Learn more about the concepts of permaculture.

• Understand the theory and ethics of permaculture, before putting it into practice.
• Understand soil management and cultivation.
• Learn more about the climate and water cycle.
• Understand forest systems and agricultural systems.

There are many natural systems and techniques used in farming or gardening that share common ground with Permaculture. When the permaculture movement began in the 1970’s, it recognised the best ideas (e.g. no dig gardening, swales), and adapted them to a new way of thinking about landscape development and management.

The term 'permaculture' comes from the words 'PERManent' and 'agriCULTURE', and imply the permanence of culture. We can learn a lot from studying these systems, many of which have been practiced for a greater length of time than Permaculture. Lessons learnt from these other techniques over time, can often be applied to permaculture.

COURSE STRUCTURE

This course is broken into five lessons:

Lesson 1 - Concepts - covers the basic theory and ethics of Permaculture

Lesson 2. - The Environment - covers ecosystems, the web of life and interactions between living organisms. soils

Lesson 3  - Soils - covers soil management, fertilisers, nitrogen, cultivation, gas and nutrient cycles

Lesson 4 - Climate and Water - covers the hydrological cycle, infiltration, microclimates, the Greenhouse Effect, water and plants

Lesson 5 - Forest Systems - covers understanding of biomass, how natural systems relate to agricultural systems

A "Controlled" Natural Ecosystem

Natural ecosystems embody all living and non-living components in a specified district, garden, niche, etc. The more natural the garden, the closer it would be to a natural ecosystem. The permaculture garden may be man-made but the principles of the design flow along natural lines as opposed to "landscape" principles. As multiple functions is important, the plants and design should provide food for humans and other biological organisms in the area. Shelter is also important for the nesting of many birds and animals. By designing a permaculture garden considering ecology, both the person and native creatures should be able to live together and benefit from each other. 

A natural ecosystem will provide a diversity of plants and animals; provide a continual succession of plant and animal population; will recycle energy within the parameters of the ecosystem; efficiently utilises resources; provides multiple functions and elements; and demonstrates the principles of relative location.

It is therefore possible to say that permaculture is a "controlled" natural ecosystem.

WHERE TO START?

We offer two "starter" courses in Permaculture.

This (Permaculture I) is a softer, less intense starter course, and designed for someone who is an absolute beginner, and is not too concerned about learning as much as possible as fast as possible.

If you want something more intense right from the start - you are better to begin with our "Permaculture Systems" course.

Do not do both - they overlap significantly.