Organic Gardening

This 5-module course explores the reasons for organic gardening, as well as key practical principles. Includes course book, The Complete Gardener, all course materials and full tutorial support.

Study topics include: history of the organic movement; organic gardening and the environment; soil cultivation and management; organic cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops; the herb garden; an organic diet; accreditation of organic crops; greenhouse gardening; controlling pests and diseases; weed control; conservation and the gardener; encouraging wildlife; the garden pond; planning your organic garden.

Detailed Course Outline

Course book -The Complete Gardener, Monty Don.

Module 1: Introduction. History of the organic movement. Organic gardening and the environment. Health benefits.

Module 2: Soil health. Composition of soil. Deficiency symptoms. Soil conditioning. Organic matter. Humus. Soil organisms. Organic manures. Digging methods.

Module 3: Organic cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops. Propagation, seed/seedling sources, pruning, maintenance, harvesting. The herb garden.

Module 4: Pests and diseases: principles, biological control, crop rotation, companion planting, protecting fruit and vegetables.

Module 5: Bringing it all together. Planning your organic garden. A year-round maintenance plan.