Permaculture Design Course
in Portugal

72 hours Permaculture Design Certificate

With Eduardo Terzidis, Nick Steiner, Oli Inglis and Kyle Hanekom

31st March - 6th April 2024

@Quinta Alma, Aljezur, Portugal

Includes online theory and a full week of practical learning!!

Course Overview

Building soil – Building community – Building resilience

No previous experience is required! Just openness and willingness to become part fo the regeneration movement!

This unique course differs from other PDCs because it gives you the opportunity of spending one full week learning by doing! PDCs are typically very theory intensive, and we have decided to do the theory online and have more time to get our hands dirty!

What is a Permaculture Design Course?

Permaculture is a philosophy and practice of ecological design that doesn’t tell you what to do – it teaches you how to think. In the study of Permaculture, we challenge the current paradigm of where our food and water come from, the way we are constructing our villages and towns, and how we live our day-to-day. Our Permaculture Design Course graduates have gone on to become change-makers all over the world, designing their own land projects, founding eco-communities, redesigning their businesses, spearheading policy change, and continuing to teach the permaculture principles and ethics.

The Permaculture Design Course is the foundational curriculum to all regenerative practices. This 72+ hours course covers all the basic principles of the earth sciences in relation to human impact, reviews bioregional strategies for ecosystem rehabilitation and resilience, concepts in environmentally appropriate home design, and tools for individual and community development.

The course covers strategies for all ecosystems, while hands-on projects will be location specific.

Rooted in the Core Ethics and Principles of Permaculture, these concepts can be applied to all areas of life, including wellness, business, education, spirituality, the arts and of course food production.

The program

The course includes online theoretical modules and 7 days of practical learning in Portugal. At the end of the course, students will develop a final design project and they will present it to complete the course and receive the certification.

Every online Module will begin with an interactive intrductive class where students will be able to ask questions and resolve any doubts.

All online classes are recorded and available for self-paced study

Read the full schedule below!

MODULE 1 - INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE (Online)

Introductory call will be 10th of February from 7 to 8 pm CET

• Permaculture: Evidence that we need to act - Ethics & Principles

• Concepts and themes in design: Natural ecosystems - Web of life - Yield and Resource -

• Design Methods: Observation - Analysis of elements - Flow analysis - Maps & data overlay - Zones & sectors - Slope & aspect - Guilds - Scale of permanence

• Patterns: Understanding natural patterns and how to use the in design

MODULE 2 - CLIMATES, WATER AND TREES (Online)

Introductory call will be 24th of February from 7 to 8 pm CET

• Climatic factors: Main climatic zones and their characteristics - Climatic factors - Climatic effects Landscape profiles

• Trees: Trees and their role in the ecosystem

• Agroforestry & Food Forests: Natural forests and natural succession - Food forests - Layers - Greening the Desert

• Water: Water cycle - Water in the landscape - Strategies for water management

• Earthworks: Design - Tools - Types of earthworks (swales, dams etc..)

MODULE 3 - SOILS, ANIMALS AND SOCIAL PERMACULTURE (Online)

Introductory call will be 9th of March from 7 to 8 pm CET

• Soils: Soil composition - Soil management - Compost - Nutrient management and closed loops - Animals in the landscape

• Social Permaculture: Project management - Group dynamics - Non-violent communication - Local economies - Community living & Ecovillages

MODULE 4 - PRACTICAL WEEK (Live in Portugal)

31st March to 6th April

Here is a list of the topics covered during the practical week:

• Design and implementation of a new agroforestry system

• Maintenance of an existing agroforestry system

• Syntropic farming

• Water management and earthworks (implementation of a swale/dam or diersion drain)

• Market gardening

• Grey water systems

Note that the exact topics of our practical week will depend on weather, group requests and machinery availability

MODULE 5 - FINAL DESIGN PROJECTS (Online)

Presentations will be 28th of April

To be able to provide an international PDC certificate, the course will include a final design project. All students will do a project simulating the design for a client. The project will be presented at the end of the permaculture design course and will be a great opportunity for the students to metabolise the newly-acquired knowledge and receive feedback from the teacher.

The hand over of the final designs will be organised with the teachers, who will provide feedback before delivering the certificate.

The Facilitators

Eduardo Terzidis is a permaculture teacher and consultant, a writer and a yoga teacher. As an engineer, he wanted to help the world, yet he felt the need to “be out there”, learning and sharing with the very people who seek the same change he envisioned. At the core of his work is the understanding that global change needs to be carried from the inside out, recognising the intricate web of which we are part and being able to play our role in support of all life. Today he focuses on water management and agroforestry for mediterranean climate and provides 1:1 sessions to individuals to support them in manifesting their mission and dreams.

Nick Steiner is extremely passionate about exploring, developing, and sharing ways of regenerating the world around us. His focus is on working with water and finding smart ways to grow more with less work. He has been working and educating in the field of regenerative agriculture and permaculture for almost a decade. Through his job in building up Climate Farmers he has worked with hundreds of farmers all over Europe on their regenerative journeys.

Oli Inglis

Kyle Hanekom, was born and raised in Cape Town. Since a young age he was living in the ocean every day, mostly surfing and fishing This gave him a real understanding of the natural elements.He is now located in the Basque Country where he studies trees, herbal and edible plants. He has a strong love for regenerating and engaging with others about regeneration and being close to the land. Kyle is currently transitioning towards becoming a full time permaculture designer and he will provide support during the entire the course

Tuition

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT! €750

Place a deposit by June 31st of December and SAVE €240 OFF YOUR TUITION

Full price per student: €990

Tuition for thisPermaculture Design Course Includes:

– 72+ hour Permaculture Design Certification course + certificate upon completion
– Online Introductory Module
- Access to online community with past students to keep exchanging and learning

– Course content and materials, all lectures, forums, and activities
– During your stay at Quinta Alma, three vegetarian meals per day
– Lodging in tents (bring your own equipment)
– Students have the option to upgrade their housing to a room in an apartment or a glamping tent

Available for an additional price: Arrival and departure transportation, laundry service, lodging in cabin or glamping tents

We ask for a €300 NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE deposit to be sent to hold your space. 50% of the tuition will be due 6 weeks before the beginning of the course and the remaining will be due in cash upon arrival.

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