Course Objectives:

• To introduce the concept of bio-diversity, with emphasis on its importance and relevance to the land-owner.
• Providing basic education and practical information for encouraging bio-diversity and creating a positive attitude towards nature and the environment.
• To provide training in biodiversity gardens that include Butterfly Gardening, Medicinal Herb Gardening and the use of Organic Pest Control.
• To encourage the home-owner to plant indigenous vegetation and the encourage creatures that live in it so that gardens can contribute to the restoring of some natural ecology in the urban area.

Module 1 – The concept of biodiversity

• Biodiversity
• Understanding nature
• The value of biodiversity
• Causes of biodiversity loss – an overview
• What can we do as gardeners to alleviate the loss
• Identify areas in your garden/suburb that are hindering biodiversity
• Practical Exercises to identifying the elements of biodiversity in your area.

Module 2 – Indigenous over exotic

• What is a weed?
• Why are alien plants a problem?
• Alien invasive plant categories
• Practical tips for removing alien invasive vegetation
• Manual removal
• Chemical removal
• Planting indigenous alternatives to replace alien vegetation in your garden
• Why go indigenous?
• Making the change
• Beyond the lawn
• Practical exercise
• Compile a list of indigenous alternatives to the invasive list.
• Indigenous alternatives for your garden

Module 3 – Pest control in the garden

• Insect pests
• The organic approach to pest control
• Interplanting
• Encouragement of predators and parasites
• Organic insecticides
• Home remedies for discouraging pests
• Favourable insects in the garden
• Practical exercise- Identify five pests in your garden and methods beneficial to biodiversity by which you can control them.

Module 4 – Threatened plant species and water wise gardening

• The muthi trade in South Africa
• Endangered plant list
• Water wise gardening
• What is water wise gardening
• Characteristics of waterwise plants
• Waterwise tips for your garden
• Mulch gardening
• Practical exercise – improving the water use in your garden

Module 5 – Planting to encourage biodiversity

Butterfly gardening
Encouraging birdlife
Setting up a list of birds seen in your garden
Nesting
Feeding
Encouraging other wildlife
Garden pond / wetland area
Advantages and disadvantages
Position and construction
Ecological balance
Suitable plants
Wildlife to expect
Practical exercise- Identify endemic plants in your area that are attractive to wildlife.

Module 6 – Practicing Bio-diversity

Design your own garden to maximize biodiversity
Research a plant list specifically for encouraging biodiversity
Checklist for biodiversity gardening