permaculture

Workshop Module 10: Animal Systems 285

Field activity : Visit an integrated animal/agriculture system

Method : Field visit

Tools : See preparation below

References : PC Book MOD 10 – Animal Systems

Objective : Participants learn from observation and from people with experience

Field visits are excellent for bringing what the participants have learned into

a practical framework.

Preparation

• Identify sites that provide good examples of sustainable animal systems that are
  integrated with agriculture systems.


• Identify people involved in the development, management, or ownership of the
  site. These people could be:
  
  
  • Land owners.
  
  
  • Site workers.
  
  
  • Community leaders.
  
  
  • Project managers, etc.
  
  
  
  


• Speak to these people about the hope to conduct a field visit to their area/
  project and explain the objectives of the field visit. Ask them if they would
  be willing to share their knowledge and participate in the workshop by being
  available to explain the agriculture systems and answer participants’ questions.


• Make an agreement about the date and time for the site visit, ideally just
  following the presentations and practical exercises on this topic.


• Organise vehicles for transport and water, snacks, or meals for the participants if
  the field visit is longer than 2 hours.


• Organise clipboard, paper, and pens for the participants so that they can write
  notes, draw sketches, maps, etc during the field visit.

Running this exercise

• At the arranged time, go to the site and let the guides walk the participants
  around the site, explaining the plans and techniques used.


• Encourage the participants to write notes, draw sketches, maps, etc, and to ask
  as many as questions as possible. Encourage them to critically analyze the site
  as well (every site and project can be improved).


• After (or during) the field visit, the facilitator can conduct a group discussion
  where the participants can share what they learned and the facilitator can
  answer any further questions and add ideas if needed.

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