SELF-LEARNING HOME TASK (SLHT)

Subject __TLE – Agri Crop Production____ Grade: 9 Level: Secondary Quarter: 3 Week 3

MELC: Perform maintenance activities of nursery facilities, tools and equipment..

Competency Code: TLE_AFAC9-NW-IIIf-j-2

Name ____________________________________ Section ____________________ Date ________________

School ____________________________________ District ________________________________

A. Readings/Discussions

HOW TO MAINTAIN NURSERY FACILITIES

For more understanding of what you have read, let us define first some words.
 Facility- something designed or created to provide a service or fulfil a need.
 Nursery shed – a light structure where seedlings are cared for before planting. The shed also provides shade to
growers while raising seedling.
 Greenhouse – a more sophisticated building in which seedlings are being started before bringing to the nursery
shed. In most greenhouses, environmental conditions are controlled.
 Storage barn – a building where agricultural chemicals and other farm supplies are being stored.
 Shop building – a building where hand tools are being stored and repaired.
 Manual handling – any activity that requires a person to use force to push, hold, restrain, or carry an object.
 Maintenance – work that is done regularly to keep a machine, building, or piece of equipment in good condition
and working order

Maintaining Farm Facility

The most common facility we have is the nursery shed or greenhouse. It must be thoroughly cleaned and
organized. Users are required to help in the general cleaning to maintain a safe, sanitary, and orderly work
environment.

General housekeeping requirements for users are:

 clean worktables and/ potting benches
 clean floors and benches during and after work
 use compost and trash cans
 replace lids to avoid insect and growth of bacteria
 clean sinks after each use and limit the amount of soil going down drains
In cooperation with the users, the staff should:
 Wash and/or sweep floors of greenhouses and potting areas at least once per week
 Empty trash and compost cans regularly
 Sanitize and disinfect work areas as the need arises
 Empty bottles or containers of chemicals and other unusable materials should be disposed of properly following
the practice of waste management act
For productive, cost-efficient and effective farm facilities, here are activities you can immediately implement:
 Schedule a regular clean up at least twice a year. This is also the time to undertake a general inspection of
machines and equipment. The activities include removing all cobwebs, thorough scrubbing of the ceiling, walls,
and floor, and cleaning of machines. Segregate unserviceable tools, implements, and equipment that are
beyond repair from those that can be repaired.
 Schedule clean-up activities twice a month, including wiping lighting fixtures and windows, scrubbing of
restrooms, cleaning, and oiling of metal parts of farm tools, and placing lubricants to the moving parts of
machines. Repair defective tools, implements, and equipment as soon as possible.
 For regular clean-up chores, give workers about five minutes daily to tidy the work station, including the tools,
farm implements, machines, and equipment they use before they go home. This motivates the next workers (if
they operate in shifts) to start work immediately. Besides, this is a subtle way of developing in them the
housekeeping routine. Cultivate the habit of collecting waste even before it touches the floor. Provide a sack or
bag in one or two corners of the workplace where you can throw your garbage. At the end of the day, your
workers can just put their wastes in the designated places for disposal at the scheduled day and time

SIMPLE REPAIR AND MODIFICATION OF TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS

“Simple garden tools are simple to repair”. Spend a little time checking your garden tools for things to fix and recycle.

To Replace A Tool Handle:

1. Clamp the tool blade in a bench vise.
2. Remove the handle from the hasp using a drill, hammer, or other tools as needed.
3. Insert the new handle into the hasp.
 4. Tighten the handle in the hasp using fasteners. Use a screw and screwdriver to firmly attach the handle to the
tool head.

To Fix A Leaky Hose:

1. Cut through the hose on either side of the bad section using a sharp knife.
2. Attach male and female hose couplings to the cut ends, following the directions that come with the couplings. If
the new hose fittings don't slide in easily, try softening the ends of the hose in hot water or lubricating them
with soap or cooking oil.

To Fix A Broken Tooth of Rake/Fork:

Bring this to the shop and weld the broken portion of the tools. Do the same with the other tools and implement
that need welding. For farm machines that need repair, contact expert mechanics to the job.

Installation of Preventive Structure

It has been observed that as we go on our horticultural work we always experience the occurrence of inclement
weather. Before it is too late, think of anything that you can do to safeguard your crops, tools, and other
facilities. We should not only focus our attention on the occurrence of inclement weather but we have to
consider also other elements that may cause loss or damage to our property (ex. astray animals, fire, and
thieves).

