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V I R G I N U N I T E

GUESTS NEWSLETTER ISSUE 11 DECEMBER 2009 Compiled by Eve Branson

V I R G I N U N I T E

Morocco
N E W S A N D D E V E L O P M E N T S F R O M T H E AT L A S M O U N TA I N S

K A S B A H TA M A D OT • ASNI • ASSELDA • TIMZRA • TA N S G H A RT • IMSKER

 virgin unite mo
A Flying Visit
On my last visit to Morocco in late 2009 I had only two
days in the mountains to accomplish everything I needed to
do. Kasbah Tamadot was unfortunately fully booked so my
interpreter, Zoubair, found a nearby bed and breakfast for me.
It wasn’t quite up to 5-star standard - how spoilt I must be as
normally I enjoy the luxury of Kasbah Tamadot!
This will be my last newsletter before 2010, and I was lucky
with the weather still glorious and plenty of guests still
swimming in the hotel’s outdoor pool. Once I’m finished I
will go back to Marrakech to see my daughter Vanessa’s art
exhibitions.
Spinning Around
I started my trip with a visit to the craft house across the
valley from the hotel in the village of Tansghart. On my last
visit Pat Thorne and her husband Barry (Pat is chairwoman of
the British Cashmere Goat Society) put together two spinning
wheels for the craft house, and this time I’m bringing out
Anne and Wendy, two wonderful, professional spinners to
help. After all, if we’ve now got the Cashmere goats safely in
their Moroccan resting home , surely to teach the girls to spin
will be essential. Once Wendy had added hand spindles the
room was soon spinning wildly! I left the twenty or so girls
not only all learning, but also laughing, proving to me their
excitement at having learnt yet another skill.
Embroidery teachers at work Learning to spin
Halfida, our housekeeper at the Tansghart craft house is
also learning well and will be looking after Wendy and Anne,
although she did throw away all the whiskey I left last time
for the spinners, thinking it would go mouldy!
Outside in the hot sunshine for a morning stroll I came across
two small children hand in hand. I bent down to talk to them
and was gladdened when they threw their arms about me,
stifling me with kisses before, hand in hand, they went on
their way! Further up the road were four 12 year old boys
who tried out their best French on me. One disappeared and
came back clutching a large, red apple. I felt I couldn’t accept
it without offering something in return… I know! Perhaps they
Girls hard at work Proudly the girls display their creations
would like a kite?! Yes indeed! So my next dream is to provide
kites for all the 10–12 year old boys in the villages near
Kasbah Tamadot.
Then a visit to the Kasbah Tamadot craft shop behind the
property’s tennis courts which we share with a Moroccan
shop keeper. I was glad to hear they are selling the work of
the girls from the craft house, so we must continue sending
out professional teachers.
A Visit To Imsker
Next, Brahim, Kasbah Tamadot’s House Manager, drove me up
to Imsker, a primitive village in the higher Atlas Mountains
where I’ve bought a small plot of land for another craft
centre. At present the girls have nothing to do after they
leave school at 13. We’ve got as far as getting a design drawn
up for a craft house but alas, the Eve Branson Foundation is
getting dangerously low on funds – I must curb my ideas until
the funds come through from this year’s ‘Rock the Kasbah’
fundraising event in Los Angeles in October.
So to sum up we now must try to help the local boys, which
shouldn’t take too much of our precious funds. We can
purchase kites which they need to be taught how to put
together, and perhaps teach them cricket, or even buy yo-yos
for the younger ones. All this bearing in mind my motto,
which is don’t give unless the children are learning! These
wonderful Berbers must not be spoilt, and I realise how easy
it is for the spoiler to spoil.
We’ve also got to create an income out of what we’ve done.
The guests at the hotel are taken over to see the girls at work
which brings in a small income, and hopefully while they are
there they will buy what they see. All this help, however, will
not be enough to build another craft house in Imsker!
An Update On The Goats
Then it was time to see how Aziz the goat herder was getting
on. Yes, I’m sure the little white orphan kid remembered me
from my last visit, but surely we should utilise some wasted
