2. Teaching experience It was really good to sit through all the PDC lessons
Co-teaching with Lesley again and to see Lesley's enthusiastic and inspiring
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea approach to teaching and to look at the whole thing
da Gonçala again from a perspective of learning to teach the
•General support course. Also as it was such a big group it was helpful
•Personal Reflection for Lesley that we were there especially in the
•Rosie taught Living Water practical sessions where we were fully hands on
•Feedback helping with organising, preparing of materials and
•Personal Reflection assisting in the sessions.
•May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
da Gonçala
•May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
•June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
3. Teaching experience • Good informal, chatty style
Co-teaching with Lesley • Enjoyable
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea • Might help to learn to write and speak at the
da Gonçala same time
•General support
•Personal Reflection
• Speak up a bit especially with large groups
•Rosie taught Living Water
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
•May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
da Gonçala
•May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
•June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
4. Teaching experience I really enjoyed the session, felt comfortable with
Co-teaching with Lesley the content and felt that I expressed it clearly
enough for all to understand.
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
da Gonçala
•General support
•Personal Reflection
•Rosie taught Living Water
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
•May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
da Gonçala
•May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
•June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
5. Teaching experience • Pre-preparation good
Co-teaching with Lesley • Soil profile nice, liked the way you developed /
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea adapted soil profile picture to show how sheet
da Gonçala mulching fits in and works
• Got the job done well
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea • Good enjoyable session
da Gonçala • Maybe try to get the materials together
•Josh taught Soil profile and sheet
mulching
beforehand, especially with larger groups
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
•Rosie taught Living Water
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
6. Teaching experience I felt that writing on the board before the lesson
Co-teaching with Lesley helped, maybe a good way could be with big
overlaying pieces of paper. Next time I will get the
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
materials and tools together beforehand. Other
da Gonçala
than that I think it went well, everyone learnt what
they needed to learn and really enjoyed the session.
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
da Gonçala
•Josh taught Soil profile and sheet
mulching
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
•Rosie taught Living Water
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
7. Teaching experience • Good session, chatty and involved, inclusive.
Co-teaching with Lesley • Still need to pick up speed, practise writing
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea faster, maybe write bigger and wipe more to give
da Gonçala more space.
• Be careful that lower case letters stay legible
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea • Be aware of sometimes needing to bring it
da Gonçala together quickly
•Josh taught Soil profile and sheet
mulching
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
•Rosie taught Living Water
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
8. Teaching experience It was a good fun session and I received
Co-teaching with Lesley compliments from the students. I thought of some
nice examples and generally it felt smoother this
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
time. I need to be more careful in having correct
da Gonçala
information e.g trench watering is not necessarily
the best to save water.
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
da Gonçala
•Josh taught Soil profile and sheet
mulching
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
•Rosie taught Living Water
•Feedback
•Personal Reflection
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
9. Teaching experience The decision to teach this session was quite last
Co-teaching with Lesley minute but was good for being flexible. We taught
half the session together but then Josh had to go out
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
to be with Lowarn. However, generally the session
da Gonçala
went well. This was quite a large group so it was an
interesting challenge to fit in all the information and
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
have time to adequately answer all the questions.
da Gonçala
The session was well received and prompted
discussion and some interesting ideas from the
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal students.
•We both taught Forest Garden -
Zone 2
•Josh - Sheet mulching and soil
samples practical
•Personal Reflection
•Rosie - Living water and
Aquaculture
•Personal Reflection
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
10. Teaching experience Went very well, even though it was raining at the
Co-teaching with Lesley beginning of the session people were still ready to
get out there and do it. It was really an enjoyably
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
challenging task to coordinate such a large group but
da Gonçala
having prepared all the materials beforehand really
helped. It all worked out well and a beautiful double
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
spiral raised bed was the result.
da Gonçala
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
•We both taught Forest Garden -
Zone 2
•Josh - Sheet mulching and soil
samples practical
•Personal Reflection
•Rosie - Living water and
Aquaculture
•Personal Reflection
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
11. Teaching experience It was good to teach two sessions together to know
Co-teaching with Lesley how it would feel and to develop another subject. I was
pleased that I managed to bring it together in the time
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
even though I went quite a lot over time on the first
da Gonçala
session. I didn't really manage to find a comfortable
and practical arrangement of the space which made it a
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
bit les smooth in places but generally I feel I covered
da Gonçala
everything and imparted the information clearly. I have
now decided to only use capitals and am making a
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal conscious effort to do so... even though it sill needed to
•We both taught Forest Garden -
be bigger. It was interesting as it was a large group and
Zone 2 teaching space, the dynamics of the session and
•Josh - Sheet mulching and soil positioning of the board and myself had to be
samples practical different... all good practise.
