At the Cloughjordan EcoVillage, North Tipperary
Permaculture is very much at the heart of the transition town movement. It is a holistic approach to the design of settlements and communities that looks at food , waste, housing, energy, water, education and employment and how these aspects of society can be provided for sustainably from within the local environment. It is great therefore to see a full Permaculture course being offered so near to Kilkenny in Cloughjordan. First off is an introductory talk and weekend Permaculture course, being held at the ecovillage and led by Graham Strouts in early June. The weekend will be followed by a full Permaculture Design course from the 21st to the 30th of August. More details below the fold.
Introductory Tour, Talk and Film
Friday 5th, 7pm, €10, Cloughjordan
The Friday evening will start with a tour of the 65 acre eco-village site focusing on its Permaculture design features. This will be followed by a public talk by Graham Strouts on Forest Gardens and a screening of ‘Its All Connected’ the Powerdown Show that explores whole systems thinking and Permaculture.
Permaculture Introductory Weekend Course
Friday 5th (Evening), Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of June 2009, €110
Includes tuition, materials and lunches but does not include accommodation. Camping and limited accommodation is available. Only 20 places available, book early to avoid disappointment. To book call 01 6745773. 20% discount for Village members
Permaculture is about creating sustainable human habitats by following nature’s patterns. It uses the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems to provide a framework and guidance for people to develop their own sustainable solutions to the problems facing their world, on a local, national or global scale. It is based on the philosophy of co-operation with nature and caring for the earth and its people. Permaculture is not a set of rules; it is a process of design based around principles found in the natural world, of co-operation and mutually beneficial relationships, and translating these principles into actions.
The weekend course is a ‘stand alone’ introduction to Permaculture ethics, principles and design, and will act as a perfect lead-in to the more in depth full 72 hour Permaculture Design Course that will be held at the end of August.
The ecovillage is a unique and innovative project that is striving to create a fresh blueprint for modern sustainable living. Created on beautiful land in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, the ecovillage will include 130 homes, renewable energy for heating, land for growing food and trees, an enterprise centre and community buildings. http://www.thevillage.ie
Graham Strouts is Ireland’s leading permaculture expert, and is the coordinator of the Practical Sustainability course at Kinsale Further Education College. Graham has a background in landscaping, woodland management, and tree nurseries, and holds the Diploma in Applied Permaculture design. Since 2000 he has been developing a 4-acre plot in the beautiful Coomhola valley, about 8 miles north of Bantry. Here he has constructed a simple cordwood roundhouse and is developing a nursery, fruit and nut tree plantations, forest gardens, ponds and woodlands. http://www.zone5.org
Organised by Cultivate, Transition Cloughjordan and the Village Education, Research and Training Group