COURSE STRUCTURE
The course is divided into ten lessons as follows:
1. Introduction: Classification and identification of lavender, general characteristics of the group, contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs, etc.)
2. Soils, Fertilisers and Nutrition for Lavender: Soil structure, pH, organic matter, ameliorants and organic growing.
3. Cultural Techniques for Lavender Growing: Pruning, water management (mulching, irrigation, drainage, etc.), planting and establishment methods, crop scheduling, no dig gardening.
4. Lavender Propagation: Propagation from cuttings, propagation growth media, other propagation methods,
5. Commercial Alternatives: Managing a Market Garden, standards, mulches, problems and their control, weed control without chemicals, economic outlook for herbs.
6. Plant Variety Selection and Breeding: Breeding and selecting new varieties, lavender clone selection for essential oils in Tasmania.
7. Building Plant Knowledge: Lavender types and other varieties, advantages and disadvantages of different varieties.
8. Harvesting, Postharvest Treatment and Storage: Harvesting, distillation and oils, post harvest preservation of fresh herbs, drying lavender.
9. Processing and Making Lavender Products: Lavender crafts, using herbs in cooking, selling herb products.
10. Marketing Lavender Produce: how to market your produce, considering your market, market research, selling successfully.
DURATION: 100 hours
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE?
There are a number of practical tasks students will carry out in this course. If students have problems accessing facilities or resources for practical tasks, alternative tasks can be set. Practical tasks include:
Prepare a collection of 20 different types of lavender in the form of pressed, dried, labelled specimens
Compile a resource file of contacts relevant to lavender and lavender growing
Contact a number of lavender related organisations for information on their activities in the industry
Collect and test at least three different soil samples
Identify and (optional) manufacture a potting mix suitable for lavender growing
Collect information on organic and inorganic fertilisers from fertiliser companies
Research information on machinery used in horticulture by contacting the companies that produce it
Produce a no dig garden or an organic garden
Manufacture a propagating mix for lavender cuttings
Take lavender cuttings for propagation
Contact a herb nursery to observe their operation
Research irrigation equipment by contacting irrigation suppliers
Cross pollinate lavender and grow the resulting seed
Compare various types of lavender
Harvest a number of different types of lavender
Produce a small quantity of lavender oil
Produce two non edible and one edible product containing lavender
Visit a shop selling lavender products to observe marketing procedures