•Personal Reflection
•Rosie - Living water and
Aquaculture
•Personal Reflection
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
12. Teaching experience It was really positive to teach a totally different subject
especially as this is another topic which I feel strongly
Co-teaching with Lesley about. I put some of the more complex diagrams up on
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea the board before the lesson to save me some time
da Gonçala although then I had to be aware that the students still
needed to write it all and acount for the time they
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea needed too. It was good to comment on the turning of
da Gonçala the neighbours field and the soil blowing away which
they had seen the day before as this gave a real world
example. I had some very positive comments and
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
everyone semed to enjoy the session. Due to it being a
Colmeal
new subject I lost me place a few times but I think
repeated teaching would make it smoother. Also there
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount is more information I need to know on subjects to be
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia able to answer
Rosie - Living Soils questions... e.g, how thick
Personal Reflection is topsoil? how many
Josh - Companion Planting million hectares is
Personal Reflection portugal - ie think of a real
Josh - Soil profile and sheet mulching world example to give a
practical relative understanding of
Personal Reflection a figure like 5.4milion
hectares
13. Teaching experience It was very nice to teach a new subject and a subject
Co-teaching with Lesley which I have studied and researched quite a lot. Rosie
writing all the notes on the board beforehand made it
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
possible for me to go over the whole subject in a
da Gonçala
relaxed way, discussing and answering questions as we
went along. I even tried to answer some questions in
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
Portuguese that one student was having difficulty with
da Gonçala
understanding. I really enjoyed this session but I know I
need to formulate my own lesson plan for it and get
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal some more of the facts straight in my head and give a
clearer example of a guild. Practise drawing chickens!
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
Rosie - Living Soils
Personal Reflection
Josh - Companion Planting
Personal Reflection
Josh - Soil profile and sheet mulching
practical
Personal Reflection
14. Teaching experience I felt that the soil profile went well, it was really nice to
Co-teaching with Lesley have such a small group as there was lots of time for
Q&A and discussion. The practical was a little confused
March 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
as a lot of the materials were not prepared and were all
da Gonçala
over the site. I need to make a bit more preparation in
knowing that I have all I need to hand, but other than
May 2010 9 day PDC in Varzea
that I feel it went well.
da Gonçala
May 2011 9 day PDC in Coiços
Colmeal
June 2011 9 day PDC at Mount
of Oaks Povoa de Atalaia
Rosie - Living Soils
Personal Reflection
Josh - Companion Planting
Personal Reflection
Josh - Soil profile and sheet mulching
practical
Personal Reflection
15. Teaching experience It was nice to see a different style of teaching which was far
more discussion based as a result of having less time
Co-teaching with Daphna constraints in this 9 week format. There was more time for
9 week course games and group building activities and because it was spread
over a number of weeks people had more chance to develop
8th May 2010 relationships. Also, having the possibility to set a weekly
Co teaching introduction to homework meant that a certain percentage of the course is
permaculture day home, self led study coming back each week to share what we
found / did / thought / read / experienced / observed with the
group. Unfortunately we were unable to attend the design
29 May 2010
presentations at the end due to work commitments but we felt
Josh - Sheet mulching practical that everyone involved gained a lot from this approach to the
PDC both communally and individually. We liked the fact that
5th June 2010 each Saturday session was taught at a different participants
The many benefits of a tree land building a greater understanding of each other's lifestyles
Josh - Net and Pan mulch pit and home habitats. Incorporated into this was that certain
practical sites were chosen for certain sessions, an example of this is
that appropriate technologies where they had examples of
Forest Garden Lesson
solar, wind and a home scale biogas digester so participants
could see real life examples. At the same site we talked about
1st May 2010 education as they had taught their child at home and had
Two games on Alternative forms experience to share, Lastly they had a big beekeeping workshop
of Local Currency with a solar dryer / wax melter etc which fitted quite well into
Time bank - Human machine alternative technologies and was interesting to see. It is clear
game that this format of course is best suited to a fairly close local
In a circle LETS juggle community where the participants are willing to come to a
session once a week.
