Short courses & workshops

Learn practical skills and knowledge for sustainable living and self reliance through our Workshops and Short Courses. We also offer the residential 2-3 week Permaculture Design Course and short 4-7 day intensive advanced courses for professional development (PD) for the serious permaculture designer, teacher and activist. Our faculty of highly experienced trainers deliver some of these programs elsewhere in the Northern Rivers and overseas. Please contact us if you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area.

2019 Short Course Program

Jan 11-25, 2019  Permaculture Design Course (PDC)  the classic certified PDC originally developed by founder Bill Mollison brought up-to-date with the latest earth sciences, regenerative design and social innovations. Intensive residential course includes full catering & free camping on site. Teachers: Robyn Francis, Janelle Schafer, Annaliese Hordern, Guy Stewart and Angela Skehan

March 23 – 30, 2019  Permaculture Teacher Training with Robyn Francis.  Learn from one of permaculture’s most experienced trainers. From how we learn, different learning styles, creative facilitation techniques and processes, how to develop curricula, session plans and organise training programs. PDC essential.

April 9-May15 Growing Abundance Garden to Table – Organic Food production & preservation for Self-reliance & Market GardeningLearn how to grow an abundance of organic food throughout the year. This 12-day course conducted over 6 weeks (2 days per week) is ideal for anyone serious about food self-reliance and/or small-scale commercial market gardening with a focus on vegetable and herb production.

April 10 (Wed 9am-3pm) Essential Botany for Gardeners & Plant Propagation Learn how plants grow and propagate, how to identify plants and about plant families for better gardening. Teachers: Robyn Francis         E/B $85 Full: $99

April 16 (Tues 9am-5pm) Healthy Soil, Compost and Compost Teas Workshop Get to know your soil and do a Soil Care analysis. Learn how to make different types of compost, rapid compost, fungal compost, how to brew aerobic compost teas and activate biochar. Teachers: Angela Skehan, Robyn Francis and Andrew Anderson                   E/B $99   Full: $115

April 23 (Tue 9-12.30) Planning a Year-round Food Supply Learn how to develop a seasonal planning and harvest schedule for fresh food from your garden throughout the year. Teacher: Robyn Francis.          E/B $55   Full : $65

April 27, 2019 DIY Soap Making & Natural Cleaning Workshop with Robyn Francis. Learn how to make lovely natural soaps and a range of natural cleaning products for the home and personal hygiene. Get some sample to take home.

April 30 (Tues 9-12.30) Organic Integrated Pest & Weed Managment  Discover ways to reduce problems with pests and weeds through integrated management systems, non-chemical control techniques & processes. Teacher: Angela Skehan     E/B $55   Full : $65

May 1 (Wed 9-3)  Apothecary Gardens and Herbs in Permaculture  Explore ways to integrate herbs into your garden landscape and create an Apothecary Garden plus traditional uses of weeds and garden herbs for first aid and home remedies. Learn how to make your own herbal salves & ointments. Teacher: Robyn Francis               E/B $85 Full: $99

May 7-8 (Tue 9-5 + Wed 9-3) Tropical Tubers Garden-to-Table  This 2 day  workshop covers a diverse range of tubers and perennial tropical vegetables, how to propagate. grow and harvest and ways to store, prepare and process them. Learn how to make four from arrowroot and cassava, processing turmeric. Day two we will cook up a lunchtime feast to taste-test some delicious ways to cook cassava, taro, Jerusalem artichokes and other unusual vegetables                    E/B Fee $175   Full : $195

May 14 (Tue 9-5 + Wed 9-3) Preserving the Harvest   A 2-day hands-on course introduces the many methods and techniques to naturally preserve your harvest plus essential food safety and sterilising without chemicals. We will make conserves, pickles, ferments, bottling and a simple curd cheese. On the Wednesday we will have a lunch featuring products we have made. Teachers: Melian Fertl & Robyn Francis                     E/B Fee $175   Full: $195

June 8 OPEN DAY Saturday 10.30-3.30 The 19th Djanbung Gardens Annual Open Day with short workshops, tours, displays, presentations, plants and crafts for sale, cafe open. Entry by donation

July 6-20, 2019 Permaculture Design Course (PDC)  the classic certified PDC originally developed by founder Bill Mollison brought up-to-date with the latest earth sciences, regenerative design and social innovations. Intensive residential course includes full catering & free camping on site. Teachers: Robyn Francis, Janelle Schafer, Annaliese Hordern, Guy Stewart and Angela Skehan

August 10-11, 2019  Forgotten Arts Fair Two days of workshops, demonstrations, displays and stalls showcasing diverse traditional skills and almost forgotten trades.

August 13-22, 2019  Growing Abundance – Organic Gardening -Spring. This 6-day course held 3 days/week for 2 weeks with classes Tues (9-5), Wed (9-3) and Thurs (9-5).  Learn the full process of planning and growing an abundance of fresh food all year round, basic botany for gardeners, seed saving, natural pest management, organic certification and more. Teachers: Robyn Francis and Angela Skehan

August 31-Sep 1, 2019  Bamboo Essentials – Learn about clump management, when and how to harvest, treating bamboo for borer beetles, curing and storage, use of tools and basic techniques for cutting, splitting and lashing with Julianne Hartmann and Robyn Francis.

Sept 10-11 (Tue 9-5 + Wed 9-3) Tropical Tubers Garden-to-Table  This 2 day  workshop covers a diverse range of tubers and perennial tropical vegetables, how to propagate. grow and harvest and ways to store, prepare and process them. Learn how to make four from arrowroot and cassava, processing turmeric. Day two we will cook up a lunchtime feast to taste-test some delicious ways to cook cassava, taro, Jerusalem artichokes and other unusual vegetables                    E/B Fee $175   Full : $195

September 17-18, 2018 Garden to Table • Storing the Harvest – learn about food preservation, how to make conserves, ferments and other traditional food storage techniques, plus lots of recipes. Teachers: mother-daughter ‘cook and chef’ team, Robyn Francis and Melian Fertl. E/B Fee $175   Full : $195

November 1-17, 2019 PDC-PLUS Extended Permaculture Design Course This extended 17-day PDC-PLUS includes the classic certified PDC originally developed by founder Bill Mollison brought up-to-date with the latest earth sciences, regenerative design and social innovations. Plus this extended course includes additional topics, special excursions to local permaculture projects and extra practical sessions. Intensive residential course includes full catering & free camping on site. Teachers: Robyn Francis, Janelle Schafer, Annaliese Hordern, Guy Stewart and Angela Skehan

To Register: pay online or  Contact us

Overseas courses with Robyn Francis in 2019:
PDC in Shenzhen, China Oct 1-15

Course dates to be confirmed for 2019

  Advanced Design Skills – for PDC certificate graduates to develop professional design and consulting skills, draw concept and detail plans, costing, client communications, tricks and tips of the trade with Robyn Francis

Creative Community Facilitation – a Social Permaculture Master Class with Robyn Francis, learn about the power of participatory community action, facilitation processes, planning your project and working with human & cultural diversity

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