158 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops
Field activity : Making natural plant containers
Method : Participatory field activity
Tools : See preparation below
References : PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving and Nurseries
Objective : Participants learn how to make plant containers from a local resource
Banana leaves make excellent containers. They are easy to make and free. Grow
1 vegetable seedling in each banana leaf container and 1 tree seedling in each banana
trunk container. When it is time to plant the seedlings simply place the whole container
in the ground and the roots will grow through the banana leaves.
Preparation
For every participant photocopy the page from PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving and
Nurseries that demonstrates through step-by-step diagrams how to make the seedling
containers.
Prepare enough of the following for all the participants - There should be enough
materials for every participant to make a container, and enough potting mix to plant
some seeds and a few seedlings.
- Banana leaves.
- Banana trunks.
- Bamboo pins to hold the containers together.
- Machete.
- Potting mix.
- Vegetable seeds and tree seedlings.
Running the exercise
- Step 1: Follow the step-by-step diagrams to make the different containers.
- Step 2: Fill some of the containers with the potting soil.
- Step 3: Plant the seeds and tree seedlings.
Note: This activity can also be a seed planting and seedling transplanting exercise.
Refer to those sections in PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving and Nurseries for more
information.
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