To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [permaculture] David Holmgren in Argentina
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 11:11:23 -0300
Dear friends,
find atached information about David Holmgren´s Permaculture courses in
Argentina,
thanks for spreading this information to like-minded people,
and for posting it in your web sites.
Warm regards,
Gustavo Ramírez
Instituto Argentino de Permacultura
Asociación GAIA
gaia@gaia.org.ar
gaia@lq.com.ar
www.gaia.org.ar
Tel: (02272) 492072
Cel (02227) 15552554
DAVID HOLMGREN* co-originator of PERMACULTURE
visit Argentina:
ADVANCED PERMACULTURE COURSE
From August 24th to 27th 2007
PERMACULTURE CERTIFICATE DESIGN COURSE
From 3 to 15 September 2007
Public Conferences and events
dates and places to be confirmed
Organized by
INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE PERMACULTURA
www.gaia.org.ar
ADVANCED PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLES COURSE
With David Holmgren*
From August 24th to 27th 2007
Gaia Ecovillage, Navarro, Buenos Aires
This is a fundamental course for those people willing to be part of the
efficient solutions for the socio-environment crisis we are living. David
Holmgren will share 30 years of permacultural thoughts and action giving a
more evolutional vision of the principles which are the base of the
permaculture design.
This Course it is aimed to provide more in depth understanding of
fundamental permaculture concepts that have universal application.
Using a combination of free flowing lectures, visual presentations, case
studies of his own work, structured group discussions and observations,
David Holmgren breathes life into the design principles which link the
diversity of permaculture solutions.
David will encourage group discussions during the course and will
investigate together with the participants some of the main permaculture
challenges.
For permaculture designers wanting to expand and redesign their permaculture
toolkit for new conditions and challenges, this course provides an update on
the ongoing evolution of these permaculture principles and their
applications.
For those participants new to permaculture but with grounding in
sustainability concepts and strategies, this course provides access to
foundational understandings necessary to make sense of permaculture
strategies and priorities.
This will be a great opportunity as well, to learn how David applies his
ideas in real situations as Melliodora and several other projects he has
designed and continues developing.
The 4 days residential course format allows participants to share daily life
in an Ecovillage, as well as sharing different moments and informal talks
with David Holmgren and Su Dennett.
Topics:
· Actualization of Permaculture principles adapted to the crisis of
the planet.
· Permaculture Solutions for the Energy Descent Future
· Design - Landscape reading, permaculture site design, strength and
weakness. Landscape Planning strategies and design process. Examples of the
use of a land for a complete planning of a permacultural farm.
· Presentation of his projects and designs: Melliodora and Fryers
Forest.
· Energy descent scenarios
Prerequisite: Permaculture Design Course, and/or substantial experience and
knowledge of sustainability issues and/or practices.
PERMACULTURE CERTIFICATE DESIGN COURSE
With David Holmgren*,
Gustavo Ramirez, and guest teachers
From 3 to 15 September 2007
Gaia Ecovillage, Navarro, Buenos Aires
"Permaculture is about values and visions, designs and systems of
management that are based on holistic understanding especially on our
bio-ecological and psychosocial knowledge and wisdom. It is particularly
about our relationship with, and the design and redesign of, natural
resource management systems, so that they may support the health and
well-being of all present and future generations" David Holmgren
The word permaculture was coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the
mid-1970s to describe integrated consciously designed landscapes which
mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an
abundance of food, fiber and energy for provision of local needs. People,
their buildings and the ways they organise themselves are central to
permaculture.
The permaculture draws together the diverse ideas, skills and ways of living
which need to be rediscovered and developed in order to empower us to move
from being dependant consumers to becoming responsible and productive
citizens.
In this more limited but important sense permaculture is not the landscape
or even the skills of organic gardening, sustainable farming, energy
efficient building or Ecovillage development as such. But it can be used to
design, establish, manage and improve these and all other efforts made by
individuals, households and communities towards a sustainable future.
Historically, permaculture has focused on land and nature stewardship as
both a source for and an application of ethical and design principles. Those
principles are now being applied to other domains dealing with physical and
energetic resources as well as human organisation, often called invisible
structures in permaculture teachings.
Permaculture is also a network of individuals and groups spreading
permaculture design solutions in both rich and poor countries on all
continents. Largely unrecognized in academia and unsupported by government
or business, permaculture activist are contributing to a more sustainable
future by reorganising their lives and work around permaculture design
principles. In this way they are creating small local changes, but ones that
are directly and indirectly influencing action in the fields of sustainable
development, natural agriculture, appropriate technology and intentional
community design for a more
sustainable world.
