Permaculture Design Courses

Tutors
Venue
Accomodation
TimeTable
Cost
Quotes
Booking Form

Ragmans Lane Farm, Gloucestershire

31st August - 13th September 2008

Please note that the September 2008 course is now full.

7th-20th June 2009

30th Aug -12th Sept 2009




This is the classic permaculture course. It focuses on skills we can put into action in our own lives, in both town and country. It also looks at permaculture in its wider context, as a way of putting many diverse green ideas into a coherent whole. It’s suitable both for beginners and for those in relevant professions - gardeners, farmers, landscape designers, foresters, architects etc - who want to add a permaculture perspective to their skills.

A wide range of teaching methods is used, including talks, slide shows, discussions and exercises, both indoor and outdoor. The main focus of the course is a series of design exercises on the land. Participants can choose between a domestic garden or a smallholding for their permaculture design project. We make full use of the farm as a teaching resource, with outdoor sessions every day. There’s at least one session of practical work in the farm on each course. To get an idea of the full range of subjects covered by the course, please see the example timetable below.

There’s a range of optional evening activities, including a session on healing, campfires and hot tubs. A favourite activity on the weekend is canoeing down the River Wye amid the beautiful wooded scenery (cost approx £15).

The Design Course is recognised by the international permaculture community, and can lead to the informal Diploma of Permaculture Design. Our Design Courses at Ragmans Lane can also lead to a nationally recognised qualification, because they make up two modules of the five-module Sustainable Land Use course, which we also teach at Ragmans Lane.

cathy teaching

Earth Care Manual Book

Special Offer!
The Earth Care Manual, Patrick’s major permaculture book, is available to Design Course participants at half price. It's the ideal companion to the course, full of detailed information on all the subjects covered. You can order your copy in advance or buy it during the course.


Tutors

The main tutors are Patrick and Cathy Whitefield.

Guest tutors include:
Sarah Pugh, urban and community permaculturist
Matt Dunwell, permaculture pioneer and the farmer of Ragmans Lane
Steve Pickup, expert in living willow structures

We also make two visits. One is to Architype, a firm of ecological architects, to see their newly competed office building and for a slide presentation by partner Jonathan Hines
The other is to Oaklands Park, a biodynamic community, to see innovative water and sewage treatment systems and the vegetable gardens, where we’re shown round by Mark Moodie, a pioneer in biological water treatment.


Patrick and Cathy

Venue

Ragmans Lane Farm is situated in beautiful countryside in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, on the banks of the River Wye.

The farm is presently in a state of transition. Formerly supporting a rich diversity of permaculture activity, in recent years this has been narrowed down to just two enterprises. One is mushroom log production - innoculating logs with the spawn of shii-take and oyster mushrooms and selling the logs as a source of fresh organic mushrooms. The other is organic apple juice production, and part of the farm has been planted up with orchards to supply the apples. The rest of the land is let out for grazing and the large vegetable garden is not used at present.

With the appointment of a new manager, Freya Davies, the farm is moving into a new phase of activity. One of her first priorities is to bring the vegetable garden back into production and the consideration of a Community Supported Agriculture scheme. Plans are also being considered to start actively managing the two woodlands on the farm.

The farm is also the home of the Willow Bank, which supplies a wide range of willow varieties and installs living willow structures. Many of these can be seen around the farm. In addition, there is an interesting range of ecological building styles on the farm, and there is both mature and newly planted woodland.

For more information on the farm, including a pictorial tour, see http:// www.ragmans.co.uk (Please note that you should use the booking form on this website, not the one on the Ragmans Lane site.)

View of Ragmans Farm


Accommodation

This is in the bunkhouse, a converted stone barn with many ecological features. Accommodation is basic and there are no individual or double rooms, but if you want privacy you are welcome to camp.

The camping site, with beautiful views of the local landscape, is right beside the bunkhouse. Campers have full use of the bunkhouse facilities and there is no reduction in charge for camping.

Full vegetarian board is provided and the great majority of the food is organic.

 

Time Table  
  Morning Afternoon
Sunday Introductions, the Permaculture Chicken, Ethics Farm Walk
Monday Permaculture Principles1
What do I Eat?
Surveying Skills
Placement Exercise 1
Tuesday Energy, Building
Placement Exercise 2
Listening to the Landscape
Ecological Architecture
Wednesday Gardening, Communication Skills Gardening Practical
An Urban Garden
Thursday Mulching, Design Skills 1, Communities Mapping Exercise
Friday Soil, Farming, Soil Practical Observation Exercise
Willow
Saturday Day Off  
Sunday Day Off  
Monday Woodland, Windbreaks, Agroforestry Site Survey
Participants' Presentations
Tuesday Water, Aquaculture Sewage Treatment
visit to Oaklands Park
Wednesday Urban Permaculture, Food Links Tree identification
Participants’ Presentations
Thursday Nature Conservation, Design Skills 2 Design Questionnaire
Design Exercise
Friday Design Exercise, cont. Design Presentations
Saturday Where Do We Go From Here?  
This timetable is for guidance only, as we vary it slightly from time to time according to circumstances. Note that the Participants’ Presentations are voluntary.

Cost

The charge, inclusive of tuition, board and lodging is:
September 2008, £650; June and September 2009, £690
Please make cheques payable to P&C Whitefield.

We also accept payment in euros. Please calculate your payment according to the current excahnge rate.
Please make Euro checks payable to C Whitefield or contact us for bank transfer details.

We’re able to offer a few concessionary places to people on low incomes. If you would like to apply for one of these please contact us. We have never yet turned anyone away for lack of money.


Deposit

Please fill in the booking form and send it to us with a deposit of £50 to:

Patrick Whitefield Assocaites
37 Leg of Mutton Road
Glastonbury
Somerset BA6 8HH

A further £250 must be paid one month before the course starts. If your initial booking is within one month of the course the deposit should be £300. On receipt of the full deposit we will send you details of transport, arrival times, what to bring etc. Deposits are non-returnable unless we’re able to fill your place. The balance of the fee is due at the start of the course.


 
The Earth Care Manual
If you would like your half price copy on the book sent in advance please tick the box on the booking form and add £20 + £6.50 p&p (£26.50/€ 40) to your deposit. Alternatively you may buy your copy at the beginning of the course.
Earth Care Manual Book
For More Information
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Design Courses, please contact us by phone or e-mail. We’re always happy to hear from you.
 

What previous participants have said about our Design Courses:

“I have been satisfied beyond all expectations.” Daniel Kronenberg

“The wide variety of learning styles employed and well balanced timetable were unique.” Julia Groves

“Patrick is an excellent teacher and his dedication is inspiring.” Tom Mills

“I feel Patrick and Cathy complement each other really well and do a very good job.” Mandy Oasgood

“The course was taught extremely well - professional, yet fun and personal at the same time. One of the most amazing experiences of my life!” Alison Ensor.