ORGANIC PLANT CULTURE (Ht015)

Course Outline

An external studies course to develop your ability to grow plants using organic methods.

Duration: 100 hours (study at your own pace, the average time to complete this module is 4-6 months part time)

Enrolments: Open all year

Fees: S2

Services: On enrolment, you will receive:

Course Materials including:

• a Subject Guide
• Organic Notes
  
• Small Scale Production Horticulture
• A small booklet on pests & diseases
  
• List Of Seed Merchants
• Organic Fruit Growing Booklet
  
• A Natural Gardening Magazine from the Garden Guide Series

Videos

Videos are available for loan through the school's library.

Tutors

Throughout the course, you are guided by tutors, who are accessible by mail, fax, email, phone or in person. Tutors are accessible 5 days a week. If necessary, we can arrange for tutors to contact a student after hours.

Library

Students within driving distance of our 2 locations are welcome to make use of our school's library. Alternatively, tutors can provide additional information for your course upon request.

COURSE STRUCTURE

There are ten lessons as follows:

1. Introduction To Organic Plant Culture
2. Plant Culture
   
3. Understanding Soils
4. Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition
   
5. Soil Management
6. Pests & Diseases
   
7. Mulching
8. Seeds
   
9. Vegetable Growing in your locality
10. Fruit Growing in your locality

SUMMARY OF COMPETENCIES DEVELOPED

On successful completion of the course you should be able to do the following:

• 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 the appropriate use of seed propagation, in organic plant culture.
  
• Plan the production of an organically grown food crop.

WHAT IS ORGANIC GARDENING

Organic gardening grows plants using natural methods, working with the environment, and without using artificial chemicals.

WHAT THE COURSE COVERS

You will learn a wide variety of things, through a combination of reading, interacting with tutors, undertaking research and practical tasks, and watching videos. Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

• Determine the roles of ten 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 six different organic growing concepts, including:
  • biodynamics
  • sustainable agriculture
  • companion planting
  • fallowing
  • composting recycling
• Explain how organic matter may benefit plants growing in three different specified soils.
  
• Compare the advantages with disadvantages of using organic versus non-organic fertilizers.
  
• Determine ten 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 a specified locality.
  
• Compare ten 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 four different, specified leguminous plant species, may be used to improve soil fertility.
  
• Explain how two 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 three 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 twenty different, reliable seed sources for organic culture.
  
• Explain appropriate methods for storage of five different types of seed.
  
• Explain five ways dormancy factors can affect seed germination.
  
• Develop an annual timetable for planting twenty different varieties of vegetables, appropriate to
  organic growing systems, in your district.
  
• Compare the culture of three different specified vegetable species, in organic with non-organic
  production.
  
• Prepare organic production schedules for three different food crops, including:
  • A vegetable
  • A fruit
  • A berry

This course is an MODULE in the Advanced Diploma in Horticulture (C12CN004), for which credit will be granted.

CLICK HERE TO ENROL IN THIS COURSE

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