Permaculture courses to become self-sufficient

[Mark]

Got this question via email from Ariane - thought it may interest others, and we could possibly add more info to this thread over time:

Hi, do you offer any hands on courses? I would also like to become self sufficient in the future and in the same part of Australia as you. Currently though I am living in China as my husband is working here. I have a "study" budget from his company. A course/workshop on self sufficiency is how I would like to spend this budget. If you do not offer this, do you know an institution or person who does? Your advice would be much appreciated. Thanks and kind regards, Ariane.

Answer

Hi Ariane,

thanks for your email. If you're interested in self-sufficiency doing a horticultural or permaculture course is definitely going to help advance your skills for when you do settle into your property. The extra knowledge may even help you to choose the best lifestyle property for your situation. The following are popular permaculture organisations who run courses you may be interested in checking out.

http://www.milkwoodpermaculture.com.au/courses/
http://permaculture.com.au/

We don't run self-sufficiency courses but we support organisations who do offer further formal training and of course we also support self-learning through our website and particularly our forum where chatting online and asking questions can be a very effective way to learn about self-sufficiency indeed!

Best of luck finding a course, cheers.

 

[stevo]

more links to try for Northey Street City Farm - Brisbane. This years course had been finished. It's $1250
https://www.facebook.com/northeystreetcityfarm
http://www.nscf.org.au/permaculture-design-course-brisbane/

The milkwood one says "Price is $1750 or Early Bird price $1575 "

I also remember seeing one on the Sunshine coast for around $1500, and you camped on the hippy fellas property.

I was interested in doing the PDC but it's not cheap. I guess that's the price, so fair enough. Also I can't just take that time off work to do these things.

I was also wondering what does the certificate do for you? I mean, is it a qualification that is required with some careers or particular jobs? Or is it purely for personal knowledge?

 

[Mark]

I was also wondering what does the certificate do for you? I mean, is it a qualification that is required with some careers or particular jobs? Or is it purely for personal knowledge?

I guess it could help towards getting a job in the horticultural industry but for a recogonised qual I'm not too sure...

They certainly are not cheap! I'd imagine they'd be fun and full of good information for those of us interested in that kind of stuff (self-sufficiency, permaculture etc).

 

[stevo]

@armysnail , Do you hae any opinion or info about these Permaculture courses? Are they just for personal satisfaction or do you get this certificate as a job qualification?

What's involved with the Horticulture qualification?

 

[armysnail]

Horticulture is divided into different fields. I did structural landscaping which covers, concreting, brick and block work, paving, decks, patios etc as well as plants. You have parks and gardens, nursery practices, arboriculture, green keeping and believe it or floristry. Some take three years and others a few weeks a year. Permaculture is one of the new fields which is still not mainstream yet. Bill Mollison from Tasmania is pretty much the guru / founding father. The course aren't recognised as far as I am aware but may help you learn about permaculture. Another option is to join a permaculture group. Most capitol cities have them. Brisbane has Northey Street City Farm as well as a few individuals at the Redcliffe Botanic Gardens. They started after I stood down as president but if you can get along Tuesday mornings around nine go to the shed and ask for Don Perrin. Don will tell you when the group meets etc. If you want to know about natives, Don is the most knowledgeable man I have ever met when it comes to natives endemic to the Moreton Bay Region. I want his brain when he goes.

 

[stevo]

I watched this video the other day, I like these kinds of videos, though, trying not to sound like a smart a*&e, I got the impression that "permaculture" is just what most people do anyway with their gardens.

 

[Mark]

Seen it and it's worth watching but as you said Stevo "permaculture" meh - a little over talked-up IMHO and it's something most people (interested in this stuff) do anyway in their own common sense way.

Plus, there are many issues I have with the way permaculture is "marketed" and how uncompromising its theories are because in a practical sense most properties and people just do not fit into the perfect permaculture plan.

