1. Composting systems
2. Companion planting
3. Plant propagation
4. Introduction to permaculture garden design and organic gardening/farming
5. Permaculture design workshop
6. Growing & Using Herbal Medicines

These workshops aim to introduce learners to the subjects and provide the necessary hands on skills to implement the various garden techniques themselves. Course manuals are supplied with each workshop. Course curriculum's may differ slightly to meet the different requirements of learner groups.

1.Workshop curriculum, objectives & outcomes

1.1  Compost w/shop

• The how to of worm farming
• Preparation of  homemade organic liquid fertilizers
• Preparation of  biological inoculants for the garden and composting systems
• The how to of organic compost production
• Plants you can grow for compost making

1.2  Companion planting w/shop

• Introduction to companion planting  and viewing examples in the gardens
• Pest and disease management through companion planting
• Hands on companion planting exercises
• How to work with your companion plants

1.3  Introduction to plant propagation techniques

• Plant propagation systems i.e. Nursery’s, Irrigation, Propagation beds
• Hands on propagation exercises
• Seed saving techniques

1.4  Introduction to permaculture garden design and organic gardening/farming

• Energy efficient design ideas i.e. runoff water, wind, sun
• Garden pioneering steps
• Cultivation techniques
• Bed preparation techniques

1.5  Permaculture design workshop

• Ethical foundations of permaculture
• Ecology
• Principals of permaculture
• Permaculture design
• Steps in design
• Situational analysis
• Component listing and analysis
• Drawing the base design
• Growing bed preparation
• Soil pioneering / land clearing
• Lasagne gardening
• Water catchment & storage
• Soil storage & infiltration via earthworks

2. Objectives & out comes of the training program

2.1 To introduce the learners to permaculture and organic gardening methods which use low external input and environment friendly systems of food production.

2.2 To give the learners a hands on experience of the appropriate permaculture and organic techniques and systems that they can use.

2.3  To impart the necessary skills and ideas to set up low input cost organic garden systems for themselves that are productive in providing clean nutritious food and a possible source of income through expanding their garden systems.

2.4. To inspire the learners to put what they have learnt into practice.

2.5. To see an improvement in the health of the soils the learners work with (equating to an improvement in the health of the beneficiaries).

2.6. To improve the environment that the beneficiaries live in.

2.7. To 'plant the seed' of low cost productive organic gardening systems through the beneficiaries into their communities. A seed that will grow into their communities for future generations to also benefit from.

3. Mentorship program

3.1. We provide mentorship visits to gardeners and small farmers alongside the training. This helps gardeners through the initial problems they may face.

4. Empowerment program

4.1 Dovehouse Organics is in the process of developing a co-operative of small scale organic farmers and market gardeners to increase the production of organic veg in the midlands area. The co-operative was started informally in 2005 and now includes 5, full time, small scale organic growers and a hand full of part time organic growers.

Dovehouse Organics is at the moment handling the packaging and distribution of the produce through a pack house which is in the process of being certified with organic status. The vision is to develop a co-operative of hopefully 100 or more small scale organic growers in the KZN midlands area, based on the principles of Fair trade.

A proposal is being developed for the KZNDEA to see how we can take this idea a step further together, with their 'Empowerment for food security' program. The project would create self employment opportunities and income generation through the creation of small businesses (related to the co-operative), as well as provide much needed nutritious organic food for communities in the KZN midlands. It is visioned that the program would also produce crops for value adding such as jams, pesto, preserves etc. which can be marketed around S.A. and even exported, increasing the value.

To get involved with the program or to assist the program in some way please contact Dovehouse Organics by email; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bookings

Please book your place via the 'Workshops and Events' page on this site.

For more information or if you would like us to arrange personalized workshops contact us @

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Banking Details for Deposits/Payments for the Garden Workshops :

Bank: FNB
INO: Dovehouse Organic Garden Training
Howick Branch code 220725
Account Number: 622 686 12 986
Business Account