Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain integrated plant and animal systems, undertake maintenance, and maintain records of activities. Maintaining integrated plant and animal systems requires a knowledge of permaculture activities appropriate to climate and soil types, plants and animals commonly found on permaculture properties, permaculture principles and practices and typical permaculture solutions for water catchment and storage and soil maintenance and improvement for plant and animal systems.
All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources and complete routine activities.
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. Plan maintenance of integrated plant and animal systems | 1.1 Assess maintenance requirements for the integrated plant and animal system 1.2 Consult stakeholders about maintenance activities where required 1.3 Determine and source the required equipment, machinery and materials for maintenance activities 1.4 Read and interpret permaculture design specifications for the property and follow any specific directions on maintenance approaches and strategies 1.5 Plan movement through production areas to minimise disturbance and degradation during maintenance activities |
2. Undertake maintenance activities | 2.1 Maintain a clean and safe work area 2.2 Take appropriate measures to avoid degradation and disturbance to soil, plants, animals, waterways and other parts of the ecosystem 2.3 Monitor activities of personnel and visitors to reduce risks to the productive systems undergoing maintenance |
3. Complete maintenance activities | 3.1 Make site good on completion of maintenance activities 3.2 Clean and store equipment and machinery appropriately on completion of maintenance activities 3.3 Remove or store excess materials 3.4 Maintain records of maintenance activities |
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:
plan maintenance activities for integrated plant and animal systems
undertake maintenance
record and report on completion of activities
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
Integrated plant and animal systems, such as:
gardens, orchards, organic farms, woodlots and forests that include animals in free range or rotational systems
balanced ecosystems where the needs of all species are met
systems where poultry provide fertility, pest control and other services to plants, such as:
chicken-orchard systems
duck-rice systems
poultry used as tractor
frogs, birds and other wild creatures attracted to the garden to maintain ecological balance
patterns seen in nature, such as stacking and layering of plants in a forest, used in deliberate design
plants and animals commonly found on permaculture properties
plant groups and vegetation structures
permaculture practices, such as:
composting of weeds
chop and drop practices
feeding weeds to animals
soil support and enhancement strategies
animal husbandry strategies
permaculture design information, such as:
permaculture site plan
components of integrated plant and animal systems
the role of animals in improving soil, recycling nutrients, managing ‘weedy’ plants and controlling pests and diseases
plants as indicators and improvers
typical permaculture solutions to water catchment and storage for integrated plant and animal systems
recycling of materials and waste
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also hold a nationally accredited Certificate III (or higher) in Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is NOT sufficient at this level.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Permaculture (PER)