Sustainable Horticulture / Permaculture Course

Sustainable Horticulture / Permaculture.

Sustainable Horticulture/Permaculture is a science based course, offering a practical and wide-ranging learning experience in a unique and thriving college community. Kinsale has a strong tradition of food and farming, as well as providing a near-idyllic environment for exploring ecology and the natural environment. The course is a mixture of classroom-based talks, practical activities, site visits, master classes from a range of visiting specialists and group project work.

The practical aspects of the course includes:

• The development of the college grounds along permaculture design principles.
• Working in the college herb and vegetable gardens.
• Landscaping and practicing green building techniques.

The emphasis of the course is on practical skills that students can apply in their own lives. It lets them gain professional qualifications to access employment and developing their careers. In addition, it enables students to enter 3rd level courses in horticulture, landscape design or related subjects.

The course is useful to anyone interested in landscape design, organic horticulture, community development, environmental education and sustainable resource management, and can lead to work or further training in these areas.

Graduates from the course will be well equipped to pursue a range of employment and business opportunities. Several past students now supply fresh vegetables from their market gardens to customers and restaurants around the Kinsale area. Other opportunities are available in diverse fields including ecology, environmental education, plant nurseries, garden centres, landscape design and sustainable resource management.

Participants will do 40 days of work in a suitable placement. The College will help students in selecting the placements.