permaculture course

This course is a comprehensive practical course on 5 major topics in long term, highly productive permaculture systems. The only course of its kind available now, and perhaps ever, it is a fully submersive event for those who want to take their permaculture education much, much further. This course will involve the surveying and planning of small scale earthworks for the construction of a rice padi (planted to lotus), a camping platform and a swale, the planting and stocking schemes for fish, wild rice, and ducks on a canal within a mature mainframe design system, and the design and planting of a wetland agroforestry system, harvestable by boat.

This course will involve some in class course time, but unlike the PDC it will be a majoritively practical course, giving a solid foundation and understanding of these three major topics on the ground.

The PDC, for most, is a completely life changing 2 week experience that changes how any student sees the world completely, for the rest of their lives, but often when a student finishes they often don’t know what to do next. This course is a huge opportunity to gain experience in 5 extremely fundamental topics to permaculture design. With overwhelming demand this comprehensive course is available for those who want training on generally untaught topics with huge potential for regeneration, business and farms.

WHAT WILL I LEARN? Topics Covered

For this course, students will learn how to survey, plan and design earthworks for a regenerative effect on their own projects. This will include;

  • using a laser level and an assortment of other surveying equipment to accurately plan earthworks
  • site assessment
  • selecting and directing machinery
  • basic mathematical formulas to calculate for good design
  • designing for a wide range of earthworks including roads, swales, dams & natural pools
  • techniques for implementation
  • estimating project costs 

This is a theoretical and practical course. Students will receive education in a classroom setting, but will also be brought onsite to observe large machinery constructing dams, and other water harvesting features. Students will need to be prepared for practical work outside  – surveying areas for earthworks, and doing delicate hand and shovel work that a machine can’t do.

This course should have a life-changing effect on how each student interacts with land and reads it, influencing each individual to see every degraded bit of land as an opportunity to create a paradise.

MEALS:

Meals are not included, however, basic self-catering facilities are available on site.

Accommodation Booking:

Camping on-site in a self-provided tent/camper is available to book separately on Hip Camp

 Book Accommodation 

ABOUT THE TEACHERS

Sam Parker Davies

Sam Parker-Davies has directed earthmoving machinery for the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia on dams, house pads, roads, swales, rice padis, reed beds, gardens, food forests, orchards, canals, and many other features. He is a professional designer and consultant who has worked on large scale water cleaning system installations in Iraq, many various systems throughout Europe, Bahrain, Jordan and on his own property development projects around the Australia. Sam currently teaches whole systems Permaculture design for Geoff Lawton in the Greening the Desert Project in Jordan, and Zaytuna Farm in Australia.

Joshua Andersen

Joshua began his permaculture career right after his first Permaculture Design Course in 2012. After viewing the film “Greening the Desert” featuring Geoff Lawton, Joshua launched straight into embodying what it was to “be a beneficial element” on this earth.

The early part of his career was focused on developing salt tolerant coastal sub-tropical agroforestry/food forestry systems in Central and South Florida. Through his research he was introduced to the concept of Syntropic Agroforestry/Successional Agroforestry, which has become the foundation of his work.

In 2019, Joshua studied under Geoff Lawton, Istvan Markuly, and Sam Parker-Davies at the second Greening the Desert site in the Dead Sea Valley of Jordan and has since learnt from and worked with the world’s best in many fields across the permaculture world. Joshua has worked on many farm development and agroforestry projects throughout the Southeastern United States and in California and is a very sought after farm and project manager. As his work becomes more and more international he’s going to have to become more and more selective of the jobs he chooses.

Included in the course

Face to face

lectures &

on the ground practical

 

Classroom lectures delivered by a world-renowned teacher

 

Question & answer sessions

 

Practical sessions on the ground with the earthmover

 

Farm Tour

REAL
HANDS ON
LEARNING

 

Learning how to use survey equipment

 

Learn how to survey dams

 

Learn how to place swivel pipes and crossing pipes

ONSITE CAMPING ACCOMMODATION
AVAILABLE TO BOOK SEPARATELY

If you would like to stay at Zaytuna Farm during the course you can book your accommodation on hip camp. by booking accommodation you get access to:

Hot Showers

Camping Shelter/ or on-ground camping

Access to Wi-fi

Access to kitchen facilities

*Please note only 10 camping shelters are available.  Plenty of ground space is available.

