permaculture

[Darren Doherty <darren@permaculture.biz>]

*Permaculture (permanent agriculture or permanent culture) is the conscious
design & maintenance of agriculturally productive and energy efficient
systems. Regenerative human settlement design is its prime focus, where the
concept strings the disciplines into a web of appropriate & productive
development. Originally developed as a methodology in the early 1970’s it is
now practiced and applied in nearly every country, and works to sustainably
promote low energy & solid state food and resource security….’ *Darren J.
Doherty (1994)

We are proud to announce the first Permaculture Design Certificate Course in
the Cyclades Islands, in Tao’s Center on Paros, with world renowned
Permaculture Designer and Teacher Darren J. Doherty as part of his
May-November 2011 European Tour.

Though just 43, Darren has extensive experience across the world in
Permaculture project design, development & management. A career-long focus
on the profitable retrofit of broadacre landscapes has seen Darren acclaimed
as a pioneer in this important & often overlooked field. He is a Certified
Whole Farm Planner (University of Melbourne 1995), Approved Keyline®
Designer (Ken B. Yeomans 2002), Accredited Permaculture Trainer (APT®) &
Certified in Workplace Training & Assessment and was formerly a Registered
Teacher of the ‘The Permaculture Institute’ (or 'TPI' teacher registration
system ceased in March of 2010).

Darren has been involved in the design &
development<https://picasaweb.google.com/permaculture.biz>of over
1400, mostly broadacre projects across 5 continents in 41 countries,
ranging from 1 million hectare cattle stations in Australia’s Kimberly to
110,000 acre Estancia’s in Patagonia, EcoVillage developments in Tasmania to
Public:Private R&D Agroforestry & Education Projects in Viet Nam, Family
farms across the globe with a range of private, corporate, government &
non-profit clients.

A true ‘integrationalist’, Darren has more recently been the originator of
the Keyline® Design, Keyline® Farming, Carbon Farming, Carbon Economy &
Regenerative Agriculture (RegenAG® brand owner) course series across Europe,
North America & Oceania. This wide experience has created an international
reputation of achievement plus and enviable & expansive network that
integrates many disciplines.

Darren is married to Lisa Heenan and they have three children, Isaebella
(18), Pearl (11) & Zane (9), all of whom are based in the Bendigo region of
central Victoria, Australia.
Course Audience

This Course is relevant for those people working in any of the industries
that all-encompassing Permaculture can be applied to (agriculture, building,
energy, health, education, economy,…) and have an interest in or are working
in regenerative project development. Urban fringe and rural landholders
wanting to buffer themselves and their properties against the vagaries of
climate change and on-going land degradation through drought-proofing, soil
renovation, crop diversification and social renewal are also a likely
market. Urban participants wishing to understand, design & develop the more
intensive production systems & architecture needed in cityscapes are also
targeted, as are students, teachers, professionals and activists wishing to
broaden their minds and vocational horizons for the betterment of earth
systems and the habitats of humans.

There is no minimum age limit to attend a PDC and children are most welcome
to attend, provided that they are able to cope with the intense load of
information and participation that is endured throughout a PDC. Some of our
best students have been in the 12-18 year old mark and they have gone on to
quite active roles in their respective locales.

There are no minimum education requirements to attend a PDC, though some
previous reading or knowledge, traditional or scholastic, is an advantage.
Our preference is to limit class sizes to 20-40 people, with learning,
assessment and participatory difficulties faced more often than not where
numbers above this are encountered.
Course Outcomes

Our clear intention is to facilitate to all students the understanding of
the design concepts and themes that are Permaculture Design and to provide
them with the best opportunity to manifest these into sustained on-ground
action as Permaculture Design teachers and/or developers.

Furthermore our intention is to enable future local and regional
Permaculture Designers to broaden and strengthen their business
opportunities by free access to our pioneering business model which has been
very successful and identified as such by many a Permaculture luminary.