In many countries, only the relatively small numbers of people who have done
Permaculture Design Courses, or been closely associated with permaculture
projects, are familiar with the concept. In Australia, however, a longer
history of permaculture activism and influence within large related
environmental movements, as well as extensive media exposure, has resulted
in broader public appreciation of permaculture.
After 26 years permaculture may rank as one of Australia's most significant
"intellectual exports".
Most of the people involved in this network have completed the Permaculture
Design Course (PDC) which for 23 years has been the prime vehicle for
permaculture inspiration and training worldwide. The inspirational aspect of
PDC has acted as a social glue bonding participant to an extent that the
world-wide network could be described as a social movement. A curriculum was
codified in 1984 but divergent evolution of both the form and content of
these courses, as presented by different permaculture teachers, has produced
very varied and localized experiences and understandings of permaculture.
The course will have a good balance between theory and practice. Trough
theory presentations, audiovisual material, group discussions, deep
observation and design practice, the participants will acquire basic skills
and knowledge to design and implement sustainable systems in harmony with
natural world.
During part of the course in small groups the participants will create a
permaculture design exercise at site, using their new skills.
This course covers the 72hs of the international permaculture curriculum. It
has also been amplified to 90hs to include David Homgren´s new principles
and proposals, and adapted to the Latin-American reality as well.
Topics
GLOBAL CRISIS - analysis of the cultural, social and ecological evidences.
Climate change impact. Peak oil, strategies for the new post oil society.
Searching for solutions within the change of paradigms. Holistic vision of
the world as first step for planetary healing
PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS - evolution of permaculture' ethics,
synthesis and cultural renewal. Roots of permaculture knowledge, connection
between science and spirituality
ECOSYSTEM -Listening and reconnecting with nature. Ecosystem principles. The
natural systems, energy and entropy. Energy cycles and flows. Climate and
biogeography applied to permaculture. Conservation, diversity, cooperation,
niche and ecological succession applied to design. The forest as an organism
and its hydrologic cycle. Deep analysis of the landscape. Natural patterns.
DESIGN - detailed analysis and application of permaculture design
principles. Steps to the development of integrated ecological designs.
Problems to be solved. Key elements for a good design. The process of
analysis and planning the place, distribution of the land to optimize its
use. Several tools for the designer. Methods and steps for the presentation
of a good design. Designs for small and large scale. Site and Landscape
design methods
WATER in the surroundings. Water movements. Accumulation and purification.
Water management, ponds, dams, lakes. Aquaculture. Water treatment and
reutilization.
SOIL - Building a healthy soil. Bases of soil structure, PH, texture, etc.
strategy for improving soil using cover crops, mulch, etc. Erosion control.
Ethylene cycle and consequences of its alteration. Conditions of soil in
tropics and templates climates.
NATURAL AGRICULTURE -Establishing a permaculture agro-eco-system. Masanobu
Fukuoka principles. Forest garden concept. Bases for selecting, developing
and maintaining these systems. Ecological pest management's strategies. Low
cost greenhouse design and maintenance. Seed production and care. Tree
plantation with low use of energy. Ecology of the forest, trees for
firewood, for timber, etc. Animals and their function in the ecosystem,
efficient use and maintenance of them.
NATURAL BUILDING - Shelter as a living organism and the relation with the
environment. Bases for natural building, use of natural patterns. Design for
an efficient use of energy. Non toxic materials.
APROPIATE TECHNOLOGY - Bases for technology selection. Conscious and
efficient use of energy. Compost toilet. Grey water treatment systems.
Masonry mud stoves and ovens. Solar cookers. Alternative energy, wind
generators and photovoltaic.
URBAN PERMACULTURE - Different strategies and examples. Community gardens,
CSA, Local currencies,
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES - Bases for community design, appropriate scale for
sustainability. Language patterns for human settlements. Selecting land
criteria. Infrastructure needs regarding community and individual spaces.
Ecovillage life components. Bases for conflict resolution and decision
making.
Human scale economy. Permaculture productive systems development.
Local economy development and ethical basis for complementary currency.
Biorregionalism.
GLOBAL PERMACULTURE NETWORK
*David Holmgren was born in Fremantle, Western Australia, in 1955. As a
child of
working class political activists, he was greatly influenced by the social
revolution of the late 60s and early 70s. While traveling around Australia
in 1973 he fell in love with the Tasmanian landscape and joined the
innovative Environmental Design School in Hobart. An intense working
relationship with his mentor Bill Mollison, over the following three years,
led to the permaculture concept and set the course of his later life. As the
young co-author of Permaculture One in 1978, David shunned the limelight and
focused on further developing his practical and design skills for a
self-reliant lifestyle.
