Earlybird Special for Organics and Biodynamics students

18 August 2014

Earlybird Special for Organics and Biodynamics students at Taruna College

With more people looking at alternative ways to care for the land, Taruna College’s Certificate in Applied Organics and Biodynamics offers a holistic approach to agriculture.

“Our last intake for the programme this year begins on September 26 and, until the end of August, we have an earlybird special,” says Taruna College interim manager, Erin Simpson. “During the month of August, students who enrol will have their first seminar’s accommodation free at Birdsong Homestead, which is close to Poraiti where the programme is based.”

The Certificate in Applied Organics and Biodynamics offers a holistic overview of agriculture and horticulture, covering soils, germinating seeds, growing the plants and the use of biodynamic preparations. An in-depth analysis of holistic organic practices, permaculture and bio-intensive farming and how Biodynamics fits well with all, Erin says the course paints a “really wide picture” of agriculture.

“Our students are just as diverse as the programme itself,” he says. “From young people looking for a picture of agriculture that is slightly different to the norm, to people who own lifestyle blocks who want a different way of caring for their land, through to people from the viticulture industry who want an understanding of biodynamics for their grape production.

“When students have completed the course, they come out with a management plan for a block of land that enables them to move forward with a holistic plan, and we can provide ongoing support and mentoring through our organic and biodynamic community.”

The 36-week programme is seminar-based, with three seven-day seminars held during the course. The seminars are intensive workshops mixed with classroom learning, tutorials and assignments. Each of the seminars is sequential, with subjects introduced at the first seminar being built upon subsequently.

“It is a comprehensive Level 4 programme recognised by NZQA and has the option of appling for study link or student loan support and gives students the option of further study on completion,” Erin says.

For more information and enrolment details, or to speak with a course director, see the Taruna College website http://taruna.ac.nz/

ENDS

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