PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE COURSE 

 SUMMER 2023  -  DHARMA MOUNTAIN, HEDALEN

Permaculture gives you the tools to create the world you long to live in!  

Do you wish to be part of creating a more regenerative society?

Do you want to live in a way that enriches nature instead of degrading it?

Would you love the tools, practices and confidence to activise your projects and communities?

Permaculture is holistic design system which models nature and meets our needs, whilst regenerating our world. We welcome you to immerse yourself and expand your skills in creating regenerative living, with this internationally acclaimed Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course!

Yes! I want to sign up for the PDC

 The Permaculture Design Certificate includes the internationally recognised 72 hour course plus an integrated extra 24+ hours in deep nature immersion, spiritual deep ecology and regenerative leadership.

You will receive a certificate that is valid worldwide and will be a strength if you want to: dive deeper into ecological thinking, plan your own home, garden or farm, create a regenerative lifestyle, participate in an ecovillage or intentional community, design a regenerative business, teach, work with school or community gardens, work with policy making, youth work, voluntary organisations, activism, community development, social justice, work with networks such as WWOOF, Camphill or Workaway or a supplement to other relevant education.

You will learn how to design systems for humans that imitate natural ecosystems, with a minimum energy and resources that creates resilience, abundance and social justice. We will cover topics such as ecovillages, alternative economies, food forests, social permaculture, regenerative leadership, decision making, soil and compost, water harvesting, garden design, large scale food production, energy and the whole two weeks culminate in the creation of an individual design project.

 Permaculture has solutions not just for food production and landscapes, but also designs for our social systems, communities, governance and policies for these times of great change.

The course will be held over 2 weeks:


Week 1: Tuesday 9th may (evening) - Tuesday 16th may 12.00


Week 2: Monday 26th June (evening) - Sunday 2nd July 12.00

 

Course leaders: Jan Martin Bang & Jennifer McConachie 

The teaching will be in English (with Norwegian translation where needed)

Yes I want to sign up for the PDC!

What is permaculture?

Most people discover permaculture through gardening, but it is a whole-systems approach to design for not just food production, but everything from our homes, communities, governance and business, to water, wellbeing and families!

Integration of design with ecology for humans to create resilient systems by imitating nature´s ecosystems.

A holistic planning system based on working with, not against nature, which draws on indigenous earth wisdom.

By observing how nature works and imitating ecosystems, we can meet our humans needs in a way which regenerates instead of degrading nature.

Permaculture is used today as a planning tool throughout the world and is always linked to local resources, the potential for cultivation, and is designed to meet basic human needs with the least possible use of resources. 

Permaculture is about not just living sustainably, but creating regenerative lifestyles, with humans as a beneficial element in our environment! 

A philosophical design system based on the ethics of Earth care, People care & Fair Share/Future Care, which empowers a shift from monocultures in our agriculture and societies, to integration, diversity and harmony.

"Permaculture gives us a toolkit for moving from a culture of fear and scarcity, to one of love and abundance"- Toby Hemenway

About Dharma Mountain

Dharma Mountain Meditation and Freedom Resort is located in the beautiful Hedalen valley, Valdres, about 2 hrs drive from Oslo. Here there is a special atmosphere of stillness, supported by beautiful nature and the backdrop of the mountains. You will find beautiful permaculture gardens, a lake and forest with trails to the wild river Urula, with waterfalls and deep places to swim. Enjoy delicious vegetarian meals prepared with love. You will find a sauna, meditation room, yoga mats and cushions. Dharma Mountain also offer holistic massage and other sessions which can be booked in advance or on arrival. Read more about Dharma Mountain here!

Accomodation

Book on registration & payable 2 weeks before course start.

Prices per night
Tent 145,- 
Shared room/sleeping loft  345,-
Single room 625- 

Hear what previous participants say about the PDC! 

