NOTS are delighted to be partnering with Cultivate to provide a new 2-day Permaculture Design course in March 2025.

This participatory, thought-provoking learning experience in Cloughjordan Ecovillage is suitable for anyone who wants to understand the basics of Permaculture Design with an emphasis on land stewardship and resilient community building, in a unique and inspiring environment.

Cultivate’s course teaches practical and accessible approaches in regenerative design, systems thinking, and other holistic approaches. All of which are required to build resilient, fair systems that harmonize with nature.

Course Information:

• Dates: Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March 2025
• Time: 10.00am to 5.00pm each day
• Venue: Community Enterprise Centre, Cloughjordan Ecovillage
• Trainers: Davie Philip and Ben Whelan
• Costs:  €180 when you sign up through NOTS. You can also contact pdc@cultivate.ie for more information about the course.
• Accommodation available at Django’s Eco-Hostel and other B&B’s on request, please book accommodation separately.

Who is this Course For?
This introductory 2-day ‘taster’ course is designed for anyone passionate about creating a regenerative future. Whether you’re:

• An agroecological or organic farmer seeking to deepen your understanding of regenerative and permaculture practices
• A community activist striving to inspire positive change in your local area
• A socio-ecological entrepreneur looking for tools to build resilient and impactful projects
• A community changemaker—whether you’re an activist striving to inspire positive change in your local area or a catalyst igniting collaboration and driving transformative action
• A sustainability educator eager to expand your teaching with regenerative design and permaculture principles, or
• A permaculture practitioner aiming to broaden your perspective and connect permaculture ethics with regenerative design

Through interactive and enjoyable sessions, you’ll engage with thought-provoking content, participate in hands-on activities, and explore real-world applications. Ample time for questions, answers, and collective exploration ensures a rich and immersive learning experience.

Tutors: 

Davie Philp, has over 25 years of experience in promoting sustainable living through Cultivate, an NGO and Civil Society Organisation focused on education, communication and citizen engagement.

Ben Whelan, Specialising in forest gardening, microclimates, permaculture plants and enterprise & money systems, Ben has been teaching permaculture with Cultivate since 2000 and has taught and published in many areas of sustainability including permaculture, bioregionalism and local economics.

Both our tutors are a registered with the Permaculture Association

Cloughjordan Ecovillage:
This training offers a unique opportunity to learn in Cloughjordan Ecovillage, a model of how communities can respond to the many challenges of our times. The Ecovillage layout is based on a permaculture design, and the location allows students to see some of the main principles in action within a robust community. The Ecovillage comprises over 55 eco-homes, a renewable energy heating system, wood-fired bakery, a community farm (CSA), food hub, a community seed bank, and our course centre – Cloughjordan Enterprise Centre.

Food:
Refreshments and cakes will be provided during both the morning and afternoon sessions. Lunch is not included, so you are invited to bring a packed lunch,or if you prefer, you can also purchase food at Cloughjordan’s local shops, the Middle Country Café, or Sheelagh na Gig Bookshop.

Course Elements / Breakdown:
During the two days, you will learn about:

• The history of permaculture and regenerative design
• Closed loop and whole systems thinking
• Learning from Nature – Soil and Living Systems
• Ethics & principles of Permaculture
• Identifying Principles in Action – Observation Tour of the Ecovillage
• Permaculture Design: A Step-By-Step Approach for Regeneration