Building sustainable communities, a permaculture design course

This course looks at how we can design resilient, abundant human 'eco-systems'; working collaboratively with one another to care for the planet each other and ourselves

11 February - 27 May 2012
13 weekend days held around Brighton and Sussex.

THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED.
If you are still interested in attending, please contact us to be added to the waiting list in case we are able to make a space available to you. Please state which rate you would qualify for as there are limited numbers of places allocated at each rate on this course. When contacting us please let us know where you did your Introductory course and what rate you would be booking the course at.

(Click here if you would like to be notified about future runs of this course/event.)

Details of the 2012 course

Building sustainable communities is a hands-on course; we learn both indoors and outdoors. Includes visits to:

• Ben Law’s working woodland and other natural woodlands 
• 'green' buildings 
• permaculture and organic gardens 
• a forest garden
• community projects in the Brighton & Hove area

Tutors include Alex Penn, Bryn Thomas, Daniel Holloway, Jan Mulreany and Jen Beaufoy, with guest speakers to include Ben Law and Pippa Johns.

Entrance requirements

Prior to attending Building Sustainable Communities - A Permaculture Design Course it is necessary to have completed an introduction to permaculture course, either Brighton Permaculture Trust’s 2-day Introduction to Permaculture Course or a equivalent course elsewhere. Please do not reserve a place on Building Sustainable Communities unless you have attended or are booked a place on an introduction to permaculture course that runs before 17 February 2012. This course is open to anyone aged 16 or over.

2012 dates

13 weekend days:

Saturday 11 February 2012, Stanmer Park, Brighton

RESIDENTIAL WEEKEND, East Sussex Near Chichester
Saturday 25 February
Sunday 26 February

Saturday 17 March - Green Architecture Day, Brighton
Sunday 18 March, Stanmer Park, Brighton

Saturday 24 March, Visit to Ben Law, Petworth

Sunday 1 April, Stanmer Park, Brighton

Saturday 14 April, central Brighton
Sunday 15 April, visits near Lewes and Seaford

Saturday 28 April, Brighton

Saturday 12 May, Stanmer Park, Brighton

Saturday 26 May, Stanmer Park, Brighton
Sunday 27 May, Stanmer Park, Brighton

Most days will run from 9.45am to 5.30pm.

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture design is about creating practical ecological strategies for land, water, buildings, people and communities. It involves developing systems that are resilient and contribute to environmental, social and personal well-being, and is based on a philosophy of cooperation with nature.

The word "permaculture" is derived from permanent agriculture and permanent culture, but offers a perspective on all aspects of building a sustainable future, including changing your life for the better. Permaculture encourages us to use our individual skills, knowledge and interests, whilst drawing on science, traditional wisdom and our innate ability to observe and learn from the world around us. Whether your interest is gardening, farming, planning, building homes, community work, economic regeneration, business or green lifestyles, the application of Permaculture principles empowers you to make a positive contribution towards a sustainable future.

What the Building Sustainable Communities course covers

The course enables participants to integrate a self-reliant, pragmatic, ecological approach to work, life, gardens, homes and communities. It is valuable for anyone wishing to add a Permaculture perspective to their existing skills, and to community workers, teachers, architects, planners, landscapers, foresters, agriculturists and conservationists.

The sessions cover topics including:

• Ethics and principles of Permaculture 
• Design process and methodology 
• Soil structure, ecology and conservation 
• Trees and woodland management 
• Cultivated ecology: gardens and farms 
• Community development and organisation 
• Building effective learning groups 
• Real wealth, money and sustainable exchange 
• Attendance of Green Architecture Day
• Urban challenges and urban permaculture, including transport 
• Energy conservation and renewable energy

It is a participatory and diverse course. We get out and about, as well as using group work, discussion, observation, guided walks, practical activities, lectures, videos, and slides as learning methods during course sessions. An emphasis is put on Action Learning throughout and participants are encouraged to further their learning through home study, which can include further reading, personal reflection, and application of what's being learned in practice. Participants come to understand how they learn and the group members support each other during the course

You will get to work on a major design activity in a group with support and feedback from the tutor team – an opportunity for you to apply and integrate the things you have learned throughout the course.

Useful resources are highlighted throughout the course and handouts provided with many sessions (included in the course fee). During the course you will be offered the opportunity to order permaculture-related books at a discount, as well as low-cost membership of the Permaculture Association (or an extension to your existing membership, if you're already a member).

