If you are looking to make a significant change in your life, then the full permaculture design course will almost certainly help you. The course provides you with a broader introduction to the applications of permaculture in a number of different situations. This course is for anyone who believes that we need to find ways to care for ourselves, for each other and for the Earth. This practical course will bring the possibility of significant and positive life changes.

Although permaculture is most commonly thought about in connection with gardening and farming, its principles, ethics and design methods can be adapted and used in each individual's own work, interests and home to bring about a more harmonious and sustainable lifestyle.

Permaculture offers a perspective on all aspects of building a sustainable future. Permaculture encourages us to use our individual skills, knowledge and interests, whilst drawing on traditional wisdom, science and our innate ability to observe and learn from the world around us.

Course participants will be awarded the Permaculture Association (Britain)'s internationally recognised Certificate in Permaculture Design.

"Inspirational" *

Learning outcomes:

• To observe patterns in nature and apply what we learn to create guiding principles.
• To use permaculture ethics, principles and design tools to create sustainable systems.
• To understand the importance of caring for soil and water, and to know techniques for doing so.
• To start using permaculture in your own life, towards creating a more sustainable lifestyle.
• To understand how to apply permaculture design to both land-based and non-land-based systems.

"I'm amazed by my change of thinking" *

Subjects covered:

Spirals of erosion and points of intervention ~ Boundaries and limiting factors ~ Observation skills ~ Site surveying ~ Permaculture ethics and principles ~ Design methods ~ Soil conservation, types, texture and factors in fertility ~ Green manures and dynamic accumulators ~ Kitchen gardening ~ Integrated pest management ~ Water and sewage treatment ~ Fruit tree growing ~ Agroforestry and Forest gardening ~ Trees and their Microclimates ~ Permaculture and future generations ~ Patterns in nature ~ Food choices ~ Ecological footprinting ~ Sustainable economics ~ Urban permaculture ~ Green architecture ~ Bioregionalism ~ Non-land based design ~ Accelerated learning techniques ~ Seed saving and plant propagation ~ The Permaculture Association and Diploma WorkNet ~ Where next? and lots more......

"Eye opening" *

We use group work, discussions, videos, slide shows, observation, guided walks and practical activities as learning methods. These are supportive of different learning styles and for people with learning difficulties. We also visit projects where permaculture theory is being put into action.

Design courses are not just about imparting information to the students, there is plenty of knowledge out there, the important thing is knowing how to use this and feeling confident to do so.

"I've enjoyed the positivity and enthusiasm on the course" *

Empowerment is the essence of the course. We use practical and theoretical teaching methods to create a fun, lively and inclusive course. The course culminates in the main design activity that helps to consolidate all of the learning and empower students to take permaculture back into their own homes, lives and community. As a group we benefit from collaborative learning and from having fun together. We don't expect  any previous knowledge and recognise that everyone has their own unique skills, knowledge and areas of interest to bring to the course.

"Learning should always be like this" *

* Comments from previous years' course participants.

These slideshows provide a visual tour of what you could soon be enjoying too...