This 72-hour residential course, at the Taranaki Environment Centre in Inglewood, is for people of all ages, backgrounds and experience who want to learn about living by design in harmony with the Earth. This course fulfils the standard requirements of the international curriculum, and all participants who complete it will receive a Permaculture Design Certificate.

Graduates are entitled to use the word 'Permaculture' in the pursuit of their livelihood and for educational purposes. Permaculture design works with the cycles of nature and is relevant in all human activity.

Course topics include:

- observation and understanding natural systems
- theory and principles of sustainable systems design
- designing for urban and rural land use
- designing for living in community
- appropriate strategies for different climates
- energy efficient and healthy building
- renewable energy systems
- water harvest
- storage, reticulation and purification
- life cycle analysis
- growing food and designing gardens
- orchards, forests and conservation areas
- organic soil improvement and rehabilitation techniques
- animal management in permaculture systems
- alternative economic structures

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about harmonious integration of land and people in such a way that the needs of food, energy and shelter are met without diminishing the natural world
• Learn to design and maintain a way of life that has the diversity, stability, resilience and self-organising qualities of a natural ecosystem
• Learn some design solutions for living with reduced energy and resource needs. · Deepen understanding of 'sustainability'
• Learn some practical skills
• Gain a transformational sense of belonging, of "knowing" as a result of the ecological grounding of permaculture
• Discover pathways to new possibilities
• Gain tools, ideas and visions to make clear choices about purpose and actions
• Experience & learn about the critical skills of observing, listening, opening and receiving

Permaculture helps us deal with today's issues

• maintaining food security-healthy food for each meal
• strengthening our communities-investing in neighbourliness
• making social structures work for us
• including other species in our definition of community
• developing strong local economies
• creating and maintaining clean air, soil, and water-for ourselves and future generations
• promoting diversity and beneficial relationships

Now is a time when we are searching to equip ourselves with the skills, knowledge and spirit to find our way to a positive future. Permaculture is very beneficial for this journey.

Enrolment fee: Please send at least $200 deposit per person  to secure a place on the course.