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Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course with Bob Corker, Kay Baxter, Dan Palmer and Tim Barker, at PRI NZ (Koanga Institute), Wairoa, New Zealand

Starts Feb 03, 2013 and runs for 13 day(s).

We are on the cusp of major changes as the slow decline in cheap oil impacts on our growth based globalised economy. Already the effects are starting to bite in some countries. Our challenge over the coming decade will be to create new systems that are not so reliant on fossil fuels and the economics of growth. The challenge is one of redesign of our economy and our ecology. This redesign is far more necessary and a far greater job than personal initiatives, although these too are vital. Permaculture is a comprehensive ecological design system that addresses the 'why, how and what' and empowers individuals and communities to start this redesign now. Come and learn the 'tools' you will need to engage in the coming change, from a team who are committed to being the change we wish to see in the world. Get the positive feel of what your future could become.

Every year we run two Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) courses. A Spring one which begins in September and an Autumn one which begins in February. These are intensive twelve day courses covering the curriculum recognised by the International Permaculture Research Institute, plus much more. It will give you a solid practical foundation in permaculture design leaving you with:

- the core knowledge required to continue learning
- the confidence to start designing
- the understanding that permaculture is real, practical, with lots of opportunity for livelihoods
- a strong experience of living permaculture
- links with Kotare Village members and happenings

This course is accredited by the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia (PRI), and results in lasting bonds between group members (assisted with technology email groups after the course).

Time will be spent on theory, practicing design work and a wide range of practical activities, highlighting key techniques (Bio-intensive gardening, earth-building, waste recycling, appropriate technology, food processing and preservation).

You will live simply in community, and in a close relationship with our environment. Past students comments at the end of our courses always stress that it is this experience they find transforming.

We believe that Permaculture Design is one of the best tools available for those who wish to take responsibility for the need to become more self-reliant as our globalised economy faces peak oil (and lots of other peaks). Not just for individual or family self-reliance, but more particularly for communities and bio-regions. The context within which we teach this course will be our belief that in the coming years we urgently need to develop parallel economies that will have the resilience to cope with the likely power-down that our mainstream economy is faced with.

Over the last 30 years Kay and Bob have developed a comprehensive understanding and range of skills associated with family self-reliance, particularly food growing, building and appropriate technology. They are increasingly focusing on the bigger picture as to how do we address self-reliance within communities and bio-regions. We are serious about creating 
futures without being plugged into the globalised economy.

The course starts with a thorough understanding of the permaculture model of design (the first two days). From day three you will begin developing and practicing; observation, analysis and design within a permaculture framework (in the real world), and getting feedback and support from our team of experienced tutors and practicing designers. The structure of most days will be theory in the morning, followed by practical demonstrations, and design practice in the afternoon, followed by more design practice or research after dinner then discussions or DVDs later.

In addition, those who are serious about completing a diploma, and/or engaging in design as a vocation (both in NZ or overseas), and/or creating self-employment, using their new design skills, will be supported to set in place a mentor program for supporting their future work. If you feel like you need more information about the course, please contact us, and we will be happy to discuss it further.

This course is a prerequisite for our internship program.

All food will be locally sourced, organic, nutrient dense, traditional and delicious. It will be prepared following the principles of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

About the Teachers:

Bob Corker grew up in a New Zealand farming family and has been an organic farmer for much of his life. After being inspired by the first Permaculture Design Course taught in New Zealand in 1984, he has spent decades working as an environmental consultant and constructed wetlands specialist. He has worked on many designs including homesteads, small and large farms, municipal sewage treatment ponds and suburban storm water ponds.

He is a co-founder of the Koanga Institute where he currently develops their appropriate technology research programme. He has been teaching a wide range of farming and building workshops, including Permaculture Design Courses, since 1986.

He was the designer for the Kohatu Toa ecovillage in Kaiwaka where Kay and Bob lived until 2007. His current project is developing Kotare Village (see also), a 30 family intentional community near Wairoa in Hawkes Bay.

Kay Baxter has been an organic gardener for fifty years and is a co-founder and CEO of the Koanga Institute in New Zealand. She is a professional seed saver and educator in the fields of Nutrient Dense Food Production and Regenerative Garden Design and Management.

She is a researcher in the field of human health in relation to our environment and has authored many books including Change of Heart (the Ecology of Nourishing Food), the Koanga Garden Guide, Design your Own Orchard and the Koanga booklets Save Your Own Seeds and Growing Nutrient Dense Food.

Dan Palmer co-founded the now global permablitz movement and currently co-directs the permaculture design company Very Edible Gardens with Adam Grubb. Dan has a BA and Masters Degree in Social Science, and a PhD in Systems Thinking. After 25 years of formal schooling, he learned more of local and global relevance on a two week permaculture course. Dan has done permaculture work in New Zealand, India, Ethiopia and Uganda, and contributes regularly to permaculture and organic gardening publications and courses in Australia and New Zealand.

Map

Important information about this course

Course Hours: 8:30am to 5pm (with Sunday off) with optional practical activities before and after.

Info on Accommodation and costs:

Camping, with bush baths and solar showers, composting toilets and a roofed outdoor cooking and eating facility for weekends. All cooking using rocket stoves, earth ovens etc. All hot water heated by rocket stoves. Our internships are scheduled at times appropriate for camping when the weather is mild, and we generally enjoy a mild climate. There are no additional fees.

Info on meals:

All meals are provided as part of the course costs. We aim to prepare all meals with locally produced, nutrient dense & organic food. Meals will follow the principles of the Weston A. Price Foundation, to provide delicious, traditional food appropriate to our location. Our meals are not vegetarian, please contact us to discuss individual dietary requirements.

Info on Directions:

Please see: http://www.koanga.org.nz/directions

For further information for this course please contact education@permaculture.org.au.

Course pricing / bookings

Prices in Australian dollars

$1640	Regular price for this course	This price has expired
$1470	Discounted price for Koanga Institute Members	This price has expired
$1490	Early bird special - if paid at least 3 weeks in advance	This price has expired