ten-day course permaculture design course

venue: the Middlewood Trust, Lancashire

Full permaculture design course with Rod Everett. An exploration of all aspects of sustainable systems and their design. From food growing to sustainable housing and communities, alternative energy, money systems and much, much more.

The course is based around developing a real understanding of the ethics, principles and methods of design used in permaculture. Throughout the course we will build on the knowledge and practical experience of the course participants and the tutors using creative teaching techniques. The beautiful surroundings of river, woodlands, organic farm, low-impact buildings and visits to other permaculture sites will provide real examples.

Early on in the course, when you have a basic understanding of permaculture principles and ethics, we will together develop the course curriculum including all the subjects that are relevant to the participants. This is a fun process and gets us working well as a group.

the cultivated ecosystem

• establishment of organic vegetable gardens
• plant selection
• establishment and maintenance of orchards
• ecological pest management
• livestock systems
• forage systems
• fungi production
• biodynamics

community support systems

• city farms and community gardens
• urban revitalisation
• energy descent plans
• transition towns
• strategies
• village and community design
• community economics
• sustainable business
• health and healing
• deep ecology – the great turning

reading the landscape

• site planning and analysis
• land assessment for optimal use
• observation of patterns & cycles of nature
• dowsing

water in the landscape

• water storage and management
• dams and swales
• aquaculture
• waste water treatment and use
• living water

building healthy soil

• basics of soil structure
• texture and pH
• strategies for improving your soil
• green manures and intercropping
• mulching and compost
• erosion control
• mechanical and mineral rehabilitation of soils

forests

• forest ecology
• design of windbreaks
• trees for firewood
• timber and other yields
• wildlife corridors and habitat creation
• succession of ecosystems
• woodland crafts
• folklore and mythology

shelter

• selecting a house site
• energy efficient design and healthy building materials
• appropriate technologies
• energy production
• solar cooking
• dealing with wastes

design skills

• methods and process of design
• team design
• drawing techniques
• group work
• concept planning
• zones and sectors
• problem solving
• having fun

practical

• building
• making
• gardening
• cooking
• baking
• sharing experiences
• action learning

Basic accomodation will be provided in yurt or in bunk rooms in the study centre - or bring your own tent. Please bring along £50 for food - we will share the food shopping, preparation and cooking as part of building the course community.

This course gives you a design course certificate recognised around the world and can lead onto a Permaculture Diploma with 2 years of practical experience.

Tutor / facilitator is  Dr Rod Everett who has been teaching and practising permaculture in the UK for over 28 years.

more on permaculture

gardens and polytunnels

retreat space with reciprocal beam roof

forest garden

using a home-made frame to survey land for a permaculture project

forest garden

team building exercise via a beach spiral

herb spiral

tree bog at Middlewood