Step 5: The coconut clumps

There are a few coconut trees in the farm, not enough to quench the thirst of many students! If  we want 40 to 50 coconut trees in a classic pattern (7.5mx7.5m) we will need 2800 m². It is a too much big area. The clump technique (from Bill Mollison, Permaculture, A Designer'Manual, Tagari publication, Second edition, 2002) consists to group 10-12 coconut trees in a circle 5m diameter. The used space is reduced to 80 m² for 4 clumps of 11 coconut trees each.

In other terms 1 ha of conventional coconut tree plantation can accept 177 palms and very few place for intercropping. The clump technique increases the number of palm to 266 per hectare and 8000 m² are available for intercropping.

As the coconut trees are very closed, they will compete for the light and grow in direction of the exterior of the circle. Another advantage is the center of the circle will be filled with the husk, dead leaves and provide to the trees an excellent mulching and fertilizer. The area can stay clean without too much work.

We have now 44 coconut trees planted (4 clumps of 11 coconut trees) and .... a few years to wait before we can taste our bukos!