Making clay seed pellets
One of the first things Mr Raju (see Mr Raju's Visit ) got us doing was making clay seed pellets (Mr Raju is on the right). We began making them on 5th May. Fukuoka prescribed the use of clay pellets as an effective form of sowing. The pellets will lie dormant on the ground, unseen by the mammals and birds that would eat naked seeds. When the time of germination comes and the conditions are perfect, the seeds will germinate and send down roots. In this instance we are making Su-Babul (Acacia) seed pellets.
The clay was taken from a near-by stream. We made about 1500 pellets in total. We chose acacia for many reasons. Firstly, the leaves are very good fodder. Secondly, they can be planted in close proximity, in whatever shape, to create a natural fence perimeter for a cow/goat enclosure. Thirdly, and most importantly, they are very good for the health of the farm: they fertilize the soil, irrigate the soil, and attract disease that would otherwise attack more vulnerable plants, but which leaves the acacia unaffected. We will also use it to re-green bare earth on the hill sides caused by land slides.
This is the cow shed. We scattered about 1000 clay pellets of acacia around here, behind and on either side, to provide fodder for the cows, and to enrich the soil.
A perimeter fence, where we sowed acacia seeds (in clay pellets), to create a pen.
A clay pellet (right in middle of photo), with an acacia seed inside.