16. Teaching experience We discussed all of the ethics and principles
Co-teaching with Daphna between ourselves including our own individual
9 week course experiences, examples and interpretations of
them. Daphna merely facilitated in this process and
8th May 2010 then clarified and brought together these ideas for
Co teaching introduction to each point with other significant examples. We
permaculture day found this to be a really good way of enabling people
to learn the ideas behind permaculture from their
29 May 2010 own point of view. We were also facilitating in the
Josh - Sheet mulching practical discussion process, helping clarify issues, giving
other examples and observing and learning about
5th June 2010 this method of teaching for ourselves. As a different
The many benefits of a tree way to illustrate input / output analysis Daphna
Josh - Net and Pan mulch pit looked at the differences between an industrial cup
practical
of tea and the most ecologically sound cup of
Forest Garden Lesson
tea. This seemed quite a good idea as it was
something that everyone could contribute to
1st May 2010
Two games on Alternative forms
discussion on whereas not everyone knows about
of Local Currency chickens. The participants then also received the
Time bank - Human machine parable of the chicken handout and discussed it in
game groups.
In a circle LETS juggle
17. Teaching experience First of all, on this day we did a classroom session
Co-teaching with Daphna about soil levels and composting, then we went and
9 week course looked at compost heaps in various stages of
decomposition. Then we went and did a sheet
8th May 2010 mulch. I found it to be a slightly strange choice of
Co teaching introduction to site to put a sheet mulch as it was on the edge of a
permaculture day rocky slope which was quite hard to get water
to. However the site had already been chosen by
29 May 2010 the owners of the land. Other than this it was a
Josh - Sheet mulching practical good, fun session and I feel that everyone got the
idea.
5th June 2010
The many benefits of a tree
Josh - Net and Pan mulch pit
practical
Forest Garden Lesson
1st May 2010
Two games on Alternative forms
of Local Currency
Time bank - Human machine
game
In a circle LETS juggle
18. Teaching experience Teaching together like this was very effective as, at
Co-teaching with Daphna any one time, there is always someone to maintain
9 week course discussion and conversation about the subject and
answer questions which arise whilst the other is
8th May 2010 drawing or writing. We took turns in these different
Co teaching introduction to parts of the lesson and it made it easier for both of
permaculture day us, made better use of our individual skills and
meant we could give a more detailed and complete
29 May 2010 explanation.
Josh - Sheet mulching practical
5th June 2010
The Many Benefits of a Tree
Forest Gardens – Zone 2
Josh - Net and Pan mulch pit
practical
1st May 2010
Two games on Alternative forms
of Local Currency
Time bank - Human machine
game
In a circle LETS juggle
19. Teaching experience This was a great lesson, first we did board session
Co-teaching with Daphna showing clearly in diagrams what we were about to
9 week course do; then we split the class into two groups and one
came with me to do the Net and Panning the other
8th May 2010 went with Daphna to make a swale. We managed to
Co teaching introduction to create pits around 5 trees on the slope and mulch
permaculture day each pit well.
29 May 2010
Josh - Sheet mulching practical
5th June 2010
The Many Benefits of a Tree
Forest Gardens – Zone 2
Josh - Net and Pan Mulch Pit
Practical
1st May 2010
Two games on Alternative forms
of Local Currency
Time bank - Human machine
game
In a circle LETS juggle
20. Teaching experience How it works
Co-teaching with Daphna 1. Each participant thinks of a service that they want to offer
to the community which can be equated in hours (e.g.
9 week course cooking, carpentry, hairdressing) not a product (e.g. bread,
doors, a haircut)
8th May 2010 2. They each create a brief movement for their chosen
service
Co teaching introduction to
permaculture day 3. The group comes together and one by one take it in turns
to assemble a machine which tells the story of the hour to
hour energy flow through the community, each part of the
29 May 2010 machine performs it's function once which then makes the
Josh - Sheet mulching practical next part of the machine move - each time a movement is
repeated it represents an hour of each persons time
performing that service
5th June 2010 Note: Throughout this game the teachers are
The Many Benefits of a Tree explaining the process and function of the time bank
Forest Gardens – Zone 2
Josh - Net and Pan Mulch Pit Interesting additions to the game - ask all participants
Practical to add a sound when they perform their motion
Intentions of this game:
1st May 2010 1. To explain the idea and principles behind the time bank
Two games on Alternative forms 2. To make each participant think about what services they
of Local Currency could offer to their local community
3. To break the ice and have some fun with a living machine
Time bank - Human machine
of flowing human energy
game
In a circle LETS juggle
21. Teaching experience Personal Reflection
Co-teaching with Daphna • This was a bit of a shambles...
