Permaculture and Self Sufficiency Courses

BUILD YOUR PERMACULTURE UNDERSTANDING AND SKILLS

For people with prior experience in permaculture; this course develops further skills.

This course follows on from Permaculture Systems or for those who have studied permaculture elsewhere; it is an excellent follow on from the "Permaculture Design Certificate".  Topics covered include

• Analysing different systems
• Other sustainable systems (eg. Biodynamics, Organic farming, Integrated Pest Management, etc)
• Determining appropriate planning strategies for a site.
• Natural patterns (eg. seasons)
• Borders -transition zones
• Sustainable water management
• Determining earthworks
• Designing for different climates
• Comprehensive planning including preparing costings

GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF ELECTRICITY AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Learn about electricity, batteries, how to become energy self sufficient and to understand different methods of generating, storing and using electricity, from hydro and solar to wind generators.  Explore ways to better manage energy consumption, and how to convert a building’s energy supply to an alternative system.

 What is Alternative Energy?

Alternative energy is energy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound. The energy is derived from non-traditional, renewable sources (e.g. Solar, wind) as opposed to fossil fuels that are not renewable . Renewable sources can be readily replaced or replenished, either by the earth's natural processes or by human action.

Energy for human activity is obtained from a variety of sources:

• Fossil Fuels (i.e. Oil, Gas, and Coal).
• Nuclear Fuels (i.e. Uranium, Plutonium).
• Renewable Fuels - Geothermal, Solar, Water (Tides, Waves), Wind Power, and Bio-fuels (Firewood and fuel distilled from crops)

Learn more about energy and its uses in this facinating and informative course

HEALING AND RELAXATION

A great course for anyone wishing to learn more about the safe use of aromatherapy essential oils for healing and relaxation. This course provides an introduction to the safe use of Aromatherapy oils. Essential oils are the backbone of Aromatherapy. Their effectiveness is dependent on their safe and proper use, as well as on the quality of the oil used. Oils work in a much more subtle way than many commercially prepared products and in many situations are more suitable for preventative treatment rather than cure.

Aromatherapy student comment:

"This course was very interesting, challenging and very worthwhile" N. Mills

DESIGN WITH HEALTHY BUILDINGS IN MIND

A building should provide a pleasant, efficient and healthy environment for its occupants. Its primary purpose should be to protect from adverse conditions found outside; but in doing so, not loose the beneficial conditions found outside. If a building is properly planned and built well, these aims can be achieved. Learn about building materials, construction techniques, electrical wiring, temperature & light control, ventilation, plumbing, ergonomics and psychological factors; and how all of these things impact upon human health and wellbeing.

This course helps to develop the skills needed to determine the impact of building construction characteristics upon human health, and to recommend innovations in building design to improve habitability.

HOW HEALTHY IS YOUR HOME AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT?

How do the choices you make about building construction and maintenance, impact on your health?

Develops skills to evaluate, describe and explain how physical characteristics of a building and its surrounds have an impact upon the habitability of the building and human health. The course covers how weather systems and garden design influences the internal environment of a house, health aspects of different furnishings, paints, pesticides and chemicals (and alternatives), alternative methods of pest control, managing building surrounds and interior environments.

Start your horticulture studies with this practical course.

The ideal course for the beginner, this is a basic, yet thoroughly practical course which gives you a sound broad technical grounding in horticultural principles and practices. A section of each lesson involves plant identification.

YOU WILL LEARN

• To identify, propagate, and care for 80 different types of plants.
• The systematic way plants are classified.
• Structure and parts of a flower.
• To identify different leaf shapes.
• Different ways to control weeds.
• Simple soil tests.
• Making propagating and potting mixes.
• Identifying pest and disease problems.
• How and why to prune different plants.
• Drawing a simple garden sketch plan.
• To plant or repair a lawn; and lots more.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF BUILDING YOUR OWN HOME?

If you've thought of building a mud brick building, this course can be an excellent starting point. Its very practical, with some hands on work to get you started; helping you begin experimenting and planning ongoing projects, whether they are a modest garden wall, or more complex buildings. Learn to test soil suitability for mud building, how to make a quality brick & how to test its strength. The course takes you step by step through the building process, showing how to plan a building, sorting through permits and other legalities, doing the site works & foundations, different construction techniques,laying bricks, frames & roofs, installing services, wall finishes and more.

Work with the environment and without the use of artificial fertilizers or sprays.

This outstanding and extensive, globally-focused course develops a solid understanding of the principles and procedures underlying the cultivation of plants by natural methods. Organic growing has increased in popularity over the past ten years due to the increasing awareness of safety in the garden and on the farm and the desire to produce food that is free from chemical inputs. For decades, farmers and growers have relied upon chemicals to control pests and diseases in order to produce crops for sale. Unfortunately, it is only recently that we have become aware that many of those chemicals can sometimes cause health problems to humans, as well as long-term damage to the environment such as soil degradation, imbalances in pest-predator populations can also sometimes occur.

