Workshops & Courses

LAND RESTORATION COURSE

The course consists of 60 hours spread out over three weeks. 15 days with 4 contact hours per day. Weekends off. In the contact hours the theory and practice of Permaculture will be explained and the principles learned, will be put in to practice on the farm itself. A bit of flexibility from the students on the timing is expected, as this depends on the weather conditions. The course  includes making a Permaculture design for part of the farm and on the last day of the course a talent show will be held. The third week of the course will consist of different workshops, which will be more hands-on and on the last day Joshua Peaceseeker will joins us for a guest lecture on Strategies for an Alternative Nation. In the evening we close the course with an art / talent show.

Week 1

Day 1  Introduction: philosophy, Ethics and Permaculture in society.

Concepts and themes in design: laws and principles to design, complexity and connections, diversity and stability

Day 2 Basic map making: Determining your step, Theory and practice of triangulation, making a base map.

Day 3 Methods of design: Observation, Design by adopting lessons learned from nature, Zoning, tree guilds, the establishment and maintenance of systems.

Day 4 Pattern understanding: Patterns in nature, Boundary conditions, introduction to pattern application.

Day 5  Climatic factors: Climatic zones, Precipitation, Radiation, Wind, Landscape effects.

Week 2

Day 1  Trees and their energy Transactions: Wind temperature and rain effects. The secret life of plants.

Day 2  Water: Conservation and storage, Reduction of waste water, Methods of treating waste water.

Day 3  Soils: Soil and health, Structure of soils, The soils biota, soil Erosion, Soil rehabilitation, The respiration of earth.

Day 4  Earth working and earth resources: Erosion control methods, Planning of earth works, Types of earth work, Planting after earth work.

Day 5 Aqua culture: The case for aqua culture. Fish ponds configuration and food supply, Chinampa systems.

Week 3

Day 1  Working with nature: Natural farming (Fukuoka), influence of the moon, Bio dynamic farming.

Day 2  Reforestation: Agro-forestry systems, Species choice. Mixed planting V.S. Monoculture, Food forest.

Day 3 Organic fertilizers and sprays: Compost, Compost teas, Compost toilets and application of fertilizers, Making bug repellents (guest lecture by Przemeck)

Day 4 The home garden: Site choice, Plant Choice, Planting in Rotation.

Day 5  The strategies of an alternative nation: Ethical basis of an alternative nation, Alternatives to political systems, Village development, Effective work in groups and right livelihood. (guest lecture by Joshua Peaceseeker.

Please bring your own machete, boots, notebook, compass and ruler. The farm will provide for healthy organic food and a nice place to sleep. The sooner you make a reservation the better, because we take up to 5 students per course.

Costs are $500,- for the course and $15,- per day for food and lodging.

 

Hope to see you soon,

 

Pura Vida!