Permaculture Course

Lesson 1 • Systems Thinking Basics

Builds capacity to see relationships, flows, and feedback loops within living systems. Connects systems thinking to permaculture's whole-systems design approach.

Lesson 2 • Zones and Sectors Framework

Introduces zone planning by energy use and sector analysis of external forces. Students use this framework to organise elements efficiently on any site.

Lesson 3 • Permaculture Ethics and Origins

Traces permaculture from its founders to its global spread, grounding ethics of earth care, people care, and fair share. Provides the moral compass for all design work.

Lesson 4 • Core Permaculture Principles

Introduces the twelve design principles as practical decision-making tools. Students apply each principle to real-world scenarios throughout the chapter.

Lesson 1 • Observation Techniques and Tools

Covers structured observation schedules, journaling, and mapping tools for capturing site data. Accurate observation prevents costly design errors.

Lesson 2 • Compiling a Site Assessment Report

Synthesises all observation data into a structured report with annotated base maps. The report becomes the foundation document for the full design process.

Lesson 3 • Climate and Microclimate Analysis

Teaches reading regional climate data and identifying microclimates created by topography, structures, and vegetation. Microclimate knowledge drives plant and element placement.

Lesson 4 • Water Flow and Hydrology Reading

Trains students to trace water movement across a site using contour lines and observation. Hydrology reading is prerequisite to all earthworks and water harvesting design.

Lesson 1 • Ponds, Dams, and Storage Systems

Teaches design criteria for ponds and dams, including siting, sizing, and spillway design. Storage systems extend water availability through dry seasons.

Lesson 2 • Drought-Resilient Water Strategies

Addresses mulching, shade planting, and soil organic matter as passive water conservation tools. Students design layered strategies for water security in dry conditions.

Lesson 3 • Greywater and Wastewater Cycling

Introduces safe greywater reuse systems and constructed wetlands for nutrient cycling. Connects wastewater management to soil fertility and plant production.

Lesson 4 • Earthworks for Water Retention

Covers swales, berms, terraces, and keyline design as tools for retaining water in the landscape. Students size and locate earthworks using contour and slope data.

Lesson 1 • Biochar and Mineral Amendments

Covers biochar production, charging, and application alongside rock dust and mineral amendments. These tools address long-term soil mineral deficiencies.

Lesson 2 • Soil Ecology and Biology

Explores the soil food web, mycorrhizal networks, and microbial communities as the engine of fertility. Understanding soil life is prerequisite to all fertility interventions.

Lesson 3 • Composting Methods and Systems

Covers hot composting, cold composting, bokashi, and vermicomposting as fertility-building tools. Students design composting systems scaled to site biomass production.

Lesson 4 • Green Manures and Cover Crops

Introduces nitrogen-fixing and biomass-producing cover crops as living fertility inputs. Students select and sequence cover crops to match site needs and seasons.

Lesson 1 • Plant Guilds and Companion Planting

Teaches guild design as a strategy for grouping mutually beneficial plants around a central species. Guilds reduce maintenance and increase system productivity.

Lesson 2 • Establishing and Maintaining Food Forests

Covers site preparation, planting sequences, and first-year management for food forest establishment. Proper establishment reduces long-term labor and increases survival rates.

Lesson 3 • Succession Planning in Food Forests

Covers ecological succession stages and how to design for productive transitions over time. Succession planning ensures continuous yield during forest establishment.

Lesson 4 • Polyculture Annual Vegetable Systems

Designs intensive polyculture beds combining annuals for yield, pest management, and soil health. Polycultures outperform monocultures in resource efficiency.

Lesson 1 • Aquaculture and Water Animals

Covers fish, crayfish, and duck integration in pond systems for food production and nutrient cycling. Aquaculture closes nutrient loops between water and land systems.

Lesson 2 • Bees and Beneficial Insects

Designs habitat and forage systems for honeybees, native bees, and beneficial predatory insects. Insect integration enhances pollination and biological pest control.

Lesson 3 • Poultry Integration and Chicken Tractors

Covers chicken, duck, and guinea fowl integration for pest control, fertility, and food production. Chicken tractor systems rotate animals through garden zones systematically.

Lesson 4 • Animals as System Components

Reframes animals as active designers of landscape fertility and structure rather than passive livestock. This perspective drives all animal integration decisions.

Lesson 1 • Client Consultation and Needs Analysis

Teaches structured interviewing, goal clarification, and needs-versus-wants analysis with clients. Accurate needs analysis prevents misaligned designs and client dissatisfaction.

Lesson 2 • Implementation Planning and Phasing

Develops phased implementation plans that sequence work by priority, season, and available resources. Phasing prevents overwhelm and ensures early yields motivate continued effort.

Lesson 3 • Detailed Design Drawing and Plans

Covers scaled drawing, plan view mapping, and cross-section drawing for permaculture designs. Detailed plans communicate design intent clearly to clients and implementers.

Lesson 4 • Concept Design and Bubble Diagrams

Introduces concept mapping and bubble diagrams as rapid tools for exploring design relationships. Concept design precedes detailed drawing and prevents premature commitment to solutions.

Lesson 1 • Broadscale Permaculture on Farms

Extends permaculture design to farm-scale contexts including pasture, agroforestry, and market gardens. Broadscale design requires integrating multiple enterprises into one coherent system.

Lesson 2 • Designing for Social Resilience

Integrates social systems design—sharing economies, skill networks, and local food systems—into permaculture projects. Social resilience sustains physical permaculture systems long-term.

Lesson 3 • Urban and Suburban Permaculture

Adapts permaculture principles to small urban lots, rooftops, and community spaces. Urban permaculture maximises productivity and ecological function in constrained environments.

Lesson 4 • Community Garden and Food Forest Projects

Covers participatory design processes for shared community food production spaces. Community projects require governance structures and shared maintenance agreements.