Facts about Jordan

Meeting Princess Basma bint Ali

More than 92% of Jordan is desert land and is continuing to expand. Jordan has one of the lowest levels of water available per capita in the world. Like other countries, most of Jordan's water use is for industrial agriculture. Almost all intensive agriculture is in the Jordan River Valley. Non-renewable deep aquifers are being depleted and the Jordan River is expected to run dry within the next year.

The Dead Sea Valley is the lowest point on earth, 400 meters below sea level. The area is considered a hyper-arid climate. Evaporation in this type of climate is almost instantaneous, leaving either a powdery or hard packed whitish soil that is salty and completely depleted of nutrients. Temperatures in the summer can easily reach to 120 degrees Farenheit. The challenges are enormous for sustainable agricultural growth. Communities in this area struggle for water and food.

What We Are Doing

Al Jawasra Girl's School, Al Jawseri, Dead Sea Valley, Jordan
2009 - present, 280 girls, grades 1 - 12, with vocational training in upper level grades, including agriculture
Kids Are Sweet International has partnered with Permaculture Institute of Jordan and Permaculture Institute of Australia. As a joint collaboration between KASI and Permaculture Research Institute of Jordan, we designed and created the first permaculture school garden in Jordan. KASI fully funded the project and had direct involvement in the design, development and implementation of Al Jawasra's girl's school garden. The project will be completely sustainable within 3 - 5 years.


Al Jawasra girl's school is located in a poor, rural village near the Dead Sea, in one of the driest places on earth. There is very little water in the area and sustainable water management is nonexistent. A hands on learning environment for the students, teachers, and women in the village will allow a sustainable integrated approach that will benefit both the students and the community. The permaculture garden design site includes a hoop house for herbs, vegetables and flowers, a small nursery to cultivate seedlings, an outdoor classroom, and a food forest containing legume, date palm and other fruit trees. Rain water harvesting, drip irrigation, composting, and mulching are being implemented into the program.


Accomplishments to date

• Won First Prize from Department of Education for the best environmental school garden in Jordan, June 2010.
• Met with Princess Basma bint Ali, from the Royal Jordanian family to discuss our work in Jordan.
• Established the first organic permaculture school garden in Jordan.
• Established community outreach workshops for widows and families.
• Developed an organic market from the school garden with proceeds reinvested into the school.

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