Facilitators-Handbook-For-Permaculture

Workshop Module 4: Healthy Soil 123

Field activity : Mulching a garden bed

Method : Identify, collect, and use mulch material

Tools : Mulch materials, mulch cutting tools

References : PC Book MOD 4 - Healthy Soil

Objective : Participants practice various mulching techniques

Preparation

The facilitator should prepare the following:

• Rocks, thick branches, or other materials for making garden borders.


• Compost.


• Mulch materials.


• Tools for chopping mulch materials.

Locations with:

• Fruit trees. • Paths.


• Vegetable beds. • Seedlings.

Running this exercise

• Divide the participants into workgroups, and have each group choose a target
  area for their mulching exercise (i.e. trees, beds, paths, seedlings).


• Ask the participants to identify and collect various mulch materials.


• Prepare the mulch materials – bulkier materials should be chopped up.


• Have the groups apply the mulch at the various locations.


• Together with the entire group do a survey of each of the mulched sites
  and discuss together the various samples of mulching they have created.
  Congratulate good examples, and give tips and feedback on how some could be
  improved (if necessary).

Additional exercise

The facilitator can give the “Mulching test” exercise in the “Mulching” section of PC Book

MOD 4 - Healthy Soil to the participants to try for themselves after the workshop.

FI

ELD

ACTIVI

TY

PA

RTICIPATORY