Full Permaculture Design Course (PDC) description

A unique opportunity to learn about sustainable lifestyle and regenerative design.

Most days are offered as one day courses, if you can’t join the full course.

The course structure (Single days may be attended by people, who cannot join the whole course.)

• Friday, 10. february: Arrival 16.00 – 18.00 & Getting to know each other.
• Saturday, 11. february: Introduction to permaculture – basics (part 1)
• Sunday, 12. februar: Introduction to permaculture – principles (part 2)
• Monday, 13. february: Permaculture approach to water management*
• Tuesday, 14. february: Soil and Sustainable Food – Tree systems*
• Wednesday, 15. february: Excursion! Site Visit to see Permaculture Principles in Action
• Thursday, 16. february: Social Permaculture and Group Works*
• Friday, 17. february: Day Off – Relaxation and personal time
• Saturday, 18. february: Eco-building and Our Dream Home and Urban Permaculture*
• Sunday, 19. february: Putting it all together, Design Masterclass*
• Monday, 20. february: Get started with our Designs
• Tuesday, Wednesday, 21.-22. february: Group work: Creating your own design in groups.
• Thursday, 23. february: Presentation of our designs
• Friday, 24. february: Next steps. Ends at 2pm

The timetable is subject to changes but we will give plenty of notice. Any eventual changes will be displayed here on our website.

* at the end indicates that it is recommended to also participate in Feb 11, if you want to join one of these single days. You will gain an even better understanding if you participate in Feb 11 and Feb 12 before joining these single day courses. 

What is permaculture?

Permaculture teaches us how to build natural homes, grow our own food, restore diminished landscapes and ecosystems, catch rainwater, build communities, take care of waste and much more.

The word ‘permaculture’ historically comes from ‘permanent agriculture’ and has evolved into ‘permanent culture’. It is about living lightly on the planet and providing for human needs while improving the health of the natural ecosystems.

Permaculture is a rigorous and systematic set of design tools, ecological principles and methodologies, underpinned by the ethics: Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share.

PDC Course Syllabus

On the course we will look at a wide range of themes for a sustainable lifestyle and sustainable communities, so there will be a lot of information and theory – but you will also create your own permaculture design, so you will be able to design for yourself and others when you go home.

The syllabus will cover topics such as:

• Principles of Natural Systems
• Permaculture Design, Tools and Techniques
• Sustainable Design Methodologies
• Patterns in Nature
• Soil Food Web and Understanding Soil
• Water Harvesting and Storage
• Natural Building Design Strategies
• Trees systems such as Agroforestry and Food Forests
• Plant Guilds and Growing our Own Food
• Sustainable lifestyle and Food Choices
• Energy, conservation and cycling
• Urban Permaculture
• Community Activism
• Invisible Structures: People, Community, Economics, EcoVillages
• Alternatives to money

Teachers

Lead Instructor

Charlotte Lou Langdon – Teaching workshops and courses in Permaculture design, self-sufficiency and personal sustainability since 2016. Starting her journey with permaculture, Lou was the youngest person on her PDC course. Her diploma pathway lasted more than 10 years. She took part in courses, workshops and job shadowing with experts in their fields, such as Martin Crawford, Caroline Aitken, Aranya, Starhawk, Graham Bell and Rakesh Rootsman Rak to name a few.

Lou ended up settling in Denmark in her 20’s, where she worked for the Danish Permaculture Association, writing their newsletter, organising events and helping members with their questions and queries. She completed her diploma in 2022 and is still an avid designer, right now building her own home from natural materials, one of her most recent designs.

She now works full-time as a viticulturist (wine-grower) and wine-maker, managing 2 hectares of organic vineyards on the small island of Fejø. At Hideaway Lou is an integral part of the small business which includes its own production facilities and a small restaurant, serving dishes made with local produce. Hideaway’s wines are some of the best in Denmark, and can even be found in a Michelin starred restaurant in Copenhagen.

Assisting teacher

Kristiane Ravn Frost – Has worked with supporting people and plants in their growth since the eighties. Her primary inspirations have been Macrobiotics and the One straw revolution of Masanobu Fukuoka.

In 2017 she did her first PDC and discovered that permaculture design was just another way of expressing the same essence. Well-being and abundance are a natural consequence of living according to the laws of nature. She has now done 5 PDC’s and assisted in 2 of them.

The venue

The venue belongs to the aspiring ecovillage, Avnø Oasis, which is in the process of growing 3 legs: A co-housing community, regenerative enterprises and Avnø Højskole, whose focus is on health, lifeskills, sustainability & regenerative enterprises. The next door neighbor is Avnø Naturcenter. The whole area around the ecovillage is protected. A phenomenal environment to learn about design and practice sustainable living. Read more about the venue here. 

Food, Accommodation and Facilities

To create a deeper sense of community, throughout the course everybody will participate in practical chores such as cooking lunch, dishwashing, and keeping our environment neat and clean.

Avnø Højskole supports a healthy and stimulant free life. Therefore sugar and coffee are not served. The bulk of the food consists of organic whole grains, beans, seeds & local vegetables, complemented with smaller amounts of fruits, nuts, seaweeds, (optionally fish & eggs), herbal teas and grain coffee, all prepared using macrobiotic principles. Avnø Højskole has a small shop where you can buy healthy snacks.

*Please remember if you want to join a day course, then we recommend to join the first weekend “Introduction to Permaculture”. Here we will give an important introduction to permaculture, so you can gain an understanding of the other parts of the course.

Language

All classes will be in English, however Danish translation is possible if needed.

Contact 

If you have any difficulty or have any questions please feel free to contact us. Also if you need combinations not listed 🙂

Course and Content

Charlotte Lou Langdon:

Email: lou.182@hotmail.com

Mobile/Whatsapp: +45 50385112

Accommodation, directions, etc.

Avnø Højskole +45 45571500

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristianeRavnFrost

Email: yes@avnohojskole.dk

Mobile: Kristiane Ravn Frost +45 28604859