8-WEEK PERMACULTURE DESIGN INTERNSHIP ESTANCIA RANQUILCO, PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA TREEYO PERMACULTURE
Dates: January 3, 2012 to February 28, 2012
Web:
http://treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com/january-february-2012-permaculture-internship-in-patagonia-argentina/ Host site: Estancia Ranquilco, Patagonia, Argentina (www.ranquilco.com)
*The Internship*
This intensive permaculture internship will include over 100 hours of direct instruction through lectures, hands-on sessions, and design projects as well as immediate application of acquired skills through participation in the maintenance and management of the Estancia. The internship structure and curriculum reflects our commitment to Bill Mollisons philosophy by emphasizing the application of permaculture principles and the design process through thoughtful and protracted observation, implementation, monitoring, and re-evaluation. At the end of the 8 weeks, interns will have accomplished above and beyond the standard curriculum of a 72 hour, internationally recognized Permaculture Design Course (PDC) through TreeYo Permaculture, a thorough understanding of the application of permaculture principles on a working cattle ranch which also sports a substantial market gardening operation.
*Provisional Internship Schedule*
Week ONE: 30 hours of class time covering the core curriculum of a standard PDC including the introduction to permaculture, principles, ethics, applied community building techniques, patterns in nature and reading the landscape. This week will also include 10 hours of orientation to the land and the established systems as well as projects that interns will be working on during the program.
Week TWO through SIX: 10 hours of class time per week covering topics including soil, water, trees, natural building, gardening, Holistic Management, social system strategies, sustainable economies, aquaculture, animal systems, design process, climatic factors, appropriate technologies, and food preservation (pickling, drying, fermenting, etc.) plus 30 hours of directed systems management work per week (SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS).
Week SEVEN: 10 hours of class time focusing on intern final design projects plus 30 hours of implementation.
Week EIGHT: 10 hours of class and completion of any outstanding projects to help prepare the Estancia for the coming winter and goodbyes.
General weekly schedule:
7:00 11:00 Monday through Friday Morning Work Session
14:00 18:00 Monday/Wednesday/Friday Class Session
14:00 18:00 Tuesday/Thursday Work Session
8:00 10:00 Saturday Morning Work Session
*Directed Systems Management Work*
- Day-in-day-out tasks of gardening such as watering, planting, mulching, composting, weeding, and harvesting
- Establishing new gardens
- Repairing existing garden areas (using weed indicators for guidance) – Composting and soil restoration
- Laying out a stone foundation for a cob oven
- Food processing and preservation
- Natural building projects using locally abundant resources – straw, earth, stone, and wood
- Swale digging
- Sheet mulching
- Tree planting
*Other Exercises & Events*
To bring the material alive we engage numerous learning styles. To achieve this, the internship consists of various exercises and events that require students to immediately apply what they have learned. These educational segments include not only the hands-on sessions and the final design project but also design exercises and excursions. The design exercises compliment the lecture material by adding an element of fun to the learning process while the excursions (such as horse rides with the gauchos and Spanish language exposure) offer cultural understanding and observation practices. There is also a unique opportunity to glean an in-depth understanding of the successes and challenges that the Carritherss have experienced in the development of the Estancia as both a ranch and an eco-tourism destination.
And finally, the internship is a backdrop for strengthening and building community at the Estancia and beyond. Many nights will be filled with song, dance, and music of all types to relax at the end of the day. We also set aside time for interns to present about personal projects that they are involved in or need feedback on, which also allows us to get to know each other in depth. The community formation serves as a lasting network and is one of the most unforgettable parts of the experience.
*Facilitators*
Doug Crouch, Sara Wuerstle, & Eva Wimmer
Language used: English (with limited help to translate unknown words when necessary)
*Fees*
Base fee for the internship = $2000 per person (includes instruction and food only). Housing pricing is separate. See below for details.
*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 for 8 weeks):
1. BYOT (Bring-Your-Own-Tent) Camping with outdoor hot showers & outhouses plus indoor kitchens.$500
2. Rustic Stream House (15 mins walk off site) with indoor shared shower & toilet plus a wood stove kitchen (double occupancy).$650
3. Indoor housing with outdoor toilet & hot shower (double occupancy).$750 4. Indoor housing with indoor toilet & hot shower (single occupancy).$850
*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: Interns are invited to come earlier or stay longer 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. Please make arrangements for extended stays when registering.
*Contact*
Ashley Carrithers (ashleykentc@hotmail.com – registration)
Doug Crouch (treeyopermaculture@gmail.com – course material)