9 week course • People got self conscious when we asked them
to perform movements one by one in the circle
8th May 2010 which made the rest of the exercise more
Co teaching introduction to difficult - next time we won't do the circle bit.
permaculture day
• They also did not understand that each
29 May 2010 movement should only be performed once in the
Josh - Sheet mulching practical sequence and that each movement started the
next part moving, they all kept endlessly
5th June 2010 repeating their movements resulting in a
The Many Benefits of a Tree malfunctioning machine.
Forest Gardens – Zone 2 • It still probably made them think about services
Josh - Net and Pan Mulch Pit they could offer but it didn't seem that they
Practical really understood the time bank... they did all get
over the self consciousness and have a laugh in
1st May 2010
the end.
Two games on Alternative forms
of Local Currency • Next time we'll write a lesson plan before it and
Time bank - Human machine now that Rosie actually understands the
game objective it should work better,
In a circle LETS juggle
22. Teaching experience This is a game we made up to help illustrate the
Co-teaching with Daphna functioning of a LETS system in the local
9 week course community with real life services and products. It
involves a circle of people throwing juggling balls
8th May 2010 in a sequence of economic events. It shows the
Co teaching introduction to various aspects of the LETS system including debt,
permaculture day oversaving and how people could start such a
system in the local area. It is game and discussion
29 May 2010 based learning which seems to be an effective way
Josh - Sheet mulching practical to get something like this across to people new to
this idea of Local Exchange Trading.
5th June 2010
The Many Benefits of a Tree Personal Reflection
Forest Gardens – Zone 2 This went better than the other game and people
Josh - Net and Pan Mulch Pit were generally very interested in the ideas of
Practical
creating their own local currency.
1st May 2010
Two games on Alternative forms
of Local Currency
Time bank - Human machine
game
In a circle LETS juggle
23. Other Teaching Tools
As well as this practical experience we have
been looking at a variety of permaculture
teaching resources and multimedia PDCs.
These include:
•Bill Mollison PDC Audio with notes
•Jeff Lawton Videos: PDC, Forest gardening,
Water Harvesting, Introduction to
permaculture
•Sepp Holzer Natural Farming Videos
Plus many others...
We also have a huge range of books which we
have been studying and taking information
from for our lesson plans. See bibliography
for full details.
24. Teaching Experience
Summer Camps at Vale Da Lama
July and August 2010
We spent two months at Vale da Lama teaching a variety
of different skills for the summer camps held on site and at
a centre in a nearby town. We were teaching sessions in
circus skills, yoga and stretching, marionette puppet
making and mini tipi making. We both have a lot of
experience teaching circus skills to children (and adults) of
all ages and it was interesting to be using on a wider range
of our skills to share with the children.
These summer camps are open for any children / young
adults to attend but was also specifically trying to provide
opportunities for participants from less advantaged
situations so there were links with a youth organisation in
Lisbon and also with the local residential social centre /
orphanage in Lagos. We always really appreciate this
approach as it is great for young people from more
difficult backgrounds to come and try something new and
we often find that the response from them can be more
enthusiastic and genuine than in some other cases. The
final camp was specifically about arts and culminated in a
performance in the local town which was also nice for
interacting more with local people.
