The Design Process

As this is a design certificate, the main hands on project is a design. The design is a carefully chosen “real life” property a short driving distance from Fair Harvest. Students work in groups to do everything from client interview and site analysis to creating a design. This is a challenging but rewarding part of the PDC and a great way to put in place the information that you have gathered in the first week.

Permaculture Design Course

Our PDC is a fully-catered, full-time course over two weeks, and we welcome you to stay and camp on our beautiful farm.

During the day we will cover the core syllabus, and we will gather socially in the evenings with special guest speakers and demonstrations.

Our farm’s inclusive community atmosphere will ensure you have fun and make friends while you learn.

Naturally, the food we serve will be deliciously fresh, organic and local.

We teach the standard curriculum set out by the Permaculture Institute following the original certification course developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren.

We have also added new material from global thinkers on issues like food security, peak oil, transition, the future economy and beyond.

Class sizes are limited to ensure individual attention and a quality learning experience for everyone.

Our facilitators also bring a range of teaching styles to provide for different learning needs.

principles and design of sustainable systems
reading the landscape – land capability assessment
human settlement design and development
social, environmental and economic ethics
garden and farm planning
natural building and passive solar design
energy, waste and recycling
water catchments, management and aquaculture
personal and community strategies
balanced soil management
orchard and food forest design
alternative economic models
revegetation, agroforestry, bush food and wildlife
animal systems and free range poultry management

THE TEACHING TEAM

Fair Harvest’s South West PDC includes a fantastic selection of teachers, with many of the classes held at their property or work place. You can expect to be taught by a selection of the teachers below (please note that not every teacher will be available for every course).Teachers include Jeff Nugent, PB Foreman, Jamie McCall, Pippa Buchanan, Rod Hughes, Jodie Lane and more… See Teacher Bios here >

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR

It’s for anyone and everyone interested in healthy lifestyles, growing food and sustainable ways of living. Our learning environment is enriched by the diversity of course participants’ backgrounds and ages. The permaculture approach is holistically integrated and cross-discipline, and can be applied to a range of situations from urban backyards to broad acre farms.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Early Bird price $1800 (until Aug 7th 2025)

Early Bird Couples price or friends price $3400

Full price $1900

Couples price $3500

Are you a young (under 25) local ? Talk to us about getting a special discount.

Please pay the full amount or the $350 booking fee per person(non-refundable) via direct deposit to secure your spot and email us your payment details.

Read our payment and refund polices here

Fair Harvest
ANZ Margaret River
BSB 016-520
Account 905720678

Please let us know if you need to discuss payment options. You can email us or call 0439 568131.