduces evaporation
- Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus / Melaleuca citrina) – ornamental, shade tree
- Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) – ornamental, shade tree
- Poinciana / Flamboyant (Delonix regia) – shade, ornamental tree
- White Cedar (Melia azedarach) – ornamental, shade tree
- Brazil Spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) – perennial edible groundcover
- Purple Leaf Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) – groundcover, edible
- Mother of Millions / Mother-in-law’s Plant (Bryophyllum delagoense / Kalanchoe spp.) – succulent, ornamental
- Kangkong / Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) – edible aquatic plant
- Banana (Musa spp.) – fruiting, tropical understory
*To support us in making more videos:*
► Sign up for our newsletter and the Permaculture Circle—Geoff's curated collection of 100+ free videos: discoverpermaculture.com/thepermaculturecircle
► Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/geofflawtononline
► Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/geofflawtononline
► Subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCL_r1ELEvAuN0peKUxI0Umw/?sub_confirmation=1
► And most importantly, enjoy your permaculture journey!
#permaculture #greeningthedesert #permaculturedesign #regenerativeagriculture #soilhealth #foodforest #forestgarden #desertfarming #sustainability #sustainablelandscaping
