Certificate In Horticulture (Permaculture)

1. The CORE UNITS common to all streams of the Certificate in Horticulture:
(ie. Introduction to plants, Plant Culture, Soils & nutrition, Pests, diseases and weeds and Introductory propagation). These studies provide you with an important broad based understanding of Horticulture which greatly improves your ability to design effective Permaculture systems.

These studies also broaden the employment prospects of graduates enabling them to seek employment in areas such as nurseries, landscaping and garden management. It will give you a neiche that will be valuable for consulting in areas that require natural garden systems and permaculture too.

2. The PERMACULTURE STUDIES
You will be studying Permaculture Systems, Advanced Permaculture and a relevant elective such as Organic plant culture or Poultry, see below for electives.

Enrolment fees do not include exam fees

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE

Develop a good understanding of the scientific system of naming plants.
Discuss some of the aspects which play a part in permaculture.
Describe how permaculture is different to other forms of horticulture and agriculture.
Visit an outdoor environment area determine what relationships the living and non‑living things might have with each other.
Explain contour maps and how this information can be used to estimate potential effects on plant growth.
Explain weather patterns in your local area. Determine why this knowledge may be important to the permaculture practitionist.
Explain water within an ecosystem or permaculture garden and its application.
Describe the differences between the three main types of climate zones (ie: Tropical, Temperate and Desert); and briefly give your views on what major differences would need to be taken in establishing a permaculture system in each climate zone, compared with the other two.
Explain the importance of trees in a Permaculture system.
Describe how you would build a no dig garden approximately 10 X 3 metres in size.
Step by step work through a process of planning changes to a garden to make it into more of a permaculture system.
Collect and list preplanning information relevant to developing home into a permaculture system
Write a report explaining the five permaculture zones.
Create a table listing 50 different pest, disease and weed problems in one column, and an appropriate natural control method for each one in an adjacent column.
Make a list of companion plants. In one column, list the herb or companion plant.
Draw a plan for a fruit or vegetable garden which incorporates companion planting.
Explain briefly each of the companion planting interrelationships you have included in your plan.
Design a small and simple water garden for use in a permaculture system.
Design and build an herb spiral.
Design a vegetable and herb garden based on permaculture principles which would produce enough food to feed you and your family for the entire year.
List as many different central features as you can think of which could be used in a Mandalla garden
Outline how to plan and prepare garden zones in relation to animals. Provide step-by-step instructions and accompanying photographs or drawings.
Contact your state department of Agriculture and obtain leaflets relating to poultry which you are particularly interested in keeping.
Contact your state department of Agriculture and obtain leaflets (and any other publications) relating to bee keeping.
In no less than 500 words explain the importance of bees to horticulture and the permaculture garden.

Develop a 5 year plan for developing a one hectare permaculture farm utilising plants, animals and fish (aquaculture). Use drawings and diagrams where needed to assist in this report.
Select three different aquatic animals which would be appropriate to grow in a permaculture system. For each one in turn, explain how you would incorporate it into a permaculture system.
Go to nurseries and agricultural supply companies and inquire about environmentally safe pesticides. Write a report on these products.
Observe the construction process of a building or structure that involves some type of earthworks (eg, roads, dams, etc).
Take a photograph of your home or residence. Discuss your residence in relation to designing with consideration to the environment (eg. does it efficiently utilize sun and shade, is it energy efficient).
Describe the importance of house design in relation to location, eg. tropical region of your locality.
Contact the local council or health department and inquire about allowable use of waste material in your area. Consider asking about grey water, septic tanks, use of effluent and animal wastes, etc. Write a report to 250 words on the task.
Contact and obtain information on composting toilets from a manufacturer. Compile this information and use it as a personal reference.
Contact a supplier of windmills and find out all that you can about the use of these devices for supplying water (ie. pumping from a river, lake, dam, ground water etc). Discover the alternatives available, the costs involved, the applications, operation etc.
Contact the National Parks and Wildlife department or a conservation body in your locality and obtain as much information as possible on wildlife corridors, conservation, etc. Contact your local council department and inquire about their wildlife corridors, etc. Are they similar or drastically different? Can you think of a reason why there may be a difference?
For a month period, write down all tasks performed by yourself and anyone who enters your permaculture garden. Submit this work schedule plus a brief report on how it may be possible to improve the time efficiency in the garden.
Write a report on where you think ‘alternative’ permaculture is heading in terms of main-stream acceptance.

If you want a change, to get your hands dirty and try something new; gain a solid training in Permaculture Design and practices! This course was recently revised to provide even more extensive and solid training for those who want to work in horticulture, especially in the design and care of productive natural garden systems. Graduates may find employment in general horticulture, permaculture design, or natural gardening (eg. in garden/system design, nurseries, teaching, consulting, etc). An excellent starting point for an exciting career in permaculture or sustainable gardening, and the skills you will learn will be valuable for any area of Horticulture too.
Modules
Stream Modules Studied after the core modules, stream modules cover more specific or niche subjects.
Permaculture Systems BHT201
Advanced Permaculture BHT301

Elective Modules In addition to the core modules, students study any 1 of the following 5 modules.
Fruit Production -Temperate Climate BHT218
Fruit Production -Warm Climate BHT217
Poultry BAG208
Sheep Husbandry BAG210
Organic Plant Culture BHT302


Note that each module in the Qualification - Certificate In Horticulture (Permaculture) is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.