Course Code: VSS107
Course Duration: 100 hours (approximation, self paced study, commonly 3 to 6 months, longer if you need)
Permaculture takes inspiration from the natural habitat where plants tend to grow in the following relationships:
- The "Upper story trees" can grow to over 100 ft tall, though they are often shorter.
- The "Understorey Trees" grow below the branches of the upper story, in some degree of shading, at least during part of the day.
- The "Seedling Tree" protected in it's early life by the mature trees.
- The "Shrubs" growing below the trees.
- The ground covers, herbaceous perennials, annuals, mosses and other very low plants.
In permaculture terms this relationship is termed as "stacking". The plants used in stacking is termed as "Guild".
Stacking also can refer to the careful selection of plants in the design. For example, how are the following plants stacked?: plants that supply nitrogen; plants that use nitrogen; plants that repel insects, plants that climb using other plants for support. How careful are the guilds selected?.
Successions occur in nature, whereby the type of vegetation changes in an area, over a period of time, as the environment is affected by the plants and animals living in it
Course Content
There are ten lessons in this course.
1. Overview of Permaculture
- Definition of Permaculture
- Plant names
- Environmentally safe pesticides
- Zones
- Sectors
- 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
- Local government 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
- A in depth design project for both your own residence and another property
Course Duration - 100 hours