Study horticulture and permaculture with this comprehensive course. Special Offer.



AVAILABLE NOW AT A REDUCED PRICE PLUS CHOOSE SIX FREE EBOOKS WHEN YOU ENROL!
Study Permaculture and Horticulture in this intensive certificate covering the principles of permaculture and the fundamentals of horticulture.
These studies provide you with an important broad based understanding of horticulture which greatly improves your ability to design effective permaculture systems.
These studies also broaden the employment prospects of graduates enabling them to seek employment in areas such as nurseries, landscaping and garden management. You will not only know about Permaculture systems, you will know how to integrate the two together, making you a valuable consultant to the Horticulture industry.
Graduates may find employment in either general horticulture, or in areas servicing permaculture or natural gardening (eg. Garden/system design, plant nurseries, teaching, consulting, etc). Half of the course is identical to the Permaculture courses outlined previously, and the other half provides a broad, general foundation in horticultural practices. This course was compiled to cover all components of the Permaculture Institute's Permaculture Design Certificate curriculum (the equivalent of 72 hrs of study).
Graduates of this course are awarded PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE by your tutor (as is normal practice in the permaculture industry).


The course is divided into 2 main areas, consisting of:
1.The CORE UNITS common to all streams of the Certificate in Horticulture:
(i.e. Introduction to plants, Plant Culture, Soils & nutrition, Pests, diseases and weeds and Introductory propagation).
2. The PERMACULTURE STUDIES
This comprises the 3 units:
Module details are given below; follow the links in the module titles for further information on each.
Enrolment fees do not include exam fees (You need to sit 2 exams for the core, and one for each of the stream modules = 5 in total)
CORE UNITS (more details)
1. Introduction to Plants
- Nomenclature and taxonomy,
- he plant kingdom,
- genus, species, hybrids.
2. Parts of the Plant
- How plants grow, plant structure,
- parts of the flower and leaf,
- modification of stems and roots.
3. Plant Culture - Planting
- How to plant and protect newly planted specimens,
- terms like: annuals, biennials, perennials, deciduous, evergreen and herbaceous plants.
4. Plant Culture - Pruning
- Purpose for pruning,
- rules for pruning,
- how to prune.
5. Plant Culture - Irrigation and Machinery
- Different irrigation systems,
- components of an irrigation system,
- designing an irrigation system, selection,
- use and maintenance of machinery and tools.
6. Soils & Media
- Soil classifications,
- testing soil,
- potting mixes,
- the U.C. System, ingredients of potting mixes.
7. Soils & Nutrition
- Fertilisers
- deficiencies and toxicities,
- N:P:K ratios,
- salting,
- fertiliser programming,
- compost.
8. Propagation - Seeds & Cuttings
- How to propagate plants by seed and cuttings,
- propagating mixes,
- cold frame construction,
- after care for young plants.
9. Propagation - Other Techniques
- Other methods to increase plant numbers
- budding, grafting, layering, division and tissue culture.
10. Identification and Use of Plants
- How are plants used in the landscape,
- how to choose and purchase plants,
- selecting plants suitable for the climate and site.
11. Identification and Use of Plants
- Problems with plants
- choosing plants for problem sites.
12. Identification and Use of Plants
- Indoor and tropical plants, flowers, herbs, bulbs, ferns.
13. Pests
- Identifying and controlling pests,
- chemical and natural methods for control,
- chemical safety precautions.
14. Diseases
- Identifying and controlling diseases,
- plant pathology,
- fungi, viruses, non-pathogenic problems,
- interactions with the host and the environment.
15. Weeds
- Identifying and controlling weeds,
- chemical terminology.
STREAM STUDIES (More Details)
Module 1 Permaculture Systems
The course is divided into 8 lessons as follows:
- Permaculture Principles
- Natural Systems
- Zone & Sector Planning
- Permaculture Techniques
- Animals in Permaculture
- Plants in Permaculture
- Appropriate Technologies
- Preparing a Plan
AIMS
- To apply the principles of permaculture.
- To demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of natural systems.
- To apply permaculture techniques - involving zones and sector planning.
- To use a range of permaculture techniques: (forest plantings, mandala gardens, etc.).

Module 2 Advanced Permaculture
There are 10 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.

MODULE 3 (Stream - Elective Module)
You can choose any of the school's 100 hour modules so long as it is relevant module (for this final stream study module).
Appropriate modules would be:
Upon completion of the course you will be awarded a Permaculture Design Certificate by your tutor and a Certificate in Horticulture (Permaculture).
ANY QUESTIONS?
Please get in touch. Our Permaculture Tutors are happy to help.