Permaculture Design Course 2017

“Stop complaining about the darkness – light a candle!” (Chinese proverb)

“If everybody makes a difference the world will be different!” (Owen Geiger)

This Permaculture course gives you the powerful answers that everybody is searching for in order to solve today’s problems! Join a movement which is growing tremendously every day and start to immerse yourself into a lifestyle that will make a real difference for yourself and this planet.
Permaculture is a proven organic gardening system that is based on old traditional methods combined with the newest technology. This includes water harvesting methods, compost and soil management, natural building methods, alternative energy ideas and alternative solutions for trade and markets. The special feature of Permaculture is that all these elements will be integrated into a system where they support each other in a unique way. Permaculture is based on observing nature, these observations teach us how to design ways of living that have the stability and resiliency of natural ecosystems — they show us positive solutions for creating and managing systems for food, medicine, and building materials, as well as relationships with ourselves,  animals, and our communities.

You can apply these design principles to small scale or urban gardens as well as on large scale farms in any kind of climate or landscape.

You will learn:

• how to design your own land
• how to grow food just about anywhere
• repair environmentally damaged lands
• design incredible and long lasting green-buildings
• produce your own power
• run successful people-oriented businesses
• how to do the work you love and live meaningful and authentic lives all while building genuine community

All by using the same fundamental Permaculture principles and applying the Permaculture ethics of:

Care of People – Care of the Earth – Sharing of the Surplus

“All the worlds problems can be solved in a garden” – Geoff Lawton

2 leading projects, 2 incredible teachers, one course! It is a rare opportunity to have two experienced and world class teachers in one course. Both live or lived in Thailand so they have a broad and direct knowledge of many different climate zones and landscapes. They will tailor the course to the needs of the participating students and you can benefit tremendously from their incredible knowledge.

The course is a rare oportunity because it will take place in 2 different locations. First in the Mindfulness Project. This is a very new project, having been in this location for just one year and starting with a completely blank canvas, you will see the initial and developmental stages of the design process and how it has been implemented in this site. See permaculture processes in action!
Second in the Panya Project. The oldest Permaculture site in Thailand with over 10 years of experience. The founder Christian Shearer is the main teacher in this course.

The course will cover all the amazing subjects of Permaculture:

1. Philosophies and Ethics underlying permaculture
2. Basic permaculture principles
3. Patterns in Nature and how to use that in permaculture design
4. Methods of design. How to apply permaculture design tools and strategies to your design problems. How to increase your chance on a successful design by following a well defined design methodology.
5. Climactic factors and strategies. We will cover all the major climates and how to work with them.
6. Trees, forests and Forest gardening. How to mimic natural forest systems to create an abundance of food, fiber and fodder.
7. Water: catchment, usage, importance, and conservation.
8. Soil structure, minerals, microorganisms, building new soil and preventing erosion. Learn to work with the soil food web to create a healthy ecosystem and regenerate degraded land.
9. Earthworks: How to shape the land to help it achieve the goals we are aiming for.
10. Aquaculture
11. Natural Building: How to build structures with materials available on-site.
12. Alternative systems: Community living and other ways of living differently that works well for people and the planet. Bio-regional organization, community development, alternative economic systems, permaculture as aid.

On top of that the course will include daily yoga and meditation sessions run by a former monk here in Thailand with years of experience teaching in these fields, and about Buddhism in general. The Mindfulness Project is located just outside a small Thai village and we are very much a part of this community, so you will have the opportunity to experience a very different side of Thailand and Thai culture to the usual tourist destinations.

Albert Einstein said, that you can never solve a problem with the same mind state which caused the problem. In this course you will receive an incredibly broad set of knowledge about inner and outer resources that can actually make a difference in the world.

So if you’re passionately curious about how to start making a difference in your community and designing an abundant place to live, please join us! No previous experience in farming, growing or building is necessary. Don´t miss it!

•   a torch
•   blanket to sleep on
•   clothes to work in
•   pen and paper
•   if you chose the option to camp in your own tent bring everything you need to sleep comfortably
•   all your enthusiasm

Dormitory, kitchen space and composting toilets at the Mindfulness Project