Permaculture Design Course 29th July to 7th August 2022, in Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Ireland

This training offers a unique hands-on opportunity to gain permaculture skills in Cloughjordan Ecovillage, a model of how communities can respond to the many challenges facing us. The Ecovillage was designed through permaculture, allowing students to see the design principles in action within a lively and diverse community. Featuring over 50 eco-homes, a renewable energy heating system, wood-fired bakery, a community farm & our course centre - WeCreate Workspace and Fab Lab.

Course participants will have online lectures with international tutors while also engaging with local tutors through outdoor classes, hands on experience and project-based explorations of permaculture design. Topics include: regenerative agriculture, green and natural building, local economics, forest gardening, renewable energy, work and livelihoods, ecovillage design along with tools and technologies including digital fabrication and open source distribution and production.

Why do the course?
The permaculture design course has become one of the benchmark accredited courses in sustainability and, as such, is an essential part of the toolkit of real and practical ways to face the difficult challenges of our times. Whether your interest is in community, horticulture or engineering, designing a homestead or sustainable community, or how to best navigate the transition to a resilient and low carbon society, the principles of permaculture and regenerative design will be helpful.

Course Highlights
Includes focused sessions on natural building with cob, local economics, forest gardening, renewable energy, ponds and aquaculture, ecovillage and bioregional design along with specialist knowledge from our local experts on social permaculture, community practices, digital fabrication, permafacture and open source distributed production (including a practical session in one of Ireland's only Fab Labs). Also including sessions on Cloughjordan Community Farm and a visit to Crawfords Farm.