PREPARING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE - COURSE IS FULL!

An international qualification and universal tool for a sustainable future–by design. Grifen Hope and Javiera Carrion will co-facilitate a journey of transformation with the team from El Manzano. Our main objective is to cultivate a learning community, working together towards a sustainable Chile, to equip active citizens, teachers and designers in redesigning their lifestyles for sustainable living. This course has empowered thousands of Permaculture actionists, designers and teachers worldwide…a global network making a global impact.

¨What Permaculturalists are doing…is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet¨ (David Suzuki).

Immerse yourself in the ecological design science of Permaculture. Develop a core understanding of the natural and design principles needed for redesigning human systems and societies. Be a leader in your community equip yourself with the tools to redesign your lifestyle, your school, business or community for sustainable living. Develop a language of sustainability enabling you to fully participate in the application of local and global solutions, to be the change.

¨Permaculture is common-sense, that is no longer common¨ (Joe Polaischer).

NEW!!! Transition Training. We have added new curriculum material to meet  a need among students to learn skills for organizing and mobilizing communities. This material is based on the transition training packages developed by the TT network in the United Kingdom.  

DETAILS

When: Saturday 14th February to 1st March 2009
Where: El Manzano, Biobio. Click here for a Map. 
Facilitator: Grifen Hope, Javiera Carrión and the team from El Manzano.
Course Cost: $250,000–$550,000. All course costs operate on the Sliding Scale which is income dependant; please pay what you can afford. Discounts are offered for couples. Scholarships are available for low-income. Price includes all food and accommodation.
Contact: Javiera Carrion
Phone: +56-9-92216967
Address: Casilla 15, Cabrero, Chile
Language: The course will be bilingual with full translation between English and Spanish.
Prerequisite: No previous experience needed.
Applications: Subscribe Now. Click here PDC Subscribe, cut and paste and send it to us by email as soon as possible. We are expecting 40-50 applicants so you need to be in quick. Numbers are limited. You need to make a deposit to reserve your place. Deposit is non-refundable after 1st of January 2009.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to support the student to develop ecological literacy; an understanding of the basic principles of natures design, and regenerative design; the application of this wisdom in the redevelopment of human communities to live within natures limits. 

TOPICS INCLUDE

Please contact us direct for a detailed course programme. 

• The evidence of Global crisis: ecological, social and economic indicators.

• The Ethics and Design Principles of Sustainability and Permaculture.

• Reading the Landscape: principles of natural systems, ecoliteracy.

• Ecological Design principles and application.

• Water and Landscape: strategies for catching, storing, using and treating water.

• Geology and Soils: understanding soil rehabilitation and erosion control.

• Establishing Permaculture systems: organic gardens, orchards and animals, etc.

• Climate and Microclimate: fitting with the site i.e. design for windbreaks.

• Building Biology, house placement and design principles.

• Appropriate Technology: renewable energy etc.

• Recycling and waste management.

• Design for disaster.

• Design for Community: legal structures, alternative economic systems, etc.

• Training for Transition: facilitation, mobilising people and communities. 

PROGRAMME

COMING SOON! Please note; programme is subject to minor change depending on student needs.

DESIGN COMPETENCE

This is a design course, and is founded on developing effective design competence through the practical application of learned knowledge and skills. Students will be working on real world design problems. The major design exercise will centre on redesigning the local school and community. Students will have the opportunity to assist in the research, design and development of a community project to transform the school into a community centre for powerful change. This is an opportunity to learn through participation in a real world community design process.

¨There is no power equal to a community discovering what it cares about¨ (Margaret Wheatley).

ACCREDITATION

A comprehensive and professional course of study based on the original 72 hour curriculum of Bill Mollison as advanced by David Holmgren, this unique event brings together the methods and material from many Permaculture teachers around the world working over 20 years, to make a truly compelling experience.

¨Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure¨ (Nelson Mandela).

Students are entitled to design, consult and teach Permaculture anywhere in the world. Graduates are supported to develop a pathway for lifelong learning and action as part of a global network of change-makers, education and design professionals. Successful students will be awarded the Permaculture Design Course Certificate, recognised by; Instituto de Permacultura Chile, The Permaculture Institute, Permaculture in New Zealand, and the Permaculture Research Institute. Students have the opportunity to undertake an applied Permaculture Diploma with the Instituto de Permacultura Chile, or a Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degree with Gaia University.

No previous experience is necessary.

The course will be bilingual with full translation between English and Spanish.

TUTORS

Grifen Hope: is a Permaculture teacher and designer from New Zealand. Born and raised in an alternative community, he has a deep-seated faith in people and their common-sense, in simple solutions that restore hope to the future. An active citizen and change-maker he is fully committed to making a difference in this life, to equip others as leaders and activists for the important work of coming decades. Trained in resource and environmental planning and landscape design, he managed the Taranaki Environment Centre since 2004 developing a whole community approach to education for sustainability. Grifen has broad work experience in land-based industries, and has designed and implemented various intensive systems in New Zealand. An experienced youth and adult educator he has facilitated many seminars, workshops and courses in the theory and practice of sustainable living including Permaculture design courses with some of the planets most experienced (Joe Polaischer, Geoff Lawton, Darren Doherty, Robina McCurdy and many more). In these increasingly dark times Grifen holds a fundamental belief that all change, even large and powerful change begins in simple conversations…the way we co-create our world.

Javiera Carrion: is a committed young woman living and working on her family farm, and making a difference every day through modest acts of responsibility. Having traveled the world in search of wisdom, she has found it at home where she started, the seeds of sustainability in the common-sense of her own people. Moving from a career pathway towards fame and fortune, she has embarked on a lifelong journey to create global change by starting at her front doorstep. Compelled by her ethics, Javiera has started the redesign of her home for sustainable living, a step-by-step process of choosing and then creating the conditions to bring abundance into the life of her family and community. An Agroecologist by heart, she has a deep understanding of the tools and techniques for creating self-reliance, for transforming any environment into a sustainable, surplus producing ecology. Javiera has a core understanding of the principles and pathways towards sustainability. She has spent time with David Holmgren (co-originator of Permaculture) undertaking the advanced Permaculture design course at Rainbow Valley Farm in New Zealand, and an intensive two week landscape observation experience in her home country. Javiera is a co-creator of Permaculture in Chile, centrally involved in mobilizing a national team and network dedicated to creating a sustainable future.

FOOD AND ACCOMODATION

All food and accommodation is included in the course price. Food will be as organic as possible, where possible. We cater for your diet needs. Some meat will be available. We have a range of accommodation options, first in first served.

FORMAT

Almost all of our Workshops start at 9:00am on Saturday and finish at 6:00pm on Sunday.

CHILDREN

El Manzano is children and family friendly! While we know that students are easily distracted from intensive study by their children we also know that kids can gain a lot from the interactions on a course. Please contact us if you want to bring your family for the weekend.

TRANSPORT

DESIGN CONSULT

Students will have the opportunity to work with experienced Designers and Gardeners during the course, and to get one on one design support before or after on their own site. We charge separately for this service.