Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to design harvesting and storage systems for products to meet year round supply of fresh and stored produce. It requires the ability to determine harvesting and storage system requirements, identify requirements for maintaining optimum condition of permaculture products and preparing a harvesting and storage plan.
All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.
This unit applies to individuals who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources.
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. Determine harvesting and storage system requirements | 1.1 Define the range and type of permaculture products to be harvested and stored and negotiate needs and budgets with client 1.2 Determine seasonal requirements for products 1.3 Define optimum harvesting, processing and storage techniques for the products 1.4 Determine opportunities and constraints in respect to site location, cost and layout of storage facilities |
2. Identify requirements for maintaining optimum condition of permaculture products | 2.1 Carry out research to determine maintenance requirements of products 2.2 Describe treatment requirements for products 2.3 Determine appropriate preservation techniques and processes for products 2.4 Describe preparation requirements for storage of products |
3. Prepare harvesting and storage plan | 3.1 Describe growing and harvesting schedule and quantities in the harvest and storage plan 3.2 Set out layout of storage area in the harvest and storage plan 3.3 Record the requirements for treatment, preparation and preservation of products in the harvest and storage plan |
4. Complete plan for harvesting and storage system | 4.1 Evaluate training needs for the harvesting and storage system 4.2 Present the harvesting and storage system plan to client or team |
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:
determine harvesting, post-harvest and storage system requirements
identify requirements for maintaining optimum condition of products from a permaculture system
prepare a harvesting and storage plan
communicate harvesting and storage plan to clients and others
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
products from a permaculture system commonly harvested and stored, such as:
vegetables where the whole plant is harvested
vegetables where part of the plant is harvested
perennial plants where fruit/nuts are harvested
forests where timber, fuel and fibre crops are selectively removed
forests where a range of other medicinal and craft crops are harvested
harvest from wild systems (e.g. fruit, nuts, fungi and seeds), where a clear abundance of product has been identified
animal products such as eggs, feathers, hides, bone, milk and meat
Products may also include those derived from insects (such as honey)
fish (such as roe), and other organisms, such as fungi, algae and moss
design systems for meeting year-round supplies of fresh and stored produce, such as:
growing requirements and crop regulation strategies calendar or seasonal chart with planting times of crops
selection of early, mid- and late season varieties to extend harvest
number of plants and area to be planted
crop regulation and maintenance program involving tipping, mounding, thinning, staking
sequential planting and/or harvesting schedules
climatic conditions for harvesting crop such as appropriate time of day
harvest and post-harvest factors influencing plant metabolism and quality
post-harvest treatment and preparation techniques, such as:
flow chart of harvest, treatment, preservation and storage process
harvest and post-harvest treatment timelines and schedules
design or plans of processing and storage area
design of processing technology or equipment such as solar food dryer
lists of materials, tools, equipment and ingredients
manuals and operating instructions for equipment
recipes and instructions
anticipated shelf-life of product
labelling and recording systems
work health and safety, food safety, hygiene and other relevant enterprise and work practices
preservation methods and processes for products from a permaculture system, such as:
drying and dehydrating
bottling
cheese-making
extraction (honey, cold-pressed and distilled oils)
culturing or fermenting
preserving with vinegar, oil, brine, sugar, salt and other natural agents
air exclusion (sealing with fats, wax, vacuum seal)
cellaring and root-cellaring
other processes that use minimal fossil fuel energy while maintaining the integrity of the harvested crop
technologies used in crop processing, treatment, preservation and storage systems
design of storage areas, such as:
buildings such as sheds
cupboards
shelving and racks
work benches
store rooms
pantry
cool store
cellar
root cellar
bins and containers
developing planting and harvesting schedules for products from a permaculture system
identifying training needs for harvest and storage workers, such as:
work health and safety, and other relevant enterprise and work practices
food safety and hygiene standards
appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
harvest and post-harvest handling, processing and storage practices
food preserving techniques
operation and maintenance of tools and equipment
reporting, recording and labelling procedures
preparing plans and reports
food safety, health and hygiene requirements for preservation and storage of products for human consumption
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also have a nationally accredited Certificate IV or Diploma of Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) or non-accredited Permaculture Diploma 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)