Organic Plant Culture

ONLINE COURSE ORGANIC PLANT CULTURE

Learn to produce organic crops efficiently.

Organic growing of plants works with nature, rather than against it. It recognises the fact that nature is complex and accordingly endeavours to understand interactions between plants, animals and insects. It therefore encourages the gardener for example to learn about the life-cycle of pests and to use this knowledge to control them. It also recognises that the use of chemicals has to be replaced with labour and management. Organic gardeners have to manage pests rather then eliminate them. They need to be vigilant and have the ability to recognise problems and act quickly to minimise the spread of both pests and disease. They may also need to accept some insect damage to the plants they grow as inevitable.

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Gardening styles
   • basic organic procedures, etc.
2. Plant Culture
3. Understanding Soils
4. Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition
5. Soil Management
6. Pests & Diseases
7. Mulching
8. Seeds
   • Collecting, storing & sowing
9. Vegetable Growing in your locality
10. 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
• Explain the concepts and principles of organic growing, including the common techniques used in organic growing systems.
• 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.
• Compare factors affecting the selection of different organic fertilisers, including:
  • Proportions of different nutrients
  • Likelihood of burn
  • Buffering characteristics
  • Where it is to be used
  • Method of handling
  • Cost
  • Availability.
• Determine mulch materials readily available for organic growing in your locality.
• Compare different mulches suitable for organic growing systems, in terms of:
  • Interaction with water (eg. repellence, absorbency, drainage)
  • Nitrogen draw down
  • Toxins
  • Rate of decomposition
  • Insulation properties
  • Weed suppression
  • Availability
  • Cost
  • Nutrient content
  • Ease of handling.
• Explain how different, specified leguminous plant species, may be used to improve soil fertility.
• Explain how different worm species may be used to improve soil fertility, on a specific site.
• Determine how soils on a specific site may be managed, using organic principles.
• Explain the different methods of natural control of pests and diseases, including:
  • Quarantine
  • Natural sprays
  • Physical controls
  • Plant selection
  • Use of natural predators
  • Environment manipulation.
• Determine commercially available, naturally derived sprays that can be used in organic growing.
• Explain the benefits of ten specified examples of companion planting, including:
  • Repelling pests away from crop plants
  • Attracting pests to bait plants
  • Improving soil (structure and nutrition)
  • Deterring growth of pests and diseases.
• Develop criteria for evaluating pesticides, including natural pesticides, for use in an organic garden or farm.
• Develop appropriate programs to control pests and diseases on different, specified cultivated plants.
• Develop guidelines for seed variety selection, appropriate to organic plant culture.
• Explain the importance of preserving seed sources of 'older' plant varieties.
• Compile a catalogue of different, reliable seed sources for organic culture.
• Explain appropriate methods for storage of different types of seed.
• Explain various ways dormancy factors can affect seed germination.
• Develop an annual timetable for planting different varieties of vegetables, appropriate to organic growing systems, in your district.
• Compare the culture of different specified vegetable species, in organic with non-organic production.
• Prepare organic production schedules for different food crops, including:
  • A vegetable
  • A fruit
  • A berry.

Some of our Horticulture Tutors

Maggi Brown Cert.Ed.(Environment)
Maggi is regarded as an expert in Organic Growing throughout the UK, having worked for two decades as Education Officer at the world renowned Henry Doubleday Research Association (now Garden Organic). She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more them three decades.

Yvonne Sharpe RHS Cert.Hort, Dip.Hort, M.Hort, Cert.Ed., Dip.Mgt.
Over 30 years of experience in horticulture, education and management, Yvonne hastravelled widely within and beyond Europe, and has worked in many areas of horticulture from garden centres to horticultural therapy. She has served on industry committees and been actively involved with amateur garden clubs for decades. Yvonne is also a member of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG).

John L. Mason Dip.Hort.Sc., Sup'n Cert., FIOH, FPLA, FAIH, MACHPER, MASA
Mr Mason has had over 40 years experience in the fields of Horticulture, Business, Education and Journalism. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner. He has held positions ranging from Nurseryman and Landscape Designer to Director of Parks and Recreation (City of Essendon) and magazine editor.
John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over forty books and of over two thousand magazine articles. Even today, John has written a number of best selling reference texts used by horticultural courses at universities and colleges internationally. His publishers include Simon and Shuster, and Landlinks Press (CSIRO Publishing

Dr. Lynette Morgan B. Hort. Tech., Ph.D. in Horticultural Science   Dr Morgan has a broad expertise in horticulture and crop production, and a keen appreciation of the global scene. She travels widely as a partner in Suntec Horticultural Consultants, and has clients in central America, the USA, Caribbean, South East Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA
Gavin has over 20 years of industry experience in  Landscaping, Publishing, Business and Psychology. He was operations manager for a highly reputable British Landscape firm (The Chelsea Gardener) before starting up his own firm. He has exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show, and designed gardens across England and Australia.  He spent the best part of three years working in our Gold Coast office, partly as a writer for Your Backyard (gardening magazine), and partly as a tutor in both psychology and horticulture.

Martin Powdrill, Bsc (Hons) Applied Science (Resources Option), MSc Computer Studies, Permaculture Design Certificate. Martin’s goal as a catalyst for sustainable change brings together his strengths and experience in his environmental, project management, and business backgrounds. For 25 years, Martin has been involved in Telecommunications, IT, Organisational Development, and Energy Conservation & Efficiency, prior to setting up his own Permaculture consulting business. He wishes to make a real difference to people and the planet, by actively bringing new perspectives to current challenges and exciting opportunities. To realise this, he enables diverse groups of people to flourish and release their untapped potential, by re-igniting their passion and creativity. Additionally, Martin volunteers with many local environmental and community groups, and facilitates discussions on climate change, peak oil, and transition towns. Martin has an allotment, and is currently enrolled in the Scottish Mountain Bike Leader Award programme.

Rosemary Davies Dip Hort Sc.    Rosemary trained in Horticultural Applied Science at Burnley, a campus of Melbourne University. Initially she worked with Department of Agriculture Victoria as an extension officer (Garden Advisory Service), taught horticulture students, worked on radio with ABC radio (clocking up over 24 years as a presenter of garden talkback programs, initially the only woman presenter on gardening in Victoria) and she simultaneously developed a career as a writer. She is author of several booka and hundreds of articles.

Diana Cole B.A. (Hons), Higher Dip. (Garden Design), RHS Advanced Cert. Horticulture, Cert Admin.Mgt., Dip. Inst. Personnel Management In addition to her RHS horticulture, garden design, City & Guild construction, NPTC pesticide/legislation and business/management qualifications, Diana has a variety of skills drawn from setting up Arbella Gardens, a landscape gardening business. She also has administrative, management and training delivery experience drawn from her employment in other organisations such as the NHS and other educational institutions such as schools & universities. She has augmented her training expertise having gained the Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector qualification. She also has experience gained through working as a volunteer in a number of different roles including amenity style gardening in parks and practical conservation work. Diana is also a member of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Limited (NSALG).

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