Participants attending this PDC will gain the following outcomes/products.
The first of these is a minimum requirement of a PDC delivered by a
Registered Teacher of TPI. All others are available to accelerate the
ability of participants to develop, consult and teach Permaculture Design:

   - Demonstrated understanding of Permaculture Design according to the
   criteria laid out in Permaculture: A Designers Manual
   - Basic understanding of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
   applications in developing Permaculture Designs
   - Daily Design Exercises and Practicums such that you walk out of this
   course with up to 7 diverse designs completed & presented in a open 
feedback
   format
   - Provision of Microsoft Excel-based Worksheet package for Client &
   Project Management, Development and Management processes
   - Complete digital photo library catalogued according to Permaculture: A
   Designers’ Manual (Mollison, 1988) chapters & more
   - Base understanding of design and development principles involved with
   Broadacre Permaculture applications including:
      - Whole Farm Planning/Property Management Planning
      - Land Component identification and classification
      - Use and development of land system-based standard designs
      - Broadscale Farm Forestry & Tree Crop ground preparation, management
      & processing techniques
      - Understanding of Keyline® Design principles and techniques as a
      foundation to Permaculture landscape design
      - Exploration of all manner of Permaculture-related techniques and
      activities in the sphere’s of natural land management,
innovative enterprise
      structures & models and participatory development
      - Holistic Management® Principles & Techniques (HolisticGoal
      Formation, Holistic Decision Making, Financial Planning, Land
Planning and
      Grazing Planning)

Course OutlineSession TimesBreakfast07.30 – 08.00A08.30 – 10.00Break10.00 –
10.30B10.30 – 12.00Lunch12.00 – 14.00C14.00 – 15.30Break15.30 – 16.00D16.00
– 17.30Dinner19.00EAFTER DINNEREducation Modules

The timing of the delivery of the education module program is on a ‘subject
to a day’ basis. This allows students to focus primarily upon the subject of
the day. Most PDC’s do not do this and negative feedback is common, hence
our respecting the strategy of the TPI Curriculum in total by following the
Permaculture: A Designers Manual chapter order, though as of early 2009 we
revised this to bring forward ‘Aquaculture’ &’ The Strategies of an
Alternative Nation’ ahead of the major climates such that these important
core topics were included in the designs and discussions around these ‘Major
Climate' Days (Days 13-15).

Delivery of the program within the individual modules is not static however,
with a wide range of activities that are subject to change according to the
facilitator (s) assessment of the respective course participants needs and
as new and emerging activities come to light. As we are now engaging with
the internet in ever increasing ways we are prefacing the course with online
introductions and expectations so that we can tailor each course to the
respective participant group. This happens about a month out and through
Google Groups. This is a unique process, not used in other PDCs, and renders
the course more personalised, coupled with the fact that there is a single
teacher-trainer giving the course.

As in life we need to be flexible. On that basis we will have a range of
different exercises that include the following mediums:

   - Film & Audio Documentaries
   - Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations
   - Physical Activities (eg. Composting, Field Walks, etc.)
   - Modelling
   - Group Design Development & Presentations
   - Group Research Exercises
   - Open Discussion

Education Module ProgramDay 1Registrations, Housekeeping,
IntroductionDay 2Concepts
& Themes of DesignDay 3Methods Of DesignDay 4Pattern UnderstandingDay 
5Climatic
FactorsDa y6Trees & Their Energy TransactionsDay 7WaterDay 8Free DayDay 9
SoilsDay 10Earthworking & Earth ResourcesDay 11AquacultureDay 12The
Strategies Of An Alternative NationDay 13Humid TropicsDay 14Dryland
StrategiesDay 15Humid Cold To Cold Climates – Major Design Presentation –
Evening ConcertDay 16Where To From Here? – Parting Declarations –
Certificate of Completion Presentation – DeparturesDesign Exercises & Groups
**

Early in the PDC participants will be formed into groups of between 3-5
people. Group participants will be randomly selected using a highly
challenging process. These groups will have a name given to each and their
task will be to work together on a range of research & design projects all
culminating in a Major Design Exercise to be presented on the last day of
the course. These participatory exercises will be used to assess the
student’s capabilities and competencies and will be on whatever the subject
of the day is about ‘coloured’ with the knowledge and experience we all
bring to courses such as this.

Most PDC’s just have one or two designs for the whole course. We have found
this to be extremely limiting in the development of our participants design
skills. As such we want to give you as many real design scenarios as
possible to design in groups. Designs will be both those of your own
properties that you can then develop, but also based on work Australia Felix
Permaculture has done over the years from our stable of over 1400 designs
and developments.

We would love to have you prepare the necessary information and data about
your own projects in the month before the course and then we can use these
for design exercise, further enriching the design exercise experience.
Course Venue

*About Tao’s*

[image: Tao's Center] <http://taos-greece.com/>

<http://taos-greece.com/>Tao’s Center <http://www.taos-greece.com/> is a
retreat & meditation center on Paros.
Located on top of hill with a panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and the
neighboring islands, it is a place dedicated to the practice of awareness,
self development and awakened life in the spirit of Tao.

