Course Flyer here
Beginning sat 27 Oct for 5 consecutive weekends ending on Sunday 25th Nov
9- 8:30pm Saturdays inc. lunch/ dinner
9-5pm Sundays inc. lunch
Richard Perkins and guest speakers
www.integralpermanence.org
This course is in English with assistance in technical translations to French/ Spanish if necessary
What is
Permaculture and how do we facilitate the course?
Permaculture is the harmonious integration of all life kingdoms into agriculturally productive ecosystems and socially just environments producing sound economic outcomes through systems management. It is a regenerative design intention reflecting patterns in nature that seeks to build functional interconnections allowing for
energy efficiency and abundance of yield. It involves an inclusive, simple and universal life ethic of returning surplus into nature’s systems to promote the care of our earth and its inhabitants.
The schedule for this
PDC is made up of four main
class times during both days each weekend with one evening session to extend the days learning or weave in elements from related but extended ideas each Saturday night. We extend the traditional
PDC curriculum by integrating continual community building and self- leadership development to leave participants with tangible skills to support their continued work in their own communities after the course. We have found this to be very effective to support the learning environment during the course, as well as witness the valuable work students go on to do. Many past students are engaged full time in deeper study, research and
project development all over the world.
We dynamically weave lecture story- telling with hands on practicums and design exercises designed to leave students tooled up with the skills and techniques to leave the course fully prepared to apply PC design to all aspects of their lives. Action Learning, learning by doing, is core to our courses, and combined with thorough and effective design methodology participants will leave confident and competent in applying these tools in any area of their lives. With
experience and deep passion in all aspects of regenerative design, combined with extensive self- study into Anthropology, Cultural History and Sociology our courses offer a rich holistic backdrop to this engaged and far- reaching un/learning.
The primary aspect of courses by Integralpermanence that set them aside is the commitment to returning the DESIGN to
Permaculture Design Courses, through engaged participatory design exercises regularly throughout the course. This is a response to observing other courses with 1 or perhaps 2 design exercises that in our minds do not leave students competent or confident in applying this beneficial system throughout their lives and communities. With ample time between each weekend session participants will benefit from being able to deepen their understanding of each set of topics and synthesize it at a slower pace than our traditional 2 week residential intensives, as well as develop and receive feedback on personal design work.
The course schedule is an ever-evolving entity because we are always re-evaluating to utilize any opportunity to improve our curriculum, and as Permaculturists we apply design process to our work continuously. We also recognize the uniqueness of each site (due to factors such as culture, climate, and resources) and adjust the schedule accordingly. We have functionally interconnected our ongoing learning to our course development and as such can bring participants the latest developments in regenerative agriculture and design. Our global systems research gives windows into living and truly regenerative solutions. We integrate Holistic Management decision- making frameworks as well as Keyline design as an organizing framework for effective and integrated design. Our experience shows this to be very effective in student’s uptake and synthesis of the diverse information covered in the course.
This course has a pre-set curriculum based on the content of
Bill Mollison's Permaculture: A Designers Manual. During the course, we will touch on every major topic in the book, combining dynamic lecture- storytelling and hands on practical/ demonstration exercises. A brief outline looks like this;
• Theory and principles of permaculture
• Methods of design
• Understanding patterns in nature
•
Water harvesting and management
• Drought-proofing
•
Trees & their energy transactions
• Eco-friendly house placement and design
• Energy efficient architecture
• Energy conservation techniques for cold climates
•
Earthworks & their use in earth repair
• Soils
• Soil rehabilitation and erosion control
• Organic food production
• Livestock
•
Aquaculture
• Ecological pest control
• Humid tropics
• The temperate climates
• Humid cool climates
• Dry lands
• Strategies for urban and rural settings
• Recycling and waste management
• Right livelihood
• Catastrophe preparedness and prevention
• Money and finance
• Ethical investment
• Bio regional organisation
• Legal strategies and trusts
• Effective working groups
• Effective aid
There is a detailed example schedule at the end of the document
About the Instructor
Richard Perkins is a highly regarded Permaculture teacher, designer, consultant and researcher in the UK and abroad, certified by the Permaculture Association of Great Britain. He also mentors Permaculture Diploma students through an intensive and innovative Action Learning based pathway developed from the existing UK Diploma framework.
