Permaculture - Permaculture Gardens (II)

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Permaculture Gardens : Different Garden Systems
   • Spiral gardens, no dig gardens, establishing plants (mulches, irrigation, tree guards) techniques for planting sloping and arid sites
2. Design - planning techniques and skills
   • The design process, pre planning information, drawing a design, selecting plants,
3. Garden Zones
   • Windbreaks, hedges, screens, the five Permaculture zones
4. Design for Natural Pest, Disease and Weed Control
   • Biocontrol, natural pest controls
5. Companion Planting
   • Repellant plants, attractant plants, plants that affect the soil, beneficial plant combinations, poor combination's, nitrogen and legumes in Permaculture, cover crops, grain crops
6. Appropriate Technology in Permaculture Design
   • using energy conserving technology, healty buildings
7. WaterGardens
   • Wet and boggy garden areas, drainage, wet tolerant plants, small and large water gardens
8. Fruit, Nuts and Berries
   • Suitable orchard plants for Permaculture, intercrop species, the Fukuoka system
9. Vegetables and Herbs
   • Easy care vegetable gardens, planting, garden care, herb spirals, disease resistance, types of vegetables
10. Mandalla Garden
    • Design and cost of a Mandalla garden, organic materials, mulches, keyhole garden beds.

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.

• Understand use and establishment of Permaculture gardens.
• Understand basic principles of permaculture design.
• Understand the role and function of zones in permaculture systems.
• Develop knowledge of natural pest, disease, and weed control methods.
• Understand the principles behind companion planting, and its function in permaculture gardens.
• Understand the features of, and applications for appropriate technology in permaculture design.
• Develop knowledge of the use of water gardens in permaculture design.
• Develop knowledge of a range of plants suitable for permaculture systems.
• Develop knowledge of a range of plants suitable for permaculture systems.
• Design a Mandala garden.

• Observe and compare different types of natural gardens, and draw sketches
• Describe how you would build a no dig garden approximately 10 X 3 metres in size.
• Step by step work through a process of planning changes to a garden to make it into more of a permaculture system.
• Practice drawing trees, walls, shrubs, rocks and fences, as you would draw them on a landscape plan.
• Explain how knowledge of landscape drawing and planning relates to permaculture.
• Collect and list pre-planning information relevant to developing home into a permaculture system
• Write a report explaining the five permaculture zones.
• Create a table listing 50 different pest, disease and weed problems in one column, and an appropriate natural control method for each one in an adjacent column.
• Make a list of companion plants.In one column, list the herb or companion plant.
• Beside it list all of those vegetables, flowers and fruits which are said to benefit by being planted near to it.
• Draw a plan for a fruit or vegetable garden which incorporates companion planting.
• Explain briefly each of the companion planting interrelationships you have included in your plan.
• Design a small and simple water garden for use in a permaculture system.
• Design a large water garden for use in a permaculture system.