Permaculture

Byron Centre For Permaculture offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in sustainable living in the Byron Shire, the green heart of the North Coast. We offer short courses in areas such as Permaculture Design Course (PDC), Food Production, Bamboo Basics, Native Bee Keeping and more. For those who want to delve deeper, we offer longer courses like our highly popular Certificate III or Certificate IV in Permaculture, or for those seeking employment in the horticulture field Certificate III in Horticulture.

Our courses are embedded in local permaculture projects ensuring hands-on, real-world experience preparing participants for opportunities in permaculture, sustainability education and ecological farming. Make like-minded friends as you get the practical experience and confidence you need to create an ethical livelihood and transition your life and the lives of others towards a better future.

We have a purpose designed 1-acre permaculture site, located at the Mullumbimby Community Gardens, where students are able to gain hands-on experience in a permaculture environment.

AHC33816 CERTIFICATE III IN PERMACULTURE

So you’ve heard a bit about permaculture and are keen to know more? Make like-minded friends in this highly practical course as you develop the skills to help make lives, homes and communities more sustainable. Be inspired by natural ecosystems, holistic philosophy, integrating organic farming, animal systems, natural building, food preservation, systems thinking, community development and more. This course is the ‘trade equivalent’ qualification that prepares you to work in a skilled and independent manner developing and operating permaculture systems. You will divide your time between the classroom and our specially designed outdoor site at the Mullumbimby Community Gardens for valuable hands-on experience. Tue & Wed, 1 Feb – 26 Oct 2022 l 9 am – 3:30 pm *Fee free places available for most NSW residents, see p.4 or website for details

AHC42116 CERTIFICATE IV IN PERMACULTURE

Do you want to grow your permaculture know-how right in the green heart of Northern NSW? A career in permaculture is richly rewarding, enabling you to immerse yourself in sustainable living and organic farming practices. You will learn about soil improvement, planning and implementing permaculture works, harvest and storage systems, seed bank management, approaches to sustainable community, bioregional development programs and more. Guided by our highly skilled, industry current trainers you will expand your personal and professional skills, acquiring the resilience to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Thur & Fri, 10 Feb – 9 Dec 2022 l 9 am – 3:30 pm *Fee free places available for most NSW residents, see p.4 or website for details

Do you have a passion for plants, getting your hands dirty and the outdoor lifestyle? If the answer is yes, then a career in horticulture could be for you. This nationally recognised training will give you the skills required to enter this growing, thriving industry. During the course you will be guided by our highly skilled industry experts and divide time between the classroom and our purposefully designed site at the Mullumbimby Community Gardens for valuable hands-on experience. Once completed you will have the opportunity to work in nurseries, parks, gardens and sports fields in a variety of roles. Thur & Fri, 10 Feb – 16 Sep 2022 l 9 am – 3:30 pm *Fee free places available for most NSW residents, see p.4 or website for details

BACKYARD FOOD PRODUCTION with Angela Skehan

Growing your own herbs, fruit and vegetables can be a rewarding and exciting experience. During the course we will follow the seasons of a north coast vegetable garden. Growing, maintaining, harvesting, fertilising and sowing with the seasons at the local Mullumbimby Community Gardens. A mixture of theory and practical make this course an exciting journey into the world of organic gardening. This course can help you get the most out of your space, so come along, have some fun and get your hands dirty. Mon, 7 Feb – 28 Mar | 9.30 am – 3.30 pm | Full Fee: $250 *Ace Program Fee: $0 see p. 4 (additional resource fee of $80 for all enrolments)

BUILDING HEALTHY SOILS with Angela Skehan

A next level course for those seeking more strategies to enhance and protect the soil environment whilst improving their harvests, reducing inputs and relieving pest and disease pressure. With an emphasis on the soil food web, this course will delve into the microscopic world of the soil and how we can manage the soil system whilst enhancing organic food production and care for our environment. Thu, 3 Feb – 24 Mar | 9.30 am – 3.30 pm | Full Fee: $250 *Ace Program Fee: $0 see p. 4 (additional resource fee of $80 for all enrolments)

PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE (PDC)

Learn how to design, build and maintain abundantly productive food gardens and human settlements with a deep reverence of nature’s patterns and cycles. This Modular Permaculture Design Course is run over 14 days and is designed for flexible learning. There is a strong focus upon practical activities including successional agroforestry, vegetable gardening, seed saving, plant propagation, animal care, composting and more... Fri, Sat & Sun, various dates between 25 Feb - 22 May | 9 am - 5 pm Mullum Concession: $1,350 Full Fee: $1,500 PERMACULTURE