15th - 28th March 09 - Walkamin • Far North Queensland

A Permaculture Design Certificate course in Tropical Far North Queensland with Darren Doherty, who has designed and developed over 1100 properties across 4 continents and taught many PDC's, including with both Bill Mollison & David Holmgren (the co-originators of Permaculture). Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from one of the best, internationally renowned teachers in the world!

The course will incorporate intensive theory and practice in all aspects of Permaculture Design. This course is being held at FreeRange Permaculture’s demonstration site “Rosella Waters”, a stunning 6 acres situated right on the banks of the Barron River.

We are all looking for practical solutions. Farmers are seeking ways to earn an income and build soil fertility. People in cities are seeking effective ways of growing healthy, organic food in urban environments. It is possible to retrofit an existing house or property that results in lower energy costs and better health for us and our families. There are solutions that use intelligent, thoughtful design principles to build sustainable lives, and sustainable communities.

Permaculture design principles can be applied across any biosphere, on any property, in any landscape, and in any city. Permaculture offers an integrated approach to land use and community building, designing diverse and stable ecosystems for people to provide food, energy, shelter, and other needs. With positivism and practical applications of innovative and effective design, we can all live in a sustainable way and allow natural systems to flourish for the betterment of global health.

The Permaculture Design Certificate Course (PDC) has been delivered since the early 1980’s to possibly millions of people across the globe. All manner of people have done a PDC to equip themselves with the ability to confront constant cultural & environmental change & to become more sustainable, energy efficient members of the community.The PDC is an efficient & cost effective means of gaining the knowledge of Permaculture Ethics & Principles together with amassing a skills, techniques & knowledge base for designing & developing sustainable human settlements - from a small home to a broad acre farm.

The 2 week residential format combines all of this to make for a totally empowering experience that is very likely to change your life…not to mention the connections and friends you will make for life too!

Why take this Permaculture Design Certificate Course?

This PDC delivers the certified curriculum from The Permaculture Institute of Australia (Bill Mollison) . The curriculum is therefore based on Mollison’s Magnus opus: Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual.

The PDC is a very intensive learning experience. This interactive course has been specifically designed to meet the needs of adult learners, using a wide range of creative facilitation methods which have been roundly appreciated by Darren’s past participants.

The course aims to empower participants with the skills and knowledge required to become a person capable of designing and developing sustainable systems anywhere in the world.

The 72-hour Permaculture Institute PDC is equivalent to one university/college subject of one semester. It has always been intended to be a course focused on design and thinking, rather than about technique
This PDC manages to balance the needs of participants by delivering the curriculum using a diverse range of outdoor practicum & design exercises for applied learning, along with imagery-based slideshows & videos. Working on the design and development of 1000’s of properties in every corner of the globe has provided Darren with a plethora of before & after photographs and experiences to share with his students. This course can also serve as the foundation for further study and is a prerequisite for a Diploma in Permaculture Design.

About the Teacher 

Darren Doherty has extensive experience across the world in Permaculture project design, development & management. A focus on retrofitting broad acre agricultural systems has seen Darren acclaimed as a pioneer in this important & often overlooked field. He is a registered teacher of The Permaculture Institute, a qualified Whole Farm Planner (University of Melbourne), Approved Keyline Designer, & Accredited Permaculture Training (APT) Trainer. Back in Australia after a year travelling the world, teaching extensively in a huge variety of bioregions, students can expect a swag of new and updated ideas, techniques and information added to Darren’s already large array.. GIS, Consulting Processes, Keyline Design, Holistic Management™ and Carbon Farming plus a lot more…

Location & Travel

The course will be held on our demonstration site “Rosella Waters”, near Cairns in Tropical Far North Queensland, an easy 1hr drive from Cairns International Airport or 15 minutes from Atherton, the largest township on the majestic Atherton tablelands.

Free Range Permaculture 
Rosella Waters
331 Henry Hannam Drive
Walkamin QLD 4872

Please visit our map for the exact location.

Bus services are available from Cairns to Walkamin via Mareeba. Pickups can be provided for a small fee. Please contact us to arrange a pick up.

Bookings

The course fee for this two week course is $1,300. This fee includes all meals (omni or veg) and basic camping facilities over the two week period.

Just click the "Book Now" button below to pay a $150 dollar deposit to secure your spot on the course. You do not need a paypal account to pay via paypal. We use paypal because it is the most widely used and secure internet payment option available. After you have paid your deposit we will contact you via e-mail to confirm your booking.

A field analysis kit bag containing farmer’s level, compass, topographical maps of course site, soil analysis kit and other essential objects will also be available for purchase prior to the course. This kit bag is recommended as it contains the essential tools for this course. Please notify us when booking if you would like to purchase any of these items.

Accommodation

Accommodation for this course is provided in the form of campsites at Rosella Waters. The basic facilities include composting toilet and shower. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided at the course house site, over looking the beautiful Barron River, a short stroll from the shed where classes will be held.
Only 4km’s away is Walkamin Central Van Park which has powered & non powered van sites available. For more information call them on +61 07 4093 3990

Alternatively, the nearby towns of Mareeba (10kms) and Atherton (20kms) that lie within the majestic Atherton Tablelands region, both have a wide range of accommodation options available.

About FreeRange Permaculture

Our Permaculture demonstration site is “Rosella Waters” near Cairns in Far North Queensland. The 2.38H property is located in Walkamin near what is locally known as the “jump-up”, the edge of an ancient lava flow. At an elevation of close to 600 meters above sea level and with over 1000mm of rainfall per year, it is a unique climate suited to a wide range of produce. The property is fronted by 194 meters of the Barron River, which flows year round and is the major river in the region.

Any questions, just call Kym on 0407243298 or Georgie on 0437267323. 
Alternatively you can Email us.