Leeds PDC 2012 Timetable

This is a course timetable for a PDc run in 2012 in Leeds by Andy Goldring. The course runs over 7 weekends, one weekend a month from February  till June .  Full timetable: Leeds_PDC_2012_timetable 

A list of the things we will include in the sessions – really an indication of what we will be covering during the course. Some things will be very quick – an explanation of the terms and where to find out more, other topics will be in more depth. This will depend partly on the group. Introductions & expectations

• Introducing the course
  • Why are we doing the course?
  • Tutor intros
  • Student intros
  • Skills we want to learn
  • Projects / properties / land we want to develop
  • Tutor and student expectations
  • Learning strategies

Permaculture overview

• Background and history
• Observation exercise
• Permaculture- ethics, principles, design and key characteristics

Permaculture in the UK

• Case-studies of current projects in the UK

Survey exercise

• Working with fixed points and grids
• Measuring own pace
• Making and using an A-frame and water level
• Making a base map
• Identify other survey methods (eg GPS) and tools (eg laser)

Weekend evaluation & notices 

• Each weekend will end with an evaluation
• Different methods will be used to provide a range of methods for students to use in own projects.

Permaculture Principles

• Patterns in nature
• Input-output game
• Principles game will cover each principle and give examples
• Signposting key aspects of permaculture
• We will cover different sets of principles and how they were developed

Understanding ecosystems

• Key concepts: energy, food webs, biodiversity, etc and their relevance to permaculture
• Climatic zones
• Soil food web as key example

Permaculture Design

• Design process (OBRADIME, SADI)
• Patterns in Design
• Zoning
• Sectors
• Mcharg exclusion method
• Pattern Language
• Microclimates 1
• Involving people in design
• Thinking tools

Permaculture landscapes

• Focus on permaculture zones 3,4 & 5.
• Zoning game to include patterns of elements
• Water in the landscape
•  Trees and windbreaks
• Biodiversity strategies
• Broadscale approaches to farming
• Introduce Keyline planning and holistic management

Permaculture and the built environment

• Focus on zone 0
• Buildings – new build and retrofit, eco homes, 'green' building and 'natural' building
• Transport
• Water, toilets, sewage
• Microclimates 2
• Design
• Passive solar case study: cornerstone bio-shelter
• Urban garden examples: urban harvest, skips, what if? guerilla etc
• Appropriate technology - key concepts and technologies
• House retrofit design case study

International permaculture

• Case studies: Jordan, El salvador, Malawi or Indonesia
• Scope of international network
• Drylands and tropical – examples and how to find out more

Social Permaculture

• Four generations model
• Community practical (movement)
• Ecovillages, coops, co-housing
• Organisational design case study

Permaculture economies

• Bioregions and design for local economies
• Credit unions and other economic strategies
• Who are we trading with?
• Cyclic clothing scheme in Leeds as example
• Legal structures, CSA

Permaculture Gardens

• Focus on zones 1 & 2
• Composting
• Plants and plant assemblies / guilds
• Polycultures, companion planting
• Integrated Pest Management, Dynamic accumulators etc
• Myco-tech (mushrooms)
• Allotment gardening
• Forest gardens

Practicals

• A series of afternoon sessions will be held
• We will try to cover as many different practical skills as possible, and use the practical sessions to bring the theory to life.

Urban Walkabout

• Visit to a variety of locations in Leeds:
• 29 Sholebroke Mount, Tim Harberd's, Methleys and Ecohomes

Mini design exercise

• Tutor led example in the field
• Student design work exercise in groups

Course Trip

• Cornerstone housing coop:
• Irrigation
• Rainwater harvesting
• Tour of garden
• House retrofit examples
• Sketch map mini design exercise
• Old Slenningford Forest Garden and other projects

Project planning

• What sort of project are you planning?
• Site selection and tips (contamination etc)
• Accessing land and buying land -tenure (Land of Roots case study, Ecological Land Cooperative)
• Project planning guidelines

Group Design Exercise 

• All students will work in groups over two weekends to develop a permaculture design.
• Presentations are made on the last day

Where next?

• Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design
• Identifying own goals, projects and next steps
• Network – local and national
• Signposting other support and opportunities

Course evaluation

• A mixture of tutor designed evaluation process and student's own evaluation methods

Phew!