COURSE STRUCTURE
The course is divided into five lessons as follows:
1. Concepts - The basic theory and ethics of Permaculture
2. The Environment - Ecosystems, the web of life and interactions between living organisms
3. Soils - Soil management, fertilisers, nitrogen, cultivation, gas and nutrient cycles
4. Climate and Water - The hydrological cycle, infiltration, microclimates, the Greenhouse Effect, water and plants
5. Forest Systems - Biomass, how natural systems relate to agricultural systems
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted, marked and returned with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Duration: 100 hours
EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
- Visit an outdoor environment area (eg. a natural garden, wilderness park, farm), observe and describe the various elements that make up the ecosystem (ie. the abiotic and biotic components).
- Identify and describe three plants specimens with nutrient deficiencies and outline steps to overcome the problems.
- For at least one week, collect the local newspaper and cut out the weather map and details and explain how they relate to your local climate.
- Research and describe different ecosystems such as arid deserts, savannas and mangroves.
- Describe the differences between the three main types of climate zones (ie: Tropical, Temperate and Desert) and briefly give your views on major differences that would need to be considered when establishing a permaculture system in each climate zone.
- Visit a rainforest or heavily treed garden and observe:
- the ways that trees grow inside a clump compared to the way they grow on the edge
- the ways that trees or other plants grow in different parts of the forest of group of trees.
- Based on your observations, discuss whether different types of plants grow differently (better, worse, or in a different shape) in different areas; and differences from place to place in terms of light penetration, amount of leaf litter, leaf litter, ground moisture, soil type, density and type of undergrowth, insect life.
- Collect samples of soil from three different locations and use given tests to identify the soil types.
- Explain how what contour maps indicate and how this information can be used to estimate potential effects on plant growth in a permaculture environment.
- Report on the production and increase of biological factors such as plants and animals (biomass) and how they interrelate to, and affect one-another.
