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Organic Training College - Year 2

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Year 2 Qualifications

Year 2 Courses

NC1014 National Certificate in Horticulture - Level 4 - 140 Credits
Length	4 days per week for for 43 weeks including holidays (37 weeks delivery)
Entry Requirements	Students are encouraged to complete the National Certificate in Horticulture (Introductory) Level 2 prior to enrolling in this programme
Course Content	Graduates will have acquired the basic knowledge about organic production for use in employment within the horticulture industry and/or for use in own gardens and smallholdings.
	Unit Standards 21040 Describe the scope and application of standards that apply to organic horticulture in New Zealand 21046 Demonstrate knowledge of obtaining and maintaining organic certification for horticulture operations 20558 Propagate plants by cuttings 20557 Propagate plants from seed 21044Develop and apply an organic pest, disease, and weed management plan for an organic crop 22190Operate an irrigation system used in horticulture 21219Operate and maintain orchard hand pruning equipment and ladders or stools 830Train and prune fruit trees 789Demonstrate knowledge of basic legal requirements affecting a horticulture business 19140Demonstrate knowledge of water use and quality, and related land use issues in primary production Telford learning Module : Soil Issues

 

Year 2 Course Descriptors

Organic Standards and Certification

By the end of this course students will be able to: explain the requirements for maintaining organic certification; identify how certification integrity may be endangered in organic horticulture operations; outline the requirements of an organic management plan for a horticultural operation to obtain organic certification and define key factors determining the viability of an organic horticulture venture.

Plant Propagation

On completion of this course students will be able to: manage stock plants; select and prepare cutting material; manage the propagating environment; harden off rooted cuttings; and keep records of propagation by cuttings; source and store seed; treat seed to enhance germination; produce seedling lines; and keep records of propagation from seed.

Organic Production (inc irrigation)

Students completing this course are able to: demonstrate knowledge of the criteria for selection of an organically produced crop; use site data to plan and implement a soil and fertility management programme; identify pests and diseases associated with the selected crop, and plan for and carry out the management of these organisms using organic methods; and identify weeds that will negatively affect crop development and plan for weed management in the selected crop. Students will also learn the principles of planning and building an irrigation system

The Legal Requirements (inc water use)

This course is designed for people working, or intending to work, in horticulture. Students will be able to: describe business ownership structures; describe basic legal requirements in buying and leasing real estate; state how to comply with Inland Revenue Department (IRD) requirements; and demonstrate knowledge of the legal obligations of an employer and employee.

The topics covered in this course also include the restrictions on land and water use by primary producers; and water quality, and ground and surface movement problems associated with agricultural and horticultural land use.

Soil Issues

This course covers the sustainable management of soils and the issues related to the maintenance of this resource; erosion, cultivation and intensive agricultural use.

Pruning

This course will use the BHU pip fruit, stone fruit and connoisseur orchards to learn the practical skills required for the training and pruning of fruit tree crops. Students will also have field trips to practice the pruning of grapes, nut crops and export organic apples

Principles of Organic Production

Students who complete this course are able to: demonstrate knowledge of planning requirements for establishment and maintenance of an organic horticultural production system; demonstrate knowledge of organic soil management; describe pest control in organic horticulture; demonstrate knowledge of factors that affect disease control in organic horticulture; demonstrate knowledge of weed management in organic horticulture; and demonstrate knowledge of companion planting in organic horticulture.  

Bees and Organics

This course is a mixture of theory and practical, looking at the basics of managing and maintaining a healthy hive organically as well as how to maximize the value and benefits of having bees in organic horticulture.

Permaculture

Students completing this course will be able to: describe the principles of permaculture; outline procedures used to analyse a site for permaculture; create a permaculture plan for a selected site; and describe considerations when implementing the permaculture plan.

Plant Growth Processes and Lifecycles

This course enables students to describe how environmental factors affect plant growth processes and demonstrate knowledge of plant life cycles. Students will also demonstrate knowledge of a specific crop which is grown using environmental techniques to improve plant production and crop quality.  

The Development of Organic Horticulture

Students who complete this course are able to: describe the basic relationships and characteristics of an organic system; describe the development of modern organic horticulture; describe the schools of thought that are credited with the development of the modern organic horticulture movement; describe the principles of a selected range of organic movements; and describe the roles of key organisations that have a strong influence on organic horticulture.  

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