permaculture

Workshop Module 9: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 251

Creative thinking : Known local pest predators

Method : Participatory group brainstorm

Tools : Large paper, markers

References : PC Book MOD 9 – Integrated Pest Management

Objective : Participants create a local pest predators list

Facilitator’s note: As well as increasing awareness and familiarity with local pest
predators, this exercise can help to raise the participants’ awareness about the local
environment and its connection to farming systems.

Running the exercise

• On the board create a table something like the following. Leave the answers to
  the questions blank so that the participants come up with their own ideas.


• Conduct a group brainstorm with the participants to fill in the list of local natural
  pest predators and their natural habitats (table 1).


• Then have the participants split up into workgroups to brainstorm ideas about
  what could be done so they would stay close to gardens/farms (table 2).


• Have the workgroups present their ideas to the entire group when they are done
  to compare ideas and give each other feedback.


• Use the information from the previous “Pest predator presentation” if it is
  needed to prompt the participants.

Local pest

predators Their natural habitats

What could be done so they stay

close to gardens/farms

Frogs Dry and wet rice fields, ponds, trees, rivers, bush, etc Create ponds in the garden

Snakes Rice field, bush, trees, rivers, forest, farms, etc Have frogs to attract snakes

Lizards Trees, bush, rice field, rivers, forest, farms, etc Stack rotten wood to create a habitat for lizards

Birds Trees, rice field, forest, rivers, sea, etc Plant organic and natural plants and flowers

Lady bugs Garden, rice field, ponds, farms, forest, rivers, etc Plant beans

Spiders Garden, farms, forest, trees, etc Create living fences to attract insects

Ants Garden, rice field, farms, trees, etc Create compost heaps

Table 1. Table 2.

Note: the facilitator should compile the results of the small group brainstorms onto the
main list as the presentations are delivered. Place the result in the training space to be
referenced during the rest of the workshop.

EXERCISE

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