UK PDC-2018

Dates: 

5th -19th July 2018 

Facilitators:

Chris Evans 
Tomas Remiarz 
Looby Macnamara

Duration: 

90 hours over Two Weeks 

Course Description

This practical course will bring the possibility of significant and positive life changes. Although permaculture is most commonly thought about in connection with gardening & farming, its principles, ethics and design methods can be adapted and used in each individual's own work, interests and home to bring about a more harmonious & sustainable lifestyle.

Permaculture offers a perspective on all aspects of building a sustainable future. Permaculture encourages us to use our individual skills, knowledge and interests, whilst drawing on traditional wisdom, science and our innate ability to observe and learn from the world around us.

Course participants will be awarded the Permaculture Association (Britain)'s internationally recognised Certificate in Permaculture Design.

Course content

Spirals of erosion & points of intervention ~ People based designs ~ Boundaries & limiting factors ~ Observation skills ~ Site surveying ~ Permaculture ethics & principles ~ Design methods ~ Soil conservation & improvement ~ Green manures & dynamic accumulators ~ use of Micro-climates ~ Kitchen gardening ~ Integrated pest management ~ Water in the Landscape ~ Agroforestry & Forest gardening ~ Trees & their Microclimates ~ Patterns in nature ~ Sustainable economics ~ Urban permaculture ~ Green architecture ~ Non-land based design ~ Accelerated learning techniques ~ Seed saving & plant propagation ~ The Permaculture Association & Diploma WorkNet ~ Where next?

& lots more......

We use group work, discussions, videos, slide shows, observation, guided walks & practical activities as learning methods. These are supportive of different learning styles & for people with learning difficulties. We will also be visiting projects where permaculture theory is being put into action.

Design courses are not just about imparting information to the students, there is plenty of knowledge out there, the important thing is knowing how to use this & feeling confident to do so.

Empowerment is the essence of the course. We will be using practical and theoretical teaching methods to create a fun, lively & inclusive course. The course culminates in the main design activity that helps to consolidate all of the learning & empower students to take permaculture back into their own homes, lives & community. As a group we will benefit from collaborative learning & from having fun together. We don't expect any previous knowledge & recognise that everyone has their own unique skills, knowledge & areas of interest to bring to the course.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

  • observe patterns in nature & apply what we learn to create guiding principles.
  • use permaculture ethics, principles & design tools to create sustainable systems.
  • understand the importance of caring for soil & water, & to know techniques for doing so.
  • start using permaculture in your own life, towards creating a more sustainable lifestyle.
  • understand how to apply permaculture design to both land-based & people based systems.

Anyone wishing to bring positive change in their lives

I have really enjoyed the [PDC] course. I particularly liked sitting in the woods and seeing layering reflected in nature. I really enjoyed making the [practice] design with my team and was surprised how quickly we were able to create it!
there was a very clear progression of ideas and delivery, a very good mix of practical and theory to reinforce learning, and I particularly liked the structured way of approaching design.

Logistics

Camping is included in the fee; there are limited spaces in dormitory accommodation if you’re not able to camp - please let us know

Fees also include tasty vegetarian meals.

Dates

5th -19th July 2018

Please arrive by 4pm on 5th to set up camp and settle in. We will start after dinner (6.30pm). The course will finish with lunch on 19th.

Fees

Concessions £525 (means-tested benefits, limited to 4 places);
Low waged (<£12K ) £695;
Waged £795

We offer this sliding scale on an honesty basis and to try and make courses more available for low-income groups. We trust that you will pay what is right for you. Payment by instalments are also accepted - please let us know.

10% discount if you bring a friend !
Who do you know that could also benefit from learning permaculture skills for life? We are offering a 10% discount on your course fee if you can bring a friend to attend the course (this offer is available any time after you book your own place, right up until the course starts).

Booking

For enquiries and booking please contact:

Looby or Chris on 01584 831195

Email Chris

Postcode is SY8 4JG - Orleton Common (more details provided on booking)

Nearest train stations are Ludlow or Leominster

Facilitators & Venue

Chris lives at Applewood with his partner Looby and children Shanti and Teya. He has taught permaculture in the UK, Europe, Nepal, India, U.S.A. and Mexico. He is also a UK assessment level tutor for apprentices working towards their diploma in applied permaculture design with the Permaculture Association Britain.

Tomas has been working in permaculture since 1997. He is author of Forest Gardening in Practice. Over the years he has designed and helped to create private and communal gardens, commercial and amenity woodlands, wildlife reserves and ecological restoration sites.

Tomas has co-facilitated with Looby and Chris on Permaculture Design Courses and the Training of Teachers at Applewood. He lives close to Applewood Permaculture Centre and has plenty of connections both professionally and socially with Looby and Chris.

As well as time spent at Applewood hosting and teaching courses and gardening on the land here, Looby leads a productive career as a pioneer of permaculture and Cultural Emergnece. Looby is author of People and Permaculture, 7 Ways to Think Differently and Strands of Infinity. People and Permaculture Is the first book globally to translate the use of permaculture principles and design for people based systems, widening the definition of permaculture and making it relevant and accessible to all. She is creator of the Design Web, a holistic design framework that has been used thousands of times globally for all sorts of personal and social designs.

Looby has been chair of the Permaculture Association Britain and is a senior diploma tutor.

The Venue
Applewood is a 20 acre smallholding, Waterloo Farm, recently acquired in the beautiful hills of North Herefordshire. Here, the owners, Designed Visions partners Chris Evans and Looby Macnamara, are developing a  permaculture demonstration and training centre. We feel that with permaculture, you need to see it to believe it, and then need to be able to learn it, and then acquire the resources (seeds, plants, books, friends and networks) to do it! The site includes woods, pasture, a lake, kitchen garden and an orchard of heritage apples. A converted barn and outbuildings provide indoor accommodation and the grounds a peaceful campsite.

For regular updates and photos see our facebook page 

Click here for location map