Facilitators-Handbook-For-Permaculture

158 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Field activity : Making natural plant containers

Method   :  Participatory   field   activity

Tools : See preparation below

References : PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving and Nurseries

Objective : Participants learn how to make plant containers from a local resource

Banana leaves make excellent containers. They are easy to make and free. Grow

1 vegetable seedling in each banana leaf container and 1 tree seedling in each banana

trunk container. When it is time to plant the seedlings simply place the whole container

in the ground and the roots will grow through the banana leaves.

Preparation

For every participant photocopy the page from PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving and

Nurseries that demonstrates through step-by-step diagrams how to make the seedling

containers.

Prepare enough of the following for all the participants - There should be enough

materials for every participant to make a container, and enough potting mix to plant

some seeds and a few seedlings.

• Banana leaves.


• Banana trunks.


• Bamboo pins to hold the containers together.


• Machete.


• Potting mix.


• Vegetable seeds and tree seedlings.

Running the exercise

• Step 1: Follow the step-by-step diagrams to make the different containers.


• Step 2: Fill some of the containers with the potting soil.


• Step 3: Plant the seeds and tree seedlings.

Note: This activity can also be a seed planting and seedling transplanting exercise.

Refer to those sections in PC Book MOD 5 – Seed Saving and Nurseries for more

information.

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