permaculture courses in/ near bellinger valley

what is permaculture?

In this case we’ll be concentrating on growing the maximum amount of food with the minimum amount of work, cost and environmental impact. This is done by using efficient design and working with nature.

After reviewing Australian permaculture courses and student experiences, this course aims to remove barriers some of the others had – cost, scheduling, lack of practical training, distance. It’s the jazziest permaculture course around, as in, we have an idea of what to do at the start and then improvise according to what questions you and your site throw at us.

group size

6-8 people.

cost

$200 – design.  $200 – skills (GST is not payable). You can elect either course or both. Couples can both attend for the cost of a single fee. Alternatively they can each pay full fees and get a full day on their site. If you wish to attend for free, you could take on the role of “organiser”. An “organiser” gets together a group of 6 fee payers and works out the dates they can all attend.

when

9.00am- 5.00pm on a set of dates mutually agreed to by the the students beforehand. Nick is available to teach two weekend days/ month and any number of weekdays/ month.

design course itinerary

DAY 1: Visit littoral rainforest. The rainforest is a productive, self sustaining system growing on almost infertile sand. We look at how nature does this with a view to using these principles in the garden. You will get to practice your powers of observing nature.

Visit permaculture garden. See some of the lessons offered by the rainforest applied to a food garden. We also look at other permaculture principles applied to a real site including zones, mutually beneficial connections and water management.

DAYS 2-4: The class visits each students site for half a day. We work as a group on a basic design for each site and list priorities for where to start and then go next. When visiting other peoples sites you will be developing skill in reading the landscape, permaculture design and probably get ideas for your own place.

DAY 5: As above, half a day for organiser (if there is one).

skills course itinerary

For students who have a design and want to get working.

DAY 1: Plan the skills days including discussion of equipment & materials.

DAYS 2-4: Spending half/ day at each students site. Students choose something they want to work on at their site. Examples include propagation, planting, building a shade house, greywater diversion, building a small swale. The emphasis here is not necessarily getting each project finished in half a day, but that every student gets some training in the skills covered that day. Due to insurance constraints there will be some restriction on what will be demonstrated and practiced.

DAY 5: As above, half a day for organiser (if there is one).

what to bring

The national park walk is about 2hr (5km) easy walking. There are no toilets at the start or on the way. On all days bring food, water, appropriate clothing for walking, sun protection, wet weather gear, insect repellant. Specific equipment for skills days will be organised closer to the dates. Students will be given each others contact numbers to assist in carpooling if they wish. Travel to and from sites is at own risk.

how to pay

Electronic transfer BSB 533000 AC 00204292 or 204292S1.2 if paying from a BCU account.

Account name is Nick Radford (not the business name).

before you come

It is recommended that you buy and read a copy of “Introduction to Permaculture” by Bill Mollison.

Have a think about what you want to do, what’s getting in the way…..