This course is a weekend well spent, to take your sustainability knowledge to a whole new level. Renowned sustainability practitioner, Michelle Sheather provides an overview of all aspects of sustainable living, empowering you to incorporate these learnings into your everyday life.

Elle is an international ecologist and permaculture teacher who has implemented training initiatives around the world, working across 6 continents and in many cases helping preserve rare ecosystems. She is also a member of the Permaculture Northern Beaches committee.

The Introduction to Permaculture course introduces the Ethics and Principles of Permaculture Design.

You will learn about:

• Organic gardening – including growing from seed, companion planting, crop rotation, chemical free pest control and growing within the Sydney climate
• Sustainable housing – including alternative energy sources such as solar, water saving techniques, ecological design principles and concepts
• Soil – Including soil composition, optimum soil PH, key nutrients, and soil health
• Site analysis for your garden/site – Let the educators provide you with the tools for you to design the ultimate permaculture inspired setup to maximise techniques and make them work for your lifestyle
• Permaculture design – Permaculture design is essentially a multi-faceted, integrated and ecologically harmonious method of designing human-centred landscapes. Learn the basics of this in-depth subject including permaculture design principles.
• Social permaculture – Learn how to incorporate permaculture into your daily living.
• Zoning– Learn about the 6 zones of permaculture that denote how much attention each area requires. These can also be adapted on a micro-scale to your own home and garden environment.

The venue is the Coastal Environment Centre (CEC) at North Narrabeen, and a site visit will be made to the wonderful North Curl Curl Community Garden to see permaculture in practice! Practical activities and site visits include:

• Native bee hives
• Raised planting bed
• Food forest
• Worm farms, composting, and more!
• Swim and visit to Narrabeen beach and rock pool with tips for seaside foraging at the end of the day.

Each day will run from 9am - 4:30pm with workshops and small group sessions in this amazing environment.

Course Cost:

• PNB Members $370
• Non-members of PNB $390
• Students $370

*plus booking fee

"The course was really worthwhile. I took away so much new knowledge in sustainability to practice in my daily life”

“This Introduction to Permaculture course is amazing I learnt how to put so many aspects together for working with nature and natural landforms and conditions. It was the whole package."

Recommendations from previous ITP course participants.

• Participants are to bring along:
• A hat and closed comfortable shoes
• Bottle of water
• Pen & notebook
• A small plate of food to share at lunch both days
• (Teas, coffee, and light snacks will be provided)

Participants will take home:

• As part of your course fee you will receive your own copy of Bill Mollison’s book “Introduction to Permaculture” - generally regarded as the Introduction to Permaculture bible!
• An Introduction to Permaculture certificate, recognised worldwide and a stepping stone to Permaculture Design and other Courses.

Spaces are limited for this short course.