226 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops
PR
ESEN
TATIO
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FAC
ILITATOR
Presentation : Tree maintenance
Method : Facilitator presentation
Tools : Images explaining the techniques, black/white board, markers
References : PC Book MOD 8 - Forests, Tree Crops, and Bamboo
Objective : Participants learn techniques for tree maintenance
Most or all of the participants will have planted and looked after trees before,
but this is still an important exercise because:
- There may be a step that they hadn’t thought of before.
- There may be something that they could improve.
- From the participants sharing their own knowledge everyone, including the
facilitator, will learn more. - Good techniques will make tree growth faster, production better, and reduce the
chances of disease or pest attack.
The facilitator, using the detailed information in PC Book MOD 8 - Forests, Tree Crops,
and Bamboo, and their own experience, can explain and discuss the following concepts
with the participants:
- Tree planting:
- Small trees grown together - Citrus, bananas, cacao, guava, custard apple,
papayas, sesbania, pigeon pea, moringa, coffee, taro, etc. - Large fruit trees grown together – Mango, avocado, jack fruit, coconut, etc.
- Timber trees, oil trees, bamboo, fibre trees, medicine, firewood trees, etc.
- Small trees grown together - Citrus, bananas, cacao, guava, custard apple,
- When to plant.
- Watering.
- Natural tree fertilizers.
- Tree mulching.
- Tree pruning.
Note: Different techniques are used depending on whether the tree is an annual production
higher maintenance tree or a lower maintenance forest tree.
For each of the components above ask the participants to share their own techniques
and experiences.
List their answers on the board for everyone to see, compare, and discuss.