permaculture

212 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Field activity : Weed control

Method : Group practical activity

Tools : See preparation below

References : PC Book MOD 7 – Farming;

PC Book MOD 6 – Home and Community Gardens

Objective : Participants practice weed control techniques

Preparation

• Identify farm land suitable for practicing weed control techniques.


• Collect the tools and materials needed for the techniques that will be practiced:
  
  
  • Weeding and mulch collecting tools.
  
  
  • Digging tools and bean seeds.
  
  
  • Tools and materials for animal tractors.
  
  
  • Tools and materials for rotation systems.
  
  
  
  

Running this exercise

The whole group should observe and note the weed types and weed growth on the site.

Then, one or more of the following techniques can be put into practice:

Weed control - Method 1. Remove the weeds and mulch

• Use different, appropriate techniques for each different type of weed.


• See the “Weed control” sections of PC Book MOD 7 – Farming and PC Book MOD
  6 - Home and Community Gardens for detailed instructions.

Weed control - Method 2. Cover crops

• Plant bean seeds as a cover crop at approximately 50cm apart in rows 1m apart.
  For example, beans planted in the middle of the corn growing cycle will cover the
  ground in between the corn.


• The beans don’t compete with the corn because of when they are planted and
  they provide good weed control and food for the soil.


• The beans are also cut back for mulch, as are the corn stalks.


• Sword bean, velvet bean (macona bean), and jack bean are good to use, other
  beans that cover the ground may also work well.

Weed control - Method 3. Animal labour

• Chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, cows, and buffaloes can all be used as animal
  tractors or integrated through animal rotation systems.


• See PC Book MOD 6 – Home and Community Gardens, PC Book MOD 10 –
  Animal Systems, PC Book MOD 7 – Farming and other lessons in this book for
  detailed information.

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