A permaculture system is a unique landscape where all the plants and animals live in a balanced and self sustaining ecosystem.
It commonly involves developing a garden or farm where the plants and animals are put together in such a way that they support each others growth and development. The garden or farm may very well change over the years, but it always remains productive, requires little input once established, and is environmentally sound.
Learning to develop plans for permaculture systems (ie. a unique landscape where plants and animals live in a balanced and self sustaining ecosystem) is a crucial part of the permaculture process.This course develops the student's ability to prepare plans such plans.
Permaculture is a system of agriculture based on perennial, and self‑perpetuating, multi-use plants and animal species which are useful to man. In a broader context, permaculture is a philosophy which encompasses the establishment of environments which are highly productive, stable and harmonious and which provide food, shelter, energy etc., as well as supportive social and economic infrastructures.
Permaculture copies patterns from nature, it focuses on the way elements are placed in the landscape and in the way they inter-relate, rather then on the individual elements.
Other then food production, permaculture encompasses the use of appropriate technology eg. energy efficient buildings, recycling, waste water treatment, solar and wind energy and composting toilets.
In comparison to modern farming techniques practiced in Western Civilisation, the key elements of permaculture are low energy and high diversity inputs. The design of the landscape, whether on a suburban block or a large farm, is based on these elements.
This is an "intensive" foundation course. If you are only going to do "one" permaculture course do this! If you do this, do not do Permaculture I, II, III or IV as well (Permaculture Systems contains parts from the others).
[More info & enrolment: PERMACULTURE SYSTEMS BHT201]
