Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

materials
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Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Organic Vegetable Production
• Office supplies (e.g., , Manila papers, notebooks, ball pens, marking pens, and crayons);
• Field supplies (e.g., garden soil free from soil-borne pathogens, river sand, measuring cans,
dried crushed alnus leaves or other leguminous leaves, ash, sprinkle cans, etc.); and
• Organic vegetable fields ready for seedbed preparation (e.g., vegetable seedbed in learning
field).
methodology
• Field walks, hands-on, and brainstorming
steps
1. Divide big group into five small groups. Before seedbed preparation, each group should
observe already established seedbeds in adjoining farms and record materials used, estimated
percentage germination, seedling vigor, weeds present, pest and disease occurrence, etc.
Interview some organic farmers to gather other relevant information.
2. Each small group will then gather appropriate seedbed medium and prepare seedbed (e.g.,
hands-on) for their assigned vegetable crops. The participants in each small group should
brainstorm also for possible modification of procedure and materials to use. The groups may
opt to leave a portion of their seedbed untreated for comparison.
3. Every week thereafter, each group will record the same observations they made before seedbed
preparation. After every observation, participants in each small group should brainstorm
and summarize their observations but present the same to big group every other week until
seedlings are ready for transplanting. The summary of weekly observations should be printed
in Manila paper.
4. After final observations, conduct participatory discussions in big group to allow sharing of
experiences among participants and facilitators. Synthesize and summarize output of small
groups into one big group output. Draw up conclusions and recommendations from this
exercise.