Permaculture Fundamentals

Learn the fundamentals of the permaculture design model for free over two weekends with highly qualified and experienced teachers on an established permaculture property in exchange for your practical support.

DATES
The next dates for our popular course are:
Saturday 4/11/2023
Sunday 5/11/2023
Saturday 11/11/2023
Sunday 12/11/2023

Is this course for you? Here is a quick check list:

I live in the Central Coast region
I am available for all of the course dates
I keen to work in the garden (please see below regarding a payment alternative)
I am interested in learning more about permaculture design
I like cats (we have two mostly-inside rescue cats)

Our highly interactive and practical course is a fun way to learn more about the permaculture design model. It's suitable for those just starting out, and for people interested in expanding their understanding of permaculture or teaching it to others. 

We're passionate about spreading permaculture as part of the solution to many of humanity's problems. We noticed that an introduction to permaculture course can between $300 and $500. While we think that's money well spent (because permaculture is awesome) we also know that many people can't afford it, so we offer an alternative.

Would you like to spend four days learning permaculture in exchange for helping us around our garden? You'll develop practical skills on a property that has been under permaculture for over 28 years, and we'll get help with the mulching, weeding, tidying and pruning. Past students tell us that the time in the garden is as educational as the face to face teaching and your help is valuable to us. We know that everyone has different levels of strength and ability and want to make permaculture accessible to as many people as possible. There's a huge diversity of things to do here and we're sure we can find something to match your abilities. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Our course includes an overview of the entire permaculture model. We'll give you the big picture, from the goals, ethics and principles through to the design process, and all the way up to the strategies, tools and techniques that we use in permaculture to work with nature rather than against it.

You'll get to see practical examples of how this knowledge is applied on our three and a half acre property in Matcham and reinforce that knowledge by working in our permaculture system. 

• Learn why permaculture is so much more than just organic gardening and how you can apply this amazing design system to everything, from your wardrobe to your suburb
• Get hands-on experience while you learn to build top soil, grow healthy food, cycle nutrients, design out the need for irrigation, draw down carbon and create habitat for wildlife all without using synthetic chemicals or lots of expensive trips to the hardware store
• Reconnect to the natural world and remember your part in it
• Connect with a small group of like-minded people and become part of the wonderful local permaculture community

FORMAT

All days start at 8.45am and finish at 5.00pm. As a courtesy to those that arrive on time, we always start on time.

Mornings are class time and afternoons are practical gardening time. We keep our groups small and apply best practice in adult education. There are no tests or exams.

There are two half hour breaks for morning and afternoon tea and a one hour break for lunch. You'll bring your own vegetarian meal (because it's better for the planet) and avoid bringing any single use plastic (because it's no good for the planet).

We will provide fruit, tea, herbal tea and coffee for breaks. 

If you would prefer to pay for your course and leave at lunch time, please contact us. We cost the course at $25 per teaching hour with three hours teaching on each day (so $75 a day or $300 for the whole course). 

We have a deep commitment to being accessible and equitable, and to offer you alternatives to our courses when they don't work for you. We can also offer coaching at your home.

This course is stand alone, and can also be used as the foundation for progressing to our part time permaculture design course (PDC). Our PDC is only offered to those that have completed our introductory course or an equivalent. 

We look forward to welcoming you to our home in the beautiful Matcham valley. 

YOUR TEACHERS

Graham King is a permaculture designer, facilitator and practitioner. He is one half of the Permacoach team. Graham seeks to create an adult learning environment that is cooperative, kind, interactive and fun. He obtained his Permaculture Design Certificate with permaculture founder, David Holmgren, and completed his teacher training with permaculture legend, Rowe Morrow. Graham will be lead teacher for this course.

Meg McGowan is the other half of the Permacoach Team. With over 30 years of permaculture design experience and a merit based diploma for her innovative approach to permaculture teaching and practice, Meg is well known to Central Coast people for her generosity and commitment to getting more permaculture happening on the ground. Meg is a passionate gardener, writer, designer and permaculture advocate.

Meg and Graham's property, "Adagio" is on three and a half acres at Matcham on the NSW Central Coast. The property has been designed and managed using permaculture for over 28 years and includes food production areas, a forest garden and over an acre of regenerated bushland. Meg and Graham consider the garden to be their greatest teacher, and recognise the benefits to students of learning within this environment. 

DONATION OPTION

At checkout you will be offered to opportunity to make a donation to Bush Heritage Australia. We love what they do and support them whenever we can. Donations are optional, but please consider supporting their work if you are fortunate enough to be in a position to do so.