Since then he has written many other books, developed several properties
using permaculture principles, conducted workshops and courses in Australia,
New Zealand, Israel and Europe. For the last 27 years he has lived and
worked in Hepburn Springs, central Victoria. As a consultant designer he has
developed a great expertise to the temperate landscapes of south-eastern
Australia with a strong bioregional focus on his home territory. With his
partner Su Dennet and their son Oliver he maintains his property Melliodora
as one of the Australia's best known permaculture demonstration sites. Over
the last 12 years he has been a driving force in the design and development
of the Fryer's Forest Ecovillage. Within the international permaculture
movement, David is respected for his commitment to presenting permaculture
ideas through practical projects. He teaches by personal example that a
sustainable lifestyle is a realistic, attractive and powerful alternative to
dependant consumerism.
As well as his constant involvement in the practical side of permaculture,
David is passionate about the philosophical and conceptual foundations for
sustainability, the focus of his seminal book "Permaculture, Principles and
Pathways Beyond Sustainability"
Gustavo Ramirez, graduated as a veterinarian in 1983, since then he has
participated in several wildlife projects and development of agro-ecological
systems.
He got interested in the health of the planet as a whole and started working
towards the protection of two wild areas near Buenos Aires City. Whilst
working there he created and developed an environmental education program
based on the deep connection with nature.
With Permaculture he found the synthesis of many areas in which he has been
working separately, which has opened new paths in his work with nature. He
received his initial training in Permaculture Design Course with Max
Lindegger in 1996, and has continue his training on Permaculture Advanced
Courses but mainly applying his knowledge in permaculture practice. He has
received his Permaculture Diploma by the Italian Academy of Permaculture. He
has a great experience in natural building. One of his passions is Natural
Agriculture based on Masanobu Fukuoka principles. He has offered several
courses among which the Permaculture Design Courses are the most outstanding
where 260 people from 35 countries have been graduated during the last 10
years.
He is also a Permaculture consultant.
He is founder member of Gaia Association. He has lived in Gaia Ecovillage
project for 11 years, and has played a leading role in the general design of
the site. He has created and coordinates Instituto Argentino de
Permacultura. He is also an active member since the creation of GEN (Global
Ecovillage Network) and ENA (Ecovillage Network of Americas)
One of his main interests at the moment is the adaptation of Permaculture
systems to the Latin-American reality, and the inclusion of art, native
flora, and popular knowledge to his designs.
The site
Gaia Ecovillage Project is located in Navarro 110km. southwest of Buenos
Aires City, on the Argentine pampas. Built as a milk-processing plant 50
years ago, Gaia has been extensively rehabilitated as a Living and Learning
Center, with sleeping facilities, classrooms, library, community Center,
etc. Power at Gaia is generated by wind turbines, and good examples of
reforestation, forest garden, natural building, appropriate
technology, waste water treatment, composting toilets, solar showers, solar
ovens and several sustainable systems in different stage of development may
be seen at the site. All of this in the context of a small pioneer
community in evolving process.
Gaia hosts the regional office of ENA (Ecovillage Network of the Americas),
and the Argentine Permaculture Institute (IAP), as a space for
experimenting, implementing and teaching Permaculture systems. It offers an
updated library covering a wide range of topics based on sustainability, as
well as interesting videos (most in english).
FEES AND REGISTRATION
Vacancies are limited. If you are interested, please send your application
form, and once you are accepted, you can send a deposit of 30% to confirm
your place on the course. The deposit is non-refundable unless your program
is fully booked or cancelled. You can pay the balance of your fee at your
arrival, before the start of the course.
The proposal is to live in the site during the entire course. The lodge is
in shared rooms, and the meals are vegetarian
The cost for the Advanced course is us$450, include accommodation and
vegetarian meals.
The cost for the PDC is us$1050, include accommodation and vegetarian meals.
There are some scholarships available for local participants.
There will be translation Spanish - English available
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Asociación GAIA - Argentine Permaculture Institute
www.gaia.org.ar / Email: gaia@gaia.org.ar
Postal Address: Almafuerte 1732 - San Martin -
(1650) Buenos Aires - Argentina
Phone (+54-2272) 492072
Celular (+54-2227) 15552554
Fax (+54-11) 47522197