Practical skills. Living knowledge. Learning throughout life.
Land-based Courses
Earth School Aotearoa’s land-based courses connect practical skills with a deeper understanding of ourselves, our communities and the living world. Grounded in the working landscapes of Mangaroa Farms, learning brings together observation, enquiry and meaningful work with experienced practitioners alongside you. Whether you are deepening an existing practice or working towards a recognised qualification, our land-based courses offer an opportunity to learn, restore, and contribute.
Course Offerings
Horticulture Certificate (Tree Nursery) Level 3
Develop practical horticultural skills in a working nursery and farm environment. Learn alongside experienced growers, build confidence caring for plants and explore how horticulture can contribute to healthy landscapes and communities.
Next Intake: Autumn 2027
Qualification: New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Nursery Production), Level 3.
Education Partner: NZMA
Commitment: 20 weeks, 20 hours of learning per week
Lead Mentor: Ryan Dawson
Learning will draw on nursery activities such as propagation, seed saving, plant care and maintenance, aligned with the programme’s required learning outcomes.
Horticulture Certificate (Market Garden) Level 3
Develop practical growing skills in Mangaroa Farms’ working market garden. Follow the journey from seed to harvest through propagation, soil preparation, planting, irrigation, crop care and harvesting.
Next Intake: TBD
Qualification: New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General), Level 3
Lead Mentor: Cameron Dixon
Through hands-on work and guided enquiry, explore how healthy soils, thoughtful growing practices and seasonal rhythms support productive gardens and resilient food systems.
Pest Operations Certificate Level 3
Develop practical field skills through Mangaroa Farms’ predator control and regeneration work. Learn to identify pest species, monitor their presence, use and maintain traps, and record and interpret field observations.
Next Intake: TBD
Qualification: New Zealand Certificate in Pest Operations, Level 3
Lead Mentor: Peter Handford
Explore how careful pest management can support native wildlife and healthier ecosystems amidst regenerating native forests and wetlands at Mangaroa Farms.
Learn with Experienced Practitioners
Our tutors and mentors bring knowledge grounded in practice: growing plants, producing food, restoring habitats and caring for land. They work alongside learners, sharing techniques, exploring questions and supporting increasing confidence and responsibility. We value the experience each person brings. Across generations, everyone has opportunities to learn, contribute and deepen their understanding.
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Hannah Dawson
Land-Based Courses Coordinator
Hannah coordinates land-based courses, bringing together mentors, learners and practical learning opportunities across Mangaroa Farms. She also co-runs Heritage Nursery NZ, sharing her knowledge of heritage plants, orchard care and foraging.
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Cameron Dixon
Market Garden Horticulture
Cam leads Mangaroa Farms’ market garden, bringing practical experience in regenerative food growing. He helps learners build confidence in caring for soil, tending crops and growing nourishing food.
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Peter Handford
Pest Management & Ecological Monitoring
Peter Handford is Managing Director of Groundtruth, the team behind Trap.nz. He brings extensive conservation and land-management experience, connecting practical pest management with ecological monitoring and the protection of native biodiversity.
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Ryan Dawson
Nursery Horticulture
Ryan co-runs Heritage Nursery NZ at Mangaroa Farms, specialising in heritage, native and rare plants suited to our region. A grower and community educator, he shares practical skills in propagation and plant care, helping learners grow healthy plants and resilient landscapes.
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Miki Coulston
Pasture and Livestock
Miki leads livestock and pasture management at Mangaroa Farms. She shares an understanding of animal wellbeing, pasture health and farm systems, helping learners develop confidence in everyday care and management.
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Zebulon Horrell
Permaculture
Zeb brings practical experience in permaculture, agroforestry and farm systems. He helps learners observe relationships across a landscape and explore how thoughtful planting and land management can support productivity, biodiversity and resilience.
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Halina Horn
Permaculture
Halina draws on permaculture, Waldorf education and rites of passage facilitation. She connects practical and creative work with reflection, supporting deeper relationships with natural materials, the land and our own growth.
Find Your Next Step
Whether you are exploring a practical pathway, returning to learning or wanting to deepen your relationship with the land, we’d love to hear what you hope to learn.
Tell us which course interests you—or what you would like to see offered in the future.
Enquire about land-based courses
