This practical course will bring the possibility of significant and positive life changes. Although permaculture is most commonly thought about in connection with gardening & farming, its principles, ethics and design methods can be adapted and used in each individual's own work, interests and home to bring about a more harmonious & sustainable lifestyle. Permaculture offers a perspective on all aspects of building a sustainable future. Permaculture encourages us to use our individual skills, knowledge and interests, whilst drawing on traditional wisdom, science and our innate ability to observe and learn from the world around us.

Course participants will be awarded the Permaculture Association (Britain)'s internationally recognised Certificate in Permaculture Design.

Rifleman Cottage is an experiment in self-sufficiency and sustainable living - a permaculture work in progress and one of the Permaculture Association's LAND demonstration network sites. From small beginnings ten years ago, growing a few vegetables in the garden and keeping a couple of hens, it is now a holding of around six acres with land and house run on permaculture principles as much as possible. The project demonstrates that it is possible to lead a more sustainable life and apply permaculture ways of thinking on a range of scales, and in a variety of achievable ways.

The house was originally a pair of farmworker's cottages and has been retrofitted with various energy-saving devices, including solar water heating and solar PV panels; it is heated mainly with wood, and a whole house heat recovery system has also been fitted. A WET system designed by Jay Abrahams of Biologic Designs has been installed to purify and recycle the black and grey water from the house, and rainwater is harvested using water butts and the WET system. As much waste as possible is recycled on site using compost bins and piles, bokashi bins, and a green cone. Laying hens and weaners (pigs) are also kept in the orchard to provide manure, to condition the soil, and also feed on green garden waste.

Top fruit, soft fruit and vegetables are grown on a garden scale in raised beds, a greenhouse and polytunnel, and mini orchard, and there is also a commercial orchard of Bramley apples which is being converted to more sustainable ways of growing, as well as being replanted with a wider range of top and stone fruit varieties. Hedgerows are being renewed and replanted with native species, and willow has also been planted as quick-growing windbreaks and as part of the WET system, to be used as biomass and for basket-making. The encouragement of native wildlife is a priority in the management of the land, and there is a small wild flower meadow and woodland area, nesting boxes and wild areas to this end; a pond has also been made and planted up with native flora.

This project offers an opportunity to see permaculture ideas put into practice in a variety of ways, which are achievable both on the small and domestic scale, as well as being applicable to larger-scale projects. Future plans include the construction of some tree bogs, planting a woodland area to be managed to enhance wildlife and produce biomass, further renewal and restoration of hedgerows, and developing the commercial orchard along sustainable lines, as well as developing a variety of income streams from the house and land, in order that the project can become more self-supporting.

More information about permaculture at Rifleman Cottage

www.riflemancottage.co.uk

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We use group work, discussions, videos, slide shows, observation, guided walks & practical activities as learning methods. These are supportive of different learning styles & for people with learning difficulties. We will also be visiting other projects where permaculture theory is being put into action.

Design courses are not just about imparting information to the students, there is plenty of knowledge out there, the important thing is knowing how to use this & feeling confident to do so.

Empowerment is the essence of the course. We will be using practical and theoretical teaching methods to create a fun, lively & inclusive course. The course culminates in the main design activity that helps to consolidate all of the learning & empower students to take permaculture back into their own homes, lives & community. As a group we will benefit from collaborative learning & from having fun together. We don't expect any previous knowledge & recognise that everyone has their own unique skills, knowledge & areas of interest to bring to the course.