As public concerns grow, these issues are becoming increasingly important. However, the organic grower or gardener should understand that not all organic practices always guarantee a healthy environment. Over-cultivation ,for example,can also lead to soil damage. Organic growing practices should aim to ensure quality of both the environment in which we live and of the produce we grow in our gardens and on our farms.

An introduction to the basic Permaculture concepts

This course introduces the basic concepts of Permaculture, and develops a basis for permaculture design by explaining the patterns which occur in nature, such as weather systems, water cycles, topography, soil-plant interactions and forest ecology, and how a knowledge of these patterns can be used to reproduce balanced and productive garden growing systems.

If you satisfactorily complete all of the following courses - Permaculture I, II, III and IV. You will be awarded a Permaculture Design Certificate. We also offer a Permaculture Systems course and a Certificate in Horticulture (Permaculture) which lead sto the above certificate.

"Gain a more indepth knowledge of plant use in permaculture"

This course is a natural progression from Permaculture 1, but can taken separately in its own right. It concentrates on the plants in a permaculture system, how they relate to each other and to the surrounding environment; and selection and placement of different varieties within a permaculture design. This course deals with preparing plans for different types of permaculture gardens, and its duration is approximately 100 hours.

If you satisfactorily complete all of the following courses - Permaculture I, II, III and IV. You will be awarded a Permaculture Design Certificate, recognised by the Permaculture Institute.

We also offer a Permaculture Systems course and a Certificate in Horticulture (Permaculture),which lead to the the above certificate.

"Learn the relationship between animals and permaculture systems"

As with Permaculture II, this course is a natural progression from the earlier Permaculture units, but can also be taken separately in its own right. It concentrates on the animals in a permaculture system, how they relate to each other, how they relate to surrounding environments, and selection and management of different types of animals in a permaculture design.

If you satisfactorily complete all of the following courses - Permaculture I, II, III and IV. You will be awarded a Permaculture Design Certificate, recognised by the Permaculture Institute.

We also offer a Permaculture Systems course and a Certificate in Horticulture (Permaculture),which lead to the the above certificate.

"Learn to design and manage a comprehensive permaculture system"

This course complements and follows on from Permaculture I, II and III   with a focus on design and management of a comprehensive permaculture system.

If you satisfactorily complete all of the following courses - Permaculture I, II, III and IV. You will be awarded a Permaculture Design Certificate, recognised by the Permaculture Institute.

We also offer a Permaculture Systems course and a Certificate in Horticulture (Permaculture),which lead to the above certificate.

 

 

Want to be a Permaculture Designer

 or Design Sustainable Gardens?

A permaculture system is a unique landscape where all the plants and animals live in balance in a self sustaining ecosystem. Permaculture has an ethical approach to designing land use and community systems, to provide food, ecological habitats and other essentials needed for human survival. 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.

The term 'permaculture' comes from the words 'PERMAnent' and 'agriCULTURE', and implies the permanence of culture. The term was first devised in 1978 by Bill Mollison (an Australian ecologist) and his student David Holmgren.
It embraces three main ethical principles as follows:

• "Care of the Earth" - this includes all living things and non living things which together comprise the environment (ie. animals, plants, land, water and air).
• "Care of People" - permaculture systems should be developed to promote self reliance and community responsibility.
• “Fair Share” - set limits to consumption and reproduction, and redistribute surplus - pass on anything surplus to an individual's needs (eg. labour, information or money) in an attempt to pursue the above aims.

“Implicit in the above is the 'Life Ethic': all living organisms are not only means, but ends. In addition to their instrumental value to humans and other living organisms, they have an intrinsic worth."

As such Permaculture stresses a positive approach and an attitude of cooperation, with respect to the environment and all living things.

ACS is a member of the Permaculture Association (UK), the Permaculture Institute (Australia) and the Alternative Technology Association (Australia)

Learn how to live self sufficently in this modern age! With this course, develop your understanding of self sufficiency. Learn about food and nutrition, and making the right decisions about changes in lifestyle; as well as showing you how to do a whole range of practical things such as mud brick building, making crafts, growing fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other crops; raising poultry, sheep & goats, extending the life of clothing, conserving energy, recycling, simple home medical care and first aid, and lots more.

Learn to be self sufficient with your food. You learn about nutrition and how to balance your diet, as well as how to produce, process, store, and use different types of food. This includes berries, nuts, milk, cheese, eggs, bread making, preserves, & dried food. Cooking, freezing, drying, bottling, making bread, planning a vegetable garden to give produce all year round, and lots more are covered during the ten lessons.