Accreditation

The course follows the 72-hour international Permaculture Design Course syllabus and so qualifies participants for the Permaculture Design Course completion certificate awarded by the Permaculture Association (Britain). This has to be gained before you can use the word 'permaculture' in part of your work as a professional or with the public, such as being a gardener, a teacher, a designer, giving talks about permaculture, etc.

To be awarded the certificate you must attend a minimum of 11 days of the course and complete the design workshop (the final weekend of the course). Please do not register if you cannot meet this requirement. We also strongly prefer that you do not plan to miss the initial residential weekend.

The course is also accredited by Open College Network South East Region. This is a widely recognised qualification. Read more...

What can the Permaculture Design course lead on to?

Once you have gained the Permaculture Design Certificate you are able to start using permaculture design in your life and work. You will be invited to join Brighton Permaculture Trust's network of volunteers and encouraged to get involved in the Trust's activities and those of other related networks. Students often start their own projects and invite course-mates to get involved in those. To further your learning or professional development, you could go on to work towards a Diploma in Permaculture Design, a self-directed action learning process of at least two years. Brighton Permaculture Trust runs a 'node' of the Diploma WorkNet to support you in this, with regular meetings you help you on your Pathway. You could also choose to become an apprentice permaculture teacher, or to take any of the wide range of more specialist permaculture courses now being offered throughout the UK and beyond for people with a Permaculture Design Certificate.

Course tutors and speakers include

Alex Penn, Permaculturist with expertise in natural eco-systems.

Ben Law, Dip Perm Des. As featured on Channel 4’s Grand designs programme. Woodsman, green wood builder, teacher and author.

Bryn Thomas, Dip Perm Des. Permaculture trainer and designer. Passions include growing fruit, forest gardening, green building and organisational design.

Daniel Holloway, designer & maker of sustainable systems, mechanical and ecological with permaculture as an underlying influence.

Jan Mulreany, her design and teaching skills are mainly in the "invisible structures" aspects of People Care & Fair Shares.

Jen Beaufoy, permaculture teacher and designer, horticulturalist and environmental education tutor.

Pippa Johns, Dip Perm Des. Permaculture teacher, gardener and design consultant.

Venues

Most course sessions will be held at Earthship Brighton at Stanmer Park just outside Brighton. Click here for directions to our meeting point at Stanmer Park. Other venues will include locations in and around Brighton and Sussex. The residential weekend will be near Chichester, West Sussex.

We facilitate lift sharing to travel to the more remote locations and for visits.

Click here for details of local accommodation and to find out about Brighton Permaculture Trust supporters who can provide accommodation in their homes.

2012 Fees

Fees include OCN accreditation, tuition and refreshments.

£840 - Sponsored/organisation rate
£840 - Individual income more than 25k/yr
£700 - Individual income 18-25k/yr
£560 - Individual income less than 18k/yr
£420 - Individual, concessionary rate

Seven places have been allocated at the concessionary rate, which is available to people in receipt of means-tested benefits (including housing benefit, council tax benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit (income does not exceed £16,190) and/or Child Tax Credit), full-time students and OAPs. Please bring evidence of this to the course.

We endeavour to make our courses/events affordable to all. Unfortunately, we do not receive any external funding for most of our courses/events and rely on large amounts of voluntary input.

See the cancellations and refunds policy.

Booking

THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED.
If you are still interested in attending, please contact usto be added to the waiting list in case we are able to make a space available to you. Please state which rate you would qualify for as there are limited numbers of places allocated at each rate on this course. When contacting us please let us know where you did your Introductory course and what rate you would be booking the course at.

IMPORTANT: You will need to pay in full by either Paypal or credit/debit card during the booking process. If you wish to attend but cannot afford to pay in full when booking, please email us to discuss your circumstances. All outstanding fees will need to be paid by 28th January 2012.

Please read this section carefully, as you could lose your booking.

When you complete the booking process, you will receive a confirmation email from us. If you haven't received that email within the next few hours, please contact us immediately, as this email contains vital information regarding your booking.

IMPORTANT: When filling out your booking form, please state where and when you did the Introduction to permaculture course in the 'any other information or questions for us' section. This information is a requirement and, if not supplied, may jeopardise your booking.

Contact us

For further information or if you have problems with your registration, please contact us.