An Introduction to Permaculture – gain a solid grounding in the principles and practice of permacultures. Student should also consider Permaculture Systems course. Learn permaculture concepts, soils, climate, forest systems and more
Course Aims:
- Discuss the nature and scope of Permaculture.
- Apply an understanding of environmental systems to considerations given to how a Permaculture system is designed.
- Describe soils and the impact their characteristics have upon natural and man made environments.
- Explain the application of this knowledge to Permaculture.
- Describe characteristics of climate and water, and the impact their characteristics have upon natural and man made environments.
- Explain the application of this knowledge to Permaculture.
- Describe forest systems and their relevance to Permaculture design.
There are 5 lessons in this course:
- Permaculture Concepts
- Life Ethics
- Permaculture Defined
- Guiding Principles -relative location, multiple functions and elements, elevational planning, energy recycling, etc.
- Ideas and Techniques from around the world
- Natural Gardening
- Organic growing
- No dig gardening
- Crop rotation
- Biological control of pest and disease
- Integrated pest management
- Living things vary from place to place
- Understanding plant names
- An easier way to identify plants
- Pronunciation of plant names
- Understanding the Environment is Key to Permaculture Design
- Introduction
- Ecology
- Ecosystems
- Abiotic Components
- Biotic Components
- Ecological concepts
- The Web of Life
- Replicating Nature
- Successions
- Starting a Permaculture Property
- Cost, Location, Size
- Information required
- Structure of a Permaculture System
- Choosing a Site
- Permaculture Design
- Soils in Permaculture
- The Role of Soil
- Soil Components -gravel sand, silt, colloids
- Peds
- Naming a Soil
- Soil Management
- Cycles
- Fertilizer Application
- Nitrogen
- Factors Affecting Nitrogen Release from Organic Sources
- Microorganism population
- Heat and chemical treatment
- pH
- Soil temperature
- Cultivation and Cover Crops
- Drainage and Erosion
- How to Measure Soil pH
- How to Measure Organic Content of Soil
- How to Measure Water Content of Soil
- Determining Solubility of Soils
- How to Test the Affect of Lime on Soil
- Taking Soil Samples for Laboratory Tests
- Measuring Salinity
- Colourimetry
- Climate and Water in Permaculture
- Site Types
- Degree Days
- The Hydrological Cycle
- Infiltration
- Rainfall
- Evaporation
- Effective Rainfall
- Temperature
- Frosts
- Extreme Hazards
- Permaculture Microclimates
- The Greenhouse Effect
- Water and Plant Growth
- Climatic Influence on Production
- Frosts
- Climate Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Production
- Climatic Zones
- Humans and Water
- Minimising Plant Requirements
- Household Water
- Xeriscaping
- Interpreting Weather Reports and Predictions
- Precipitation
- Wind
- Weather Maps
- Weather Map Patterns
- Interrelationships between Climate, Soil and Plants
- Estimating Water Requirements of Plants
- Ways to Improve Water Quality, from any Source
- Water Impurities – sediment, impurities, colour, chemical impurities
- Water Hardness
- Alkalinity
- Corrosion
- pH
- Iron
- Salinity
- Tastes and Odours in Water
- Biological Impurities in Water -algae, bacteria
- Other Water Chemistry Factors -dissolved gasses, nitrogen cycle
- Fish for Ponds
- Other Animals in Water
- Forest Systems
- Biomass
- Components of Biomass
- Plant Associations
- Pinus Monoculture
- Eucalyptus Association
- Deciduous Forest
- Alpine Communities
- Myrtaceae Plants
- Australian Legumes
- Rockeries
- Rain forest Systems
- Wind, Light and Rain in Forests
- Forest Productivity – fuel, food, forage, shelter belt, structural, conservation
- Establishment of a Forest
- Creating a Rainforest
- Maintenance and Upkeep of Forests
- Plant Application -trees, shrubs, ground covers
- A review of how to grow a variety of different plants for Permaculture
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.