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Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course with David Spicer in Atlas Mountains of Morocco

Starts Apr 17, 2010 and runs for 14 day(s).

Note: This course is not organised and run by The Permaculture Research Institute. It is facilitated by another organisaton and meets the high teaching standards required by the Permaculture Institue.

The Permaculture Design Certificate course is an internationally-recognized, seventy-two hour course resulting in a Permaculture Design Certificate. It provides an introduction to permaculture design as set forth by movement founder Bill Mollison. This particular course is taught by David Spicer.


The PDC serves as foundation for further permaculture work and study and is a prerequisite for the Diploma in Permaculture Design, offered through The Permaculture Institute. Credit for this course is now accepted by a growing number of universities around the world. 

To date, thousands of permaculture designers worldwide have been certified through this course, and now comprise a global network of educators, ecological activists who influence major corporations, individuals creating new business alternatives and groups of committed people working together to change the way we view and design into our landscapes.



The course covers sustainable living systems for a wide variety of landscapes and climates. It includes the application of permaculture principles to food production, home design, construction, energy conservation and generation, and explores alternative economic structures and legal strategies supporting permaculture solutions.


Specific topics include:



- Theory and principles of permaculture

- Eco-friendly house placement and design

- Energy conservation techniques for all climates
 with specific focus on arid hot regions
- Recycling and sustainable waste management

- Organic food production

- Water harvesting and management

- Ecological pest control

- Drought-proofing
 landscapes
- Soil rehabilitation and soil erosion control

- Livestock

- Aquaculture

- Catastrophe preparedness and prevention

- Windbreaks and fire control



The foundation for this course is the Permaculture Designer's Manual by Bill. Students are invited to bring details of their own sites or potential sites to consider during the course.


Course Instructor:

David Spicer has been involved in the permaculture movement for the last 10 years. In that time he spent 12 months as Farm Manager on Tagari Farm in Northern NSW, Aust with Geoff Lawton, and another six months at Geoff Lawton's farm at the Channon Zaytuna Permaculture Research Institue.

He also spent six months working for Bill Mollison in Tasmania as the Sisters Creek Project Manager for the Permaculture Institute. He has a broad experience in implementation of permaculture systems as well as building, earthworks, horticulture, forestry, keyline, compost teas and portable saw mills.

Important information about this course

The site is located in the Ait Attab region of central Morocco. The landscape is beautiful but arid. The local population is made up of traditional Berber tribes. The site itself is the location of a project to build a school, community center and permaculture center. This will then act as the focal point for a larger project to restore the entire watershed and provide a long-term solution to the water shortage they are currently suffering from.

Once established, the project can be replicated elsewhere in the region as well as in North Africa as a whole. By taking this course, you are supporting this effort.

There are photos of the area on panoramio and more info on the tribal networks website.

Your attendance at this course will help subsidize the education of local people.

Accommodation for the Course:

This will be in a house in the nearby town. All meals are included in the price. A hot shower will be available at the house. Ait Attab is not a tourist destination, and you will have a chance to experience real Berber traditions. Camping is also possible, should you prefer it.

What You Will Need:

The climate during the course will be dry and warm.

Recommended to bring:

- Sun Hat and sunglasses
- Good walking or working shoes
- Casual and comfortable clothing - natural fabrics recommended for coolness
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Your own bedding (sheets etc.)
- Ample supply of any needed medications
- Tent if needed
- Sleeping bag and hiking mattress if needed
- Sandals
- Personal toiletries

Schedule

Sat 17 Apr - Arrive Marrakech anytime.
Sun 18 - Morning, leave for Ait Attab, arriving mid-afternoon. Familiarization and briefing about course
Mon 19 - Course Starts
Fri 30 - Course Ends
Sat 1 May - Back to Marrakech, accom for departures on Sunday.
Sun 2 - Bonus holiday week start
Fri 7 - Back to Marrakech for flights on Saturday.

Optional Extra Week Holiday After Course

Stay on for a week after the course: 300 Euros, payable on arrival.

Booking:

For any additional information about the course itself, or the location or travel, please contact Andy Homer on andy@tribalnetworks.org

For booking or payment enquiries, please email education@permaculture.org.au

For further information for this course please contact education@permaculture.org.au.

Course pricing / bookings

Prices in Australian dollars