Lesson Structure:  Sustainable Agriculture BAG215

There are 8 lessons:

1. Introduction;
   • Sustainable ways of farming
   • Whole farm planning
   • Land Management programs
   • Sustainable ways of farming
   • Natural farming
   • Organic farming
   • Permaculture
   • No Dig techniques
   • Biodynamics 
2. Soils;
   • Growing media
   • Major types of soil problems
   • Soil structural decline
   • Erosion
   • Salinity
   • Acidification
   • Soil improvements
   • Phytotoxicity
   • Adding organic matter to soils
   • Cultivation techniques
   • Conservation tillage
   • Plant nutrition
   • Soil life
   • Cover crops
3. Water;
   • Types of water storage
   • Livestock water requirements
   • Water problems
   • Water quality
   • Reed beds
   • Water saving measures
   • Recycling
   • Swales and Keylines
   • Irrigation systems
4. Land Care
   • Weed Management
   • Preventative measures
   • Tree management
   • Timber lots/plantations
   • Wind breaks
   • Wildlife corridors
   • Wildlife habitats
   • Pest and diseases
5. Financial Sustainability
   • Economic principles
   • Developing a Farm Business Plan
   • Financial plan
   • Controlling growth
   • Value adding
   • Enterprise mix
   • Eco-tourism
6. Broad Management Strategies
   • Toward better planning
   • Land care or land management
   • New enterprises
   • Broad management categories
   • Marketing
   • Personal welfare
   • Plan drawing of farm
   • Looking at risk
   • Quality systems 
7. Plant Enterprises
   • Crop management
   • Hydroponic fodder
   • Hay
   • Considering new crops
   • Nuts
   • Organic farming
   • Agro-forestry
   • Hydroponics
   • Herbs
8. Animal Enterprises
   • Deer
   • Ostriches
   • Emus
   • Alpacas
   • llama
   • Goats
   • Aquaculture
   • Wool and meat production
   • Horses

Learning Goals:  Sustainable Agriculture BAG215

• Explain the broad possibilities for improving sustainability on farms.
• Explain how to avoid serious degradation of soils on a farm through sustainable management.
• Explain the broad possibilities for improving sustainability on farms.
• Explain how to avoid too serious degradation of soils on a farm through water management.
• Discuss Economic Rules that apply to a farm Enterprise.
• Crop management techniques for sustainability.
• Minimising degradation through planning and management.
• Evaluate the financial viability and potential of animal enterprises.

Practicals:

• Investigate what is being done for improving agricultural sustainability in your country or region.
• Contact different organisations or farmers and find out what you can about attitudes & resources available to assist with improving sustainability in your chosen area/Country/region.
• Investigate whether an organic certification scheme operates in your country, and if so, find out what is involved currently in attaining that certification for a farm.
• Obtain either literature or advice relating to the management to soil degradation in your locality.
• Identify the most important issues that farmers need to address in a region within approximately 100 km( or 50 miles )of your home; in order to remain financially viable over the next two decades
• Distinguish between hydroponics, permaculture, biodynamics and certified organic farming.
• Identify a farm situation where it might be appropriate to convert to either permaculture, biodynamics or certified organic system.
• What is being done to improve sustainability of agriculture in the region, country or state of your choice.
• Obtain information from your local government department or irrigation supply company. Find out what the local water quality is like and how it was measured.
• Explain how you can test your local water supply for contaminants. What contaminants were found? eg. Bacteria, heavy metals, silt etc.
• Outline how can these contaminants be removed from the local water supply eg filtration, chemicals, etc.
• Identify cost effective means by which contamination can be prevented.
• Identify types of water catchment in your local area. eg dams ,stream ,creeks ,etc.
• Find out what types of conservation are being practiced in your local area.
• Outline methods of pest control being practiced in your area
• Describe methods of weed control used in your area.
• Identify and describe any natural control methods being used in your area.
• Research tourism activities are available in your local area.
• Investigate planning and advisory services in your local area.
• Investigate existing animal enterprises in your local area and the economic impact.

Your learning experience with ADL will not only depend on the quality of the course, but also the quality of the person teaching it. This course is taught by Susan Stephenson and Andy Patterson . Your course fee includes unlimited tutorial support throughout from one of these excellent teachers. Here are their credentials:

Susan Stephenson
BSc in Applied Plant Biology (Botany) Univ. London 1983.
City and guilds: Garden Centre Management, Management and Interior Decor (1984)
Management qualifications in training with retail store. Diploma in Hort level 2 (RHS General) Distinction. 

