permaculture

316 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Field activity : Pond preparation (Aquaculture Ex. 3)

Method   :  Participatory   field   activity

Tools : See exercise below

References : PC Book MOD 11 - Aquaculture

Objective    :  Participants    practice    making  a   functional  fishpond

See the “Prepare the fishponds” section of PC Book MOD 11 – Aquaculture for details of

running this exercise.

Preparation

Make sure that all the tools and materials needed are on hand:

• Manure.


• Leaves and materials for making shade structures.


• Water plants.


• Fish habitats - Piles of rocks, water plants, old tires, etc.


• Plants, rocks, logs, etc for around the pond edges.


• Appropriate tools.

Step 2 - Complete the Ponds

Divide the participants into 5 groups to each complete a section of the fish ponds

preparations as follows:

• Group 1 – Add manure and leaves to the fishponds.


• Group 2 – Provide shade if necessary.


• Group 3 – Add water plants.


• Group 4 – Add fish habitats.


• Group 5 – Add plants, rocks, logs, etc around the pond edges.

Ongoing pond maintenance

Explain to the participants that to provide ongoing food for the fish and to keep the pond

environment healthy, they will need to continue to add manure and leaves:

• 1 week after the fish have been added, start adding more manure:
  
  
  • 30-40kg of cow, horse, or pig manure per 100m^2 once every week.
  
  
  • 8-10kg of cow, horse, or pig manure per 25m^2 once every week.
  
  
  • 5kg of bird manure per 100m^2 or 1-2kg per 25m^2 once every week.
  
  
  
  

Step 2 - Review and feedback

Review the results of each workgroup’s construction with all of the participants and

discuss the functions and benefits of the system. Answer any questions.

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