This course runs one Saturday per season.  Upcoming dates are 16 March,  22 June, 14 September and 9 November 2019.  

We think learning how to create more of the plants you care about is a critical skill for resiliency.  Some plants and trees can just be grown by planting their seeds, but others are better duplicated via cuttings, grafting or dividing.

This is a “hands in the dirt” course, with a theory session followed by putting it into practice.  There will be a lot of plant material after each class to share, take home and start growing.

We find this course is best delivered over four sessions.  In winter we do the “hardwood” cuttings: grape, plum, fig, hydrangea, blueberry, currant and the like.  In spring,  we’ll look at seed raising: seed saving, seed raising mix, germination, appropriate containers, etc. As we get closer to summer, that’s the best time to collect and root “soft” cuttings (sage, salvias, scented geraniums) and some “semi-hardwood” cuttings (lavender, rosemary, Chilean guava). Once we get to the autumn class, we are dividing of plants like rhubarb, comfrey, mint, thyme and berry canes, with more “semi-hardwood cuttings.”

Tree propagation will also be covered.  You’ll learn about grafting theory and get practical experience using a grafting tool; “rootstock” production of apple and quince; how to grow rootstocks by mound layering; and how peaches and plums can be grown from seeds.  

The tuition is a very reasonable $195 for four sessions (this works out to $48 per class), or $52 for individual classes.  You’ll receive an email ahead of each session with what to expect and what to bring.  It’ll be things like:  your lunch, flower snips, secateurs, pots, grafting tool if you have one, and branches of the plant you wish to propagate.  

All sessions are held at our Plenty Permaculture Cottage, 375 Whakamarama road.

Due to significant interest, we are running this Saturday course alongside a Tuesday propagation course.  If you have a date conflict on a Saturday, you can most likely come on the Tuesday if space allows.  Get in touch with Catherine 027 240 1305 or [email protected] and we’ll sort it out.

Kazel Cass will be leading all sessions and is one of our most popular tutors.

The post Saturdays: Propagation Though the Year appeared first on Plenty Permaculture.

Learning how to create more of the plants you care about is a critical skill for resiliency.  Some plants and trees can just be grown by planting their seeds, but others are better duplicated via cuttings, grafting or dividing.

This is a “hands in the dirt” course, with a theory session followed by putting it into practice.  There will be a lot of plant material after each class to share, take home and start growing.

We find this course is best delivered over four sessions, one each season.  

In Winter,  we do the “hardwood” cuttings: grape, plum, fig, hydrangea, blueberry, currant and the like.  

In Spring,  we’ll look at seed raising: seed saving, seed raising mix, germination, appropriate containers, etc.

Summer, is the best time to collect and root “soft” cuttings (sage, salvias, scented geraniums) and some “semi-hardwood” cuttings (lavender, rosemary, Chilean guava).

Once we get to the Autumn class, we are dividing of plants like rhubarb, comfrey, mint, thyme and berry canes, with more “semi-hardwood cuttings.”

Tree propagation will also be covered.  You’ll learn about grafting theory and get practical experience using a grafting tool; rootstock production of apple and quince; how to grow rootstocks by mound layering; and how peaches and plums can be grown from seeds.  

You are welcome to attend one, two three or all sessions. You’ll receive an email a week before each session with what to bring.  It’ll be things like:  your lunch, flower snips, secateurs, pots, grafting tool if you have one, extra seeds, branches of the plant you wish to propagate, etc.  

This is a cyclic course, so it is perfectly fine to start with any season.  The dates for the next workshops are 19 March 2019, 18 June, 17 September, 12 November, and 31 March 2020.

Due to significant interest, we have opened up a Saturday propagation course too.  This will take place around the same time and may help if you have a scheduling conflict. Get in touch with Catherine 027 240 1305 if this is your situation.

Kazel Cass will be leading all sessions and is one of our most popular tutors.

The post Tuesdays: Plant Propagation Through the Year appeared first on Plenty Permaculture.

This Saturday module provides the critical concepts, language and framework for understanding and designing with permaculture. This is the start of a yearlong, 12 module course, however it can be done as a stand alone day. After some group introductions, we’ll flush out permacultures’ definitions, principles, ethics, and get familiar with its origins.  We’ll be inside and outside as weather allows, alternating lecture, short videos, paired exercises and individual work with fun exercises to give you that “gut” understanding of what permaculture is all about.  We’ll also look at how others are applying permaculture design solutions throughout the world to give you a sense of what’s possible. For those attending the yearlong course, we’ll finish by discussing the scope of  individual design project to be presented in April 2020.  Today lays out the pathway to module #2: The Permaculture Design Process.  

Download the program overview here.

Tutors

Catherine and Neville Dunton-McLeod

Register for this course

The post PDC Module 1 Permaculture Foundations appeared first on Plenty Permaculture.

Become a garden expert with this 12-month course that follows the seasons to provide a year of fundamental growing skills. 

Curriculum: Over 14 classroom days, about one per 3-4 weeks,  you will learn:
-Plant propagation, 4 days
-Understanding soils, 3 days
-Managing pests, diseases and weeds, 3 days
-Companion planting, plants for bird and insect retention,  1 day
-Forest garden design for the BOP, 1 day
-Fruit tree pruning, summer and winter, 2 days

Kazel with propagation material

Two Courses: Due to everyone’s busy schedules, we’ll be running parallel Saturday and Tuesday courses.   Please sign up either the Saturday or Tuesday course, but you can attend the other course if you miss a day.  

Saturday dates:
2019
22 Jun     Propagation of Winter Hardwoods
24 Jul      Understanding Soils 1
10 Aug     Winter Fruit Tree Pruning
24 Aug     Understanding Soils 2
14 Sept    Propagation of Spring Seeds
19 Oct      Understanding Soils 3
9 Nov       Propagation of Summer Softwoods
30 Nov     Weed Management

2020
8 Feb      Pests & Diseases
22 Feb    Forest Garden Design
29 Feb    Summer Fruit Tree Pruning
17 Mar    Companion Planting, plants for bird and insect retention
28 Mar    Propagation in Autumn by Division
2 May      Pests & Diseases 2
23 May    Crop Management
 

Tuesday dates:
2019
18 Jun     Propagation of Winter Hardwoods
30 Jul      Understanding Soils 1
6 Aug      Winter Fruit Tree Pruning
27 Aug     Understanding Soils 2
17 Sept    Propagation of Spring Seeds
22 Oct      Understanding Soils 3
12 Nov     Propagation of Summer Softwoods
3 Dec       Weed Management

2020
11 Feb       Pests & Diseases 1
25 Feb      Forest Garden Design
3 Mar       Summer Fruit Tree Pruning
10 Mar     Companion Planting, plants for bird and insect retention
31 Mar     Propagation in Autumn by Division
28 Apr     Pests & Diseases 2
26 May    Crop Management
 

Location: The courses will be held at the Plenty Permaculture Cottage, 375 Whakamarama road.

What comes with your course: Each session has a colour, easy to read, and detailed handout for you to take notes on and to refer to in the future. Each session tea and coffee are provided, as are plant and propagation materials. We will ask that you BYO sack lunch as there are no cafes nearby our Whakamarama lifestyle block.

Final details coming soon!

The post Gardening Essentials Course – Coming Soon appeared first on Plenty Permaculture.