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Demonstrate knowledge of permaculture and plan a site

Level / 3
Credits / 10

PurposePeople credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the principles of permaculture; outline procedures used to analyse a site for permaculture; create a permaculture plan for a selected site; and describe considerations when implementing the permaculture plan.

Subfield / Horticulture
Domain / Production Horticulture
Status / Registered
Status date / 27 October 2006
Date version published / 27 October 2006
Planned review date / 31 December 2011
Entry information / Open.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 10324.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and teaching professional in the same field from another provider.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0032

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

References include but are not limited to:

Mollison, B. Permaculture - a Designers Manual (Tagari Publications, 1988).

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Describe the principles of permaculture.

Performance criteria

1.1Philosophy and ethics behind permaculture are described.

Rangecaring for earth, caring for people, limiting consumption, cooperation compared to competition.

1.2General principles of permaculture design for horticultural operations are described.

Rangerelative locations, multiple functions, zoning, sectors, shapes and patterns, appropriate technology, observation, analysis, biological resources, diversity, planning, buildings, water, yield, conservation, shapes and patterns, climate, soil.

1.3General requirements for establishing permaculture principles in horticultural systems are described.

Rangeecology principles, stability, sustainable use of species and habitats.

Element 2

Outline procedures used to analyse a site for permaculture.

Performance criteria

2.1The interaction of elements in the design of a total permaculture system is explained.

Rangesite, social, energy, abstract components.

2.2Factors to be evaluated in determining requirements for a specific site are identified.

Rangeclimate, physical resources, existing infrastructure, catastrophe defences.

2.3Methods of gathering information for each factor are described.

2.4Zones in permaculture are defined in terms of importance in planning, frequency of use, and service requirements.

2.5Sectors in permaculture are defined and their importance in planning the use of a site is described.

2.6Use of site analysis in the site planning is described.

Rangedetermining location and type of structures, selection of plant types and planting strategies, identifying use of energy and related resources, determination of environmental protection requirements and locations.

Element 3

Create a permaculture plan for a selected site.

Performance criteria

3.1Site map for the original layout of the property is drawn with all key features.

Rangetopography, climate and microclimates, soils, water sources and drainage, sites for infrastructure, catastrophe defences.

3.2Range of objectives intended for the site is defined with sufficient justification and are consistent with accepted principles of permaculture.

Rangesite, social, energy, abstract components.

3.3Permaculture plan is drawn and each element of the design is explained in an accompanying document.

Rangesite map, permaculture zones and sectors.

Element 4

Describe considerations when implementing the permaculture plan.

Performance criteria

4.1Considerations during implementation of the permaculture plan are described.

Rangepassive energy systems, climate control on site, low maintenance structures and grounds, site self sufficiency, minimising external energy needs, safe on site waste disposal, water supply provision and conservation.

4.2Considerations to be monitored when evaluating the success of a permaculture development are described.

Rangeenergy use and savings; impact of external events on the system; effectiveness of plantings, earthworks, and facilities in the landscape; efficiency of resource use.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018