Format: Field-based (outdoor), 2.5-day seminar (Urban Homestead Tour Friday evening)
This seminar is an introduction to the 72-hour Permaculture Design Certificate course as designed and taught by Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton.
Trainers: Rene Michalak (Certified Permaculture Designer and Facilitator), Martin Scholz (Certified Permaculture Designer and Facilitator), Kathy Parsons (Life-long Urban Homesteader)
Registration: max. 8 people
Admission: $250 (incl. notes pkg, lunch and coffee / tea with all contributions going to certify the Centre for Urban Agriculture in Alberta as an Urban Permaculture Research Institute) - couples discount $400.
This outdoor-focused (applied learning) introduction to the design science of permaculture - explains the theory and takes you through FIVE Permaculture designed projects that are patterned on Nature. This is an ideal introduction for anyone interested in learning more about Permaculture design and what it can do for your property - focus is on the foundational principles and practices of sustainable gardening / urban homesteading, rainwater harvesting, and restoration agriculture. Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It's the harmonious integration of landscape and people - providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibility of a stable social order. The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions, rather than asking only one yield of them; and allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.
Agenda:
Friday (6:00pm - 9:30pm) : three-home guided tour of urban homesteads in Red Deer - Oriole Park / Parkvale / Mountview, introductions and narrative of why permaculture design is needed
Saturday (9:00am - 5:00pm) : In-class check in - yoga stretch (coffee / tea), Welcome and review ground rules, Permaculture Prime Directive, Ethics and Principles, Concepts, Themes and Methods of Design
Lunch
Guided Tour of the Piper Creek Restoration Agriculture Project to learn Observation & Analysis, Zone and Sector Analysis, Design Exercise, Questions
Sunday (9:00am - 6:00pm) : International Permaculture Day! - In-class check In - yoga stretch (coffee / tea), Patterns and pattern recognition, Central Alberta Climate & Air / Trees / Soils / Earthworks and Water
Lunch
Guided Tour of the JJ Gaetz Farmstead, Michael O'Brien Wetland, and North Michener Grounds, Design Exercise, Q & A and next steps
To register and for more info contact:
Rene Michalak
Project Lead and Director
The Centre for Urban Agriculture in Alberta
403-986-7981
rene@urbanpermaculture.ca
Canada