Nature’s way of composting- Banana papaya circles
Banana-papaya circle is one of most potent and exemplary natural design also sometimes called a pit garden to compost organic waste and raising natural food at the same-time without any additional maintenance and watering. It has some of below mentioned multiple magical functions for any space to be planted with.
· Natural compost pit (check anti-burning of organic material and decentralized organic waste management naturally)
· Effective waste water management system in natural way
· Organic food production with zero maintenance and input requirements
· Frugal,natural, innovative and food-forest garden design
· Regenerative biomass production
· Habitat for flora & fauna with natural learning & experimental classroom
Banana circle construction process
The banana circle is a relatively easy design/feature to be constructed and quickly planted-out with cuttings and root division of below listed plants. When constructed correctly it serves mainly as a spot to cycle the constant flow of organic matter generating from the school, residential, park or any other spaces in most regenerative way.
The earth that is dug is drug outwardly with hoes and shovel to form a mound more or 4–5 feet wide and 3–4 deep. This gives plenty of planting space for the bananas-papaya themselves as main plants and the subsequent below listed plants in guilds on mounds.
These plants are perennial, heavy feeder, high organic matter loving, acidic soil loving, high biomass producer plants. Many more shade and organic matter and acidic soil loving plants can be grown on the guild.
List of plants to be included in Banana papaya circle along with part used and how to use
Banana
Plantain fingers, male flower, inner stem
Sautéed vegetable, pakodas, raita
Papaya
Fruit, leaves
Fruit salad, leaves’ herbal teas
Moringa/drumstick
Leaves, flower, pods, roots
Cooking, pickle, herbal tea, water management & recharging
Turmeric
Roots, leaves
Cooking, powder, pickle, gardening sprays
Calocasia/taro
Root, leaves
Cooking and leaves’ pakodas
Sweetpotato
Roots
Cooking, boiling and roasting
Lemon grass
Leaves and stem
Cooking, herbal tea, fragrance
Vitevar grass
Leaves and roots
Drinks, herbal tea, water management
Citronella grass
Leaves
Mosquito repellent, fragrance, organic sprays
Mints (various types e.g. spear, pepper etc)
Leaves
Medicinal, Flavoring, chutney, drinks, seasoning, herbal tea, gardening sprays
Cassava/yuca
Roots
Cooking, starch, landscaping & beautification
Curry leaf
Leaves
Cooking, dried leaf powder, hair-care
Giloy/Guduchi
Stem
Herbal tea, anti-viral
Nasturtium
Leaves and flowers
Salad
Insulin/costus
Leaves
Medicinal
Rose
Flower and fruit (Rose hip)
Gulakand, herbal teas, fragrance, flavoring
Oxalis/sorrel
leaves
Chutney, raw salad
Aloe vera
Leaves
Cooking, body care, organic sprays
Precautionary notes
Any organic waste including bones and meat can to be put in compost pit but it should be free from plastic and scrap.
Dry leaves and litter needs to be added if coming-in waste is more wet. It helps in better decomposition and prevents stinky smell.
Bioenzymes can be sprayed and used in compost pit and over plants. Bioenzymes promote diversity of good anaerobic composting microorganisms and helps plants to better grow.