Application
This unit provides the skills and knowledge required to harvest permaculture crops. It requires knowledge of common crops used in permaculture systems, recognition of the maturity parameters of crops, grading characteristics, maintaining quality of produce, and the effect of adverse weather conditions.
All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for their own work. They undertake defined activities and work in a structured context.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Assess plants for harvest | 1.1 Identify crops to be harvested according to the harvesting plan 1.2 Determine crop maturity 1.3 Confirm conditions are right for harvesting |
2. Prepare equipment for harvesting | 2.1 Select tools, equipment and machinery appropriate to the task being undertaken 2.2 Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on tools, equipment and machinery according to manufacturer specifications 2.3 Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) |
3. Harvest the crop | 3.1 Harvest the crop carefully and safely 3.2 Sort and grade the crop as needed 3.3 Clean and maintain harvesting tools, equipment and machinery |
4. Complete crop harvesting work | 4.1 Employ safe manual handling techniques when handling containers 4.2 Move and stack containers in such a way as to minimise damage to the crop 4.3 Maintain temperature of the crop at the levels set by the harvesting plan 4.4 Transport crop from the field to the processing or storage area 4.5 Maintain containers in good working order |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
assess plants for harvest
prepare for harvest
carry out harvest operations
maintain harvesting equipment
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
permaculture principles related to harvesting
principles of sustainable horticultural practices
crops common in permaculture systems
harvesting techniques, such as:
selective picking or hand picking ripe from unripe
tree shaking
picking leaves rather than whole plants
cutting plants and allowing to regrow (eg leeks, spring onions)
thinning or removing weak or diseased plants from among healthy ones
end of season crop extension harvesting (such as hanging tomato plants to ripen indoors)
equipment and machinery used in harvesting
sorting and grading, such as:
removing out-of-type plants
removing physically damaged, unhealthy, rotten or immature fruit and vegetables
grading of the crop according to variety, size, length, colour, maturity, blemishes, bud count and quality, being subject to seasonal and market forces
storage, transportation and grading of crops
methods of waste disposal causing minimal impact on the environment
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also hold a nationally accredited Certificate III qualification (or higher) in Permaculture and/or have completed a Permaculture Design Course (PDC).
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Permaculture (PER)