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Procedure with dead plant material and dead wood
- Branches and roots thicker than approximately 4 cm (1.5 inches) at the thickest point should be placed in the dead wood pile. We have two of these piles, which are marked on the plan. Always use the nearest one. If you cannot find them, ask for help. When adding material to the pile, make sure to cut it into pieces no longer than 150 cm (6 feet). The pile should not be higher than 120 cm (4 feet). Always place the new material at one end of the pile, which is marked with a bamboo stick with an orange top. Fill the pile up to the maximum height. Try to place thicker branches closer to the bottom of the pile. Use smaller sticks or pieces of wood to separate the larger branches so that they don’t touch directly. This ensures constant airflow, which accelerates the rotting process.
- Place the branches in a uniform direction on top of the pile, not crisscrossed. This will make the pile more stable, but it may reduce airflow, which is important for faster rotting. To counteract this, insert smaller pieces of wood between the larger branches to maintain good airflow.
- If you encounter very thick pieces that are too long to chop reasonably with a machete, leave them aside. Inform Stefan or Yule, who will cut them with a chainsaw.
- Attention: We do not want to store plants that could still grow roots. If you are unsure, place them in a separate pile next to the main pile. This extra pile will be checked periodically, and once it is clear that the wood is completely dead, it can be added to the main pile.
- Before storing any branches or trunks in the pile, remove any green spreading branches or leaves.
- Bamboo should not be stored in the dead-wood piles. Old bamboo can be brought to the nearest fire pit.
- Woody Pipas (Coconuts): If Jule and Stefan want to keep any of them, they will inform us. Otherwise, collect them in a box and store them next to the nearest fire pit. There are two fire pits, which are marked on the plan. If you cannot find them, ask for help.
- The thick, woody parts of palm fronds should be chopped off and taken to the fire pit. The rest can be chopped and left directly on the ground, as it won’t interfere with the weed whacker.
- Smaller branches and greenery may be chopped up with a machete and left on the land. This way, they won’t interfere with the weed whacker and will directly nourish the soil.
- This does not apply to Katuk, as it is very invasive. Chopped Katuk that is not used for food should be brought to the nearest fire pit.
- If you find old construction wood, take it to the south fire pit. The ashes from the north fire pit will be used for compost, and since the old construction wood may contain toxic paints, nails, screws, etc., it should not be burned in the north fire pit.