permaculture

92 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Creative thinking : Sustainable house design ideas

Method : Presentation and work group, participatory brainstorms

Tools : Images of house improvement, black/white board, big paper, markers

References : PC Book MOD 3 – Houses, Water, and Waste Management

Objective : Participants learn techniques to improve their houses and quality of life

Step 1

Using something like the table below, and if available photo of examples, the facilitator

introduces techniques that can improve houses and the quality of life for the occupants

(table 1).

Step 2

Ask the participants to split up into smaller work groups to brainstorm and list as many

local examples of ways to improve houses, including local plants and building materials

that can be used. Once each workgroup has completed their brainstorms, they can

present their ideas to the whole group (table 2).

The answers listed below are only supplied for the facilitator for prompting

ideas and discussions if the participants need help.

Ways to improve

houses Effects Local examples

Local plants and

building materials

Build trellises or

pergolas outside

the house for

planting productive

vines

Cools the house

and produces food

In Buleleng regency

many people grow vines

around their houses

Plants: rose apple, castro

bean, passion fruit,

pineapple, papaya, banana,

cassava / Materials: bamboo,

used wood, coconut leaf

Plant productive

shade trees on the

western side of the

house

Provides shade,

cools the air around

the house

In Banjar Dukuh,

Sibetan villages, houses

are surrounded by salak

trees

Plants: Rambutan, mangos,

avocado, palm, rose apple,

guava, vines, orange

Toilet and washing

area outside and

down-wind

Reduces bad odors

In Mendoyo Dauh

Tukad, Bali people

have toilets outside

the house and position

them based on wind

direction

Plants that draw water:

banana, galanga, elephant

grass / Materials: bamboo,

used wood

Wastewater

flows through a

productive filter

garden

Cleans wastewater

and directs it to

productive plants

In some villages

banana pits are used

to deal with household

wastewater

Plants: banana, vetiver, canna

flower / Materials: clay, rice

husks

EXERCISE

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