This document outlines the objectives and content of an introductory permaculture course. By the end of the course, participants will be able to explain what permaculture is and its relevance to their lives, make a garden in a day, and identify useful local species. They will also develop a future development plan. By lunchtime on the first day, participants will be able to name their fellow students, state their preferred learning styles, and understand where permaculture applies to their lives. The course will cover natural patterns like maximizing edges and stacking functions, behavioral patterns such as starting small and minimum intervention, and energy patterns involving harvesting, conserving, and using energy efficiently.

1. An Introduction to Permaculture
Graham Bell & Sandy James
Quarries Farm, Bangor

2. Objectives
• By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Explain what Permaculture is
• State its relevance to 5 aspects of their lives
• Make a garden in a day
• Explain their future development plan
• Identify the main useful species relevant to
their area
• Show the connections between the above.

3. Objectives
• By Lunchtime, participants will be able to:
• Explain their preferred model for learning
• Name all their fellow participants
• Identify their expectations for the course
• See and explain the main areas of their lives
where Permaculture is relevant.

7. PERMACULTURE:
Designing for a Sustainable Future

11. Natural Patterns:
• Maximise Edge
• Use natural successions
• Exploit stacking opportunities

16. Behavioural Patterns
• Everything Gardens
• Everything is a Gift
• Start Small, start Local
• Yield is Unlimited
• Minimum intervention for maximum return.

17. Minimum Intervention
• Do Nothing
• Increase Throughput
• Biological Intervention
• Mechanical Intervention
• Chemical Intervention

18. Energy Pattern
• First: Harvest Energy
• Second: Conserve Energy
• Only then: Use Energy

19. Some other Patterns – Relationships
• Maximise Relationships
• Diversity of Elements
• Duplicity of Function
• Maximise Energy Usage between
source and sink
• Learn about them
• Relative to Place