Event description
Canberra Region
Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
The course is a perfect way to spend the winter season in the Canberra Region.
Days and Dates:
The Course will be a total of 12 days. Each day will be 6-7 hours long.
- Friday to Sunday, 10 - 12 May
- Friday to Sunday, 31 May - 2 June
- Friday to Sunday, 14 - 16 June
- Friday to Sunday, 28 - 30 June.
Location: Canberra and Queanbeyan, plus nearby regional site visits
About the course
A permaculture design course (PDC) is your gateway to a regenerative future.
The course teaches the permaculture ethics, principles and design processes needed for sustainable and regenerative design, from the smallest home situation right up to broadacre farms and designed communities.
It’s the agreed minimum qualification needed to call yourself a permaculture designer (recognised internationally).
But you might be surprised to learn that permaculture is also applicable to many domains such as well-being, economics and social systems. Many PDC attendees have been inspired to found new businesses, community projects and social movements.
The course will showcase the domains of permaculture at all scales in the region, from very small to very large. The participants will experience a balance of theory and practical demonstration, across gardens, enterprises, and community initiatives.
The course provides participants with skills to apply a design process and practical application of permaculture ethics and principles. After completion, attendees can implement ecologically based design in their own lives, homes, and communities. On completion of the course, the skills and recognition endorse participants to develop enterprises offering permaculture design services for others.
Whether you want to become a permaculture designer of landscapes or want to apply permaculture design processes to inspire your life, career or community, this course is for you.
"The permaculture design certification (PDC) is still the best way to get started. It is a mind, soul, and heart opening experience, that gives the participant three unforgettable experiences: the course content, the community of teachers and students you work with, and a deep connection to the place where you have these epiphanies. " Jenny Pell
Book yourself into the only local Permaculture Design Course available.
What do I get?
Completing the 12-day course and design project enables you to be recognised as a permaculture designer.
You can apply your new skills to your life, career and community.
Your investment includes a copy of Rosemary Morrow's new book "Earth Restorers Guide to Permaculture' valued at $75.
Topics covered
The permaculture design course content is about living systems design. Topics include:
- Origins, development, ethics and principles of permaculture
- Understanding ecology, climate, water, soils and trees.
- Understanding natural patterns and reading the landscape
- Food, fodder and fibre production systems, urban to rural scale, with animal integration.
- Social permaculture and community development and autonomy
- Design for the future - design processes, examples of methods and tools for creative design of resilient systems.
- Sam delivering a session about Ethics and Permaculture Principles
Practical permaculture demonstrations on location
We aim to show permaculture in practice as well as teach its theory and methods. All our classes will be held in settings where you can see how permaculture can be put into practice.
For those interested in smaller-scale residential or suburban design, several days will be held visiting suburban settings with permaculture inspired homes and gardens.
For those looking for practical examples of permaculture at a community and larger scale, we have site visits to local and nearby regional permaculture and sustainability-focused ventures such as Millpost Farm (Bungendore), Roogulli Farm (Bywong), Queanbeyan Hive Creative Collective and others.
You will apply design skills to a project (e.g. demonstration of a land-based design application) and showcase your understanding of the ethics and principles of permaculture. We will guide you on how to work collaboratively.
Course completion requirements
- Producing a design is required to complete the course. You will be supported during the course to develop a permaculture design, either individually (e.g. your place or project) or in small groups (working on an agreed project). The design is presented to the class at the end of the course.
- Our course runs over 12 days (four three-day weekends) and will provide you with at least 72 hours of instruction by experienced educators. The attendance required to complete the course is 80% of the 12 days.
Why Join Us?
PEAS Permaculture Education ACT & Surrounds
We are a collective of Permaculture educators and design practitioners. Our guild of permaculture educators have extensive professional and lived experience in the Canberra and south coast bioregions.
- We know this climate, its soils and its economy.
- We will be around to support your application of Permaculture design after the course.
- We give you the skills to see the world through the permaculture design lens and apply design processes to your home, your land, your life and your community.
