Tutors: Bob Corker, Kay Baxter, Koanga Institute Staff
Location: Koanga Institute, Kotare Road, Wairoa.
Price: $1700 includes Food and Basic Accomodation (tents)
Date: In 2012 Koanga will hold 2 Permaculture Design Courses; April 7 - 20th, and September 3 - 15th.

We are on the cusp of major changes as the slow decline in cheap oil impacts on our growth lead globalised economy.  Already the effects are starting to bite in some countries. Our challenge over the coming decade will be to create new systems that are not so reliant on fossil fuels and the economics of ‘growth’.  The challenge is one of redesign of our economy and our ecology.  This redesign is far more necesary and a far  greater job than personal initiatives, although these too are vital. Permaculture is a comprehensive ecological design system that addresses the ‘why, how and what’ and empowers individuals and communities to start this redesign now. Come and learn  the ‘tools’ you will need to engage in the coming change, from a team who are committed to ‘being the change we wish to see in the world’. Get the positive feel of what your future could become.

This is an intensive twelve day course covering the curriculum recognised by the International Permaculture Institute,  plus lots more. It will give you:

• a clear understanding of Permaculture design principles and practice
•  a systems design process that is  applicable to most areas of your life, including work, family, community, and bioregional applications

Time will be spent on theory, practising design work and a wide range of practical activites, highlighting key techniques ( bio-intensive gardening, earth-building, waste recycling, appropriate technology, food processing and preservation.)

The gift of this Design Course is that our teachers live simply in community, and in a close relationship with their environment and you get to experience that. Past students comments at the end of our courses always stress that it is this experience they find transforming.

We believe that Permaculture Design is one of the best tools available for those who wish to take responsibility for the need to become more ‘self reliant’ as our globalised economy faces peak oil (and lots of other ‘peaks’).  Not just for individual or family self-reliance, but more particularly for communities and Bioregions. The context within which we teach this course will be our belief that in the coming years we urgently need to develop ‘parallel economies’ that will have the resilience to cope with the likely  ‘power-down’  (www.richardheinberg.com/Powerdown.html) that our mainstream economy is faced with.

Over the last 30 years Kay and Bob have developed a comprehensive understanding and range of skills associated with family self-reliance, particularly food growing, building and appropriate technology.  They are increasingly focusing on the bigger picture as to how do we address self-reliance within communities and bio-regions.   We are serious about creating 
futures without being ‘plugged into’ the globalised economy.
The course starts with a thorough understanding of the Permaculture model of design, (the first two days).   From day three you will begin developing and practicing; observation, analysis and design within a ‘permaculture’ framework (in the real world), and getting feedback and support from our team of experienced tutors and practicing designers. The structure of most days will be theory in the morning, followed by practical demonstrations, and design practice in the afternoon, followed by more design practice or research after dinner then discussions or DVD’s later.

In addition those who are serious about completing a diploma, and/or engaging in design as a vocation (both in NZ or overseas), and/or creating self-employment, using their new design skills, will be supported to set in place a mentor program for supporting their future work. If you feel like you need more information about the course, please contact us, and we will be happy to discuss it further. 

This PDC is a prerequisite for the Permaculture Diploma.

To find out what previous PDC students thought about the course click here

As on our last PDC we will be providing you with food prepared following the principles of the Weston A Price Foundation. Mostly they will be recipes out of Kay and Bob's new book "Change of Heart". All aspects of the food will illustrate core issues of "sustainability".

Our food will be locally sourced, organic, unrefined, nutrient dense, traditional and delicious.
Part of each day will include lessons on how these principles and recipes can be included in your life (growing, preparing and cooking) For more information on our  philosophy on foods, check out the website of the Weston A Price Foundation .

"The world is as we dream it, as we create it. We need to change the dream, to dream an earth-honouring dream." Shuar Indians - Equador.

The Permaculture Design Course gives us the tools to design this dream, and the inspiration to bring it into your life, and others lives, in a practical way.