Let’s take a look into our facilities, such as; nursery shed, storage house, and farm shops. Examine their physical
conditions (roofing, sidings, or floorings). Can they survive any disaster that may occur? Are the things inside safe? If
not, what preventive structures should you undertake?

Below is a table indicating the facilities, physical conditions, possible calamities or disaster that may occur, and the
suggested preventive structures or contingency measures to be undertaken. For carrying out day-to-day routine
cultural operations in the nursery, various tools, implements, and accessories are required. Some tools are simple and
are used for simple operations, whereas for carrying out specific operations, special types of equipment are required.
These are listed and briefly described on the following pages

Facilities Physical Condition Calamities/Disasters Suggested Preventive/Contingency

Measures
Nursery Shed Weak post Typhoon Put braces
Storage barn Leaking roofing Heavy rains Put water sealant
Farm shop Unsafe windows and Thieves/burglar Put grills and heavy – duty
floors padlocks
Fire Provide fire hydrants or call the fire
department
Run - off Construct drainage canals
Vicinity fence Dilapidated Stray animals Reconstruct fence

Prepare Farm Facilities for Storage:

After a quite long time, farming operations finally come to an end. This time we have to check the tools,
implements, and equipment we used and prepare them for storage.
Regarding the preparation of garden tools for long storage, you can adopt some of the practices mentioned below:
Begin by gathering all hand tools and removing any dirt or rust with a wire brush, steel wool or light sandpaper.
An old pro’s tip is to keep a galvanized tub with sand and waste oil to clean tools in.
By inserting the shovels, spades, and forks into the mixture and moving them up and down, they get a good scrubbing
with the abrasive sand as well as a coat of lubricant.
 Sharpen the tools using a file that is made specifically for this task. Remember to move the file in one direction
only, and at a 45- degree angle.
 Sand wooden handles with sandpaper and follow up with a coat of paste wax or linseed oil if necessary.
 Spray all metal parts with a good coat of lubricating oil. This will discourage rust as your tools are stored in
your tool shed or garage.
 Store your tools up off the ground and in a dry spot.
 Drain water hoses and hang them in the garage. Water hoses left out during winter and exposed to freezing
temperatures are more likely to tear and spring leaks.
 Don’t forget about the lawnmower. If you don’t have a chance to use up the gas before storing it, add a gas
stabilizer to the fuel tank to prevent corrosion.

Store pesticides out of reach of children and pets. Store dry pesticides in plastic bags. Liquid pesticides should be stored
in a location that will stay above 40 degrees Fahrenheit
By following these few basic preparatory steps, you can ensure that on the following year, you’ll be working in your
garden instead of working on your garden tools. With proper care of the farm tools, implements, and equipment, you
can also save yourself from buying new ones.

For proper care and maintenance of farmhand tools and equipment, the following guidelines should be observed:
 1. Hand tools must always be kept dry in a tool rack when they are not being used.
2. Tools should be washed or cleaned before keeping them in the tool rack.
3. The iron parts of tools should be oiled, greased, or painted with coal tar when they are to be stored for a long
time.
4. Defective tools should be repaired immediately. Those tools, implements, and equipment that are beyond repair
should be disposed of properly.
5. Cutting and digging tools (bolos, scythe, hoes, and axes) should be frequently sharpened.

FARM TOOL SAFETY

Keeping tools in good working condition is half the formula for being safe. The other half is the ability and awareness
of the person using the tools

Safety = Good Working Tools + Able and Aware Worker

Tool failure causes some farm accidents; however, most farm accidents are caused by tired, stressed, rushed,
distracted, or incompetent workers.

In addition to the specific safe handling rules for each type of farm tools, there are seven basic guidelines for
tools safety:
 Read and comply with the operator's safety manual for each piece of farm tool.
 Prepare for safety by wearing appropriate clothing, having enough rest, not drinking alcohol, and ensuring that
all workers have been trained and are capable of safely using the farm tool.
 Keep all guards, shields, and access doors in place when the tool is in used
 Be aware of what you are doing and where you are going.
 Adjust tools to fit working conditions.
 Keep children and other people away from the working area.
 Take breaks from work, as necessary.
 Why Do You Have To Maintain Farm Tools And Equipment?
 They last longer when maintained.
 Tools and equipment that are maintained work more efficiently.

maintenance reduces the cost of maintenance.

How to Effectively Maintain Farm Tools and Equipment

 SHARPEN TOOL BEFORE AND AFTER USE.

