This weekend course offers a chance to get to grips with the core principles of permaculture, its origins and its applications. Permaculture has developed into something that can be applied to every aspect of our lives from self-development to agriculture….so what’s it all about?

It is a set of design principles, inspired by natural self-sustaining systems and based upon the ethics of caring for people, the planet and our combined future. In our introduction you’ll learn about these principles and how they are relevant to your own situation, and how to apply them to your daily life. The course will include the following subjects:

Earthcare:

Permaculture Principles
Linking – creating systems

Peoplecare:

Communication
Communities

Fairshares:

Ethics
Resources

Methods:

Observation – land and people
Design methods
Gardening – composting, mulching, polycultures, perennials

Venue:

The course will be held at the renowned permaculture farm Ragmans Lane, set in the beautiful Wye Valley in the Forest Of Dean. Accomodation is available in the coverted barn bunkhouse in small, single-sex dorms, or in the camping area next to the bunkhouse. The course is full catered for with delicious organic, vegetarian food, much of which comes from the market garden on the farm. All diets are catered for, just let us know your needs when you book.

For more information on the facilities go to ragmans.co.uk

Teachers:

The course will be taught by Caroline Aitken and Matt Dunwell.

Caroline has been teaching permaculture at Ragmans Lane Farm and other centres around the country for several years and originally trained at the farm with Patrick Whitefield, with whom she worked for 8 years. Caroline has a background in market gardening, horticulture, smallholding and design and teaches with clarity and experience.

Matt Dunwell is the owner of Ragmans Lane Farm and a permaculture pioneer in the UK. He has gained experience in many fields over the years and is now focussed on developing holistic management practices with his ‘beyond organic’ juice orchards. He has been teaching permaculture for many years and teaches with engaging knowledge and enthusiasm.

For more information go to www.ragmans.co.uk

Fees:

Course fees include teaching, accommodation and food.

Early bird rate (book before 30th January 2015) £150

Full rate: £180

Concessions: Available on request at our discretion, please contact us to discuss.

Booking:

To book a place on the course contact us at:

caroline@patrickwhitefield.co.uk

07938 213664

You will be sent a booking form.