permaculture

[Robyn Francis <erda@nor.com.au>]

Ecovillage & Sustainable Community Design Course
Sept 6-17, 2004   
Djanbung Gardens, Nimbin Nthn NSW, Australia
COST: AUD $890 ($750 conc)


This course explores creative solutions for sustainable community
development through holistic planning and community cooperation to design
new and revitalise existing urban and rural communities based on
permaculture and the principles of ecological and social sustainability.

Develop the tools and skills to translate dreams into reality, clarify your
vision and goals, identify pathways and develop strategies in partnership
with people and  nature to create vibrant communities.

Visit existing communities and eco-village projects and tap into the wealth
of experience of key people working in sustainable human settlement planning
and design.

Course topics include:

- Local to Global Perspectives on ESD (Ecologically Sustainable Development)
- Bioregional planning, natural, social & services catchments, land
ownership and settlement patterns
- Working with state and local governments, planning laws and frameworks
- Land tenure options, residents agreements, community resource management
and by-laws
- Social, legal, economic and environmental parameters in design
- Working with spirit of place and fostering sense of place
- Design for the full human life-cycle & diverse lifestyle needs
- Practical and holistic approach to settlement types & forms: Co-housing,
expanded houses, hamlet, urban and rural village design, building new &
retrofitting existing communities
- Innovative options for services & technologies from  household to
community scale 
- Facilitating participatory community consultation, problem solving and
design 
- Decision-making processes, conflict resolution and mediation

This course designed is for people involved or interested in planning,
designing and creating sustainable human settlements including ecovillages
and intentional communities, co-housing, ecological developments and
revitalising existing rural and urban communities.

Participants at past courses have included people looking to start a
community, eco-village developers, community workers, architects, planners,
landscape architects, engineers, environmental planners, permaculture
designers and teachers, community development consultants and officers and
people working in overseas sustainable aid and development projects.

Robyn Francis has been working with intentional communities since 1978 as
designer, consultant and facilitator of community planning processes and as
advisor to local, regional and state planning government planning. She has
facilitated 11 of these courses in Australia and New Zealand over the past
10 years. Guest tutors will include Peter Cuming, award winning
environmental planner & permaculture designer and principal of Sustainable
Futures Australia, and Wendy Sarkissian, one of Australia's leading social
planners.
 
COURSE ACCREDITATION (APT)
For those who have previously completed a PDC, this course provides
foundation training for a cluster of units contributing towards a nationally
accredited Diploma of Permaculture qualification. Participants will need to
submit assessment projects to complete these units.
Diploma Units addressed in this course include:

PIL503A Develop a strategic plan for a permaculture project
This unit requires the ability to prepare a project brief, vision statement,
aims, objects, goals, strategies, benchmarks, data collection methods,
strategic planning processes, qualitative & quantitative analysis techniques
etc
PIL506A Design and plan a sustainable settlement
Includes site assessment/evaluation (including catchment context: natural,
social & services), & ability to develop social strategy, concept plan and
management plan for a sustainable settlement: co-housing, eco-village,
housing co-op, land-sharing communities
PIL507A Research and interpret requirements for a permaculture project
This unit embraces legal & planning frameworks, tenure, cultural, social and
economic factors, including consultation models
PIL509A Plan and design structures for permaculture systems
This unit encompasses design for the built environment including roads,
buildings, water features, recreational facilities etc, Includes passive
solar design & alternative building materials and techniques
PIL510A Prepare a community and bioregional development strategy
This unit covers preparing a brief, analysing info, consultation with
individuals, groups & community, develop strategies and design
organisational structures. Includes community economics as well as
socio-cultural & natural resource factors
PIL511A Facilitate participatory planning and learning activities
This unit requires ability to facilitate participatory planning and learning
programmes and activities for community groups, education etc. Essential for
anyone working with groups. Includes conflict resolution skills and group
presentation methodologies.

LOCATION
Conducted in Nimbin at Djanbung Gardens PEC, next door to Jarlanbah and new
Nimbin ecovillage sites. Nimbin is a social and economic centre for over 40
intentional communities and home to an ever-evolving social experiment
involving the wider community in taking affirmative action to solve its
problems and shape its future.

The NSW North Coast is rich with innovative community and ESD (Ecologically
Sustainable Development) initiatives, within the alternate movement as well
as wider community action, mainstream eco-developments, local and regional
government initiatives. Through this course you can tap into this unique
wealth of experience of the tutors and the living examples in this special
bioregion.         

Cost: $890-$750 (conc) ­ discounts available for multiple registration

Course fee includes tuition, course notes & lunches
NB: Arrange your own accommodation - contact Djanbung Gardens for details
robyn@permaculture.com.au  OR  erda@nor.com.au
Ph 02-6689 1755
Mob 0429 147 138
Visit www.earthwise.org.au