Advanced Permaculture BHT301

Learn to design naturally inspired living systems. For people with prior experience in permaculture, this course is a more in depth and academically advanced study of various aspects of permaculture. It 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.

Learn to plan and manage the detailed development of a permaculture system.

Course Structure There are ten lessons in this module as follows:

1. Evaluating Design Strategies
2. Understanding Patterns
3. Water
4. Earthworks
5. Humid Tropics
6. Dry Climates
7. Temperate to Cold Climates
8. Planning Work
9. Costing
10. Sustainable Systems

Aims

• Evaluate appropriate design strategies for a specific development site.
• Explain the relationship between a Permaculture system and natural patterns occurring in your local area.
• Develop strategies for the management of water in a Permaculture design.
• Determine earthworks for the development of a Permaculture system.
• Design a Permaculture system for the humid tropics.
• Design a Permaculture system for a dry climate.
• Design a Permaculture system for a temperate to cold climate.
• Determine planning strategies for the development of a Permaculture system.
• Prepare cost estimates for a Permaculture development plan.
• Explain alternative sustainable systems practiced in various places around the world.

What You May Do In This Course Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

- Explain the evolution of a Permaculture system which is at least five years old; selected and studied by you.

- Compare the suitability of three different planning procedures, for development of a Permaculturesystem 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.

- Prepare a zone and sector analysis for a proposed Permaculture site.

- 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.

- Explain the compatibility of different types of borders for a Permaculture system, using examples, such as: *pasture farm land* national park *residential property *market garden *industrial sites *ocean.

- Explain the significance of timing in establishing a Permaculture system, including:

*the season *establishment sequence.

- Compare different methods of water provision, including collection and storage for a specified Permaculture system.

- Determine design measures to help minimise water usage, in a specified Permaculture system.

- Determine design measures to maximise water supply, in a specified Permaculture system.

- Analyse the adequacy of two different specific Permaculture system designs, in terms of: *water requirements *water provision *water storage *water usage.

- Describe multiple uses for water systems in an integrated Permaculture system, including: *power generation *fish culture *water-plant culture *sewerage treatment.

- Explain, using labelled illustrations, the use of different survey equipment, including:

*a dumpy level for determining slopes; *a tape measure for triangulating a point;

*a spirit level, line and tape for determining a slope.

- 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 *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 *mounds.

- Explain the factors that affect the excavation of earth for a specified Permaculture system, such as:

*soil type *sub-soil *rock *site access *vegetation *in-ground services.

- Compare two different methods for moving earth for a specific Permaculture development.

- Compare different methods for the provision of drainage on a site proposed as, or being developed

as, a Permaculture system.

- Explain the different reasons for moving earth in two specified Permaculture designs.

- Determine the earthworks required for a proposed Permaculture system, including:

*quantity of earth to move *where to relocate earth to *method of moving the earth.

- Determine the factors unique to the design of Permaculture systems in a humid, tropical climate.

- Evaluate on two different specified Permaculture systems designed for the humid tropics.

- Determine fifty plant species suited for inclusion in a Permaculture system in the humid tropics.

- Determine ten animal species suitable for inclusion in a Permaculture system in the humid tropics.

- Prepare a Permaculture design for a humid tropical climate, including:

*a plant *a materials list *plant and animal varieties lists.

- Explain the factors unique to the design of a Permaculture system for a dry climate.

- Evaluate two different specified Permaculture systems, designed for dry climates.

- Determine fifty plant species suitable for inclusion in a Permaculture system in dry areas.

- Determine ten animal species suitable for inclusion in a Permaculture system in dry areas.

- Prepare a Permaculture design for a dry climate, including:

*a plan *a materials list *plant and animal varieties lists.

- Explain factors unique to the design of Permaculture system design in a temperate to cold climate.

- Analyse two different, specified Permaculture designs for temperate to cold climates.

- Determine fifty plant species suitable for inclusion in a Permaculture system in temperate to cold areas.

- Determine ten animal species suitable for inclusion in a Permaculture system in temperate to coldareas.

- Prepare a Permaculture design for a temperate to cold climate, including:

*a plan *materials list *plant and animal varieties lists.

- Determine the types of materials required for specific Permaculture plans supplied to you.

- 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.

- Analyse two different, new Permaculture systems, to determine specific tasks which may need to undertaken over a period of years, until the system reaches maturity.

- Determine when it is valid to perform work in a specific, mature/established Permaculture system you visit.

- 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, visited and investigated by you.

- 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 three different countries.

- Prepare a plan for developing a sustainable agricultural system, other than Permaculture, on a specified site, including: *Concept site plan

For people with prior experience in permaculture, this course develops more advanced skills in permaculture. This course is an ideal follow on from Permaculture Systems, or a Permaculture Design Certificate undertaken through a different institution.