A permaculture system is a unique landscape where all the plants and animals live in a balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem. However, with the tens of thousands of different plants suited to this type of environment, a little (more) knowledge goes a long way! This course is suited to those with a basic understanding of permaculture, looking to increase their knowledge of this fascinating subject.
The Certificate of Plant Permaculture is an online professional development program that will give you an in-depth understanding of the basic principles of permaculture design and planning and how to establish and use a permaculture garden.
In this plant permaculture course, you will discover the different types of garden systems, understand the role of ‘zones’, and learn more about companion planting and natural pest, weed and disease control methods.
You will also become familiar with a wide range of herbs, vegetables and tree crops; and understand the applications for using appropriate technologies in permaculture design.
On completion of this course, you will have increased your knowledge of how plants can be incorporated into a permaculture landscape and have fostered a positive approach to the environment and all living things!
Course Structure
Permaculture II
Unit 1 – Permaculture gardens – different garden systems
- Function
- Aesthetics
- Ways of growing plants
- Environmental conditions
- Plant establishment
- Growing in spirals
- No dig beds or composting mounds
- Organic growing
- Helping plant establishment
- Trickle or drip irrigation
- Mulching
- Common types of organic mulch
- Rules for how to mulch
- Problems with mulching
- Living mulch
- Tree guards
- Reduced cultivation
- Crop rotation
- Establishing plants on slopes –pocket planting, slope serration, wattling
- Planting on arid sites
- Direct seeding
- Spray seeding
- No till planting in lawns
- Raised beds
- Growing in pots
- Biodynamics introduction
- Biodynamic principles
- Developing a biodynamic property
- Biodynamic preparations and sprays
- Soil degradation
- Understanding and managing erosion
- Salinity
- Soil acidification
- Soil compaction
- Chemical residues in soils
- Improving damaged soils
Unit 2 – Design – planning techniques and skills
- The design process
- Gathering information and pre planning
- Planning and design
- Drawing the permaculture plan
- Design Procedure – thirteen steps
- How to represent different components on a drawn plan
- Criteria for choosing the plants
- Maintaining biodiversity in permaculture
- Designing for low maintenance
- Plants for small places
- Lime loving plants
- Useful conifers
- Nut producing conifers
- Other edible parts of conifers
- Conifers as a source of oils, resins, building timber
- Cypress and Pines
Unit 3 – Sector planning
- Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Sectors
- Designing and planting a firebreak
- Fire prone areas
- How to arrange a firebreak
- Considerations
- Fire resistant plants
- Windbreaks, hedges and screens
- Hedges for different conditions
- Plants for windbreaks
- Long narrow spaces
- Growing plants in shade
- Plants suited to full shade
- Frost hardy plants
- Coastal planting
- Strategies for dealing with salt and wind
- Hardy plants for inner city gardens
- Pollution resistant plants
- Nuts to grow in permaculture
Unit 4 – Design for natural pest, disease and weed control
- Understanding natural pest control
- Bio control
- Advantages and disadvantages of bio control
- Natural pest controls with herb extracts
- Other techniques for natural insect control
- Understanding insecticidal properties of different plants
- Natural weed control
- Weed control with cultivation, mulch biological controls, grazing, etc.
- Growing grain crops on a small scale
- Hull less oats
- Amaranth and Quinoa
- Corn
- Flours
Unit 5 – Complimentary planting – companion planting
- How reliable is companion planting
- Repellent plants
- Attractant plants
- Plants that impact on the soil conditions
- Planting combinations that may be mutually beneficial
- Combinations sometimes considered undesirable
- Plants that can improve soil –alfalfa, borage, caraway and others explained.
- Green manure crops
- Decoy plants
- Nitrogen fixation
- Legumes in permaculture
- Cover crops
- Grain crops
- Plants for pets –dogs, cats, poultry
Unit 6 – Appropriate technology in permaculture design
- Energy conservation technology
- Building biology
- Environmental impact on buildings
- Climate
- Building location
- Radon
- Air quality and allergies
- Temperature and humidity
- Light
- EMR and creation of electric fields
- Solar energy
- Greenhouses: design and function
- Passive solar energy collection and active systems
- Conservation and recycling
- Kitchen waste management
- Water saving measures
- Environmentally friendly gardening
- Growing berries
- Strawberry growing
- Raspberry cultivation
- Bramble berry growing
- Other berries –gooseberries, mulberry, etc
Unit 7 – Water gardens
- Planting in wet places
- Understanding wet areas
- Overcoming problems
- Plants suited to bog gardens
- Why have water in a permaculture garden
- Designing for wet places
- Managing water in sun or shade
- Water life
- Construction
- Waterproofing
- Managing a healthy pond
- Plants that can damage ponds
- Plants suitable for water –submerged, floating and bog plants
- Growing water chestnut
- Establishing a water garden
- Creating a pond with a liner
- Constructing a small dam or pond
- Waste water treatment with reed beds
Unit 8 – Knowing plants – tree crops
- What zone to grow in
- Orchard species suited to permaculture
- Understory plants
- Leguminous companions
- Actinorhizal companions
- Orchards
- Planning for intercrop species
- Tropical orchards
- Dry land orchards
- Fukuoka System
- Nut trees
- Almond
- Cashew
- Chestnut
- Filbert
- American hazelnut
- Macadamia
- Peanut
- Pecan
- Pistachio
- Walnut
- Harvest, storage and processing of nuts
- Nut toxins
- Fruit trees
- Apples
- Apricots
- Peaches and nectarines
- Citrus
- Feijoa
- Pomegranate
- Olive
- Plum
Unit 9 – Knowing plants – vegetables and herbs
- Introduction
- Choosing the right spot
- Considering the soil
- Feeding plants
- Plant when conditions are favourable
- Cultivation necessities – mulching, rotating crops, watering, pest control
- Planting to maximize harvest
- Planting vegetables
- Disease resistance in vegetables –beans, corn, peas, lettuce, tomatoes.
- Vegetables to grow in a permaculture system
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Capsicum eggplant
- Onions
- Rhubarb
- Silver beet sweet potato
- Tomato
- Zucchini
- Herbs
- Allium –chives, garlic, shallots etc
- Angelica
- Artemisia
- Balm
- Basil
- Calendula
- Cardemom
- Chamomile
- Coriander
- Lavender
- Mint
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Other herbs
Unit 10 – Giving the garden a central focus
- The mandala garden concept
- Surfaces
- Keyhole beds
- Herb spirals
- Step by step construction of a mandala garden
- Centre pond
- Weed barrier
- Outside the Mandala
- Planting out
- Organic materials – ashes, feathers, hay, leaves, sawdust, prunings, etc.
- Mulching vegetables and herbs
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
About Us
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
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Course FAQs
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Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
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To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
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This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional development for individuals seeking to develop their career/business or for amateurs wishing to explore sustainable lifestyles.
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