Backyard Food Production
Date |
Time |
Location |
|
| 17 March - 7 April 2025 | 09:00 am – 03:00 pm | Byron Community College - Mullum Campus |
Introduction:
Growing your own herbs and vegetables can be a rewarding and exciting experience, especially when you have the foundational skills and knowledge to do so. This course provides you with a mix of practical information and hands-on experience to achieve great results.
During this 4 week course, you will become part of a small team who will be the custodians of our backyard vegetable garden plot within our permaculture site located at Mullumbimby Community Gardens (MCG).
We will follow the seasons of a north coast vegetable garden. Growing, maintaining, harvesting, fertilising and sowing with the seasons and in tune with nature.
This course will suit anyone interested in growing vegetables and herbs. Great for those wanting to be more self-sufficient, and understand the inner workings of a vegie garden.
A mixture of theory and practical make this course an exciting journey into the world of holistic gardening.
What you will learn
Course Fees
*Please be aware that participation in fee-free courses will not be possible if assessments from previous fee-free courses are outstanding.
What to bring
Important information
Once your enrolment is completed you will receive a confirmation email. This email will include your receipt and inform you of the dates, times and venue for your course. It will also let you know of anything you need to take to class with you.
Please make sure that you give us a valid email address and mobile number as any course changes will be communicated via sms or email.
We keep our class sizes small so that you get a better experience. Avoid disappointment, enrol early!
Student Policies and Procedures
USI
During this 4 week course, you will become part of a small team who will be the custodians of our backyard vegetable garden plot within our permaculture site located at Mullumbimby Community Gardens (MCG).
We will follow the seasons of a north coast vegetable garden. Growing, maintaining, harvesting, fertilising and sowing with the seasons and in tune with nature.
This course will suit anyone interested in growing vegetables and herbs. Great for those wanting to be more self-sufficient, and understand the inner workings of a vegie garden.
A mixture of theory and practical make this course an exciting journey into the world of holistic gardening.
What you will learn
- Establishing a garden - looking at design - make a no dig bed
- Basic soil science for holistic growers
- Fertilisers, compost, worm farms, cover crops for soil health
- Seed saving, sowing, seedlings and propagation/cuttings
- Crop rotation, companion planting (touch on moon planting) for plant health
- Integrated Pest Management systems - biological controls and best natural remedies
- Touch on passive water systems - Olla systems, mulches and living mulches, wicking bed
- Best local suppliers for resources
Areas of Study
To enhance your learning outcomes, this course includes nationally accredited training units of competency that have been carefully designed and contextualised specifically for this course.
These units will provide you with valuable knowledge and practical skills, helping you build a strong foundation in gardening and confidently explore your growing potential.
Units of competency include:- FSKNUM015 - Estimate, measure and calculate with routine metric measurements for work
- FSKOCM002 - Engage in short and simple spoken exchanges at work
Course completion
Following successful completion of this course, you will be awarded with a Statement of Attainment for these units of competency.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course, however, students must not have previously completed either of the units of competency listed.
Students are permitted to enrol in only one funded course at a time. Additionally, each funded course can be undertaken only once.
Students are required to be 15 years old and above at the time of enrolment.
The wearing of PPE gear including long work pants, long sleeved work shirt, solid work boots, garden gloves and a wide brimmed hat is required.It is recommended that learners are able to work physically in a range of outdoor conditions (sun, rain, wind) for extended periods of time. It is also recommended that learners should be able to squat, kneel, bend, lift and carry loads, dig, shovel and weed.
Course Duration and Delivery
- This 4 day course is delivered over 4 weeks
- Face-to-face learning is delivered at our Mullumbimby Campus: 9am - 3pm Mondays
- Assessments are conducted in a supervised (on-campus) format
Course Fees
Full fee $450
This course is subsidised by the NSW governments Adult and Community Education (ACE) program. You could be eligible for fee-free training under this program.^
This course is subsidised by the NSW governments Adult and Community Education (ACE) program. You could be eligible for fee-free training under this program.^
To be eligible for ACE funding, you must:
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder, or a New Zealand citizen; and
- Live or work in New South Wales; and
- Be aged 15 years or older; and
- No longer be at school or equivalent; and
- Provide the College with your USI at the time of enrolment (admin staff can assist you in obtaining a USI)
- Have not previously completed the units of competency listed.
For more information on ACE eligibility criteria, click here or call our office on 02 6684 3374.
^This course is fee-free for eligible applicants
*As places and class sizes are limited, please provide a minimum of 48hrs notice if any unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance, so that a funded opportunity can be offered to another person. A $100 cancellation fee will apply to enrolled applicants that do not attend any sessions of the course without sufficient notice.
*Please be aware that participation in fee-free courses will not be possible if assessments from previous fee-free courses are outstanding.
- Pen and paper
- Own lunch and refreshments
- Students must have enclosed shoes and a brimmed hat
- Long sleeve shirt, long pants and gloves
Important information
Once your enrolment is completed you will receive a confirmation email. This email will include your receipt and inform you of the dates, times and venue for your course. It will also let you know of anything you need to take to class with you.
Please make sure that you give us a valid email address and mobile number as any course changes will be communicated via sms or email.
We keep our class sizes small so that you get a better experience. Avoid disappointment, enrol early!
Student Policies and Procedures
Please review our Student Handbook for information regarding student policies, procedures and responsibilities.
USI
From 1 January 2015 all students undertaking accredited training must have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). This requirement applies to all nationally recognised training, from full qualifications to single-unit courses.
You must provide BRCC with your USI at enrolment. If you don’t already have one, you (or your parent or guardian) can apply for one at http://usi.gov.au/create-your-USI/Pages/default.aspx. You will need to have one form of identification and a valid email address to create your USI.
Alternatively, college staff can assist you to create your USI. We will need to collect your identification and personal information to complete this. You will also need to complete a consent form for us to do this.
Storage, disclosure, use and security of the USI will adhere to the rules relating to the USI: https://www.usi.gov.au/about-us/privacy.
You must provide BRCC with your USI at enrolment. If you don’t already have one, you (or your parent or guardian) can apply for one at http://usi.gov.au/create-your-USI/Pages/default.aspx. You will need to have one form of identification and a valid email address to create your USI.
Alternatively, college staff can assist you to create your USI. We will need to collect your identification and personal information to complete this. You will also need to complete a consent form for us to do this.
Storage, disclosure, use and security of the USI will adhere to the rules relating to the USI: https://www.usi.gov.au/about-us/privacy.
Tutor Profile:
Alice Hoffman Ross
Alice has a deep love for soil, compost and integrated systems. She has made it her mission to share the importance of rehabilitating our land, to not only grow nutrient dense food but to support ecosystems, emanate nature, and utilise natural resources.
Alice studied Permaculture for 2 years, and since then, has been living and breathing the practices and ethics, both in her work and her everyday life. She has experience in market gardens, landscaping, and design and implementation in kitchen gardens and orchards. Alice has a quality compost business and has her ear to the ground within regenerative agriculture. She is driven by her passion to explore and share all facets of permaculture and the invaluable principles that infuse it.
Alice has a deep love for soil, compost and integrated systems. She has made it her mission to share the importance of rehabilitating our land, to not only grow nutrient dense food but to support ecosystems, emanate nature, and utilise natural resources.
Alice studied Permaculture for 2 years, and since then, has been living and breathing the practices and ethics, both in her work and her everyday life. She has experience in market gardens, landscaping, and design and implementation in kitchen gardens and orchards. Alice has a quality compost business and has her ear to the ground within regenerative agriculture. She is driven by her passion to explore and share all facets of permaculture and the invaluable principles that infuse it.
