Learn to design and manage a comprehensive permaculture system.

This course integrates all aspects of permaculture into the design and management of a comprehensive and balanced system. The course covers an overview of permaculture, energy efficient building alternatives, waste disposal systems, recycling, natural watering and sustainable energy alternatives, and designing for natural disasters. You will also undertake a full scale major design project using the knowledge obtained from the course and utilizing the learned techniques.

You Will Learn:

• • Develop knowledge of the alternative materials and features available for buildings in permaculture systems.
  • Understand the role of buildings in the permaculture environment.
  • Develop knowledge of the range and function of waste disposal methods suitable for permaculture systems.
  • Understand the role of recycling in modern society.
  • Develop knowledge of how to design for natural disasters.
  • Develop knowledge of water efficient irrigation techniques.
  • Understand the role of indigenous plants and animals in permaculture systems.
  • Develop skills in preparing management and development plans.
  • Perform a major design project.

Detailed Course Outline

This course is made up a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online.

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Overview of Permaculture

• • Definition of Permaculture, understanding plant names, environmentally safe pesticides, zones, sectors and cycles in Permaculture design

2. Buildings and Permaculture : The alternatives

• • Indoor/outdoor buildings, storage facilities, building materials

3. Buildings and Permaculture : Integration into the Environment

• • Essential elements for houses in different zones, energy conservation, alternative energy sources

4. Waste Disposal

• • Liquid waste, grey water, blackwater, waste disposal and recycling, nitrogen in waste

5. Recycling

• • Composting, waste water recycling, conservation and recycling, council recycling

6. Designing for Natural Disasters

• • Fire, flood, cyclone, tsunami, biotecture

7. Natural Watering

• • Water efficient gardens, mosquitoes, windmills

8. Indigenous Plants and Animals

• • Wildlife management, birds in the garden, suitable native plants

9. Preparing Management and Development Plans

• • Planning and managing a garden, Permaculture design, work schedules

10. Major Design Project

• • An in depth design project for both your own residence and another property