Ecological Farm Design Course
- Next enrollment starts July 2023
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This is an open entry and self paced course, that you can complete module by module.
The cost is $700
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Course Goals:
This course takes you on a design journey for creating a regenerative farming system. This course covers the philosophy and application of regenerative design to create functional, resilient, and productive farms modelled upon natural systems.
The emphasis of the course is to restore degraded farmland back to a biologically functional state, while sustaining a land-based income to landowners. The key outcomes from adopting this philosophy are to improve soil health, enhance ecosystem services, improve water quality, increase carbon sequestration, and improve livestock and farmer wellbeing.
Within this course you will be part of a collaborative online community of farmers around New Zealand and with the support of the course materials, online community, tutors and guest speakers you will create a regenerative farm plan and implementation strategy.
The course is broken into 7 online modules, each exploring the philosophy and application of regenerative design. Within each module you will have the opportunity to collaborate with other learners to extend and deepen your learning. Topics are explored within eBooks, explanation videos, quizzes, discussion forums and online classroom chats. You also have the opportunity to explore topics deeper through research tasks.
Key Outcomes:
In this course you will work with the support from our tutors and online community to create the following:
Course Topics
Regen 101: Principles of Regenerative Design
Regen 102: Types of Ecological Farming Systems
Regen 103: Analysing Site Characteristics of a Farm
Regen 104: Ecological Farm Design Strategy
Regen 105: Freshwater Quality on Farms
Regen 106: Creating Healthy Soil
Regen 107: Native Biodiversity on Farms
Graduation
Completion of the course depends on completing all the modules above and submitting a final design portfolio.
This course takes you on a design journey for creating a regenerative farming system. This course covers the philosophy and application of regenerative design to create functional, resilient, and productive farms modelled upon natural systems.
The emphasis of the course is to restore degraded farmland back to a biologically functional state, while sustaining a land-based income to landowners. The key outcomes from adopting this philosophy are to improve soil health, enhance ecosystem services, improve water quality, increase carbon sequestration, and improve livestock and farmer wellbeing.
Within this course you will be part of a collaborative online community of farmers around New Zealand and with the support of the course materials, online community, tutors and guest speakers you will create a regenerative farm plan and implementation strategy.
The course is broken into 7 online modules, each exploring the philosophy and application of regenerative design. Within each module you will have the opportunity to collaborate with other learners to extend and deepen your learning. Topics are explored within eBooks, explanation videos, quizzes, discussion forums and online classroom chats. You also have the opportunity to explore topics deeper through research tasks.
Key Outcomes:
In this course you will work with the support from our tutors and online community to create the following:
- Understanding the philosophy of regenerative design to designing ecological farming systems.
- Create a Freshwater Farm Plan to meet requirements of NZ Councils.
- Detailed Farm Design (supported by design team)
- Investigate the characteristics of your site that will impact your design
- Research your strengths, resources and market opportunities for creating novel regenerative farming systems
- Free access to Vectorworks and support form tutors to create farm designs
- Final regenerative farm plan and implementation strategy
- Introduction to a supportive online community of regenerative changemakers
Course Topics
Regen 101: Principles of Regenerative Design
- Ecosystems: Explores the form and function of ecosystems and understanding community dynamics, trophic cascades and ecosystem services
- Principles: Explores common principles of action that can be adopted to achieve regenerative outcomes on farming systems.
- Patterns: Understanding the patterns of healthy functioning natural systems and how they can be applied to restore ecological systems on farms and create regenerative farming systems.
Regen 102: Types of Ecological Farming Systems
- Grazing: Investigates holistic grazing strategies, silvopasture and pasture management.
- Orchards: Investigates developing plant guilds with perennial plants, incorporating animals and propagating plants.
- Gardens: Investigates creating high-yield systems with annual plants that incorporates diversity and regenerative management practices.
Regen 103: Analysing Site Characteristics of a Farm
- Climate: Investigating the climate of site and opportunities to create beneficial micro-climates.
- Topography: The impact of slope, aspect and catchment dynamics on your site.
- LandUse: Investigating the types of soil on your site and applying a land use capability framework.
Regen 104: Ecological Farm Design Strategy
- Landowner: Identifying the strengths, resources and limitations the landowner has to invest in developing and managing a farming enterprise.
- Market Opportunities: Looking at trends and opportunities in the market aligned to regenerative farming.
- Farm Design: Describing how the intended farming system integrates the philosophy of regenerative design to achieve resilient and healthy outcomes which will ensure a sustainable future of the site.
Regen 105: Freshwater Quality on Farms
- Impact of Farming: Understand the impact of current farming practices on freshwater quality.
- Regulation: Gain knowledge of the regulatory requirements for freshwater management on farms in New Zealand.
- Freshwater Management: Develop the skills necessary to assess the freshwater management needs of a farm, including water quality testing and analysis.
Regen 106: Creating Healthy Soil
- Soil Science: Covers the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and the build-up of soil carbon through nutrient cycling.
- Impact of Farming Practices: Investigates the impact of farming practices on soil and regenerative practices that restore soil health.
- Soil Monitoring: Explore soil health indicators and assessment, soil sampling and analysis, and interpreting soil tests.
Regen 107: Native Biodiversity on Farms
- Natural History: Exploring the natural history of New Zealand ecosystems and the impact of pastoral agriculture.
- Restoration Principles: Understanding Habitat restoration and management techniques, species-specific conservation efforts and conservation fencing and predator control.
- Farming and Biodiversity: Farm-scale biodiversity planning and management and incorporating sustainable land use practices that preserve native biodiversity.
Graduation
Completion of the course depends on completing all the modules above and submitting a final design portfolio.