Banana circle at St. Joseph's

After the visit to Badilisha Eco Village we talked about how nice it would be with a banana circle at the school. A banana circle is created by digging a big hole, about 50 cm deep. The soil is piled up around the hole, in a circle. Banana plants are placed there, along the circle. The soil and the hole is covered with mulch to keep the moisture from evaporating. Waste water from dishing and cooking and all sorts of organic waste can then be disposed in the hole. The water and nutrients will infilitrate into the soil and nuture the plants.When we suggested this for the school principal, it turned out that the school had discussed the same idea. We arranged for a day when we could create the banana circle at the school, together with teachers and students. We also invited a permaculture instructor, Elin Lindhagen, that offered to guide us in the work.


At the agreed day, when we arrived at the school with the plants, the students had already dug a hole at the ideal place, right next to the school's water tap. Amazed by the shown enthusiasm, we planted the plants and finished the banana circle together with the students. Elin led the work and explained each step that we did. We are very grateful that she could assist us, and we thank the students and teachers at St. Joseph's Secondary School for the positive spirit and their enthusiasm!






We gather mulch together with the students [All photos: Sofia Wendel]




 

Elin explains how to plant the lemon grass



 

The students continue with planting of the sweet potatoes




 

The soil and the hole is covered with mulch




 

The waste water from cooking can now be used to nurture the banana circle





The finished banana circle




 

Elin discussed farming with the teachers and students

Workshop with students at St. Joseph's Secondary School

We arranged a workshop at St. Joseph's Secondary School, at the 21th of March. Around 30 students participated in total. They were divided into groups which worked with different tasks during the day. For two of the groups we had constructed models of the school, made out of cardboard. We had also prepared stickers with symbols for various feelings and activities, e.g. feeling happy, playing, studying, relaxing. The students were asked to place the symbols in the model, at places they felt correlated with the symbol in question. During the process we asked the students why they for example felt happy at that particular place, why that specific spot was good for studying or playing. We also had a second phase in which the students were asked to come up with suggestions for improvements of the school. These exercises helped us understand how the students use the school compound, and it also initiated a discussion about the development of the school.


The other groups measured the pH-value of the soil at the school yard and another nearby area. The measurements taught us that the soil at the school compound has ~pH 6. Furthermore it allowed us to get to know the students better, and they got a chance to talk to us in a more informal situation. The students made this a fantastic and fun day, thank you!

Some of the symbols that we used for the workshop

One of the groups that worked with the models and symbols

The other group

One of the models, right after the workshop

Students measuring pH of the soil

The sum-up where all groups explain what they have done during the day

All the participants. Thank you everyone!