one day courses

Garden Design for Success
Good design is key when aiming to grow more with less effort.
This course introduces permaculture principles and strategies that will make you see your garden with new eyes.
Topics covered include:
Polyculture
Perennial plantings
Beneficial microclimates
Mulching
Garden zones
Bed layout
Practical - observation and design exercises

Forest Gardening
A forest garden is a direct imitation of a natural woodland, with the wild plants replaced by edible fruits and vegetables.
A natural woodland is roughly twice as productive as conventionally cultivated land.
How can we, as gardeners, mimic the way nature makes optimum use of resources and inputs?
In this class you will learn not only how to establish a forest garden from scratch, but also how to incorporate elements of this design strategy into your existing garden.

Topics covered:
Forest gardening history and examples
Succession
Suitable plants
Mulching and planting strategies
Practical – mulched plant guild or herb garden
Learning from Nature – 'Original Permaculture'

The Art of Soil Care
The most important element in a successful garden is the soil.
A good gardener will be aware of the state of his soil at all times and constantly work to balance the demands made on it by intensive cropping with a wide palette of soil amendment and management strategies.

You will learn about:
Assessing your soil.
Practical – bring your own soil sample!
What makes great soil?
Composting.
Practical – worm compost
Mulching
Green Manure
Garden design for good soil.

More Green!
The craft of propagating ornamental plants, as well as fruit, herbs and vegetables.

Topics covered:
Growing from seed
Growing from cuttings
Practical – taking cuttings
Division, layering, grafting and budding
The propagation environment
Potting compost and other growing media
Intro to seed saving

Institute for Permaculture and Nature Awareness

The art and craft of living with Nature

one day courses