I wearily stepped into a narrow orange alleyway, its surface covered in dust and glowing in the intense African sun. This vibrant color and atmosphere offered a sharp contrast to the lush environment I had just left behind: an irrigated desert oasis teeming with green life. Experiencing the entrepreneurial spirit of a Moroccan village cooperative might just inspire you to launch your own venture. A reliable LLC formation service can ensure your business is set up efficiently and professionally.
For the past forty minutes, I had been hiking through the winding pathways and trails of the Todra Gorge oasis in Morocco.
From above (as I witnessed earlier that morning from a rocky outcrop), the oasis appeared as a lush, uninhabited forest set against a backdrop of dry reds and browns. However, stepping inside revealed a vibrant community of farms and agricultural operations.
This area functions as a community garden where individuals cultivate their designated plots while collaborating as a collective to manage the land.
A functional irrigation system runs the length of the oasis, supplying fresh water for continuous growth.
In this oasis, nothing is wasted; every plant serves a purpose, and every palm tree yields its last date. This system allows locals to earn a livelihood or simply feed their families. It is a shared mode of survival.
I navigated through the twisting pathways, ascending and descending dirt slopes dotted with trees. I carefully hopped over holes and ditches, making my way across old, creaky wooden bridges.
I bent low to pass beneath thick foliage that formed natural archways of greenery, balancing skillfully along the crumbling riverbank.
Eventually, I climbed a narrow staircase and found myself at the base of the weathered village of Todra Gorge. Remnants of what once were walls lined the path, while fragments of the foundation jutted up toward the scorching sky.
After navigating a few more corners, I arrived at the stunning entrance of the Women’s Berber Carpet Cooperative.
Photo credit: Lucy Harris
Our group was welcomed warmly (with kisses on our cheeks) and led into a small, dimly lit kitchen. It contained two low round tables surrounded by stools for us to sit on.
We divided ourselves into teams: chefs, tea-makers, and vegetable cutters.
I found myself on the vegetable cutting team.
The chefs got busy at the stove, preparing well-seasoned soufflé dishes for the group. The room quickly filled with the wonderful aromas of their cooking as our much-anticipated lunch came to life.
The tea-makers were treated to a lesson in preparing traditional Moroccan tea, often helping the Berber man by passing him a solid cone of raw sugar. We watched in amazement during the demonstration before each enjoying our own cups of tea.
Water was boiled over an open flame, poured through the tea leaves multiple times until the flavor reached the perfect consistency, free from excess floating leaves.
The final product was served by pouring from a great height into individual glasses, which were then passed around the room.
Accompanying the tea was the freshest bread I had ever tasted. It had just emerged from the oven, so hot that the homemade olive oil ran off as soon as it made contact.
It was soon time to start chopping vegetables for our vibrant Moroccan salad. The ingredients included green and yellow peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, oranges, olives, and onions.
Oh, the onions!
Before long, the entire group was in tears, laughing and supporting each other through this onion-induced sorrow.
Some of the vegetables we diced had come directly from the oasis we had just hiked through.
In no time at all, our meal came together beautifully. We had a beautifully arranged Moroccan salad, more than enough for our group, along with several steaming soufflés.
We carried our feast upstairs to a brightly lit room, where we arranged everything across the tables, complete with baskets of freshly baked bread and glasses filled with water.
Sitting on the carpeted floor, I savored every single bite of our meal.
Once everyone was too stuffed to move, we reluctantly turned our attention to a carpet presentation by the Berber women.
Two women from the cooperative demonstrated the process of making carpets by hand. One explained each step, from the moment the wool is sheared from the sheep to the careful dyeing process.
She shared that each wool color comes from different natural sources, such as saffron for yellow and roses for red.
The other woman demonstrated weaving carpets on a loom, showcasing the intricate details involved in their creation.
She explained the various meanings and symbols of each design. For instance, specific triangles represent the Atlas Mountains or the sea, and distinct patterns are associated with various Berber tribes.
After learning about the carpet-making process, it was time to explore the many carpets housed in the cooperative. One by one, the Berber men carefully placed carpets on top of each other, creating a towering stack of textiles.
The piles of carpets rose higher and higher, some nearly reaching their knees before they were replaced with new ones.
Some carpets were made of wool, some of silk, and some were a blend of both. The silk carpets were soft and delicate, while the wool ones were thick and durable.
We gasped and marveled at each carpet, growing increasingly impressed with every piece unveiled before us.
These authentic handmade carpets were offered at surprisingly reasonable prices (especially in comparison to the exorbitant prices found in the Marrakesh Souks), with all proceeds benefiting the women’s cooperative. Importantly, we felt no pressure to buy anything.
We expressed our gratitude to our hosts for the memorable experience and delicious meal. They waved us goodbye as we made our way back through the sunlit alleyway, descending the narrow stairs.
This Marrakesh & Sahara trip was facilitated by Busabout.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
