Permaculture teaching takes so many forms. Permaculture teaching can be with adults, children, your own family, your local community, internationally, at schools, at universities, online, written, through film, via audio …
Permaculture teaching through mentoring
Recently I spent a week in my garden mentoring a year 10 work experience student. We had so much fun! Here is the film we made together showing some of the things he learned about the permaculture approach to designing and developing a garden.
Over the past 25 years, I have taught in 20 countries and learned so much from applying permaculture in these varied contexts, cultures, climates and communities.
Permaculture teaching in Africa this December
In December, I will be in Uganda and Kenya supporting permaculture teachers from Kenya, Uganda and Zanzibar who are leading a Permaculture Design Course. Two of my children (12 and 10 yo) will accompany me and complete their PDC with me in Uganda. We have also been invited to visit the African Children’s Choir School near Kampala to work with students to design a sustainable food garden.
We will be travelling across to Kenya to meet and plan a permaculture course in August 2019, and find out how to support the development of a new practical permaculture teaching centre near Kakamega. We’ll also be visiting Jenipher who makes and distributes washable sanitary kits for girls – we’ve been raising funds for her program. Please keep donating – it is making a huge difference to the amount of girls she is able to help.
I am about to launch a fundraising program to help the various programs we visit – please watch this space. The wonderful African storyteller, Mariam Issa, just agreed today to lead an event in Maleny with me to raise funds at the start of December. We will be sharing the stage at Northey Street City Farm for the Gross National Happiness event – tickets here. I can’t wait!
Dynamic curiosity
I just love teaching, sharing, learning, co-designing and collaborating with permaculture. This is why I have created the Permaculture Education Institute.
I think one of the key things about being a good permaculture teacher (or any teacher really) is maintaining a dynamic curiosity and an active approach to learning. Every day I learn something new. In just about every workshop lead or conversation I have, I discover some great new ideas, information or strategies.
Today for example I was chatting on the phone with an Indian man, an engineer seeking permaculture advice. His goal is to start living a permaculture life, getting back to nature and begin farming again, like his grandfather did. He told me about how his grandfather collected and used cow urine for pest control, and how they went about crushing the Neem leaves in water too for managing pests. Fascinating!
Permaculture teaching – is it for you?
Do you want to become a permaculture teacher? Do get in touch with me. Enrolments are always open for my Permaculture Educators’ Program (combined Permaculture Design Certificate and Permaculture Teacher Certificate). It is a comprehensive and fully flexible, self-paced course. There is a wonderful group of students from around the world who connect through our online group. Graduates of this program are eligible to continue their study toward a Diploma in Permaculture and even use their studies toward a degree program with partner organisations. Graduates are also invited to travel with me to projects overseas. In 2019, I will be selecting applicants to accompany me to Kenya. Visit https://permacultureeducationinstitute.org for more information. So many exiting opportunities.