When you sharpen tools it reduces the amount of force you need to apply to accomplish the task. Blunt tools
may break when being used.
 OIL OR GREASE METAL PARTS.
This will prevent rusts of metal parts of tools and equipment. Oiling the movable parts makes the tools easy to
work with. It also increases the efficiency of the tool or equipment.
 WOODEN HANDLES SHOULD BE STRONG
Make sure tools with wooden handles are strong and durable. If there is any defect, replace them.
 HANG YOUR GARDEN TOOLS.
Keep your tools hanged. Leaving them on the floor can cause rusts as they may come in contact with moisture.
Leaving tools on the floor may cause injury to persons or persons stepping on them may break or deform them,
causing them to be unsuitable for work.
 STORE TOOLS IN THEIR ORIGINAL CASES.
Some tools and equipment come in their special cases to keep them protected for damage. Make sure to clean
and keep them in their original cases.
 USE SILICA GEL PACKS.
Silica gel helps to keep tools dry in their cases. Use silica gel to prevent rust of tools and equipment with metal
parts.
 DRY TOOLS AFTER USE.
After using tools or equipment, clean and make sure they are dried before packing or hanging them. This will
prevent them from rusting.

B. Exercises
Exercise 1
Directions:
a. At home, conduct a survey of all nursery tools, equipment and facilities available.
b. Make a list of nursery tools or facilities present.
c. Describe the condition of the tools listed and check if they are good or defective.
d. If defective, explain what you can do in order to become workable or useful.
e. Copy the format below and write your answers on a separate sheet of paper
 The Condition Tools and
Nursery Tools Farm Tools Solution/Remedy if Defective
Functional Defective
Change the wood handle into metal to make it
Example: Rake  durable

Exercise 2
Directions: Answer the following questions. Write your answer in a separate paper
1. What should you do to your tools after use and why?
2. Why is there a need to construct preventive structures in your workplace?
3. What preparations should you do before you store the farm facilities?
4. Why do we have to maintain farm facilities, tools, and equipment?
5. How to effectively maintain farm facilities tools and equipment?

C. Assessment/Application/Outputs (Please refer to DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2020)

Directions: Match column A with the description in column B. Write your answer in your answer sheet.

Column A Column B

_______1. Facility a. work that is done regularly

_______2. Maintenance b. sophisticated building for seedlings

_______3. Storage barn c. a building where hand tools are being stored.

_______4. Greenhouse d. a light structure where seedlings are taken care of.

_______5. Shop building e. a building where agricultural chemicals are being stored

f. something designed or created to provide service.

B. Directions: Explain briefly. Write your answer in a separate paper

1. How do you a fix leaky hose?

2. Why should tools be in a good condition all the time?

D. Suggested Enrichment/Reinforcement Activity/ies

Directions: At home with the help of your parents/guardian, conduct a post-operative check-up of the farm
facilities tools, implements, and equipment available and perform the following:
1. Segregate the damaged tools from the good ones.
2. Clean the tools and place them on their rack.
3. Repair tools with slight damage and ask assistance from parents in repairing the heavily damaged tools.
4. Observe safety precautions while doing the tasks.
5. Take pictures of your activities in complying with the task.
6. Make a short description of the picture taken.
7. Organize your work in a form of a scrapbook
8. Submission is done at the end of the week.

References:

A Practical Safety Guide for the Horticulture Industry in the Murray Valley
Agricultural Arts (T.H.E., SEDP, NSEC series) by Ramon G. Asuncion et.al.

Agricultural Arts for Secondary

Department of Education. Most Essential Learning Competencies

http://www.farm-garden.com/growing-vegetables/artichokes

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/iacl102.pdf http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc165.pdf

http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/safe@work/workplace_hazards.asp

https://blog.agrihomegh.com/effectively-maintain-farm-tools/

Prepared by:

MARIVIC A. DELA CERNA

Teacher 2/ Manguiao NHS Edited by:
Reviewed by:
MA. CORAZON Q. REAL
School Head

GUIDE

For the Teacher: Advise the students to read the reading discussion portion before they attempt to answer the
practice exercises. Going through the parts sequentially will help them understand easily the topic.

For the Learner: Read through the self – learning home task from the first part to the last part. Doing so, will
help you understand better topic…………….

For the Parent/Home Tutor: Assist your child and make sure that he/she reads the self – learning home task
from beginning to end to ensure proper understandings of the concepts.