CFI
Level 3
QN: 610/1590/8
Curriculum Active
Crossfields Institute Level 3 Diploma in Biodynamic Farming and Growing
Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by CFI. Classified as a Vocationally-Related Qualification. Total guided learning hours: 1155 hours.
Qualification Level
Level 3
Awarding Body
CFI
Syllabus Units
41 Units
Guided Hours
1155 hrs
Instant access to interactive lessons, quizzes, and spaced revision.
Course Syllabus & Study Modules
Complete breakdown of verified curriculum topics and learning objectives.
1
Animal Life and Phenomenology
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand domesticated animals in relation to the farm as an organism
- Understand basic principles of supporting healthy domesticated animals
- Be able to sense the well-being of farm animals
- Be able to reflect on potential improvements for the animal situation on your holding
2
Arable Production
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan an arable growing enterprise
- Know biodynamic practices of arable growing
- Be able to manage a biodynamic arable growing enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in arable growing
3
Bee Husbandry
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of bees in the biodynamic farm organism
- Understand biodynamic approaches to caring for bees
- Be able to care for bees using biodynamic principles
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in bee husbandry
4
Biodynamic Preparations
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know the biodynamic preparations
- Understand the principles of biodynamic preparations
- Be able to apply the biodynamic preparations 500 to 507
5
Biodynamics and Anthroposophy
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know the basic terminology of Anthroposophy
- Understand how Anthroposophy informs biodynamics
- Understand the link between self-knowledge and external knowledge
6
Cattle Husbandry
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of the cow in the biodynamic farm organism
- Know biodynamic practices of cattle husbandry
- Be able to manage a biodynamic cattle enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in cattle husbandry
7
Change and Challenge in Farming
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know key elements of the development of agriculture
- Understand challenges of contemporary agriculture
- Know potential solutions to current agricultural challenges
8
Climate and Weather
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know local weather and climate conditions through observations
- Know about climate adaptability in agriculture
9
Culture and Agriculture
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the relationship between culture and agriculture
- Understand activities that can enliven culture in farming
10
Dairy Husbandry
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of dairy animals in the biodynamic farm organism
- Understand biodynamic approaches to dairy husbandry on a holding
- Understand milk production of dairy animals
- Be able to manage a biodynamic dairy enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in dairy husbandry
11
Energy and Carbon
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the energy and carbon challenge for agriculture
- Be able to calculate your carbon footprint
- Understand how to reduce your energy and carbon footprint
12
Enterprise Planning
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of efficiency management for a small enterprise
- Understand the role of financial management for a small enterprise
- Understand approaches to business planning
13
Environmental Rhythms and Agricultural Astronomy
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand how environmental rhythms inform agriculture
- Understand astronomical concepts relevant to planting calendars
- Be able to use an astronomical planting calendar to support biodynamic practice
14
Farm Ecosystem
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the relationship between agriculture and landscape ecology.2.
- Be able to enhance the habitat diversity on own holding.
15
Farm Fertility and Compost
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the biodynamic approach to farm fertility
- Understand biodynamic soil fertility planning
- Be able to support compost processes to support soil fertility
16
Farm Improvement Project
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan a farm improvement project
- Be able to carry out a farm improvement project
- Be able to evaluate a farm improvement project
17
Flower Growing
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan a flower growing enterprise
- Know biodynamic practices of flower growing
- Be able to manage a biodynamic flower growing enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in flower growing
18
Fruit Growing
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan a fruit growing enterprise
- Know biodynamic practices of fruit growing
- Be able to manage a biodynamic fruit growing enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in fruit growing
19
Goat Husbandry
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of the goat in the biodynamic farm organism
- Know biodynamic practices of goat husbandry
- Be able to manage a biodynamic goat enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in goat husbandry
20
Grassland and Fodder
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan a grassland and fodder growing enterprise
- Know biodynamic practices of grassland and fodder growing
- Be able to manage a biodynamic grassland and fodder growing enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in grassland and fodder growing
21
Herb Growing
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan a herb growing enterprise
- Know biodynamic practices of herb growing
- Be able to manage a biodynamic herb growing enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in herb growing
22
Land-based Machinery
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know land-based machinery
- Understand how to meet land-based machinery health and safety requirements
- Be able to use land-based machinery safely
- Be able to maintain land-based machinery
23
Land-based Therapeutic Care
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the potential for human transformation when working within a farm organism
- Be able to facilitate farm based activities that support and enable vulnerable individuals
24
Local Community Project
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know local food networks
- Understand the benefits of community connection to local farming
- Be able to plan local community projects connected to farming
25
Nutrition and Food
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand how human nutrition can support health and development
- Understand how biodynamic principles aim to support human nutrition
26
On-Farm Processing
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand principles of on farm value-added processes on own holding
- Be able to contribute to a value-added farm process
- Be able to reflect on own experiences with on-farm processing
27
Pig Husbandry
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of the pig in the biodynamic farm organism
- Know biodynamic practices of pig husbandry
- Be able to manage a biodynamic pig enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in pig husbandry
28
Plant Life and Phenomenology
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the principles of healthy agricultural plants
- Know biodynamic principles of earthly and cosmic influences on plants
- Be able to sense the quality of plants
29
Poultry Husbandry
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of poultry in the biodynamic farm organism
- Know biodynamic practices of poultry husbandry
- Be able to manage a biodynamic poultry enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in poultry husbandry
30
Protected Growing
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan a protected growing enterprise
- Know biodynamic practices of protected growing
- Be able to manage a biodynamic protected growing enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in protected growing
31
Reflective Practice
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to reflect on own learning and development journey
- Be able to assess Biodynamic agriculture in the context of other approaches to agriculture
32
Seed Growing
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan a seed growing enterprise
- Know biodynamic practices of seed growing
- Be able to manage a biodynamic seed growing enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in seed growing
33
Seed Production
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the principles of seed production
- Understand biodynamic principles of seed production
- Understand how to produce seeds
34
Sheep Husbandry
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of the sheep in the biodynamic farm organism
- Know biodynamic practices of sheep husbandry
- Be able to manage a biodynamic sheep enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in sheep husbandry
35
Soil Cultivation and Care
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand soil cultivation
- Be able to apply soil cultivation and care
36
Soil Science and Phenomenology
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know how different soils are formed
- Understand the principles of healthy soil
- Be able to assess soil quality
37
Sustainable Resources
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand sustainable resource management in the context of the farm organism
- Be able to review the sustainability of resource management on own holding
38
The Farm Organism
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the principle of the farm organism in Biodynamic farming
- Understand the organism of own holding
- Know how Demeter Production Standards apply the principle of the farm
39
Vegetable Growing
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to plan a vegetable growing enterprise
- Know biodynamic practices of vegetable growing
- Be able to manage a biodynamic vegetable growing enterprise
- Be able to reflect on own experiences in vegetable growing
40
Water Resource
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand water management on your holding
- Be able to plan water resource improvements
41
Working with Draught Animals
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand how draught animals can contribute to the biodynamic farm organism
- Understand principles of working with draught animals on a biodynamic farm
- Be able to work with draught animals
- Be able to reflect on own experiences working with draught animals
Regulatory & Verification Details
- Qualification Number (QN)
- 610/1590/8
- Regulated Status
- Available to learners
- Awarding Body
- CFI
- Qualification Type
- Vocationally-Related Qualification
- Operational Start
- Oct 2022