permaculture

Workshop Module 7: Farming 197

Creative thinking : Farming chemicals pollution and costs

Method : Presentation, discussion, and group brainstorm

Tools : IDEP GMO Fact Sheets, black/white board, markers

References : PC Book MOD 7 – Farming;

PC Book MOD 9 - Integrated Pest Management

Objective : Participants understand the impacts of chemicals and external inputs

Step 1

The facilitator can draw on the white/black board something like the following diagram:

Discuss with the participants the short-term and long-term impacts of using
chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, including:

• Cost to the farmers.


• Pollution from transporting the chemicals.


• Pollution from using the chemicals.


• Impacts on soil fertility.


• Impacts of the surrounding environment and farmers’ health.


• Impacts on water sources.


• Impacts on the heath of people who eat produce grown with chemicals.

EXERCISE

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