Horticulture for Sustainable Communities

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Total time commitment = 96

HORT20012 Plant Biology 2

HORT10011 Vegetation Establishment and Maintenance

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Horticulture for Sustainable Communities examines the role of urban horticulture as a discipline that seeks to sustain and improve our quality of life. It explores the relationship between people, plants and the wider environment. This is done by examining methodologies for minimising the potentially negative environmental impacts of horticulture in both public and private landscapes such as over-use of fertilisers and cultivation of environmental weeds. At the same time this subject analyses the positive contribution of urban horticulture to best practice natural resource and open space management, nature conservation and urban agriculture. Topics covered in this subject include: sustainability theory and practice; consumer horticulture and gardening inputs; public open space and community health; urban agriculture; ecological restoration and horticulture; and community and therapeutic horticulture.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• think critically about sustainability challenges faced in horticultural organisations /enterprises and in private and public landscapes using both the academic and wider grey and popular literature on plants, gardening and urban horticulture; and
• understand practical techniques and solutions that allow horticulture to improve quality of life in an urban context

One mid semester 2000 word assignment (50%) and one end semester 2000 word assignment (50%).

Levetin, E & McMahon, M (2012) Plants and Society. McGraw Hill: New York

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Exercise problem-solving skills (developed through practical exercises and lecture discussions),
• Think critically, and organise knowledge (from consideration of the lecture material),
• Expand from theoretical principles to practical explanations (through observing practical work),
• Plan effective work schedules (to meet deadlines for submission of assessable work),