Tao’s Center offers daily activities – Meditation, Qi Gong, Yoga and Dance,
scheduled workshops, seminars & retreats, a long-stay Work & Study
program and Group Hosting for guest teachers. Those are accompanied with
Tao’s Going Green project, aimed at creating and practicing ecologically
sound living through various workshops & events.

The activities are led by Tao’s home teachers together with experienced and
renowned guest teachers, group leaders and therapists.

Tao’s Restaurant, with its amazing view, is open all year round, offering
the best of Asian Cuisine together with live music events and night parties,
a meeting point for happy people from around the world.

*About Paros*

[image: Naoussa, Paros, the old port]

Paros, the second largest island of the Cyclades is known by many as the
jewel of the Aegean. The hills of Agii Pantes gently slope down to lonely
pebble-covered coves and wide sandy bays.

Compared with the usual barren landscapes of the *Cyclades*, the first
impression of *Paros* is that of a greener and more fertile island. A
well-developed network of bus routes entirely encompasses Paros and its 120
km of coastline. Depending on the season, the primary locations are served
up to 25 times a day: from the little seaport of *Naoussa*, where much of
the tourism is centred, to the bathing resorts of *Drios*, or *Pounta* , the
ferry port to the neighbouring island of *Antiparos*, and *Aliki* – close
the local airport and its tiny arrivals hall.

In the idyllic South and East of *Paros* agriculture dominates: acres of
wheat and barley, beds of melons, orange- and lemon-trees, olive groves,
figs and almonds. There is even enough water to plant tomatoes, eggplants,
cucumbers and, of course, vines. From the red Mantilaria and white
Monemvasitika grapes, about a thousand local farmers produce near 2,5
million litres of wine every year.

The Wind and Kite surfing centers are popular and highly recommended: winds
of four Beaufort or higher turn the 700m long *Golden Beach* on the east
coast into a pro-ground swarming with kites and sails where many
championships are hosted. Behind the bay, one can glimpse a white mound
under the mountain of Kefalos. This is *Marpissa*, said to be the most
beautiful village in Greece. From here for 2km, a byzantine trail stretches
up to the flowery mountain village of *Lefkes*.

Dozens of writers, painters, sculptors, musicians and poets consider *Paros* 
to
be the cultural hub of the Cyclades. Instead of a contrived aesthetic, an
authentic flair dominates the scene.

In *Parikia*, the capital of Paros and another main tourist centre, people
stroll through the white alleys, rest below the Kastro or graze at one of
the tavernas opposite the impressive church of *Ekatontapyliani*, the oldest
church in Greece which has been in constant use. Around midnight locals and
tourists alike promenade the mile long water front where tavernas, clubs and
bars are only a step away. Everything is open and welcoming, like the people
of Paros.

*From parosweb.com <http://www.parosweb.com/>.*
Fees

Course fee is €650, including 3 meals and 2 breaks a day.

There is a possibility to apply for a scholarship. Please check this page
later for more information.
Accommodation Options

Tao’s center does not have accommodation facilities in the center itself but
will assist you in finding accommodation, chosen according to good
atmosphere, closeness to the center and reasonable prices.

You may choose between an organised camping facility in Santa Maria beach at
an average of 5€ per person per night with own tent or share a double room
in a guest-house in Ambelas fishing village at an average of €15 per person
per night. More upmarket options exist as well.


-- 
Hooroo,
Darren J. Doherty
UPCOMING EVENTS

2011 RegenAG <http://goog_1946592595>® <http://www.regenag.com/> Workshop
Series Australia & Aotearoa/New Zealand
Autumn 2011 EU RegenAG® Tour with Darren Doherty - Greece, Spain, UK,
Germany, EU
_________________________________________
AUSTRALIA FELIX PERMACULTURE
Broadacre Permaculture Design & Development
International Permaculture Education

Patron Fundacion + Arboles <http://www.masarboles.org/>, España
Head of RegenAG®, Ecosystem Investment Management Australia Pty.
Ltd.<http://www.eima.com.au/>
Vice President New Soil Security Inc. (US)
Originator: RegenAG® <http://www.regenag.com/> Workshop Series

Web <http://www.permaculture.biz/>
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Australia Felix Permaculture
Blog<http://www.australiafelixpermaculture.blogspot.com/>
RegenAG® Blog <http://regenag.blogspot.com/>

skype: permaculture.biz
phone: +61 431 444 836
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RegenAG® is a Registered Trademark of Darren J. Doherty
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Holistic Management® is the Registered Trademark of Holistic Management
International