permaculture

["Pierre Marx" <pierre@dalyellup-permaculture.com.au>]

8-WEEK PERMACULTURE DESIGN INTERNSHIP – ESTANCIA RANQUILCO, PATAGONIA,
ARGENTINA – TREEYO PERMACULTURE

Dates: January 3, 2012 to February 28, 2012
Web:
http://treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com/january-february-2012-permaculture-internship-in-patagonia-argentina/
Host site: Estancia Ranquilco, Patagonia, Argentina (www.ranquilco.com)

*The Internship*

This intensive permaculture internship will include over 100 hours of
direct instruction through lectures, hands-on sessions, and design
projects as well as immediate application of acquired skills through
participation in the maintenance and management of the Estancia.  The
internship structure and curriculum reflects our commitment to Bill
Mollison’s philosophy by emphasizing the application of permaculture
principles and the design process through thoughtful and protracted
observation, implementation, monitoring, and re-evaluation. At the end of
the 8 weeks, interns will have accomplished above and beyond the standard
curriculum of a 72 hour, internationally recognized Permaculture Design
Course (PDC) through TreeYo Permaculture, a thorough understanding of the
application of permaculture principles on a working cattle ranch which
also sports a substantial market gardening operation.

*Provisional Internship Schedule*

Week ONE: 30 hours of class time covering the core curriculum of a
standard PDC including the introduction to permaculture, principles,
ethics, applied community building techniques, patterns in nature and
reading the landscape. This week will also include 10 hours of orientation
to the land and the established systems as well as projects that interns
will be working on during the program.

Week TWO through SIX: 10 hours of class time per week covering topics
including soil, water, trees, natural building, gardening, Holistic
Management, social system strategies, sustainable economies, aquaculture,
animal systems, design process, climatic factors, appropriate
technologies, and food preservation (pickling, drying, fermenting, etc.)
plus 30 hours of directed systems management work per week (SEE BELOW FOR
DETAILS).

Week SEVEN: 10 hours of class time focusing on intern final design
projects plus 30 hours of implementation.

Week EIGHT:  10 hours of class and completion of any outstanding projects
to help prepare the Estancia for the coming winter and goodbyes.

General weekly schedule:

7:00 – 11:00 Monday through Friday – Morning Work Session
14:00 – 18:00 Monday/Wednesday/Friday – Class Session
14:00 – 18:00 Tuesday/Thursday – Work Session
8:00 – 10:00 Saturday – Morning Work Session

*Directed Systems Management Work*

- Day-in-day-out tasks of gardening such as watering, planting, mulching,
composting, weeding, and harvesting
- Establishing new gardens
- Repairing existing garden areas (using weed indicators for guidance)
- Composting and soil restoration
- Laying out a stone foundation for a cob oven
- Food processing and preservation
- Natural building projects using locally abundant resources - straw,
earth, stone, and wood
- Swale digging
- Sheet mulching
- Tree planting

*Other Exercises & Events*

To bring the material alive we engage numerous learning styles. To achieve
this, the internship consists of various exercises and events that require
students to immediately apply what they have learned. These educational
segments include not only the hands-on sessions and the final design
project but also design exercises and excursions. The design exercises
compliment the lecture material by adding an element of fun to the
learning process while the excursions (such as horse rides with the
“gauchos” and Spanish language exposure) offer cultural understanding and
observation practices. There is also a unique opportunity to glean an
in-depth understanding of the successes and challenges that the
Carrithers’s have experienced in the development of the Estancia as both a
ranch and an eco-tourism destination.

And finally, the internship is a backdrop for strengthening and building
community at the Estancia and beyond. Many nights will be filled with
song, dance, and music of all types to relax at the end of the day. We
also set aside time for interns to present about personal projects that
they are involved in or need feedback on, which also allows us to get to
know each other in depth. The community formation serves as a lasting
network and is one of the most unforgettable parts of the experience.

*Facilitators*
Doug Crouch, Sara Wuerstle, & Eva Wimmer

Language used: English (with limited help to translate unknown words when
necessary)

*Fees*

Base fee for the internship = $2000 per person (includes instruction and
food only). Housing pricing is separate. See below for details.

*Housing Options & Rates*

The Estancia offers a variety of housing options. Choice will be given on
a first sign up, first serve basis. Please choose from the housing options
below (prices are per person for 8 weeks):

1. BYOT (Bring-Your-Own-Tent) Camping with outdoor hot showers & outhouses
plus indoor kitchens…….$500
2. Rustic Stream House (15 mins walk off site) with indoor shared shower &
toilet plus a wood stove kitchen (double occupancy)…….$650
3. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (double occupancy)…….$750
4. Indoor housing with indoor toilet & hot shower (single occupancy)…….$850

*Transportation*

Due to the remote location and the challenge of transportation, interns
should arrive in El Huecu by bus from Zapala (13:30 bus) on the agreed
upon arrival day for pick by Ranquilco staff.

PLEASE NOTE:  Interns are invited to come earlier or stay longer at a cost
of $70/day. This includes room, in our basic houses, board, and plenty of
free time to enjoy the bounties on our lands.  Please make arrangements
for extended stays when registering.

*Contact*

Ashley Carrithers (ashleykentc@hotmail.com - registration)
Doug Crouch (treeyopermaculture@gmail.com - course material)