Next course date: July 20 ~ 27, 2008

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is an ethical design system for creating sustainable human culture.

Permaculture is the conscious design of cultivated ecosystems that have the diversity,stability and resilience of natural environments.

Permaculture systems neither exploit nor pollute: instead they provide for the harmonious integration of individuals into the landscape in such a way that the land grows in richness, productivity and aesthetic beauty.

Permaculture models the design of homes, farms and towns on the intricately balanced relationships seen in the natural world.

About The Course

The course offers you practical training in Permaculture design principals so that you can become more self sufficient in your own life by learning to meet your basic needs for food, shelter, energy, fulfilling employment and supportive community.

The Permaculture Fundamentals course provides a basic grounding in Permaculture as a whole systems approach to ecological living so that you are empowered to apply these skills on your own property and within your own community.

There will be a balance between classroom time, hands-on experimental learning and personal empowerment work.

This training will be useful for people with varying levels of experience - from backyard gardeners to design professionals.

Course Topics

- Ethics of Ecological Design
- Ecosystem Dynamics and Permaculture Principles
- Landscape Energy Analysis
- Building Soil, Conserving Water and Enhancing Nutrient Flow
- Forests, Hydrology and Microclimates
- Designing the Productive Home
- Organic Gardening and Food Production
- Practical Earthworks: Swales, Roads, Dams and Stream banks
- Low-cost Energy Collection
- Keeping Small Animals
- Aquaculture in the Backyard
- Building Design using Local, Natural and Recycled Materials
- Mapping, Appropriate Tools and Technology
- Useful Plants and Planting
- Dealing with Waste
- Community Economics: Local Trading Systems
- Skills for Creating Community
- Living Ecologically in the City

The Instructors

Gregoire Lamoureux - is the director of the Kootenay Permaculture Institute in BC. He has over ten years of experience as a permaculture designer, consultant and teacher and has taught courses in many parts of the country. He is on the Board of Directors of Seeds of Diversity Canada and a founding member of the Kootenay Organic Growers Society being on the Certifying Committee for three years. His work experience includes small-scale nursery management, plant propagation, greenhouse production, market gardening, orcharding, bioengineering (land restoration), landscaping, aquaculture and forestry work. He has written articles for Natural Life and Eco Farm & Garden magazines and has been a guest lecturer at numerous conferences including the Guelph Organic Agriculture Conference.

Richard Griffith - is a founder and president of the Permaculture Action Worknet having organized and taught Permaculture courses across Ontario for the last ten years. He has been an avid Community Gardener for many years and is involved in sustainable forest issues. He is a committed environmental and community activist with such organizations as: Earthroots, the Scarborough Hunger Coalition and the Ontario Environmental Network. He lives in an Off-the-Grid Straw bale Home in Southern Ontario.

Next course date: July 20 ~ 27, 2008

Course Tuition

The cost of the 7day course is $695.00 plus meals and accommodation.

A monthly time payment plan over six months, is available.

Early registration will guarantee you a place in the course.

Call 519-942-8339 or email info@TrueSourceSeminars.com for more information.

Certification

Completion of the course and an additional 8 Days of practicum (offered July 28 to Aug 3) will fulfill the requirements for the Permaculture Design Course Certificate.

CONTACT us for more information on upcoming workshops
or take a look at our Calendar of Events page.