 Book Accommodation 

EARTHWORKS COURSE FAQ

Questions & Answers

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

The principles we’ll be learning can be applied to designs and implementation at any scale, from the smallest veggie gardens to the largest farms. Whether you’re completely new to this all, you’re a seasoned farmer looking to let nature work harder for your bottom line, or you’re already a permaculture designer looking for more hands-on experience with earthworks to give you confidence in consultations, this course will be invaluable for laying a solid foundation for partnering with nature towards sustainable, regenerative and bountiful land stewardship.

 

WILL I BE SITTING IN A CLASSROOM THE WHOLE TIME?

There is a lot of material for us to get through in the classroom & it will be a solid week of learning, however you’ll also get plenty of time to stretch your legs and get your hands dirty. During the course of the week, you’ll be working alongside a veteran earthmover as he builds two different types of dams, a canal and a swale system which will be planted with a new food forest.

 

WHERE WILL I STAY DURING THE COURSE?

If you love waking up to birdsong and wallabies, we have plenty of space for you to pitch a tent, to pull up a van or park your camper so that you can roll out of bed & into class. We have composting toilets (thank you for your contribution to the fruit trees) and hot outdoor showers. If you’d prefer something more ‘civilized’, the Bowraville pub has rooms available.

 

ARE MEALS INCLUDED?

Shared morning tea and lunch will be provided each day (included in the cost of the course) using delicious produce from our farm, we’ll be happy to cater to your dietary requirements if you let us know. A fridge and basic communal cooking facilities will be available for you to use for breakfasts & dinners, or Bowraville offers some great cafe and pub meals just a couple minutes down the road.

 

HOW MUCH DOES THIS ALL COST?

The cost of the workshop is $2350, however you can get an earlybird price of $2000 if you book and pay before the 31 of may.  Please get in touch for payment plan options and group discounts if you’d like to bring some friends along for the ride

ZAYTUNA FARM

ABOUT THE LOCATION

This course will be taught at Zaytuna Farm, As one of the leading Permaculture demonstration sites in the world, Zaytuna Farm has a range of functioning systems including water harvesting, food production, and a very productive animal husbandry. All of which will add to the learning experience and make this course a very rich experience and one not to be missed.

What OUR STUDENTS SAY

I NOW HAVE A NEW PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD!

 

The PDC and PIA course at Zaytuna Farm have opened my mind for a new perception of the world around me, in particular, the connection with people, community, and Earth. These three weeks have cracked open my heart, it is almost like a spiritual journey. Because finally, I know there is a practical and realistic path everyone and I can walk on to make a positive impact on the world.

-YING GLORIA CHUNG

ZAYTUNA FARM IS A VERY UNIQUE PLACE

 

Geoff and his team have built Zaytuna Farm into a very unique place. One which turns nervousness into comfort, strangers into family, and teaching Permaculture into an amazing mix of art, science, and community. I simply cannot recommend the PDC at Zaytuna Farm enough – and would love to go back one day soon!

– SCOTT WILSON

Scott Wilson

YOU GET THE TOOLS TO BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION

 

Doing my PDC at Zaytuna Farm was a dream come true. Being immersed in Permaculture — especially followed by Permaculture in Action — is a life-changing experience. Coming to understand Permaculture means you can never look at things the same way again and opens up the natural world to you. You have the tools to become part of the solution. In addition to the PDC curriculum, the chance to meet interesting, positive people from around the world was a huge plus!

-JEANMARIE TODD

WHAT NEXT ?

Need More Help?

The Next Steps

1. Check our Courses & Events page and enrol in an additional course to broaden your Permaculture knowledge.

2. Become a Certified Permaculture Teacher

3. Create a profile and join the Permaculture Network

Zaytuna Farm

LOCATION:

This course will be taught at Zaytuna Farm, which is located 1 kilometre from the village of the Channon, 20km outside of Lismore in New South Wales, Australia.

Nearest Airport

Regional: Lismore, Coolangatta, Ballina
International: Brisbane

Train Station

Casino (with bus service on to Lismore)

Bus Stop

The Channon

NB: A limited service that runs Mon-Fri