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Evidence Guide: AHCORG401A - Manage biodynamic production

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

AHCORG401A - Manage biodynamic production

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Prepare a plan for a biodynamic farming enterprise

  1. Work is undertaken in an environmentally appropriate manner and according to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements and enterprise guidelines.
  2. Requirements for biodynamic certification are identified.
  3. Personal, ecological and financial goals for a biodynamic enterprise are incorporated into an enterprise plan.
  4. Marketing plan for biodynamic produce is developed which maintains product quality and integrity.
  5. Research findings for biodynamic agriculture are trialled within enterprise and incorporated into plans where appropriate.
Work is undertaken in an environmentally appropriate manner and according to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements and enterprise guidelines.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Requirements for biodynamic certification are identified.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personal, ecological and financial goals for a biodynamic enterprise are incorporated into an enterprise plan.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing plan for biodynamic produce is developed which maintains product quality and integrity.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research findings for biodynamic agriculture are trialled within enterprise and incorporated into plans where appropriate.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make and apply biodynamic field spray preparations

  1. Horn Manure (500), Horn Silica (501) and Horn Clay preparations are made and stored correctly.
  2. Preparations are stirred by creating vortex and chaos.
  3. Equipment for application of biodynamic preparations is selected.
  4. Equipment is calibrated and adjusted for suitable application rate.
  5. Preparations are applied according to biodynamic principles.
Horn Manure (500), Horn Silica (501) and Horn Clay preparations are made and stored correctly.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparations are stirred by creating vortex and chaos.

Completed
Date:

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Equipment for application of biodynamic preparations is selected.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment is calibrated and adjusted for suitable application rate.

Completed
Date:

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Preparations are applied according to biodynamic principles.

Completed
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Use biodynamic compost preparations, composts and liquid brews

  1. Biodynamic compost preparations are used and stored according to biodynamic principles.
  2. Materials and mineral inputs for compost are identified from farm production plan.
  3. Compost heap is built.
  4. Biodynamic preparations are applied to compost according to biodynamic principles.
  5. Aeration, moisture and temperature of compost heap are monitored.
  6. Compost is applied to enhance natural cycles.
Biodynamic compost preparations are used and stored according to biodynamic principles.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials and mineral inputs for compost are identified from farm production plan.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compost heap is built.

Completed
Date:

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Biodynamic preparations are applied to compost according to biodynamic principles.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aeration, moisture and temperature of compost heap are monitored.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compost is applied to enhance natural cycles.

Completed
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Apply biodynamic principles and techniques to enhance soil and plant health

  1. Planting, harvest and pruning times are planned with regard to moon rhythms and planetary patterns.
  2. Soil and plant health is optimised using biodynamic preparations, cover crops, crop rotation, mulching and composting and through application of farm-based fertility products.
  3. Weeds and insect pests in enterprise are identified.
  4. Options for managing weeds and insects are evaluated that consider natural predators, life cycles, cultural practices, soil health and the plant community.
  5. Plan for managing pests and weeds is developed and implemented.
Planting, harvest and pruning times are planned with regard to moon rhythms and planetary patterns.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soil and plant health is optimised using biodynamic preparations, cover crops, crop rotation, mulching and composting and through application of farm-based fertility products.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weeds and insect pests in enterprise are identified.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options for managing weeds and insects are evaluated that consider natural predators, life cycles, cultural practices, soil health and the plant community.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan for managing pests and weeds is developed and implemented.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manage animals within a biodynamic production system

  1. Soil and plant health are optimised to provide a nutrient-dense and balanced diet.
  2. Grazing and feeding strategies are developed and incorporated into the biodynamic system.
  3. Homeopathic remedies and allowable treatments are incorporated into animal health strategies.
Soil and plant health are optimised to provide a nutrient-dense and balanced diet.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grazing and feeding strategies are developed and incorporated into the biodynamic system.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homeopathic remedies and allowable treatments are incorporated into animal health strategies.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

understand and apply biodynamic principles

make and apply biodynamic preparations and compost

enhance soil and plant health

integrate and manage animals in a biodynamic enterprise

plan for biodynamic production.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills

analysing soil test results and applying them to a biodynamic farm

calibrating sprays and calculating application rates

developing a biodynamic management plan (from start-up to full implementation)

developing biodynamic spray programs for various types of agriculture and horticulture systems

making and using biodynamic compost, manure concentrate, seaweed tea, various liquid brews and foliar sprays

making and using biodynamic preparations

stirring and spraying systems

stirring water and other liquids by creating vortexes and chaos

using planetary rhythms for seed sowing and cultivation

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

animal health

biodynamic preparations and their role in soil food web and atmosphere

biodiversity, shelter belts, birds and native bush on biodynamic farm

calcium-clay-silica polarities

crop and animal rotation systems

cultivation methods

etheric and astral forces and how they relate to biodynamics

experiments and testing methods such as chromatography and sensitive crystallisation

green manuring

management of insects and birds

paradigms of various farming systems: biodynamics, organics and permaculture, and holistic management

peppering for animals and insects

planting calendar

purpose of various herbs and organs used for making biodynamic preparations

relationship between soil, plant, animal and human health

research in biodynamics

rhythms and cycles of planets and moon

role of the biodynamic preparations 500-508

role of bacteria and fungi

role of humus

soil: food web information, how it is made, its structure and feeding cycle

water retention

weed management

principles, practices and inputs allowable under the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce.

Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Organic may include:

the application of practices that emphasise the use of renewable resources

conservation of energy, soil and water

recognition of livestock welfare needs

environmental maintenance and enhancement, while producing optimum quantities of produce without the use of artificial fertiliser or synthetic chemicals.

Biodynamic may include:

agricultural systems that introduce specific additional requirements to an organic system based on the application of preparations indicated by Rudolf Steiner and subsequent developments for management derived from practical application, experience and research based on these preparations.

Production may include:

any primary production involved in producing an agricultural or aquaculture product.