The course is hosted by Lizzy Smith of WorkSmith Permaculture. with Sam Hawker @GardenKitchenWitch'n, both Canberra region locals. Our lead educator is John Champagne of Brogo Permaculture, with guestt educators such as: Cally Brennan of Canberra Permaculture Design, and Judith and David Watson (Millpost Farm Bungendore) and Jennie and Chris Curtis (Roogulli farm, Bywong), and other amazing people in our local community.
See links to our bios below.
Our approach is aligned to adult learning principles so the course will suit anyone 16 years and over. We are friendly and encouraging and diversity is welcomed and appreciated. No previous permaculture knowledge or experience is necessary for this course.
Social events and site visits are part of the program and we’ll let you know ahead of time if you need to bring anything for specific activities where you might want to get your hands dirty (e.g. land surveying, building, composting). Above all, you will be learning in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where we aim to tailor the content as much to your needs as we can!
What now?
Book the course or Donate to Support
You can book a place and pay either a deposit or the full fee now.
This secures your place and helps the organisers with upfront costs.
Group booking rates are available.
If a group lives in the same place, we offer a 10% discount for each booking (either book now using the early bird discount or use the Group booking ticket option).
Permaculture Australia Members are offered a discount fee.
Donations are very welcome to help us offer the course more often or sponsor people at a disadvantage to attend.
After you book...
We have some questions as you flow through the ticketing process (best to use a laptop for bookings if you can).
Your response will also help us design the course aligned to your needs and ideas.
Payment is preferred within a month of booking but let us know what works best for your situation.
We are so excited for you to join us.
Contact Lizzy by text on
0448 362 989 if you have questions.
More information
Logistics
Venues
These will vary but the majority of days will be in Canberra and Queanbeyan. All venues will be finalised and advised before the course begins. We will get back to you with more details and instructions after you book.
For regional site visits, we aim for carpooling within the group. If you have no transport options available to you please let us know ahead of time so we can help you out.
The first 3 days will be In starting in Queanbeyan and include a site tour of one of the oldest permaculture designed homes, Millpost Farm (Bungendore).
Access
Some venues may not be accessible to people with mobility problems. We will include accessibility details with the venue information when it is available, so please let us know at the time of booking if you have specific needs or medical issues and how you manage them. We aim for reasonable accommodation.
Food and Catering
Local sourcing, low waste and non-alcoholic is our policy.
Morning and afternoon teas, locally sourced snacks, and other refreshments will be provided and included in your booking by GardenKitchenWitch*n.
If you wish for a catered lunch, this can be catered by @GardenKitchenWitchn for an additional $25 for each person, per day. Just let us know when you book and we will confirm closer to the start.
Alternatively, you are welcome to BYO lunch.
Bookings
Book on the Humanitix website here. Select the most suitable ticket option. Pay or register. Answer the booking questions.
You will get a confirmation and an email that confirms your place (pending full payment).
Suitability of Content
The content of a Permaculture design course is powerfully motivating and practical and so needed in our world - you will be able to apply what you learn from Day 1.
The content delivery is aligned to adult learning principles so the course will suit interested youth from 16 years and adults of any age. The group will likely include a diverse range of people which is welcomed. Social events and site visits are part of the program.
Specific methods (e.g. land surveying, building, composting) may be included for demonstrations or at site visits. You can get your hands dirty at times in voluntary activities.
Investment and Commitment
It may be easier to attend if you are living locally although we may be able to link you to accommodation options.
Your Commitment
- I register with the intent to participate and attend the whole program
- I understand a project presentation (flexible format, individual or group) is required to complete the course and be able to use the title of 'permaculture designer' with respect to the International Permaculture community.
- I may choose to do further reading, watch films or do group work outside of the scheduled hours but know that this is not a required part of the program.
Fees estimate for full fees is $2950.
Ticket prices indicate what is on offer for discounts.
Talk with us to explore this option of instalment payments; or a sliding fee scale based on your situation can be offered with 'pay what and how you can' options.
We expect your payment to be honoured with transparency and honesty.
Donate or Support us as a sponsor
If you or someone you know can sponsor the program or be a partner, please choose to donate so we can make contact and talk about doing more in this region or make the course fee options more accessible.
We pay our educators, site hosts and vendors. We invest any profits in future courses or Permaculture community activities.
More about us
You can check out the PEAS education and design offers, the guild of Educators' bios on