26. National / International courses PMI
+
Fits most
city/conventional
working peoples
holiday/free time
•Gets people out of the city
•Opens peoples' minds
•Changes habits / lifestyle
-
Reaches a wider
group of walks of life
•Not just regional
Encourages
International travel
Interesting
More biodiversity in
people People on standard income could pay normal rates enabling people on low income to
Course costs higher as pay a reduced rate
•Greater cultural exchange
food and catering need
to be included
27. National / International courses PMI
Intensive 9 day
-
• Can be a bit of a rush to get
such a vast subject into
such a short time
Intensive +
• Less travelling
• Not so much time for
practical
• Can be gruelling for the
teacher
9 day • Less polluting from fuel
• Shortest possible time to fit
in 72 hours - can be the most
PMI
convenient for very busy
• Especially with many people
people
• Not much time for one to
one techer / student time
29. National / International courses PMI
2- 7 day blocks Sunday to Saturday course with interval
+
• Only a week at a time so may be easier to fit into holiday/free time
• Sunday to Saturday gives one weekend day on either side for more relaxed travel
• The time between can be good for
• reflection
• self study
• homework
• Lots more time
• easier for the teacher
• for games, activities and discussion
2- 7 day
blocks Sunday
to Saturday
course with -
Interesting interval PMI • Even more travel
• Possible to run two of these • Might be too much time for
courses at the same time, some people to commit
alternating weeks and groups
30. Each session could be on a different farm/land
Bio-regional courses
+ •Participants get an insight into different applications of
permaculture in different situations
•Examples
•A site which has various examples of appropriate
technology
•Solar
PMI
•Wind
•Digester
•Hydro
Really forms a very strong
bioregional community
Could be the start of a local
permaculture group which
-
continues regular meetings
after
Maybe no need for catering as
people could bring food to
share - you always get a better
meal this way anyway
Limited to local people Interesting
Could have many other by-products
Lots of time for •Permaculture Group
•Reflection •LETS
•Self study between sessions •Work Share
•For communication between •Seed Swaps
teachers and students Can be challenging for everyone •Free exchange markets
to arrive on time and when only •Collaborative projects
meeting for a day or a weekend
Practical home works •Season specific recipe books
this can create delays and
disturbances •Play group / Home schooling group
•Rain gauge
•Harvest celebrations
•Phonological diary
•Each farm could set up a farm shop or farm kitchen for the weekend to make use of surplus
•Soil sample
and earn some extra money
31. Bio-regional courses
1 day every weekend or fortnight- 9 weeks
+ -
• No need for
• Still very
accomodation
intense
consideration
schedule
• May suit some
people better
as shorter time 1 day every
frame, less weekend or
commitment fortnight- 9
weeks PMI
33. Bio-regional courses
28 days spread over a year PMI
+
•Very in depth
•Lessons can be in tune with the seasons
•Mud building in the summer
•Tree planting in the autumn
•Lots of time for practicals
Interesting
•As long as they've done at least a -
certain percentage of he 28 days and
present a design at the end they can •Could be too much of a commitment
still get the certificate for some people
•Sessions could be mostly between •People would need to be willing to
mid spring to early autumn for camp dependant on host site
chance of better weather accommodation possibilities
•Due to possible variety of sites •Could be more challenging in some
careful planning could make it seasons - hard weather
possible in colder/wetter times
•Could fit into seasonal celebrations
34. Other thoughts
Number of students
• Max
• 25
• Min
Discounts?
•6
• Early bookings
Food?
• Very low price for
• Catering people on low or
person(s) minimal income
• Each brings a • Invitations to
dish people from
• Mixture of developing
both countries
• eg breakfast • Spreading ideas
included but to where they're
bring a dish needed
for other • Bringing a
meals richness of other
Venue(s) cultures into our
• Botanico PDC
• Soito
• Aldeia Velha
• Farms of participants
35. Our PDCs
Here are two examples of how might run a PDC: one is a 16 day intensive course for
a more national/international group (2 weeks with two free days - 16 days) this
would be based locally, the other is a more extensive course for a bio regional group
(every weekend or every other weekend - 7 weekends - 14 days) that would start
and finish in Coimbra but spend the other 5 weekends on different projects within
100k of the city.
The intensive course would definitely need catering but the extensive course has
more scope for flexibility and could be on a bring food to share basis or the host
farm could give the option of individually paying for meals. For us the local course
would cost us less in fuel then the one that is based in Coimbra and surrounding
farms but we feel that this bio regional course would have the most consequential
positive outcomes, bringing like minded people together.
36. Catering if needed
Us
Our PDCs • Bought food
• Three meals a day
• 10 Euros/person/day
• Transport if not local • 16 days = 160 Euros/person
• 21cents/kilometre • Any surplus money from food
• Teaching fee bought goes either to
• 90 Euros per day • wages of cooks
• food costs of low income
participants
• Drinks - Where possible Fresh
Herbal teas and Juices from the
land (free), Fair Trade Coffee
(coffee ban may be too extreme
just yet)
Venue?
