permaculture

202 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

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ILITATOR

Presentation : Natural fertilizers for farms

Method : Presentation and discussion

Tools : Images of quality results using natural fertilizing techniques

black/white board, markers

References : PC Book MOD 7 – Farming; PC Book MOD 4 - Healthy Soil

Objective : Participants learn about natural fertilizing techniques for farms

Sustainable agriculture practice focuses on building up and improving the soil

quality year after year. Natural fertilizers provide the nutrients that the plants need as

well as improving soil quality and structure.

By incorporating several different sustainable agriculture techniques at the same time the

soil quality and structure will be greatly improved.

Preparation

The facilitator can prepare relevant handouts for the participants which explain the

benefits, and methods for making and using the natural fertilizers listed below.

Running this exercise

The following methods of natural fertilizing are all described in detail in the “Natural

fertilizers and mulch” section of PC Book MOD 7 – Farming and in PC Book MOD 4 -

Healthy Soil.

The facilitator can introduce each of the methods while giving the participants hand outs

and/or showing images of the results of using the following:

• Liquid fertilizer.


• Compost.


• EM – Effective Microorganisms.


• Cover crops.


• Legumes.


• Green manure crops.


• Mulch.

The facilitator can encourage a discussion with the participants about:

• The current condition and quality of farming/gardening soil in the area.


• Any positive experiences that participants have had using natural fertilizers.


• What types of natural fertilizer the participants think would be good for different
  types of farming – Rice paddies, grain crops, vegetables, etc.


• Their ideas for developing a natural fertilizing system for local farms which
  incorporate many different techniques.