Permaculture IV

Overview

The Permaculture IV course from Warnborough College covers an overview of permaculture, energy efficient building alternatives, waste disposal systems, recycling, natural watering and sustainable energy alternatives, and designing for natural disasters. You will also undertake a full scale major design project using the knowledge obtained from the course and utilising the learned techniques.

Aims 

• Go to nurseries and agricultural supply companies and inquire about environmentally safe pesticides. Write a report on these products.

• Explain the methods available to someone who wishes to control pests, diseases and weeds without using potentially dangerous chemicals.

• Observe the construction process of a building or structure that involves some type of earthworks (eg, roads, dams, etc).

• Briefly write a short report on mud brick dwellings. What are the benefits of this in of structure? What are the disadvantages?

• Take a photograph of your home or residence. Discuss your residence in relation to designing with consideration to the environment (eg. does it efficiently utilize sun and shade, is it energy efficient).

• Describe the importance of house design in relation to location, eg. tropical region of Queensland or west coast of Tasmania.

• Contact the local council or health department and inquire about allowable use of waste material in your area. Consider asking about grey water, septic tanks, use of effluent and animal wastes, etc. Write a report to 250 words on the task.

• Contact and obtain information on composting toilets from a manufacturer. Compile this information and use it as a personal reference.

• Contact the local council or health department and inquire about recycling methods available for residents of your shire. How has the council encouraged recycling?

• Find a home site (which has an existing home on it, or is planned to be built on), which is prone to natural disaster. This might, for instance, be in a flood or fire prone area; or perhaps a tropical climate that is prone to cyclonic storms.