Advanced Permaculture

Overview

The Advanced Permaculture course from Warnborough College 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.

Aims of the Advanced Permaculture course

• 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.