Advanced Permaculture

Course Code	BHT301
Fee Code	S3
Number of Assignments	10
Duration (approx)	100 hours

Learn to plan and manage the detailed development of a permaculture system.

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

There are ten lessons in this module as follows:

1.  Evaluating Design Strategies

2.  Understanding Patterns

3.  Water

4.  Earthworks

5.  Humid Tropics

6.  Dry Climates

7.  Temperate to Cold Climates

8.  Planning Work

9.  Costing

10. Sustainable Systems

AIMS

•  Evaluate appropriate design strategies for a specific development site.
•  Explain the relationship between a Permaculture system and natural patterns occurring in your local area.
•  Develop strategies for the management of water in a Permaculture design.
•  Determine earthworks for the development of a Permaculture system.
•  Design a Permaculture system for the humid tropics.
•  Design a Permaculture system for a dry climate.
•  Design a Permaculture system for a temperate to cold climate.
•  Determine planning strategies for the development of a Permaculture system.
•  Prepare cost estimates for a Permaculture development plan.
•  Explain alternative sustainable systems practiced in various places around the world.

WHAT YOU MAY DO IN THIS COURSE

Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

- Explain the evolution of a Permaculture system which is at least five years old.

- Compare the suitability of three different planning procedures, for development of a Permaculture system on a specified site.

- Develop a permaculture plan on a specified site, by using flow diagrams.

- Illustrate the progressive development of one view of a Permaculture system, over three years, with a series of four overlay drawings.

- Explain the relevance of patterns which occur in nature, to Permaculture design.

- Explain the importance of observation skills in Permaculture planning.

- Analyse the weather patterns of a site in your locality as a basis for planning a Permaculture system.

- Compare different methods of water provision, including collection and storage for a specified Permaculture system.

- Analyse the adequacy of two different specific Permaculture system designs, in terms of:  water requirements, water provision, water storage, and water usage.

- Explain, using labelled illustrations, the use of different survey equipment.

- Survey a site, between one and four thousand square metre in size, that has been selected for a proposed Permaculture system, recording details, including: topography, dimensions, and location of features.

- Prepare a site plan, to scale, of the site surveyed, including contour lines and the location of all existing features.

- Distinguish between, using labelled drawings, different types of earthworks, including: banks, benching, terracing, and mounds.

- Compare different methods for the provision of drainage on a site proposed as, or being developed

as a Permaculture system.

- Determine the factors unique to the design of Permaculture systems in humid tropical climates, dry climates, and cold climates.

- Determine fifty plant species suited for inclusion in a Permaculture system in each of the climates above.

- Determine ten animal species suitable for inclusion in a Permaculture system in each of the climates above.

- Prepare a Permaculture design for each of the climates above.

- Calculate the quantities of materials, showing necessary calculations, required in a specified permaculture plan.

- Estimate the work-hours required, showing any necessary calculations, to complete each section of work.

- Estimate the equipment required, showing any necessary calculations, to complete each section of work.

- Determine suppliers for all materials, for a specified Permaculture development, in accordance with specific plans supplied to you.

- Determine the costs of five types of different materials, for a specified Permaculture development, from different suppliers.

- Determine the essential costs for services to establish a specified Permaculture system, such as: labour costs, sub contracting fees, equipment hire, permits and planning applications, technical reports, legal fees.

- Compare the costs of establishing two different Permaculture systems, which you visit and investigate.

- Explain three sustainable agricultural or horticultural systems, other than permaculture.

- Differentiate Permaculture from other sustainable systems, including: Biodynamics, Organic farming.

- Compare specified sustainable agricultural or horticultural practices from different countries.

DURATION: 100 hours

For people with prior experience in permaculture, this course is a more in depth and academically advanced study of various aspects of permaculture. It covers sustainable systems, how to determine planning strategies for a site, seasonal patterns, water management, earthworks, considering different climates, and comprehansive planning including preparing costings. This will give you a sound background in all aspects of developing and running a permaculture system.