Having studied up to MSc level (Integrative Eco Social Design- Gaia U), Richard holds a Diploma in Applied
Permaculture Design, HND Organic Crop Production and Horticulture and has self- studied extensively in the academic fields of Anthropology, Sociology, Ecology and Philosophy. With years of experience in Organic crop production, integrative systems design and community development Richard is currently concentrating on teaching PDCs in the UK and abroad. Integrating Keyline Design and Holistic Management principles into a cohesive and dynamic design framework, Richards PDC trainings bring back the Design to Permaculture Design Courses.
With practical experience in various forms of food and resource production, from small scale community projects through to farm management; natural building with adobe,
cob, straw-bale, timber and bamboo, and worked in temperate, semi- arid, Mediterranean, sub- tropical and wet tropical and maritime tropical climates. He has worked on extensive system design and implementation from agroforestry to forest gardens, water cleansing and irrigation systems, business design to soil building, edible landscaping to Keyline design as well as community building and empowerment.
2008-9 was spent managing food production and community governance at the Panya Project (a
sustainability and education site) in Northern Thailand whilst working towards a MSc in Integrative and Collaborative Eco Social Design and Communication with Gaia University.
Currently focused on a family overland trip around the globe filming a PC based documentary on living and successful solutions, to be released online www.impermanencefilm.org
Anyone who has taken a PDC with Integralpermanence can go on to teach the course and pass on the knowledge of Permaculture (though it is strongly recommended that you get several years of hands-on experience first). Upon completing the course with Integralpermanence, you will receive a Certificate, which entitles you to use the word permaculture in your endeavors as well as to teach the course, or work as a permaculture consultant if you are so inclined.
What can you do to prepare for the course?
This course is intended for 1) the beginner - who may have just heard about Permaculture for the first time, as well as for 2) those with some experience, who may be practicing Permaculture already, but are interested in learning the theoretical framework behind it. You are not expected to have any specific knowledge or skills upon arrival. We do think it is helpful to start thinking about ecological systems, and permaculture design in advance. Read! Find a book about design, organic
gardening, integrated systems, ecology, solution- based exploration of our world's problems, etc. Any of these subjects will provide you with some context prior to the lessons of the course.
Or, if you have a specific piece of property or ecological area that you are primarily interested in applying Permaculture principals to, sit and observe it, map it, read about it, and talk to others who are working in similar environments. Then, bring that information with you to the course. We may be able to use it for a design project. Most of all be excited to learn and be ready to soak up the information the PDC has to offer!
What to expect from the Venue?
What
should I bring?
The course cost covers lunch and dinner on Saturday as well as lunch on Sunday. We aim to provide very nutritious whole foods, mainly vegan/
vegetarian. Please let us know if you have specific dietary requirements before hand, and bring any special treats you might wish.
• Work clothes, which might get dirty!
• Comfortable Non-work clothes
• High quality chocolate to share (optional but appreciated!)
• Books- Bring a few to show to others
• Notebook and good pens for taking notes
• Beginners Mind - Be open to learning from everyone present.
• Snacks or personal comfort foods etc.
• Maybe your favorite
coffee.
• Laptop if you like to make notes
• A story/ Myth/ legend from your
local area...
Securing your place on the course
A deposit of Eur 200.00 is required to reserve a space on the course. Please email one of the addresses below for details of how to secure a spot!
Full payment is requested 2 weeks prior to the course.
Contact Richard for booking
integralpermanence@gmail.com
Contact Mark for French language
permanessence@gmail.com
Regenerating the planet and its communities starts with you!
course outline
Example Course Outline