The first 10-Day Permaculture design Course finished on Sunday with presentations 12 new Design Certificates:
Back row: Marion Chalet, Graham Strouts, Lisa Davis, Stephen Peel, John Dolan, Aiden Carvill, Claire O’Connor, Thomas O’Connor, Eoin O’Callaghan; Front Row: Jack Russey, Pomme Ringeard, Luc Bouriel, Samantha Lanham, Jane Pennington, Daithi O Lanluain
The course was a great success and one we hope to repeat in the future. Participants showed great fortitude in coping with a lot of rain and large volumes of food including summer puddings and chocolate cake with they managed to put away uncomplainingly.
Starting at Tooreenlahard, Ballingeary, the focus was on ethics and principles of permaculture design; peak oil and energy desent; and pond, reedbed and wetland construction with farm-scaper John Dolan.
Left: John explains reedbed construction; Right: floating garden
We then moved onto my place at Derryduff, where we looked at natural building, the limitations of living off the grid, and forest garden design:
Left: bare feet are best for cob-mixing; Right: planting ground-cover and companion plants through a mulch
We were lucky with the weather once again as we decamped on Thursday for the last leg of the course at Lisa Davis’ “Perma-Heaven” on the Sheep’s Head peninsular to share in her expertise of gardening and animal husbandry, and do a design exercise:
Left: Lisa’a Garden; Right: the Crew: Lisa, Graham, Anne, Franco, Gilli, John, Rachel
It was a really tremendous week and Id like to give a big thankyou to all the cooks, tutors and others who helped in the preparations to make it as success, and especially the course participants who took so well to the Permaculture Way and made the whole event so worthwhile.
Hallo guys thanks very much for the good work you do over there ,i wish i could find time and oportunity to come share with you and participate in the goodwork you are doing. am evans odula the director of badilisha ecovillage foundation trust web;www.badilisha.org , we love it since we are also doing almost the same ,and beside that we also do,permaculture demostrations and modelfarms, community outreaches, support to ophans and vulnerable groups,a and other people care initiatives.we would encourage you continue with the same spirit and amybe we find away of linking up and work together and share alot.all the best and please keep it up.