Syntropic Agriculture Immersive Course - Becoming a Syntropic Practitioner

Introduction

From experience, I can say that an immersive experience in Syntropic Agriculture is a life changing event... It is amazing to observe the change in participants' confidence and understanding of the syntropic worldview and its practices as the days unfold. Moving from overly enthusiastic, to deeply confused, and finally to engaged and empowered with something way bigger than simply putting plants in the ground.

Regardless, if you become a commercial farmer, a subsistence grower, a community gardener or a windowsill enthusiast, you will start to see life differently. What seemed to be static and picture like, now has (subtle) movements and life forces... and you are able to guide it!!

 

Course Objectives

Syntropic Agriculture is a lot more than simply allocating plants into a pre-determined spatial configuration. It is about finding and realising a harmonious relationship between crops, land, climate, resources, skills and aspirations of the human in charge. Management, or the quality of the interaction between the grower and its environment, is what largely determines the success of syntropic agriculture. Success is not measured in kilograms of food output, but in quantity and quality of consolidated life, which in turn has a direct relationship to productivity.

Understanding what it takes to increase the quantity and quality of consolidated life is thus where our focus lies. As such, I put a lot of emphasis during the immersive experience on fostering the interaction of participants with our diverse syntropic systems, so they can have a feel for what it takes to manage and live within different complex systems and conduct them towards abundance (a never ending activity). We will not be planting and digging the ground endlessly (although we will certainly do that), but we will be interacting meaningfully with as many aspects of regenerative food growing as possible - from seed to table, and from seed to forest!!

Of particular importance to me, is to facilitate the transition between the course experience and each participant's unique lifestyle and goals. Thus, I will be covering the theories and philosophy of syntropic farming in a considerable depth, from different points of view and in different modes of presentation (formal to informal), so participants can not only understand why they are doing a specific practice, but they will also be able to make their own decisions when they get back home.

Also, my teachings and practices are informed by a lot more than what is usually conveyed within Syntropic agriculture. Of particular importance to me is the practical application of Holistic Management, and its very powerful decision-making process, which I will be covering both theoretically and practically.

The experience is intense, but there will many moments to assimilate knowledge, ask questions and observe life growing around you!!

 

Course Content

 

I aim to facilitate a learning process that is balanced and objective, with quality information that is disseminated in a range of ways. Activities will flow between classroom talks, in-situ demonstration/observation, walk and talk through all 14 different agroforestry systems that we have planted and continuously manage here at livingness, hands-on doing and lots of opportunities for Q&A.

As a broad overview, the course will address (but is not limited to) the following topics:

• Introduction to syntropic processes in the landscape
• Fundamental principles and theory of syntropic farming
• Nature and its laws and flows - understanding the macro-cosmic forces
• Natural succession and its constituents (time and space)
• Plants and their life-cycles (time dimension)
• Plants and their light requirements (space dimension- stratification)
• Putting theory into design – thoughts on paper
• Putting design into practice – implementing and planting
• Management of 8 months, 1.5 year, 2 year and 3 year old systems
• Management of grasses
• Management of eucalyptus, including apical cuts
• Observing  and asking questions
• Bush-regeneration through a syntropic approach
• Plant propagation 
• Watering strategies and needs
• Many, many, many opportunities for questions and answers

Course Details

 

Location: Uki, NSW, 2484, Australia.

Date: 6th to 14th of November 2021

Investment: $1,250 (happy to make individualised payment plans, please get in touch) + booking fee if booked through Humanitix. I am happy for participants to pay directly to me and save on booking fees.

Inclusion: tuition, camping, 25 organic vegetarian meals (3 meals a day from lunch on Saturday to lunch on the following Sunday), tools

Accommodation: onsite camping in tents only (not possible to sleep in vans inside the property) - all participants camp in situ.

Facilities: basic but comfortable showers (hot) and compost toilets, shaded area for talks and meals, flat camping area, dam and creek to refresh.

Food: 100% Australian Organically Grown Produce, as much as possible grown in situ and sourced locally.

Facilitator: Victor Pires
Participants: 8 to 12

 

Course Logistics

 

ARRIVAL

• We are located in Uki, NSW, 2484, Australia.
• We ask all participants to arrive at 9am on Saturday. Please contact me if you are not able to arrive here at this time.
• The farming area is located on the south-eastern boundary of the property, which means that it is a fair way in and only accessible by 4x4 vehicles. Due to the fragility of the environment, the landowner and I agree that it would be best for all participants to walk in (about 15 minutes walking, with some steep downhill sections), while we drive in (1 car and trailer) all belongings. In this way, we minimise our impact on the environment and provide an opportunity for participants to familiarise themselves with the landscape - a soft landing.
• As we arrive at the farming area, I will introduce participants to the key points/locations/options and, soon after, participants will have the opportunity to set up camp.
• All participants must camp in situ as this is an immersive experience.
• PLEASE NOTE: due to other activities on the property, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, participants will be able to sleep in their car/van in the car park.

STAYING

• There are two compost toilets in the farming area as well as two (gas hot-water) showers.
• We ask all participants to only use 100% biodegradable/compostable products (if any), as the grey water will become part of the landscape (will be biologically broken down in situ).
• We also ask participants to be mindful of showers and the limited amount of water available - November is our dry season!!
• We ask all participants to keep their garbage and take it back home for disposal. No garbage bins will be available.
• We will be serving 25 organic vegetarian meals (from lunch on Saturday to lunch on the following Sunday), and we will do our best to cater to your dietary restrictions – please let us know if your meals require special attention.
• No alcohol or drugs are permitted - thanks for your cooperation.

LEAVING

• The course will end at 2pm on Sunday.
• As soon as participants have packed up (around 2:30 - 3pm),  I will take people’s belongings (in the trailer) to the car park.
• If you prefer to stay another night and leave on Monday morning, please let us know. At this stage, we will not be catering for these dinner/breakfast meals, but depending on numbers, we could arrange and share another couple of meals.

WHAT TO BRING

• Tent and all required gear for a comfortable night's sleep. Nights could be fresh...
• Wet weather gear – please be mindful that we are in a high rainfall area although we will be in our dry season!!
• Comfortable shoes/snickers
• Farming clothes and “classroom” clothes.
• Warm clothes for nights
• 100% biodegradable/compostable products (if any)
• Water bottle
• Towel
• Hat
• Torch
• Mozzie repellant
• Long sleeve shirts
• Snacks/comforting food
• Tools for management activities - machete, secateurs, loppers, handsaw
• Note/drawing pad
• Pen/pencil and colouring pen/pencil
• Personal medication/dietary needs
• A spirit of adventure and discovery
• Many questions

Previous Participants Experiences

Kalki Gleeson

Your course is the coolest thing I’ve done with my adult life. It was truly grounding, and I am really enjoying playing in my garden and trying out different plants and learning to observe and really see so much more.

Brad Curtis

This course was exceptional. Victor preaches what he practices. He has established a stunning array of Syntropic systems on his property which he has used to further his theoretical and practical understanding of this agroforestry method. His teaching method and experience provide a concise, clear demonstration of Syntropic Agriculture and will give any practitioner the skills, confidence and knowledge to start their own system. 

Joshua Lamont

Victor is a hidden gem at the fore front of the syntropic culture movement in Australia. He's one of the greatest minds I've been witness to in my life. I highly recommend if it's possible for you to do so, to witness his language and outlook. Being around Victor has given me a lot of content to work with as I further put together my own understandings, to witness my own experience. I hope the east coast is ready for Victor, because he is a beacon to a long bridge in moving forward to a unified state of being.