Organic Master Gardener - ONLINE

Be prepared for a major shift in paradigms! This is a gardening course, and so much more. Students have called it "life changing" - because once we truly understand the connection between soil health, plant health, human health and environmental health we look at the world with different eyes. This is our core course. It's intense - challenging - inspiring, and taking the country by storm! You will get the same comprehensive, professional curriculum as the Organic Horticulture Specialist course, but discussions will generally reflect the interests of a more mixed audience including home gardeners, budding farmers and landscape professionals. Depending on registrations, we may combine students from both courses to keep class sizes manageable!

Choose your course start date:

This is our core course. It is an essential component of the Diploma in Organic Land Care. It is intense, challenging and inspiring, consisting of lectures and hands-on exercises. You will get the same comprehensive, professional curriculum as the Organic Horticulture Specialist course, but discussions will generally reflect the interests of a more mixed audience including home gardeners, budding farmers and landscape professionals.

Topics Covered:

Learn to create fabulous food and ornamental gardens without pesticides and other harmful chemicals
Become involved with SOUL (Society for Organic Urban Land Care) and share your knowledge with your community through workshops, talks and other creative ways
Gain essential skills to start or enhance your own business in the rapidly growing organic land care industry
Prepare to write the SOUL Organic Certification exam for land care professionals
Earn generous Continuing Education Credits to maintain your industry certifications (ISA, CNLA, BCSLA, SOUL)

Required Textbook:

Working with Nature - Shifting Paradigms by Heide Hermary, Gaia College (2007). Particularly designed to lead the student through the paradigm shift that is necessary before he or she is capable of truly holistic thinking.
This book (e-book) is included in the course fees and available at the course website, together with comprehensive on-line lessons and other resources – including on-line libraries.

Required Supplies (in order to complete the practical assignments):

Bypass pruners
Basic gardening tools
Materials for composting, garden bed installation, compost tea and other microbial preparations. Microbial inoculants, compost tea brewers, etc. can be purchased from The Organic Gardener's Pantry

Everyone is welcome. No previous experience required. Just come, learn and have fun. To receive a Certificate of Completion, students must attend all sessions and satisfactorily complete all assignments and quizzes.

Time Requirement: Participants should expect to set aside a miminum of 6 -10 hours each week to focus on assignments.

Course Schedule: Gaia College recommends participants registered in Gaia College courses take no more than 2 courses per semester. For those participants wishing to take more than 2 courses, please contact Gaia College.

Part of the Gaia College/Royal Roads University Diploma in Organic Land Care.

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