permaculture

Workshop Module 6: Home and Community Gardens 187

Field activity : Make swales/terraces (Garden Ex. 12)

Method   :  Participatory   field   activity

Tools : See description below and PC Reference Manual

References : PC Book MOD 6 – Home and Community Gardens;

PC Book MOD 8 - Forests, Tree Crops, and Bamboo;

PC Book MOD 7 - Farming

Objective : Participants learn about and create swales and terraces

Preparation

• Materials for making and using A-frames.


• Tools for digging the swales and/or terraces.


• Rocks, clay, or wood for holding the terraces and/or swales in place.


• Seeds, seedlings, or propagates to plant in the finished terraces and/or swales.


• Mulch materials.

Running this exercise

This exercise is divided up into the following steps:

1. Making the A-Frame and using it to mark out the swales and/or terraces.


2. Digging the swales and/or terraces.


3. Using the rocks, clay, or wood to support the swales and/or terraces.


4. Planting the seeds, seedlings, or propagates:
   
   
   • Create legume tree rows, if space provides, use legume propagates on the
     edge of every 2nd swale or terrace.
   
   
   
   


5. Mulching the swales and/or terraces.

Notes:

• It is beneficial for all the participants to practice each of the steps in this
  exercise.


• For successful implementation of this exercise you can use the information and
  pictures in the reference chapters for advice, but some direct field experience
  with designing and making swales and terraces is important.

See PC Book MOD 6 – Home and Community Gardens, PC Book MOD 8 -
Forests, Tree Crops, and Bamboo, PC Book MOD 7 - Farming, and other exercises
in this book for reference and other ideas.

FI

ELD

ACTIVI

TY

PA

RTICIPATORY