Susan Stephenson is a passionate and experienced horticulturist and garden designer. She has authored three books, lectures at 2 Further and Higher Education Colleges, teaching people of all ages and backgrounds about the wonders of plants and garden design, and tutors many students by correspondence from all over the world.

Susan studied botany at Royal Holloway College (Univ of London) and worked in the trading industry before returning to her first love plants and garden design. She is therefore, well placed to combine business knowledge with horticulture and design skills. Her experience is wide and varied and she has designed gardens for families and individuals. Susan is a mentor for garden designers who are just starting out, offering her support and advice and she also writes, delivers and assesses courses for colleges, introducing and encouraging people into horticulture and garden design.

Susan is a Professional Associate and exam moderator and holds the RHS General with Distinction. She continues to actively learn about horticulture and plants and (as her students will tell you) remains passionate and interested in design and horticulture.

She also supervised the Area Arboriculture Team and was Exhumations Officer€“ in charge of collecting discovered remains and arranging identification (if poss) and interment of same.

Andy Patterson
PGCE Biological Sciences; Doctor of Naturopathy (pending); Registered Nutritional Therapist; Permaculture Design Consultant (PDC); BSc(Hons) Ecology;

Andy has been a biology and science teacher since 2002, and a natural health therapist since 1998. His original degree was in Ecology and is well experienced in the Life Sciences generally, from biology, medicine and clinical sciences to horticulture, ecology and the environment. he divides his time between a therapy clinic; teaching, tutoring & lecturing. Andy is a passionate believer in the power of education to transform people’s lives, and gives 100% support to helping students achieve their goal.

Andy has worked as a Biology lecturer in a number of post age 16 colleges, and 11-18 year age schools across the country during a 13 year career. This has included work as an Assessor for exam boards, 1 on 1 tutoring, working with small groups and whole classes. He worked on an award winning national Nuffield- STEM initiative using innovative educational techniques to develop sustainability awareness with KS3 school children. He has also managed a large vocational science area in a busy college and developed a successful Premedical curriculum which has helped many students on to successful medical careers.

Excerpt From The Course

Examples of Information to be collected and analysed:

• Land contours maps.  Check with your local Agriculture Department or equivalent in or near populated areas. There are often aerial photos available to provide details of roads, hills, buildings, trees, etc. These are particularly useful when in colour.

• Location of established fodder trees.

• Environmental waste management procedures. Government authorities often have a lot of written material available on waste management, as well as advisers for specific requirements. Wherever there is a suspected contaminated land area (eg. disused cattle dip) them a “waste consultant” should be engaged to investigate the potential pollution and advise on possible remedies. Such consultants are generally listed in the telephone yellow pages of the phone book.

• Land conservation reports and departments.

• Easements or other restrictions on land use. Check the title deed for easements and other restrictions (eg. power line access, easements for National Trails). Check for possible future use of the land (eg. widening of roadways, power line construction). Check all fences, including boundary fences, are in the correct position and in good condition.

Examples of decisions which might need to be made:

• How to ensure survival of stock though periods of drought or flood?

• How do I ensure that the fertility of soil does not degrade?

• How do I dispose of potentially harmful waste products? The local council or government authority will often advise where and how to dispose of these products. If there is a large quantity (eg. In  Australia, if it is  greater than 250 kg, (550 lb),then a licensed carrier must be used for transport of dangerous goods)

• How do I prevent erosion? Advice is available from Local, State or National Government authorities (eg. Soil conservation service or Department of Agriculture, etc.). A major method is to attempt to slow the speed and volume of water flowing over areas of concern. Grassing and contouring slopes will usually achieve these objectives

• How do I manage my farm so that it does not harm native species? The National Parks and Wildlife Service (or your countries equivalent) will advise you on this. There are also local wildlife preservation societies which can be helpful. A local veterinarian may be able to advise also.

• How do I prevent contamination of water ways by chemicals and effluent? Contamination can originate on your property or neighbouring properties (eg. local sewage plant can give elevated levels of Copper, Selenium and Zinc in down stream water. Dumping empty pesticide containers in a gully can also lead to problems down-stream).

• How will I divide the property (eg. into paddocks, what different areas will be used for, what areas will be conservation and what will be farmed, etc)

• How do I manage irrigation to minimise waste water, and leaching excess minerals from soils. Check the type of soil, especially sub soil on the property. Check particularly for acid sulphate soil.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?

A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.