On top of that, I think some of the principals are slightly exaggerated; for example, chickens free-ranging around the orchard isn't for me because all they do is throw all my fruit tree mulch everywhere except for where it's supposed to be - under the tree! Ducks are a much better poultry choice for an orchard. But the purists say how chickens eat all the pests and fertilise the trees - nup

 

[armysnail]

Josh is passionate so I'm looking forward to watching this. He still doesn't come close to the entertainment value of Peter Cundallthough.

 

[Mark]

Josh is passionate so I'm looking forward to watching this. He still doesn't come close to the entertainment value of Peter Cundallthough.

Have to agree with you there good old Peter what a legend. I'm a fan of Gardening Australia overall they make a pretty good show.

 

[Darryl]

Hi
just come across this talk about permaculture found it interesting.
my understanding of it all now about how much money they can make by teaching people how to sux eggs. I believe the fundamental of permaculture is to work with nature or copy what nature does.
Most people already try and do practice permaculture in one way or another.
just my thoughts on the subject

 

[Mark]

Funny you should say that because I have been known to bag out the permaculture industry in the past, in fact, setting up Self Sufficient Culture was one way I rebelled because I hated the way permaculture tends to preach an ideology rather than teach and encourage people to work with what they have...

Having said that, permaculture principles are pretty sound albeit commonsense for most if us for those getting into farming for the first time (either commercial or backyard) it's worth reading up on.

http://www.selfsufficientme.com/sus...get-permaculture-rules-just-follow-your-heart

 

[Darryl]

Thanks @Mark that was a very interesting read. But with saying that you hit the nail on the head.
It has even became a money spinner out here.
I belive we just need to do our best to look after what we have and don't negelet what we have.
I have been reading up on other so called good farming ideas which have become money makers for the use of words.
Which I belive shouldn't be let to happen.

 

[stevo]

That sounds like the photographic world. If you can't make any money from being a photographer you just run some day courses teaching beginners and charge them for it.

 

[Darryl]

So true #Stevo you have that right. It's about the same with anything these days

 

[OskarDoLittle]

I'm always intrigued by those people who run courses on "how to get rich quick" with one scheme or another...oh and motivational speakers. Seems to me none of these people actually ever made money...until they started selling expensive courses on how to make money! (I'm sure there's some exceptions...but why would a successful business person stop running their business, and go on a speaking tour?)

 

[stevo]

I thought about running a workshop on how to make a bee box, but it'd be way too dangerous as people would cut their fingers off or get sucked through machines, imagine the insurance

 

[Mark]

That's the problem these days isn't it... the expense in just covering insurance for any commercial venture can be so prohibitive. Even for a simple workshop - it's ridiculous red tape.

 

[ClissAT]

Stevo the permaculture place at Yandina is always looking for people to run workshops or short half-day courses usually on a Saturday morning or all day Saturday.
They would love to have someone show them how to make native bee boxes.
They would probably suggest people use a hand saw & bring their own.
We sometimes do workshops on using bamboo & that requires cutting & digging implements so they must have all those bases covered.
Here's the link to their website. They are voluntary so you may not find everything you wish to read about on the website but the next time I get a newsletter from them I'll pass it on.
Or you could sign up for the newsletter yourself & also tell them about your bees.
http://yandinacommunitygardens.com.au/
I think you would find such a workshop would fill rather quickly.
Some people charge a fee to cover materials. The lady who does the cheese & kefir classes charges I think $60 for the day long class but it still fills.

 

[LoveInNature]

I would love to do a native bee one. I will definitely be doing cheese next year.

I was contemplating doing a series in the members articles on bugs and what is beneficial and should be encouraged.

I have the bug now thanks to Mark and his site! So the research and information will be hugely beneficial to myself and my long term sustainable venture. Hopefully great for our members and visitors. I will also do a series of photographs to help with identification.

 

[Mark]

I would love to do a native bee one.

We have about 15 native bee hives ATM and I love them! They are always in our vegetable garden pollinating the plants.

My uncle owns all the hives we just simply give him access to a spot on out property down the back for him to grow the bees and pursue his hobby. If he ever moved them, I'd definitely buy several off him because they are so valuable to have in the yard.