In this two-day short course, you'll learn how to create a more abundant, easeful and resilient lifestyle in the suburbs!

Based on Sustainability Principles, and drawing from the Retrosuburbia concept, this empowering course will help you make the transition to regenerative living. You will learn how to:

Apply a proven design method to make your place more sustainable
Incorporate native plants, specifically from your suburb, for the benefit of your family and local wildlife
Design food growing systems, like 'easy-as' vegetable growing or a home orchard, that match your lifestyle
Learn how to capture, store and efficiently use all of the water naturally falling onto your site.
Significantly decrease your energy use (without compromising access or comfort) with clever design and simple hacks.
Understand how you could work with your neighbors in the community economy.

Who is this course for?

This course is for current and future owners and renters who live in a detached home with a backyard in the suburbs. The program is designed for anyone who wants to explore how to live in a more sustainable way without having to move to the country, or with a lot of money. Throughout the course we will be applying ourselves to a real-life case study from the suburbs of Brisbane. Whilst not a full Permaculture Design Course we will be touching on some of the permaculture design ideas.

What does the course look like?

We focus the course on four key areas - design, energy, water and food.

On day one we'll begin by looking at where we are at now on the sustainability journey, and where we want to go. Then, the site design framework will be introduced, before taking a deep dive into energy use in the home. We'll explore ways to make our homes more comfortable without the need for expensive air-conditioning, plus look at the sustainable kitchen.

On day two we get into water - how it moves through the landscape, it's storage and use in the home and garden, including grey-water, tank sizing, natural pool systems and wildlife ponds. In the afternoon we'll do growing food and increasing biodiversity at home.

Held at our 31-year-old demonstration permaculture site we'll get hands-on throughout the two days, and you'll get to practice various techniques. The course is structured to provide plenty of opportunities to ask questions. With online material, and mid-week and post course check-ins you'll be fully supported on the journey to a practical permaculture-based lifestyle.

Course Duration and Timing

This short course runs across two Saturdays from 8.30am - 4.30pm each day. We have morning and afternoon tea breaks and 30 minutes for lunch. In between the two Saturdays you will be given 'homework' which takes up to 1-hour to complete.

About the facilitators

Jenny Kato is a permaculture designer, consultant and educator. A keen gardener since childhood, Jenny has a passion for creating resilient edible ecosystems that provide nutrient dense food while nourishing the earth and other beings. Through her practice, Living Patterns Permaculture, Jenny has worked with schools, community groups and home gardeners seeking to develop their own knowledge of edible ecosystems as a sustainable lifestyle. Jenny is dedicated to building resilient communities and food security in a sustainable and ethical way and has been involved with many local community food initiatives. She also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Biology.

Gav Hardy helped set up Northey Street City Farm in the 1990's and he is currently the Farm's adult education coordinator and permaculture lead teacher. Gav created 'Eco-flat Brisbane', a showcase of permaculture apartment style living. He is the author of 'Community Food Futures in Australia' (2023) based on a Churchill Fellowship he received in 2020 and is also the Queensland Coordinator of Community Gardens Australia. Gav is an experienced gardener and consults widely in the community food space. Gav learnt permaculture with the co-originator, Bill Mollison, in 1997 and has done advanced courses with David Holmgren and Robin Clayfield, as well as studying Edible Forest Gardening with Martin Crawford at the UK Agroforestry Research Trust. He holds bachelor's degrees in Construction Engineering and Landscape Architecture, and a Certificate (Level 4) in Training and Assessment.