Organic Plant CultureCreate Gardens or Grow Crops with fewer Pests; and no chemicals.
“This is a very intensive course that develops your ability to grow and market a range of crops. Grow your own organic crops or advise others. Many opportunities exist in this field as public interest is rapidly increasing. Organic growing is the path to the future.” - Adriana Fraser Cert.Hort., Cert.Child Care, Adv.Cert.App.Mgt., Cert 1V Assessment and Training, Adv.Dip.Hort.
Lesson StructureThere are 10 lessons in this course:
- Introduction Gardening styles, basic organic procedures, etc.
- Plant Culture
- Understanding Soils
- Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition
- Soil Management
- Pests & Diseases
- Mulching
- Seeds - Collecting, storing & sowing
- Vegetable Growing in your locality
- Fruit Growing in your locality
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims- Explain the concepts and principles of organic growing, including the common techniques used in organic growing systems (Part A).
- Explain the concepts and principles of organic growing, including the common techniques used in organic growing systems (Part B).
- Determine soil management procedures, which are consistent with organic growing principles.
- Explain how pests and diseases are controlled using organic growing principles
- Determine appropriate mulches for use in different organic growing situations.
- Determine the appropriate use of seed propagation, in organic plant culture.
- Plan the production of an organically grown vegetable food crop
- Plan the production of an organically grown fruit crop
What You Will Do- Determine the roles of different organic farming and gardening organisations.
- Explain how organic crops can be 'certified' as being organic in your country.
- Explain the application of crop rotation in a specified garden, or farm.
- Describe the construction of a 'No-Dig' garden, using materials readily available in your locality.
- Explain the intended aims of a specific 'Permaculture' designed garden.
- Explain different organic growing concepts, including: *biodynamics *sustainable agriculture *companion planting *fallowing *composting *recycling.
- Explain how organic matter may benefit plants growing in different soils.
- Compare the advantages with disadvantages of using organic versus non-organic fertilizers.
- Determine different organic fertilizers that are commonly available in your locality.
