Learn to Use plants better in a permaculture system
Duration: 100 hours
COURSE AIMS
- Understand use, and establishment of, Permaculture gardens
- Understand basic principles of permaculture design
- Understand the role and function of zones in permaculture systems
- Develop knowledge of natural pest, disease, and weed control methods
- Understand the principles behind companion planting, and its function in permaculture gardens
- Understand the features of, and applications for appropriate technology in permaculture design
- Develop knowledge of the use of water gardens in permaculture design
- Develop knowledge of a range of plants suitable for permaculture systems
- Develop knowledge of a range of plants suitable for permaculture systems
- Design a Mandala garden
COURSE STRUCTURE
The ten lessons are as follows:
1. Permaculture Gardens : Different Garden Systems - Spiral gardens, no dig gardens, establishing plants (mulches, irrigation, tree guards) techniques for planting sloping and arid sites
2. Design -planning techniques and skills - The design process, pre planning information, drawing a design, selecting plants,
3. Garden Zones - Windbreaks, hedges, screens, the five Permaculture zones
4. Design for Natural Pest, Disease and Weed Control - Biocontrol, natural pest controls
5. Companion Planting - Repellant plants, attractant plants, plants that affect the soil, beneficial plant combinations, poor combinations, nitrogen and legumes in Permaculture, cover crops, grain crops
6. Appropriate Technology in Permaculture Design - using energy conserving technology, healty buildings
7. Water Gardens - Wet and boggy garden areas, drainage, wet tolerant plants, small and large water gardens
8. Fruit, Nuts and Berries - Suitable orchard plants for Permaculture, intercrop species, the Fukuoka system
9. Vegetables and Herbs - Easy care vegetable gardens, planting, garden care, herb spirals, disease resistance, types of vegetables
10. Mandalla Garden - Design and cost of a Mandalla garden, organic materials, mulches, keyhole garden beds
EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
- Describe how you would build a no dig garden approximately 10 X 3 metres in size
- Create a table or chart which compares Permaculture with other styles of gardening
- Find a home/house which has the potential to be developed as a permaculture system
- Collect and list preplanning information relevant to the site.
- Go into one or several gardens and look closely for pest , disease and weed problems.
- Note any problems you see, and consider appropriate methods which could be used to control each of these problems.
- Visit or contact a well stocked nursery (preferably a herb nursery).
- List all of the companion plants which you are able to find for sale in that nursery
- Contact companies which supply appropriate technologies, and obtain brochures or other information wherever you can. Read any literature you obtain
- Research what products are available for building water gardens, and what water plants are available
- Visit a nursery or obtain catalogues from nurseries which supply tree species which would be suitable for a permaculture set‑up.
- Design and build a 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 (presuming that you have the space to do so).
