End of Term May 22, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Permaculture , trackbackWith last week’s end-of-term celebrations and presentations of another batch of Permaculture Design Certificates to the first year students, I have completed my second year as permaculture teacher on the Practical Sustainability Course at Kinsale Further Education College.
This unique course, devised by Rob Hopkins in conjunction with college director John Thuillier six years ago, is growing in popularity with the next years increased intake booked out months ago and a growing waiting list approaching sufficient numbers to run a second course (were it possible!).
It surely is the best job in the country. What could be better than working with an enthusiastic group of people exploring a great diverse range of activities and topics to do with what concerns us most- working towards a more sustainable future.
Looking back over the past two years it feels like quite a journey, from the steep learning curve during the first year when I was on the phone to Rob in the UK nearly every week - thanks to Rob for holding my hand through that inaugural stage; to the completion of the first cycle of the two-year course at which point I now have so many practical projects, field trips, class notes and guest tutors to choose from there is a definite sense of disappointment that we will be waiting till next September before continuing.
The best thing is, the course seems to attract the best students in the world, and I am particularly fortunate to have had such a brilliant group to have accompanied me through the my first two years. Thanks to Dan, Tara, Lorna, Eoghain, Eilis, Grainne, Hendrik and Ananda and best wishes to all of you on your next projects.
Thanks also to the college staff John, Margaret and Kathleen, without whom nothing can happen at all; and the other tutors on the Practical Sustainability Course, Paul O’Flynn, Thomas Reid-Muller, Philip Ward, Cathy for making the course such a success; and to all the guest tutors and hosts on our field trips who have supported us all so well.
During the year we have engaged in a wide variety of activities and projects:
…Green Building…
…Field trips
…Permaculture Designs
…basketry
…and much more.
The year ended as usual with the play performed in the cordwood amphitheater by the drama students. This year’s play was Gogol’s “The Government Inspector”- a tale of petty bureaucratic corruption (very apt in the run up to this country’s election…)
which was another triumph for drama tutor Belinda Wylde and her students.
Wishing everyone a great holiday and those who are coming back, look forward to seeing you again in September.
Comments»
Well done Graham. What an achievement. You have done an amazing job taking this on and so effectively making it your own. As you say, the best job in Ireland. The proof of the pudding is really in the demand for places, and as usual it is full to bursting.
The end of your second year teaching is a chance for you to take a breather and a rest, but also for the rest of us to say well done Graham, blogger, permaculture teacher and inspirer of new generations of permies…. the only thing missing from the excellent post above … you aren’t in it! What’s the use of an end of year course photo if the teacher isn’t in it?!!! One though, I have end of year photos of each of the 4 years I was there… would you like them? Together with yours it might be nice to have them in the classroom? Anyway, well done.
Thanks Rob and well spotted Rob I should have run a competition of “spot who’s missing…” and I have now changed the photo to include myself.
A “rogues gallery” of all previous graduation classes would be an excellent idea, do send them on.
Graham, Eoin here, I don’t know whether you saw but last saturdays Irish times magazine had an interesting article on Cuba and the organoponicoes out there. Good site by the way.
suffering permaculture withdrawals…getting the garden sorted, thankfully there is some rain today.