16-DAY PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE ESTANCIA RANQUILCO, PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA TREEYO PERMACULTURE
Dates: November 15th to December 1st
Web: www.treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com/patagoniapdc
Host site: Estancia Ranquilco, Patagonia, Argentina (www.ranquilco.com)
*Introduction*
TreeYo Permaculture is excited to offer a 16-day Permaculture Design Course (PDC) in conjunction with Estancia Ranquilco in the mountains of Patagonia, Argentina. The 100,000-acre working cattle ranch doubles as an eco-tourism destination that utilizes permaculture design to continually progress the onsite systems towards overall community self-reliance. This new 16-day format is an expression of TreeYos commitment to providing the best educational programs possible. This extended course structure will accommodate more hands-on experiences to learn through the body, more interactive exercises to enrich the learning process, and a more in depth final design project to reinforce the classroom learning. This will lead us beyond the traditional 2-week intensive originally laid out by Bill Mollison that has one day off and a total of 72 hours of instruction.
This 16-day PDC will be an engaging combination of interactive educational opportunities for numerous learning styles including hands-on activities. This extended format allows students to delve deep into the theory of the design principles, directly experience the design process, and learn from past design and implementation work of others while actively progressing the Estancias sustainability objectives and enhancing the eco in its eco-tourism infrastructure. To learn more about our specific facilitation style and view the highlights of TreeYos past courses, please explore the following page: www.treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com.
Says Ashley Carrithers, who has owned the land since 1979, Ranquilco is uniquely situated and orientated to serve as a venue for these courses as well as inner journeys of personal growth. Many who have dedicated sufficient time to be on our vast lands, high and deep, in the cordillera of the Argentine Patagonia Andes, have experienced the magic, which seems to roam over the mountains, down the valleys, and through the crystalline river waters. Thus it seems to be an Earth power point, somewhat disguised as a traditional working cattle ranch, replete with hundreds of livestock and horses, gauchos, and high mountain landscape replete with stunning natural beauty. We have long striven for the benefits and blessings of self-sufficiency and have achieved notable progress in such fields as dairy, organic meats, bee keeping, electricity production, draft animal husbandry, leather working and more to come.
*Curriculum*
This 16-day PDC includes the 14 chapters of Permaculture: A Designers Manual by Bill Mollison. Some of the topics included are:
- Ethics, principles, and methods of design
- Pattern understanding: interpretation and application
- Water harvesting, conservation, purification, and revitalization ? – Tree crops, reforestation, and nutrient recycling
- Soil classification, biological interaction, and re-mineralization – Tropical, dryland, and temperate influences on vegetation, housing, and earthworks
- Nutrition, fermentation, and local food systems
- Transition Towns emerging and evolving approach to community level sustainability
*Facilitators*
Doug Crouch, Sara Wuerstle and Eva Wimmer
Language used: English (with limited help to translate unknown words when necessary)
Our aim as Permaculture trainers is to creatively facilitate a learning process that empowers people in Permaculture design through experiential learning and hands-on training. Each student completes the course with a site design and presentation based on the skills and knowledge accumulated throughout the 16 days. This reinforces the material presented and allows students to gain the confidence required to begin implementing sustainability initiatives into ones own growing space and community.
*Fees*
Base fee for the PDC = $600 per person (includes instruction and food only). Housing pricing is separate. See below for details.
PLEASE NOTE: An early bird discounted price of $500 plus housing applies if registered before October 1st.
*Housing Options & Rates*
The Estancia offers a variety of housing options. Choice will be given on a first sign up, first serve basis. Please choose from the housing options below (prices are per person, additional to the base course fee):
1. BYOT (Bring-Your-Own-Tent) Camping with outdoor hot showers & outhouses plus indoor kitchens.$400
2. Rustic Stream House (15 mins walk off site) with indoor shared shower & toilet plus a wood stove kitchen (double occupancy).$500
3. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (double occupancy).$600 4. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (single occupancy).$750
*Transportation*
Due to the remote location and the challenge of transportation, interns should arrive in El Huecu by bus from Zapala (13:30 bus) on the agreed upon arrival day for pick by Ranquilco staff.
PLEASE NOTE: Students are invited to come several days earlier or stay several days longer to join the estancia community at a cost of $70/day. This includes room, in our basic houses, board, and plenty of free time to enjoy the bounties on our lands. Horse riding outings/lessons can be arranged. Please make arrangements for extended stays when registering.