Sustainable Horticulture/Permaculture (Horticulture) Level 5

In this module students learn how eco-systems function and how human activities in all areas of life can be brought into harmony with nature. The focus is on learning about local plants for food, medicine, construction, and how they interact within regenerative systems. Practical skills include landscape and house design, fruit tree pruning and grafting, natural building techniques, and community building activities. Field trips to established permaculture projects and communities offer further inspiration.

Students will learn about the diverse habitats and ecosystems of the natural world. The challenges and threats to habitats such as native woodlands, hedgerows and rivers will be explored and what solutions and management practices can be used in their conservation and restoration.

The module is about cultivating healthy nutrient dense food by using all types of organic matter and healthy soil to grow our crops and have a balanced ecosystem around our homesteads. Sow seeds and plant all other food producing crops and design efficient food producing areas while cycling all nutrients onsite is key here without using artificial chemical or insecticides.

Protecting out cultivated crops is fundamental to obtaining a yield and successful food production. Learn about pests, diseases, disorders and weeds from an ecological perspective and the techniques we can use to protect our crops by helping to make them healthy and naturally resistant to pest attacks and also create ecosystems which support healthy soil and beneficial insects.

Learn about the fundamentals of the incredible green planet around us. It is a core scientific module which other modules draw from and where photosynthesis powers the global ecosystem. Learn about seeds, photosynthesis, reproduction, classification, genetics, plant propagation etc. and build your knowledge of our ecosystem so we can understand how to protect it while getting the most out of the plants in our gardens, polytunnels and wild areas.

Learn how to name and identify our native wildflowers, shrubs and trees using botanical keys. Discover the characteristics and uses of a wide range of plants, both in garden and natural settings, and the role they can play in building and supporting healthy ecosystems.

Learn the fundamentals of our most important resource = soil, while respecting this thriving ecosystem under our feet. Learn about the biological, physical and chemical characteristics that create this unique substance where nearly all our food comes from. Test various soil factors research varying soil types and learn about the latest research on mycorrhizal fungi and other wondrous soil born organisms.

Students must complete a minimum of 40 days on work practice. This may be divided in the following ways: Twenty days on college campus with your teacher as supervisor Twenty days to be completed in an official horticulturally-related organisation(s). Students will learn: the rights and responsibilities of both employer and employee, to explore their personal profile, and match it to appropriate work practice and placements, to evaluate their work practice experience, including managing feedback from their supervisor in order to inform future career choices

Students will acquire and use communication skills effectively for vocational, personal, and interpersonal development. They will develop appropriate digital literacy skills and digital citizenship. They will explore the principles of communication theory for developing a range of communications skills for various settings. They will learn to apply communication theory and techniques appropriately in different contexts They will become aware of the importance of taking responsibility for their own learning Skills include: writing, reading, research, speaking, non-verbal, listening, visual and digital.