PERMACULTURE I VSS104

Start Your Career or Life in Permaculture

This course introduces the basic concepts of Permaculture, and develops a basis for permaculture design by explaining the patterns which occur in nature, such as weather systems, water cycles, topography, soil-plant interactions and forest ecology, and how a knowledge of these patterns can be used to reproduce balanced and productive garden growing systems.

This is a FOUNDATION COURSE

It is in itself not a complete Permaculture Design Certificate.
It develops a deeper understanding of principles that underpin Permaculture, than what is achieved in a PDC.

Permaculture is a system of agriculture based on perennial, or self perpetuating, plant and animal species which are useful to man. In a broader context, permaculture is a philosophy which encompasses the establishment of environments which are highly productive and stable, and which provide food, shelter, energy etc., as well as supportive social and economic infrastructures.

There are many natural systems and techniques used in farming or gardening that share common ground with Permaculture. When the permaculture movement began in the 1970’s, it recognised the best ideas (e.g. no dig gardening, swales), and adapted them to a new way of thinking about landscape development and management.

Course Structure

This course has five lessons, as outlined below:

1. Concepts: Permaculture philosophy, natural systems and key practices (eg. no dig gardening, biological control, plant naming, seed (sources, hybridisation, storage, etc).

2. The Environment: Ecology, ecosystems and permaculture design concepts.

3. Soils: structure, nutrition, erosion, natural fertilizers, soil plant relationships.

4. Climate & Water: Climatic factors, estimating plant water requirements, water quality, improving drainage, site planning.

5. Forest Systems: Plant associations, mycorrhiza, tree interactions (with wind, light, rain, etc), forest types in permaculture, creating a rainforest.

Duration: Up to 100 hours