Permaculture Ecological Literacy Courses
Below is a list of Permaculture Ecological Literacy courses offered at Pacific Rim College.
Soils (ELPD101)
Providing vital global and local ecosystem services, such as the cycling and storage of carbon, water, and nutrients, soil is the foundation of life. At the human scale, healthy soils are essential to resilient food and medicine production. Unfortunately, globally we are losing soil along with a biodiversity of critical soil life due to erosion, industrial agricultural practices and poor soil management.
With the use of proper soil management strategies, it is possible to support the creation of rich living soil in any environment and on any scale. Permaculture offers an array of tools and techniques to increase soil carbon, cycle nutrients, improve water retention and increasing soil biota. In this class, a wide range of practical organic soil management techniques are explored.
Exploring soil science, testing, soil building and how to make and use amendments, participants will enjoy a balanced blend of theory and hand on activities to solidify their learning.
Prerequisites: – – Credits: 2 Hours: 30
Water Systems & Earthworks – Theory (ELPD102)
Water is a fundamental resource that is key to our planetary survival. Starting with understanding the hydrological cycle and the key functions of water in the ecosystem, participants will see water as a precious natural resource that is vital to all life on the planet.
Whole systems water management will be reviewed including water conservation, catchment, treatment and storage. Guiding principles behind regenerative water management are explored along with an overview of techniques. Tools for calculating potential onsite water catchment, appropriate roofing and tank materials are shared. Land surveying is taken to the next level with a focus on slowing, spreading, sinking and storing opportunities.
Prerequisites: – – Credits: 1 Hours: 15
Botany & Plant ID I/II (ELPD103/104)
Deepening a basic understanding of the plant world and developing a stronger connection with the local environment are essential for anyone practicing Permaculture and developing regenerative systems. This course includes theory, hands on exploration, field trips, projects, and readings that will enable students to gain knowledge of the native plant diversity of Southern Vancouver Island. Local ecology, plant structure, botanical vocabulary, plant identification, and recognition of important diagnostic features of plant families are covered.
Prerequisites: – – Credits: 2 Hours: 35
Plants, Animals and Mushrooms – Winter & Spring/Summer/Autumn (ELPD105/106/107)
Fungi were some of the first complex life forms on land and plants make up for 80% of the total biomass on the planet. Animals can be considered the moving parts of the forest. An exploration of these 3 kingdoms is fundamental for anyone interested in a greater understanding of the natural world and wanting to create more resilient systems.
This extensive course will focus on 4 main components:
Theory, design, stewardship and traditional skills.
Taught through all 4 seasons, this course expands one’s knowledge of the natural world through an introduction to the mushroom, plant and animal kingdoms. The evolution of agriculture and how this has impacted land stewardship and management throughout time is explored. Participants will be introduced to and have practice designing with key Permaculture concepts including guilds, food forestry, and polycultural gardening.
There are opportunities to learn the ins and outs of planning, preparing, planting and caring for annual and perennial gardens from seed to seed. Proper harvesting techniques are reviewed. Mushroom cultivation and ethical animal management will be explored including the topics of Agroforestry and Syntropic farming. Participants will see and experience gardens, mushroom and animal systems from small to large scale, indoors and outdoors and for personal and professional means offering opportunities to identify key principles, methods and strategies for success. We also touch on Marine Permaculture.
With an understanding that cultures from all over the world have history embedded in traditional practices, there is an exploration of traditional skill building embedded in this course. Some aspects include introductions to; homesteading, preserving, traditional cooking methods, ethical hunting and wildcrafting.
Participants will enhance a connection with the rhythms and cycles of nature while learning practical skills that are inherent for living a life in harmony with the natural environment. Featuring a diversity of guest instructors with specialized expertise, participants are offered a taste of a variety of unique techniques and strategies to survive and thrive with the land.
Prerequisites: – – Credits: 11 Hours: 160
Water Systems & Earthworks – Practice (ELPD201)
Work with water in a practical way in your life, home and land in this hands on course. A variety of different ways to capture water including roof water, dew, fog and earthworks are covered in detail. Grey and black water treatment on various scales is discussed and aquaculture is explored.
Participants will see different functioning water systems in action, learn how to install a basic water catchment system and integrate their learning through the creation of a water systems design for a site.
Prerequisites: – – Credits: 3 Hours: 40
Herbalism for Everyday Health and Wellbeing (ELPD202/203)
This course offers a balance of theory and practice that focuses on health and herbalism, including the processing of medicinal plants and foods.
A diversity of food and medicine plants are covered including their ecological role, harvesting considerations, preparation of plant materials for processing, appropriate and effective medicinal preparations, and their applications to human health conditions. Participants form of a deeper relationship with plants as allies and a thorough understanding of how humans and plants relate in everyday health and wellbeing. The healing process of acute and chronic imbalances with plants is discussed.
An introduction to primary herbal concepts, including how medicinal plants work via actions and constituents will be explored.
Participants will consciously connect with and harvest various medicinal species and make various types of medicinal preparations.
Conversations about considerations for at-risk species, regulatory issues for the Canadian marketplace, herbal first aid, and safety considerations for using herbal medicines will be shared.
Prerequisites: – – Credits: 4 Hours: 50
Ecological Restoration (ELPD204)
Explore Ecological Restoration with discussions about the relationship between Permaculture and ecosystem restoration and how these practices are best informed by local ecology. There is a strong emphasis on Victoria as a bioregion including how Indigenous Peoples have and continue to shape the ecology of the Victoria area. Dive into the invasive species debate within permaculture while performing hands-on restoration activities in the local community.
Prerequisites: – – Credits: 1 Hours: 15
Bioremediation (ELPD205)
Participants learn about Bioremediation and review the differences between it and ecological restoration. Different contaminants and their ecological effects are covered along with microbial, phyto and myco-remediation techniques.
An exploration of bioremediation applications and self care tips for people working in the field of bioremediation are reviewed.
Prerequisites: – – Credits: 1 Hours: 15