space nearby and have perhaps ducks, hens and rabbits and
orocco yes – we need to buy more land for goats. They are costing us
so much to keep without any field nearby.
Although the Cashmere goat herd is fast expanding, I needn’t
have worried as Brahim, with joy in his voice, told me the
local forestry agent had said if we make a cover and shed for
the shepherd we could have all the land necessary up in the
forest and for FREE! Whoopee!
One more day and still work to do… Some of the female
goats have been separated and are in a confined shed for
breeding purposes. Once our two chosen males we’ve named
Romulus and Remus are sufficiently mature, the goats will
be reunited and should be due to give birth in June 2010. We
thought of artificial insemination, but no vet in Morocco has
ever performed this feat (common in England) so it will have
to be the natural way!
All seemed in order, and construction has begun on a hen
house near the goat shed. I was somewhat surprised to see it
being built with high brick walls – thick enough to not only
keep out the wild foxes but all the east winds and snow. I’m
hoping there will be space to keep 60 hens, and we hope
Kasbah Tamadot will buy our eggs and so supplement our
income to cover the many outgoings.
Our breeding males, Romulus and Choosing a site for the
Remus, make themselves at home goats in the forest
Having been offered this large chunk of forest land, I decided
to go and see it for myself. Along with two men from the
forestry commission and with Zoubair we struggled, higher
and higher into the Atlas Mountains we drove, and when the
car could go no further we had to push our way through rock,
scrub and boulders – perfect for the goats – not so good for
the likes of me!
Finally we came to an opening with water nearby – Aziz’s
smile broadened. Yes, this was the place for his goat shed,
although I was fearful for him alone up here with all the local
wild animals.
Opening Of The Forest Museum
On the second day Brahim and I were invited to the grand
opening of the Forest Museum opposite Kasbah Tamadot.
It was an experience not to be missed as we climbed up
the steep ragged path which was lined with Moroccan men
traditionally dressed in white long robes with little white caps
perched on their heads. Red flags were fluttering from every
flag pole as it was Moroccan
Independence Day. The
drums beat out a rhythm
while the crowds clapped
loudly at the Governor’s
arrival.
By now crowds all of 100
deep surged forward. With
Brahim clutching my hand
we were honoured to be
allowed to the front and At The Forest Museum for Moroccan Independence Day
entered the museum which
covers two floors. There are blown up pictures of rivers,
mountains and sedimentary rock formations showing
engravings depicting the early way of life in the region.
Moving on there were exhibits focussing on the mountain
social life depicting weaving, bread making, spinning and
farming. Moving up to the next floor there was information
on the biodiversity in the mountains which highlighted the
need for a healthy tree population as well as plenty of flowers
and a large variety of wild butterflies. The whole of the forest
needs careful husbandry as it is a fragile balance.
We then were persuaded to look through a small window into
the darkness until suddenly a moon appeared. We then heard
an eerie chorus of sound coming from all the wild animals that
are normally only heard at nightfall. These animals range from
red foxes, rabbits, deer, wild boar, Barbary sheep and gazelles to
African wild cats (they are common here) and jackals.
At the end of the exhibition there is a plaque which reads:
“We have a duty to preserve our national inheritance so rich,
but so fragile, for the current future generations.” Yes, if you
are staying at Kasbah Tamadot I do advise you take a stroll
over and view it for yourself.
Reflections... And Plans For The Future
I’ll next come out in March 2010 when the goats should
have sufficient Cashmere fibre to comb. I think we’ll have
a combing party, so if anyone would like to volunteer
we’d be only too grateful! Aziz’s new shed is about 3km
from the main road so I suggest you take flat shoes and
I look forward to seeing you up there in the heart of the
forest – an experience you surely will enjoy.
EVE BRANSON
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