Course topics

1. Introduction

History of Permaculture. What can permaculture do for you? What is permaculture?  What does "sustainability" mean, the green revolution,

Permaculture Design Certificate Course, accelerated climate change, peak oil, the ecological footprint, the exponential function.

2. Principles of sustainable habitat planning & design.     

The 7 pillars of permaculture by Christoff Schneider, the earth as a living organism, natural cycles, energy & entropy,

practical design considerations, prudence in problem solving, holistic & systemic thinking & action,

reap a harvest, diversity & increasing yields, niches, cycles, conservation & storage.

3. Practical planning tool

     General & practical design considerations & basic issues, first steps in planning, sector planning & zoning, reading contour lines, cadastral plans, etc, energy flows & arrangement of areas and elements, closing cycles, succession & maintenance of systems

4. Pattern language of nature

      The 4 Ws = energy flow in landscapes, application of natural patterns in design, edge zone effects,

      pattern language of indigenous peoples, meaning of spirals & circles in habitat planning

5. Climate

  Origin of weather, precipitation and wind, different climate zones,

   influence of albedo effect, of frost, light, windbreaks, on vegetation, local weather patterns, microclimate, tornadoes & hurricanes

6. Trees

     and their influence on soil, water, climate & biosphere,

the creation & benefits of forest gardens, edible forests, agroforestry & hedgerows, syntropic agriculture

7. Water

What is water? The water cycle, precipitation & evaporation, water storage, water treatment, water & soil,

keyline, swales, dam construction, pond construction, grey water, black water, biotopes & natural pond with & without foil

8. Aquaculture

History, ponds, dams, swales, chinampas, importance of water quality, costs, fish stocking, feeding, mixed culture, marginal zones, planting,

Crab farming, aquaculture, hydroponics, aquaponics, yields outside aquaculture.

9. Soil

Soil formation, soil structure, soil stress & erosion, soil classification, soil tests, soil organisms, humus build-up, nutrients & fertilisation,

to top yields with composting, earthing up, compost extract, Terra Preta, Bokashi, worm farming, humus build-up on difficult soils, weed barriers,

Characteristics and creation of different bed forms and types, raised beds, mound beds, keyline, dealing with diseases & pests

10. Earthworks

When is earthwork ethical, different earth resources, different types of land surveying, planning and timing of earthworks, planting after earthworks, slope assessment, slope safety, slopes & terracing, earth structures.

11. Permaculture in cold climate

     climate features, house design, ecological building materials, adobe, straw bale construction, earthen construction, energy supply, passive solar design, water supply,

the home garden, greenhouses, orchards, mushroom growing, orchards, polyface rotational grazing, fences, food processing, stockpiling, animal tractor, planning settlements & villages

12. Permaculture in the tropics

     Climatic features, house design, natural climates, water supply, the home garden, forest garden, agroforestry, pasture management, food processing & storage, integrated livestock management, settlement & village planning, first aid

13. Permaculture in drylands

     Climate features, desertification, desert houses, desert cities, ecological building materials, water management, watersheds,

protection from salinisation, humus build-up, the home garden, desert gardens, wildlife management, planning settlements & towns, wildfires & fires

14. Strategies for the next 7 Generations

     NGOs, compound interest, ethical foundations of an alternative nation, Transition Town, ownership, regional organisations,

     alternative currencies & alternative financial system, ethical investment, aid & assistance to needy people & areas, barter circles,

CSA = community agriculture, community gardens, ecological, economic work, the 5 rings of sustainable help for self-help.

85h Permaculture Design Certificate Course 2023