Design For Life!
Young People’s Permaculture Design Certificate Course
Permaculture design techniques offer an incredibly efficient way of growing food and designing lifestyles that work with ‘with, rather than against nature’.
In the face of the current global climate and ecological emergency, Permaculture offers genuine solutions and a design methodology that can create real ecological regeneration.
This permaculture course is designed specifically for young people aged 15 - 24yrs who are wanting to learn these solutions and discover practical ways to live life sustainably and ‘in harmony with nature’
The course is 12 days in total, 3 days at a time and is spread out over a year to help learners understand the seasonal year. Each learning block will occur in school holiday times, so you can fit this in with your school/college studies!
The course will cover topics and skills such as:
- Permaculture principles and ethics
- Design skills
- Climate Change solutions
- Simple vegetable growing and fruit growing
- Outdoor cooking
- Soil management and fertility
- community food growing projects
- Food growing as activism
- Visits to inspirational sites
The course will be practical and hands-on, whilst also involving classroom based learning, discussion and creating design layouts.
As with all NFA courses, this course will consider and support the needs and aspirations of young people, with skilfully facilitated group discussions and individual mentoring from experienced further education practitioners.
The course will equip you with the skills to grow food in gardens, allotments, back yards, in fact almost anywhere - whether just for yourself, as a job or as part of a community enterprise. The course will also give you really useful skills for any career involved with landscape design, and so is perfect for anyone interested in a career in landscape gardening, horticulture or any kind of land-based enterprise. Furthermore - you will learn key Permaculture design principles that can be applied to almost any aspect of your lifestyle from business planning to building websites , health systems, revision programmes, even your bus journey to work!
The course is run by Marina O'Connell director of the Apricot Centre and Chris Smith, Director of the New Futures Academy. Marina is a horticulturist, permaculture designer, tutor and a biodynamic farmer. She has over 30 years of experience of training and growing in sustainable food systems. Chris has over 15 years experience teaching creativity and sustainability to young people, much of this at Plymouth College of Art where he still teaches today. For more info see our 'Tutors' page
The course is certified by the Permaculture Association of Britain. This is a qualification recognised by the permaculture community internationally.
Cost £720 (concessions and bursaries may be available on application).
A place is booked on receipt of a £30 deposit and the balance is to be paid by the first day of the course.
Book your place: Registration Form
email info@newfuturesacademy.co.uk
Telephone: 07886 917937