Teacher Training Course 2026 and Advanced level
Permaculture has many solutions and has a transformative effect on people's lives. If you wish to share this with others and would like the confidence and the tools to do this in effective, creative ways then this course is for you
This course will give you a grounding in how to teach and share permaculture in a variety of ways, from giving talks to running full permaculture design courses. It is also relevant if you wish to bring more permaculture and creative teaching techniques into your existing work.
Places available
Dates
5-14th May 2026
Cost
£800 - £950 ( earlybird ends 28/02/2026)
Facilitators
Looby Macnamara
Chris Evans
What you will learn
This training will give you both the skills and the confidence to teach and facilitate. It is suitable for anyone wanting to share any permaculture topics as well as those wanting to teach other topics with a permaculture pedagogy.
We will be looking at the whole process of running a course – from finding a venue & course publicity to creating group culture to evaluation & follow up.
During the course we will be focusing on the tools & techniques for teaching & facilitating permaculture learning & the practicalities of convening & running courses. We won't be revisiting the topics on a PDC in any depth and so it is recommended that if your permaculture knowledge is a bit rusty that you do some preparatory background reading before the course.
Advanced level
This year we are adding an advanced level, for those that have already completed a teacher training and/or have previous teaching experience. Those participating on this level will have the opportunity to co-design and lead a session with Looby or Chris, and some specific sessions tailored to your needs, as well a chance to revisit fundamental concepts at a deeper level.
Sessions include
- Creating a positive learning culture
- ,Cultural Emergence,
- Training Needs Assessment,
- Co-facilitation,
- Facilitation skills,
- Presentation skills,
- Accelerated learning,
- Creative teaching methods,
- Training tools,
- Lesson plans
- Course convening,
- Self care for facilitators
- Inclusion,
- Emotions of learning,
- Course design
- Leading practicals,
- Leading games and energisers,
- Learning eco-systems,
- Follow up.
How you will learn
We aim to empower people to realise their own skills and gifts as facilitators. We use methods for building confidence of the participants throughout, and people get many opportunities to practice their teaching and facilitation skills and learn through doing. Each participant gives 2 micro-teach session to put into practice what they have learned.
The course is fun, lively, interactive and creative. It is fun and inspiring to spend time with a group of dedicated permaculturists who all bring different passions and skills related to permaculture. So while we do not specifically recap any sessions from the Permaculture Design Course, there is still a lot of skill development and learning that comes from connecting with others, and from living on a permaculture site for 10 days.
The course can be intense at times, as it can be a steep learning curve with a lot packed into each day. This is counterbalanced with the attention paid to creating a positive and safe learning environment and culture that supports everyone in their process of growth.
Our aim is to support participants on their teaching career beyond the residential. There will be 2 online group mentoring calls. Participants are invited to support and apprentice with the Applewood team on their courses. And potentially we are able to come and co-teach with participants in their area.
Appreciation from Past participants
Challenging but empowering. It gave me the courage to be the teacher I know I am.
A thousand thanks for your teachings, your stories, your experiences, your kindness, your insights. Incredible training, in content and process (still can't believe how easily your course design takes us so far and only 10 days) .Marvellous facilitation and investment. It was a delight not forgetting Emma's magical cooking skills and humour.
Arnaud, Netherlands
Thank you so much for this empowering and inspiring course, for the amazing food and for your powerful and gentle guidance guidance. I am filled with gratitude and confidence
Benedikt
Thank you for your inclusiveness, pushing us into the learning process and confidence increase also for the great time together
Donka, Bulgaria
Practical Information
Dates
5-14th May 2026
Arrivals are on Tues 5th May between 3-5pm.
We will finish with dinner on 13th May and people are welcome to stay and celebrate and then leave on morning of 14th May.
There will be half a day off during the course.
If you are interested and would like to know more send us an email at applewoodcourses@yahoo.com.
Fees
Early bird discount (save £50 if booked before 28th Feb 2026)
- Concession £800 (full price £850)
- Low waged £900 (full price £950)
- Waged £1000 (full price £1,050)
- Organisation £1,100 (full price £1,150)
For enquiries and booking please email Emma at applewoodcourses@yahoo.com
Places limited to 16
Making Payments
There are 3 payment scales
- Concession: means-tested benefits, students limited to 4 places per course
- Low waged: under £15K per year
- Waged: over £15K per year
We offer this sliding scale on an honesty basis to try and make courses more available for low-income groups. We trust that you will pay what is right for you. Payment by installments are also accepted - please let us know your needs. Secure your place with a £135 posit.
We recognise that some people may not have access to these funds. We have in the past have participants who have been able to source funding for this training, got their work to pay for their course, or even crowdsourced the fees from their friends and family. So think creatively about how you may be able to find the financial resources to do this course if you feel called to do this. Perhaps you can get people signed up to a future course of yours, or perhaps you have some skills that we will find useful at Applewood and you can offer a work exchange. This is part of your journey into becoming a permaculture teacher which has the potential to bring you income in the future.
Food & Accommodation
Camping is included in the fee; there are limited spaces in dormitory accommodation if you’re not able to camp. We have extra tents and bedding available for people to borrow if needed - please let us know your needs.
Fees also include 3 tasty vegetarian meals each day.
It is suitable for all abilities: both apprentice & experienced teachers & also for those who have just completed their PDC.
This course is suitable for anyone who has completed their Permaculture Design course (PDC). You do not need to have your diploma already to do this course, although you may be working towards it. To be a lead teacher on a PDC you will need to have your diploma or be working with another tutor who has their diploma.
The ToT will concentrate on permaculture training but the techniques covered can be applied to any other subject and hence the course would be valuable for any teacher wanting to expand their creative teaching techniques.
It is also suitable for those that want to share the Cultural Emergence toolkit, for those that have are on the Cultural Emergence learning pathway.
It is suitable for people who want to share permaculture in a variety of ways, from talks to specialist courses, from facilitating groups to running full PDCs. All the skills and tools we cover can be translated and adapted to many different situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not found what you need to know?
Visit our FAQ page for more information or email Emma at applewoodcourses@yahoo.com
Facilitators & Venue
Looby Macnamara is co-developer of the Cultural Emergence toolkit with Jon Young. She is an experienced permaculture teacher, author and designer. She is author of 4 books, Cultural Emergence, People and Permaculture and 7 Ways to Think Differently.
People and Permaculture is the first book to directly translate the principles and design methods of permaculture from land to people. Looby enjoys using creative teaching methods to create a fun and collaborative learning environment.
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.
Applewood Permaculture Centre is a 20 acre smallholding, in Herefordshire, UK. Looby and Chris are lucky to have had this as their family home with their 2 daughters as well as a training centre since July 2016. There are various teaching spaces, from heated yurt and barn space to outdoor marquee and open air. There are many diverse habitats here, woodland, orchard, forest gardens, pasture, pool and kitchen gardens. Applewood is a tranquil sanctuary for wildlife and people alike. We are blessed with night times filled with owl hoots and immense starry skies that you’ll get to enjoy round an outside fire.
For regular updates and photos
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