permaculture

234 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Creative thinking : Create a model of a community forest

Method : Make a 3-D model hillside

Tools : See preparations below

References : PC Book MOD 8 - Forests, Tree Crops, and Bamboo

Objective : Participants practice creating a well managed community forest

Preparation

• Enough soil so that groups of 8-10 participants can each work together to create
  models of 3-D hillsides.


• A good supply of water and at least 1 watering can per group (if regular watering
  cans are not available, use large tin cans with small nail holes in the bottoms).


• Shovels, spades, hoes, and rakes for shaping the model hillsides.


• Hand trowels and smaller tools for the finer detail of the models.


• Other items that can be useful for making creative models (twine, cardboard,
  pens, small stones to represent rock swales, etc).

Running this exercise

Step 1 - Exercise orientation

The facilitator should briefly revisit the key principles of creating a productive community

forest together with the participants.

The following components can be listed on a board or a large piece of paper so all

the participants can see. Encourage the participants to include as many of the

following principles as possible in their models:

• Different sections which match the land topography – Fruit trees, tree
  plantations, forest areas, protected rivers, etc.


• Swales and terraces in appropriate areas, ideally several different types of swale
  systems (for example off contour swales could be used to redirect water to
  where it is needed).


• Include animals where suitable.


• Windbreaks.


• Pathways.


• Integrate different systems together as much as possible.


• Compost, liquid compost, and mulch making resources and facilities.


• Signs for the community forest area.

EXERCISE

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