permaculture

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

16-DAY PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE – ESTANCIA RANQUILCO, PATAGONIA,
ARGENTINA – TREEYO PERMACULTURE

Dates: November 15th to December 1st
Web: www.treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com/patagoniapdc
Host site: Estancia Ranquilco, Patagonia, Argentina (www.ranquilco.com)

*Introduction*

TreeYo Permaculture is excited to offer a 16-day Permaculture Design
Course (PDC) in conjunction with Estancia Ranquilco in the mountains of
Patagonia, Argentina. The 100,000-acre working cattle ranch doubles as an
eco-tourism destination that utilizes permaculture design to continually
progress the onsite systems towards overall community self-reliance. This
new 16-day format is an expression of TreeYo’s commitment to providing the
best educational programs possible. This extended course structure will
accommodate more hands-on experiences to learn through the body, more
interactive exercises to enrich the learning process, and a more in depth
final design project to reinforce the classroom learning. This will lead
us beyond the traditional 2-week intensive originally laid out by Bill
Mollison that has one day off and a total of 72 hours of instruction.

This 16-day PDC will be an engaging combination of interactive educational
opportunities for numerous learning styles including hands-on activities.
This extended format allows students to delve deep into the theory of the
design principles, directly experience the design process, and learn from
past design and implementation work of others while actively progressing
the Estancia’s sustainability objectives and enhancing the “eco” in its
eco-tourism infrastructure. To learn more about our specific facilitation
style and view the highlights of TreeYo’s past courses, please explore the
following page: www.treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com.


Says Ashley Carrithers, who has owned the land since 1979, “Ranquilco is
uniquely situated and orientated to serve as a venue for these courses as
well as inner journeys of personal growth. Many who have dedicated
sufficient time to be on our vast lands, high and deep, in the cordillera
of the Argentine Patagonia Andes, have experienced the magic, which seems
to roam over the mountains, down the valleys, and through the crystalline
river waters. Thus it seems to be an Earth power point, somewhat disguised
as a traditional working cattle ranch, replete with hundreds of livestock
and horses, gauchos, and high mountain landscape replete with stunning
natural beauty. We have long striven for the benefits and blessings of
self-sufficiency and have achieved notable progress in such fields as
dairy, organic meats, bee keeping, electricity production, draft animal
husbandry, leather working and more to come.”

*Curriculum*

This 16-day PDC includes the 14 chapters of “Permaculture: A Designer’s
Manual” by Bill Mollison. Some of the topics included are:
- Ethics, principles, and methods of design
- Pattern understanding: interpretation and application
- Water harvesting, conservation, purification, and revitalization 

- Tree crops, reforestation, and nutrient recycling
- Soil classification, biological interaction, and re-mineralization
- Tropical, dryland, and temperate influences on vegetation, housing, and
earthworks
- Nutrition, fermentation, and local food systems
- Transition Towns – emerging and evolving approach to community level
sustainability

*Facilitators*

Doug Crouch, Sara Wuerstle and Eva Wimmer
Language used: English (with limited help to translate unknown words when
necessary)


Our aim as Permaculture trainers is to creatively facilitate a learning
process that empowers people in Permaculture design through experiential
learning and hands-on training. Each student completes the course with a
site design and presentation based on the skills and knowledge accumulated
throughout the 16 days. This reinforces the material presented and allows
students to gain the confidence required to begin implementing
sustainability initiatives into ones own growing space and community.

*Fees*

Base fee for the PDC = $600 per person (includes instruction and food
only). Housing pricing is separate. See below for details.

PLEASE NOTE: An “early bird” discounted price of $500 plus housing applies
if registered before October 1st.


*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, additional to the base course fee):

1. BYOT (Bring-Your-Own-Tent) Camping with outdoor hot showers & outhouses
plus indoor kitchens…….$400
2. Rustic Stream House (15 mins walk off site) with indoor shared shower &
toilet plus a wood stove kitchen (double occupancy)…….$500
3. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (double occupancy)…….$600
4. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (single occupancy)…….$750

*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:  Students are invited to come several days earlier or stay
several days longer to join the estancia community 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.  Horse riding outings/lessons can be
arranged.  Please make arrangements for extended stays when registering.

*Contact*

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