Geoff lawton Earthworks Course face to face ZaytunafarmEarthworks Course with Geoff Lawton

Permaculture Earthworks is about moving soil to capture water and shape its flow as it moves through a landscape, making the land more useful, valuable, and productive. We take water, slow it, stop it, spread it, and soak it through a landscape making sure we hydrate and stabilize the soil to also mitigate droughts and floods.

If you only do one thing
—collect rainwater. - Bill Mollison

Course Description

This course will teach the theory and practice of Permaculture Earthworks. We cover on-site design skills, surveying and directing earthmoving machines to establish ponds and dams, swales, drains, benches, terraces, access roads, and crossing pipes, and how to plant up afterward, so you get the best result. 

Students will understand:

  • How to read a site 
  • Where to place elements in a design and how to identify the crucial points in a landscape
  • Interpret contour maps 
  • What tools and machinery are needed
  • How to use surveying tools
  • How to direct earthmoving machines
  • How to apply earthworks to soak water
  • How to apply earthworks to hold water 
  • How to use earthworks to drain water
  • How to stabilize soil

Students will be able to use the basic terminology for earthworks and soil water management and work with contractors to direct earthmovers. 

Earthworks construction can be a rewarding investment in your property. Enhancing your landscape’s aesthetic appeal, functionality, and value are realistic outcomes. However, it can be intimidating to order large machinery onto your property, and getting it wrong can be discouraging and very expensive. This course will give you the knowledge and confidence to get your earthworks right.

BREAKS:

Coffee and tea breaks are provided during the course.

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 

Course Schedule:
Course Outline
INTRODUCTION

Reason for earthworks and types of earthworks

Earthwork elements and types of machines

Learning how to use survey equipment; learning practical surveying and design of dams and swales

Learning how to direct earthmovers

DAMS & SPILLWAYS

Design systems with multiple elements

Specifics of dam construction and design issues

Tour farm site to identify different elements on the farm

Survey of dams. Break into groups for survey designs

SWALES & SPILLWAYS & GABIONS

Specifics of swales

Integration of swales into a system including planting-up of the system

Visit existing swale sites

Surveying of potential sites. Break into groups for survey designs

EARTH BANKS

House Sites/Benches/Terraces

Access tracks/driveways/crossing pipes

Activity: Stability Plan-Ups and Erosion Control

Placing of swivel pipes and crossing pipes

REVIEW OF EARTHWORKS

Questions and answers from the class

Miniature Earthworks Exercise by students

Completion of unfinished design projects with groups

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 

ABOUT THE TEACHERS

The main facilitator for this course is Geoff Lawton. Geoff is internationally recognized as a leading earthworks engineer – having extensive experience worldwide in setting up earthworks systems that drought-proof land and optimize productivity.

Whilst we try to ensure that we advertise the correct teacher information on the site, due to unforeseen circumstances, the teachers may change at short notice.

Geoff Lawton

 

Geoff Lawton is the main facilitator for this course. He is a Permaculture consultant, designer, and teacher. He first took his Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course with Bill Mollison in 1983. He holds a Diploma in Permaculture Education, Design, Implementation, System Establishment, Administration, and Community Development given by the founder of Permaculture, Bill Mollison.

 

Geoff has undertaken thousands of jobs teaching, consulting, designing, administrating, and implementing, in 6 continents and close to 50 countries around the world. Clients have included private individuals, groups, communities, governments, aid organizations, non-government organizations, and multinational companies.

 

He has currently educated over 15,000 students in Permaculture worldwide. These include graduates of the Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course and courses focused on the practical design of sustainable soil, water, plant, and legal and economic systems.

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 ?

The Next Steps

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

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