CHUO University Faculty of Policy Studies Permaculture Design Certificate and Ecovillage Experience Global Ecovillage Network Oceania and Asia Inc. (GENOA) Crystal Waters Permaculture Village Queensland Australia

Course Details

Below you will see details of the course curriculum:

Permaculture Themes

Introduction to Crystal Waters

Familiarisation – introductions to people

1. Introduction to Permaculture

• Ethics
• Evidence (including videos) – What has gone wrong with our planet

2. Zone and sector planning

• Includes mini exercise/slides
• Taking the first steps in permaculture design

3. Natural systems

• Forests, grasslands, lakes
• What makes nature tick?
• What can we learn from this process?

4. Mulch gardening (practical)

• Collecting mulch
• Learning about fertilizer
• Making liquid manure
• Compost

5. Water/wastewater

• Looking at domestic saving possibilities
• How to construct a pond
• Swales
• Water plants/mini ponds
• Catching and storing water
• Aquaculture

6. Forestry – hands on

• Planting today so we can harvest tomorrow
• Maintenance of forests
• Pruning
• Planting trees
• Explanation and use of tools, safety
• Creating ecosystems/nest boxes

7.Soils

• Introduction to soils
• Biological means to improve soils
• Mechanical and chemical soil improvements

8. Urban Strategies

• You and your society
• Ecological ideas for the city, suburbia and town
• Green city
• Slides

9. Communities

• Survival for small towns and villages
• Coops
• LETS (local employment and trading system)
• Credit unions
• CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
• Community gardens
• City farms

10. Animals in Permaculture

• Introduction
• Considerations with farm animals, small and large
• Theory and practice
• Food for animals/forage

11. The small garden

• Zone I
• Gardening techniques
• Small habitats
• Pest management
• Legumes

12. Orchards

• An introduction to botany
• Orchards/fruit trees – establishment, selection, maintenance, harvest, storage

13. Shelter

• A roof over our heads
• Designing and retrofitting healthy houses
• Building materials
• Furnishings

14. Village design

• Design of larger projects, dealing with economy, social and spiritual aspects, infrastructure.
• How Crystal Waters was designed, promoted, constructed, settled
• The strengths, the weaknesses

15. Energy

• Theory and practice
• Visit to energy independent house (solar energy)

16-21. Design exercise

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