Apparatus and method of growing vegetation in an arid environment

A method for cultivating vegetation in an arid region, the method comprising:

• providing a mat;
• providing a super-absorbent polymer (“SAP”) cooperative with the mat;
• providing seeds of a selected variety of vegetation incorporated in the mat;
• identifying or creating a sloping area in the arid region, the sloping area being configured to cause rainwater to drain to a lowest portion thereof;
• installing the mat in the lowest portion of the sloping area;
• and
• covering the mat by placing a mat cover made from a transparent or semi-transparent material suspended above the mat or placed directly onto and in physical contact with substantially all of an upper surface of the mat;
• said mat cover forming a physical barrier configured to cause water vapor beneath the mat cover to condense on an underside of the mat cover and drip onto the mat;
• said mat cover being perforated at locations that are spaced apart, thereby allowing rain that falls onto the mat cover to drain through the perforations and be absorbed by the SAP that is cooperative with the mat.