Sheet Mulching Pond Edge
Initial Site

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The site was a sparse taro patch overgrown with grass and weeds. The Taro was harvested prior to the next step.

1st Trim Grass

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Grass was trimmed with the grass scythe.

2nd Banana Leaves

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Banana leaves are layered on with a little lemna (duck weed) from the pond.


4th Manure

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Manure is spread over the banana leaves.

5th Cardboard

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Cardboard is set on top of manure. A six inch overlap keeps the grass from growing through the cardboard.

6th Adjustment

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Don determines that the slope is to great for effective sheet mulching and instructs the students to remove the layers and lower the slope. The above image is after the slope has already been lowered and re-layered.


7th Mac. Nut Compost

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Macadamia nut compost is spread over cardboard to provide an initial growing medium. Rocks are placed on the lower slope for support.

8th Straw

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A thick layer of straw is laid over the Mac. nut compost to keep grass seeds from sprouting, to provide protection and carbon for soil development and for aesthetics.

9th Cardboard Slots

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Along the perimeter of the site, "X" shape slots are made in the cardboard with a scythe.


10th Comfrey

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The roots of Comfrey divisions are inserted in the slots. The Comfrey roots have some of their leaves attached and are planted through the cardboard mulch into the soil beneath.

11th Final Site

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Other plants such as mulberry, awa, edible lanna, sweet potato are inserted and Lemna is piled around the plants for additional nutrients.