Edible Landscaping – The Fruit Garden
Level 0 (CQFW Level 3), 10 Credits.
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Course Description
Learn how to design, create and maintain a low maintenance edible garden focussing on fruit trees, soft fruit and shade tolerant leafy plants. Based on permaculture principles, this Fruit Gardening course will take you through designing and drawing up plans for your garden and maintenance needs – including pruning, pest management and pollination.
Topics to be covered include:
- Natural systems – how they work
- Ecosystems > permaculture gardening
- Zones, sectors, slope, microclimates – how they influence the design
- Drawing to scale
- Design techniques – different ways of approaching designing
- The principles of edible forest gardening
- Specific aspects of growing fruit – rootstocks, pest control, water management, pruning, pollination, maintaining fertility levels, managing the harvest over long time period
- Reference to the range of species which can be grown in an edible forest garden
- Development of each students design of their own edible forest garden through small group discussion and individual tutorials
- Practical activities including preparing areas for tree planting & pruning
Who is this course for?
Anyone with interest in either growing their own food, or in managing a garden naturally – whatever the size.
Learning and Teaching
There will be lectures, discussion groups, group exercises, practical demonstrations/activities and group design work. The course will be illustrated with slides and transparencies. The emphasis will be on active learning, to help you to develop an understanding of the subject matter and its relevance to the real world.
Coursework and Assessment
To award credits we need to have evidence of the knowledge and skills you have gained or improved. Some of this has to be in a form that can be shown to external examiners so that we can be absolutely sure that standards are met across all courses and subjects.
The most important element of assessment is that it should enhance your learning. Our methods are designed to increase your confidence and we try very hard to devise ways of assessing you that are enjoyable and suitable for adults with busy lives.
Reading suggestions
- Whitefield, P. (1993) Permaculture In A Nutshell . Permanent Publications.
- Whitefield, P. (1997 ) How To Make A Forest Garden . Permanent Publications.
- Bell, G. (1994) Permaculture Garden . Harper Collins.
- French, J. (1992) The Wilderness Garden . Aird Books. (Australia)
- Fern, K. (1997) Plants For A Future . Permanent Publications.
- Hessayon D.G. (1997) The Fruit Expert . Expert.
- Larkcom, J. (2003) The Organic Salad Garden . Frances Lincoln Ltd.
- McVicar, J. (1997) Good Enough To Eat Kyle Cathie Ltd.
- Baines, C. (2000) How To Make A Wildlife Garden . Frances Lincoln Ltd.
- Crawford, M. (1998) Edible Plants For Temperate Climates . Agroforestry Research Trust.
- Kourik, R. (1986) Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally. Metamorphic P., U.S.
The Collins Gem series for identifying:
Wildflowers; Moths & Butterflies; Insects; Birds; Pond species; Trees
For plant identification and design aid:
Brickell, C. (ed.) (2003) Royal Horticulture Society New Encyclopaedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley
Bown, D. (2003) The Royal Horticulture Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley.
For pest identification rather than pest control:
Greenwood, P. and Halstead, A. (1997) The Royal Horticulture Society Pest and Diseases. Dorling Kindersley
For technical advice:
Brickell, C. and Joyce, D. (1996) The Royal Horticultural Society Pruning and Training. Dorling Kindersley
The Royal Horticulture Society Encyclopaedia of Gardening
Flowerdew, B. (2003) Bob Flowerdew’s Organic Bible: Successful Gardening the Natural Way. Kyle Cathie.
Magazines:
Permaculture Magazine and Organic Gardening.
Library and Computing Facilities
As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University library and computing facilities. You can find out more about these facilities on our website www.cf.ac.uk/learn under Student Information, or by ringing the Centre on
(029) 2087 0000.
Accessibility of Courses
Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and Dyslexia screening. Please contact the Centre on (029) 2087 0000 for an information leaflet.