• Depends on which
venue
Fees • Ideally buy organic staples in
bulk
• Cheaper than small quantities
and better than supporting
• Even in situation
where venue is supermarkets
free, percentage of • If not grown on site, buy local
course costs will be fresh produce where possible
a donation • Veg
• Often venue benefits • Fruit
- eg • Cheese
• Associacao - selling • Milk
drinks, meals... • Fuel cost
• Lands - people to • If solely gas – up 50 euros
buy produce or
• Wage for cooks
products on site
37. Our PDCs
16 day intensive costings – 18
Participants
Us Venue Catering
Teaching 16 160€ per person for
days -2 off donation food cost
@90€/day X 18 people
= 1440€ = 2880€
Fuel NA 40€ per day for
cooks x16 days =
640€
Cooking fuel
= 50 €
=5010 € / 18 278.3 or 285€ for
people some lee way, venue
donation and to
improve subsequent
course facilities
38. Our PDCs
7 weekends - 14 days extensive
costing – 18 Participants
Us Venue Catering
Teaching 14 days @ 90/day Allow 5 € / weekend / N/A
=1260 € person for that
weekend’s venue
= 90€ /weekend
x 7 weekends
= 630€
Fuel 0.21 cents / Km
Average 146 Km (distance to
Botanico and back) = 30.70 €
x 7 weekends = 214.60 €
= 2104 € 116.9 or 130€ for
/ 18 some lee way and
people = improvements to
subsequent courses
39. Our PDCs
Advertising
Magazines / Journals Wide spread and
Internet Posters / Flyers
Newspapers accessible
Permaculturaportugal.ning Permaculture magazine Cities Towns and Villages In Portuguese and English
Venues – Formal venues and
Portal de Permacultura Local Newspapers Word of Mouth
Host farms
Permaculture research
institute
Permaculture Association
Facebook
40. Our PDC lesson order
1. Group resource card 28. input output and relative location
2. Introduction to Permaculture 29. zone 3
3. Basic ethics and Principles 30. Living soil
4. Learning strategies 31. soil profiles & sheet mulch
5. Partner Listening / Mindmapping exercise 32. Composts & worms
6. Evidence 33. Compost
7. lifestyle assessment 34. sheet mulch & soil samples
8. Design Principles 35. no till
9. Location games 36. zone 4
10. personal strategies 37. The Many Function of a Tree
11. Zone 5 38. living water
12. Web of life 39. pacing 100m
13. Pattern 40. rain water calculation
14. Obredim 41. aquaculture
15. Zones and Sectors 42. sewage
16. observation walk / living camera 43. zone 0 new natural building
17. climate 44. appropriate technology
18. Diary of daily phenomena 45. biological resources
19. temperate landscape profile 46. wiser money
20. arid 47. local economy games
21. Swales 48. bioregions
22. Basic surveying 49. transition
23. urban 50. design methods
Space fillers / Fit in sessions
24. zone 1 51. base map theory
•Questions for self-observation
25. companion planting 52. Client interview •PMIs
26. zone 2 - forest garden 53. Group tree mind map
27. Parable of the Chicken 54. Design presentation
41. Introduction to Permaculture Course
We envision that as well as running PDCs we would also like to give Introductory courses which would
give participants a clear idea of the reasons for, the essentials of and the potential of permaculture. We
would help them learn about and consider some of the tools available to observe and understand the
landscape around them and encourage them to look to their own zone zeros and address their own lives
and take personal responsibility for the choices they make and the action they take. We would hope to
personally inspire them to step out on their own path of learning and designing, following their own
interests and passions.
We have designed a course structure which could be combined very well with the 16 day intensive PDC
course creating very interesting dynamics, edge effects and enriching the whole course experience for
both groups. The Introductory students would participate in the first two days of the PDC, attending all
the same lessons and activities as the PDC students.
At the end of the second day we would set them some homework, e.g. Diary of daily phenomena for
two weeks, think about how you can make positive change in you life and global impact... They will also
work on a small element design (eg How could I best incorporate chickens into my garden?) This will be
chosen by them dependant on their personal situation and interests.
They will then return for the last two days of the PDC. On the Saturday, while the PDC students are
immersed in the design process we will have a feedback session on their progress in, reflection on the
last two weeks and presentations of their designs just for us and the other introductory students. This
could then be followed, on the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, by student led learning
sessions of some of the selected lessons from the PDC which best reflect the groups’ interests.
They will then attend the design presentations of the PDC students so that they can get a different
perspective of design in the larger scale land based designs generated by the complete design course.
We then hope that these students would want to continue to the design course and, if they wanted,
could perhaps join the course after the first two days, paying a little less and still attending the whole
course.
