Observing the effects of drought 2023

My husband and I took a trip to Italy during September and October of 2023. In 2022, Italy endured an incredible drought, and winter moisture was less than hoped for by those attuned to water levels. When rains did occur, they were heavy and produced flooding issues. Reading reports on Italy’s water deficit, there are leaders tackling water conservation; calling for repairs from leaking pipes to repairing & creating new water catchment basins.

Europe suffered high temperatures and very little precipitation during the summer and into autumn. Municipalities made decisions to limit water usage. Many famous fountains were not churning out water for the enjoyment of visitors. Many gardens and parks were dry, brown grass as water was used sparingly to keep featured plants alive. It was uncommonly warm and visitors were trying to find places to cool off within the “green spaces”.

As a Permaculturist, I couldn’t help but wonder why a society with such a fantastic and long history of agriculture and aqueducts was not adapting quick enough to the current changes in climate. We travelled by train, bus, and logged many miles hiking and I rarely found any water catchments, except for this one in the vineyards of Cinque Terre near Volastra:

Unfortunately that amount of water would not feed the thousands of vines growing on the ancient terraces.

We witnessed a small neighborhood park in Rome that had the drinking fountain constantly running over and creating a puddle while the rest of the park was dust and the plants were stressed. If I only had a shovel, I would have been making water drainages to those plants! Another drinking fountain near our hotel was also broken and the water spilling 24 hours a day into the street gutter.

At a passing glance by train or bus window, one would say Italy is very green, but a closer look revealed the plant stress and parched ground.

I love Italy, and am saddened by the climate issues affecting this beautiful country. I have rolled up my sleeves and attempted a vineyard, but I am no seasoned vineyard grower with a family history of the soils, climate and issues that I only quickly observed in my month long visit. However, with an eye for water catchment and a desire to help ancient olive trees & vineyards and beautiful gardens become sustainable, I believe that some relatively simple changes could be made to lessen the severity between rain events and dry spells. The positive note is that no one has to wait on government intervention to save water and create water catchments. This can be achieved by every individual who desires to make a difference.