permaculture course

Earthworks Aquaculture and Agroforestry Course at Shanti Farm 01 of January to 13th of January 2023

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.

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MEALS:

Meals are not included, however, You can purchase delicious farm-fresh meals from our on-site cafe as well as coffee and tea, and cakes. 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.

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

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SHANTI FARM

ABOUT THE LOCATION

This course will be taught at Shanti Farm, a small integrated regenerative farm on Gumbayngirr land. Exploring and demonstrating different models for stewarding biodiversity & Abundance.

Shanti Farm

LOCATION:

This course will be taught at Shanti Farm, located in Nambucca Valley

Nearest Airport

Regional:
Coffs Harbour airport is 40mins door to door, 15 mins to Nambucca. Detailed driving directions, parking/camping and farm maps will be included in the confirmation emails we send out to students

Train Station

Closest train station is Macksville,  Pick up from the station can be arranged if organised  shanti farm beforehand via hello@shantipermaculture.com