Designing a Community Garden
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Do you enjoy gardening and want to help develop a community garden in your area? Would you like to join up with likeminded individuals in your locality and learn how to plan and design a community garden which is low maintenance, nature friendly and productive? You will learn a range of gardening methods from managing your pests naturally, working with weeds, basic soil science, water management techniques and basic design skills. You will learn how to work successfully with others to create a sustainable and viable community project.
Topics to be covered include:
- How to survey a community garden site:
- Slope, aspect, microclimates & soil,
- Different types of low maintenance edible gardens and community gardens
- The soil ecosystem:
- bacteria,
- fungi,
- Composting,
- Sheet mulching,
- Working with water
- Integrated pest management,
- Fitting in the fruit,
- Designing the community in a community garden:
- Design methods,
- Needs, wants & dreams
- Skills audit
- Engaging others
- Decision making with others
Who is this course for?
Anyone interested in either growing their own food or creating a community garden.
Learning and Teaching
There will be lectures, discussion groups, group activities, trips to the community garden site and group design work. The course will be illustrated with powerpoint slides and video clips. 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.
- Crawford, M. (2010) Creating a Forest Garden: Working with nature to grow edible crops . www.greenbooks.co.uk
- French, J. (1992) The Wilderness Garden. Aird Books. (Australia)
- Bell, G. (1994) Permaculture Garden. Harper Collins.
- 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.
- Kourik, R. (1986) Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally. Metamorphic P., U.S.
- Ruppenthal R.P. (2008) Fresh Food from Small Spaces . Chelsea Green Publishing Company US
- Flowerdew, B. (2003) Bob Flowerdew’s Organic Bible: Successful Gardening the Natural Way. Kyle Cathie. Greenwood, P. and Halstead, A. (1997)
- The Royal Horticulture Society Pest and Diseases. Dorling Kindersley
- Guerra, M. (2005) The Edible Container Garden. Gaia Books
- 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.
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.
Further Information
A range of further information can be found on our web site www.cf.ac.uk/learn or in Choices. This includes the times and dates of courses and an explanation of accreditation and credit levels.