permaculture

Workshop Module 7: Farming 205

Integration means combining different agriculture systems together. Maintenance of
integrated systems can be cheaper and easier as the waste from one part of the system
can be used as a resource in another part of the system. Overall production from the
land can be increased.

Examples of integration:

• Small fruit trees and legume trees grown with grains and vegetables
  
  
  • The trees can be harvested as well and can help to increase production of the
    grains and vegetables. They can be grown in rows, around the cropland, or in
    groups.
  
  
  
  


• Animals grazed on the cropland after harvest will fertilize the soil.
  However, be careful not to leave buffalo and cows in one spot too long or the
  soil will become compacted.


• Legume trees used as living fences for crop rotation and animal
  grazing - Legumes can be grown in rows or planted to divide cropland into
  sections.


• Water from aquaculture ponds is rich in nutrients - Swales, terraces, and
  paddies can be used to catch and store the run-off water and use it to grow
  vegetables and trees.

The facilitator can hand out related components of the relevant sections of the
Permaculture Reference Book.

See PC Book MOD 7 – Farming, PC Book MOD 8 – Forests, Tree Crops, and
Bamboo, PC Book MOD 6 – Home and Community Gardens, and other exercises
in this book for reference and ideas.