:: Organic Horticulture Course
This course is currently not planned for the near future. To express your interest in this course please contact us
General Aims:
The specific learning outcomes are grouped into 3 units.
Unit 1 - Organic Vegetable crops
Unit 2 - Organic Fruit Crops
Unit 3 - Organic Protected Cropping
This course is being run in Ballinskelligs Community Centre, and take place over 9 full days throughout the Summer:
Provisional dates are as follows, with the remaining 4 to be confirmed
April 20th,
May 5th, 18th
June 8th, 22nd
July 13th, 27th
September -TBC
:: Aimed At
This Course is designed to enable the learner to develop the knowledge and skills essential to organic food crop production.
:: Course Objective
:: Course Content
Organic Vegetable Crops:
Learners should be able to:
Identify a range of vegetables including varieties of the same species;
Identify a range of varieties of different crop plants suitable for organic production;
Classify different types of vegetable crops according to their botanical name;
Describe the organic standards concerning the use of non organic seeds;
Outline the cultural requirements of a range of vegetables grown organically.
Range to include potatoes, brassicas, legumes, root crops, alliums and salad crops;
Identify a range of vegetables which are suitable for growing from - seed and transplanting;
Demonstrate the routine skills associated with seed sowing and transplanting of vegetable crops;
Calculate seed requirements and anticipated yield for specific organic vegetable crops;
Construct a cropping plan for an organic vegetable plot;
Demonstrate the routine skills associated with the production of organic potatoes.
Organic Fruit Crops:
Learners should be able to:
Identify a range of fruit including varieties of the same species;
Classify different types of fruit crops according to their botanical name;
Outline the cultural requirements of a range of organic fruit crops, including strawberries, cane fruit, bush fruit and top fruit;
Construct a plan for a fruit production area;
Identify appropriate varieties of fruit for organic production;
Describe methods of pollination both natural and artificial;
Identify, from a selection of fruits, those that are self-fertile and those that are self-sterile;
Demonstrate a method of artificial pollination used to pollinate fruit crops;
Demonstrate correct pruning techniques on a range of fruit crops;
Plant fruit trees, soft fruit and bush fruit;
Demonstrate correct harvesting techniques on soft fruit;
Demonstrate a range of techniques for post harvest treatment and storage of fruit;
Describe the organic conversion periods for fruit crops.
Organic Protected Cropping:
Learners should be able to:
Plan a cropping programme for an organic tunnel;
Demonstrate the routine skills associated with the production of organic tomatoes;
Demonstrate the routine skills associated with the production of protected organic salad crops;
Demonstrate the appropriate use of ventilation and irrigation on a range of crops;
Outline the factors involved in choosing a site for a tunnel;
Describe the different types of tunnel available;
Erect a poly-tunnel tunnel;
Grow strawberries in a protected environment.
:: Planned Outcome
Learners who successfully complete this course will:
Be capable of preparing and cultivating a site suitable to organic food crop production;
Have acquired skills in propagation, cultivation and harvesting of organic fruit and vegetable crops;
Have acquired the skills and knowledge required for the routine management of organic protected crops;
Have acquired the knowledge and skills required to be involved in the siting and construction of poly-tunnels.
:: Certification Details
FETAC Level 5
:: Trainer Biography
Cait Curran has been working as a fulltime commercial organic grower in Co. Galway for many years. she has been Project Officer for 'Garrai na nOileain', an association promoting organic market gardening on Irish offshore islands. She has been involved in organic horticulture training and course design with many organisations throughout the west of ireland, and further afield for the past thirteen years. She is also the Editor of Organic Matters, Ireland's organic magazine.