Course Catalog

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COURSES

Deeper Dive: SOILS (15)

Fifteen hours of lecture, discussion, and hands-on outdoor/classroom activity. Students study and explore various concepts of soil science including soil structure, humus, soil life, nutrients and minerals for plants, worms, compost, and compost teas as well as various strategies for maintaining soil health and fertility. Lectures and hands-on introduce students to techniques and varied applications.

  • SOILS 101. Introduction to Soils. (3)
  • SOILS 102. Introduction to Worms. (3)
  • SOILS 103. Introduction to Compost. (3)
  • SOILS 104. Introduction to Compost Teas. (3)
  • SOILS 105. Introduction to Soil Science. (3)

Deeper Dive: METHODS OF DESIGN (10)

Twenty five hours of lecture, discussion, and hands-on, including a ten hour hands-on permaculture design intensive with an opportunity to use the tools as you learn on an actual design project in San Francisco. Students study and explore various concepts of methods of permaculture design including design tools, analysis, observation, deductions from nature, establishing and maintenance of systems and design conventions. Lectures and hands-on introduce students to techniques and varied applications.

  • METHODS 101. Permaculture Design Basics. (10)
  • METHODS 102. Introduction to Whole System Design. (3)
  • METHODS 103. Introduction to Patterns in Design. (3)
  • METHODS 104. Introduction to Energy Conservation in Design. (3)
  • METHODS 105. Introduction to Food Forests. (3)
  • METHODS 106. Introduction to Urban Landscapes. (3)

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

SOILS

SOILS 101. Introduction to Soils. (3)  Three hours of lecture, discussion, and hands-on outdoor/classroom activity. Students study and explore various concepts of soil science including soil health, structure, humus, soil life, nutrients and minerals for plants, pH, acid and alkaline water as well as various strategies for maintaining soil health and fertility. Lectures and hands-on introduce students to techniques and varied applications.

SOILS 102. Introduction to Worms. (3) Three hours of lecture, discussion, and hands-on outdoor/classroom activity. Students study and explore various aspects of worm composting including the various types of worms and worm bins, benefits, products, conditions, food, breeding habits, design considerations, bedding, harvesting worms and castings, design ideas and closing waste stream loops. Demonstration and optional hands-on activities provide an opportunity for students to design and build their own worm bin. Lectures and hands-on introduce students to techniques and varied applications.

SOILS 103. Introduction to Compost. (3) Three hours of lecture, discussion, and hands-on outdoor/classroom activity. Students study and explore various concepts of compost systems including building a compost pile, compost theory, food, oxygen, moisture, insulation, troubleshooting, ideas for designing composting systems and closing wastestreams. Demonstration and hands-on activities provide an opportunity for students to design and build their own worm bin. Lectures and hands-on introduce students to techniques and varied applications.

SOILS 104. Introduction to Compost Teas. (3) Three hours of lecture, discussion, and hands-on outdoor/classroom activity. Students study and explore various concepts of soil science including soil health, the history and latest findings in the field, benefits, process and recipe for vegetable gardens. Lectures and hands-on introduce students to techniques and varied applications.

SOILS 105. Introduction to Soil Science. (3) Three hours of lecture, discussion, and hands-on outdoor/classroom activity. Students study and explore various concepts of soil science including identification and analysis of soil microbiota, soil sampling, history of microbial association of microorganisms and plants, and the latest soil-science findings and their applications to gardening. Lectures and hands-on introduce students to techniques and varied applications.

 

METHODS

METHODS 101. Permacuture Design Basics (10) Ten hours of lecture, discussion, and hands-on design held in an intensive format over two days with an opportunity to use the tools as you learn on an actual design project in San Francisco. Students study and explore various concepts of methods of permaculture design including design tools, analysis, observation, deductions from nature, establishing and maintenance of systems and design conventions. Lectures and hands-on introduce students to techniques and varied applications.

Note: There are no prerequisites for any "100-level" classes such as SOILS 101, SOILS 105 or METHODS 101.