<<-- Back to the course calendar

Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course, with Tom Kendall, Kin Kin, Queensland, Australia

Starts Jun 23, 2013 and runs for 13 day(s).

For people who are aware of the need for change in the world, the Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast is an educational facility that encourages change to a sustainable, self reliant and abundant lifestyle to benefit self, others and the earth. PRI-SC's Permaculture Design Certificate combines Bill Mollison's and Geoff Lawton's teachings with Tom Kendall's lifelong agricultural and self reliance experience.

The Permaculture Design Certificate is a 72 hour theoretical course based on Bill Mollison's Designers Manual, teaching how we can use today's tools and technology to create a more sustainable and equitable world for all species. Permaculture is more than just gardening, it is a sustainable lifestyle. Permaculture ethics are Earth Care, People Care and Return of Surplus and this is taught by showing students to focus on local resources and their local community, and to have well thought out design practices to create abundance sustainably.

As part of the spirit of Permaculture we encourage students to participate in community building for the time they spend at the Institute. Students will be shown and will be required to participate in a number of aspects of sustainable and community living and Permaculture systems and routines. This will enhance the Permaculture learning experience during the 2 weeks, as well as give students the feeling of belonging to a community and strengthening the bond of the group. We encourage students to acknowledge their talents, so they can contribute to the community experience by doing what they are good at.

About the Teacher:

Tom Kendall grew up and worked on his parents' farm and took on the farm in 1992 when his father retired. He downsized the 11,000 acre farm to 7,000 acres and converted to Biodynamics. The farm produced wheat and barley and ran cattle and sheep. In 2000 he sold the farm and moved to the Sunshine Coast. In 2005 he and his partner Zaia found their ideal property in Kin Kin, Noosa Hinterland. Tom had by then become interested in Permaculture, and started converting the property into a Permaculture site.

With his background in farming, he was able to take on most jobs that needed to be done himself; renovations, building, operating heavy machinery for earthworks etc, gardening, fixing, installing plumbing and many other jobs that came with setting up the property. He became a WWOOF host and always taught the WWOOFers about Permaculture and why the property was set up the way it was. In 2008 he did a Permaculture Design Certificate with Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton. He followed that up early 2010 with a Teacher Training Course with Geoff Lawton. At that stage he realised he had so much knowledge to share with people about Permaculture and Self Reliance skills that he decided to focus on teaching. It was a natural extension from teaching WWOOFers for all those years.

Tom is a very practical person with a wealth of knowledge about shaping landscapes and creating tools and infrastructure. Having spent all his life working the land he has an astute awareness about today's environmental issues and aims to minimise his footprint as much as possible. His courses are unique in that he shows a lot of practical applications on his property, Kin Kin Souls, now a permaculture demonstration site, to complement the theory taught. His aim is to bring permaculture to as many people as possible, and to empower people to be self reliant. He is now a Permaculture Research Institute accredited teacher and runs The Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast.

Map

Important information about this course

Course location:

The Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast, 93 Golden Gully Road, Kin Kin QLD 4571, Australia.

Course hours:

9am - 5pm daily (the Saturday in the middle of the course is free time)

Accommodation:

Camping (tent) accommodation is included in the course fee, please byo tent and camping gear (bedding etc).

Food:

Fully catered for, 3 meals per day plus morning and afternoon tea. Saturday off students are to cater for themselves. Camp kitchen available, wholesome pre-cooked take-away meals can be purchased from caterer at extra cost.

Directions:

Take the Bruce Highway towards Gympie from the South or toward Brisbane from the North. Take the Pomona Kin Kin turnoff. Follow the road, turn right at the T-intersection. Take the road through Pomona town, straight through the roundabout, over the railway line, then turn left at the T-Intersection. Follow that road to Kin Kin. Turn left to go into Kin Kin and past the pub. Follow that road for about 3 kms, Golden Gully Road is on your left (a dirt road). Kin Kin SOULS is 930 metres down that road on your left.

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

Course pricing / bookings

Prices in Australian dollars

$1590	(Regular price for this course. Must be paid in full 21 days before course commencement)
$200	(Non-refundable deposit to lock in booking)
$1450	Early bird discount if paid 42 days before course commencement	This price has expired