 

Prices 

Early-bird before 31 December: 14,500 kr
Student/honnør/lower income: 14,500 kr
Standard price: 17,500 kr
By choosing the higher rate, you are supporting students with a low income to participate.  
Payment plans available

Low income reduced rate: We want to make our fees as inclusive as possible and may be able to offer a reduced rate for low income participants. Please use this link to apply  ASAP. Limited offer.

Price includes: the course itself, materials and full meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner plus meeting tea/coffee.
In addition you pay for accomodation.

Includes 3000,- deposit, payment of which secures your place.

Deadline for registration: 11 April 2023

(Please send us an email if you still want to attend this course after registration deadline: [email protected])

Yes I want to sign up for the PDC!

What are PDC graduates saying about the course? 

Vidar Faksdal

The PDC changed my life for the better, because it made me more authentic. The course is about so much more than plants and gardening! It’s about growing together with other people who want to make the earth a better place to live. The teachers Jen & Jan are a dream team! The most important for me was the fellowship in the group - I´ve made a lot of new friends. 

 

Ethel Wright 

The PDC course completely changed my life! During the course my husband and I bought a farm in the north of Norway, quit our jobs and sold our house! We will run the farm with permaculture principles.

The course was inspiring, varied and well presented. The other participants were exciting people who generously shared their huge knowledge!

If you are reading this, chances are you are considering joining a PDC. You know what? I think you should. Give yourself the gift of this experience. It might just change your life! 

 Ale Tomasini

Dharma Mountain is a lovely and magical place! The forest, mountain and main house are fantastic! 

I learned about nature, sustainability, permaculture and  most importantly I learned about myself. I now volunteer on a farm where I am putting into action all the many ideas I have to implement permaculture! 

About the course leaders

Jan Martin Bang 

I am passionate about teaching permaculture! I was born in Oslo and grew up in England, where I studied archaeology, philosophy, geography, education, and agriculture. I lived on a kibbutz in Israel for 16 years and represented  ”Global Ecovillage Network” in Israel. I taught the first Hebrew Permaculture Design Course and taught in many countries in the Middle East.  In 2000 I moved with my family to Norway to work at Solborg Camphill Village outside Hønefoss. I am an active member of the board of the Norwegian Permaculture Association and the ecovillage movement in Norway. I received my permaculture diploma from the Nordic Permaculture Institute in 2006 for my work in education and community development. I have written several books about permaculture and community. 

 

Jen McConachie

I am an inspired permaculturist and love to facilitate teachings in forest garden design, regenerative leadership and organisations, earth connection practices and transforming ecological grief. I run my own permaculture business "Earth Mentor Me" as an educator, mentor and forest garden designer. I took the PDC in 2015 and am completing my permaculture diploma in education. I hold the permaculture teacher training certificate and am currently taking a 6 month education as a facilitator of The Work that Reconnects. I have a background as a composer and DJ before I woke up to environmental activism and founded the Norwegian non-profit «Fruktdugnad». I am secretary for the Norwegian Permaculture Association, where I actively integrate permaculture for a regenerative organisation. I weave permaculture into my roles as a mother, entrepreneur, elected council official and in my mini food forest. I am passionate about helping people create abundant inner and outer landscapes.

Topics the course includes

 Permaculture design tools, principles and ethics

Maps, how to read landscapes

Ecosystems and living ecological cycles.

Landscape, geology, flora and fauna

Social permaculture & group dynamics

Soil, mulching and compost

Large scale permaculture, Holistic Management 

Water in the landscape, earthworks

Waste-water purification, compost toilets.
Biological water treatment, flow-forms

Energy sources, alternative and green energy
-water, wind, sun, bioenergy

Food forest design and polycultures

Mycorrhiza & growing mushrooms 

Regenerative leadership and organisations

Deep observation & nature connection practices 

Plants & seeds 

Individual Permaculture Design project  & work in design groups

Yoga & meditation offered

Regenerative economies 

Social systems, decision making and group dynamics

Activism & avoiding burnout

The Work That Reconnects, transforming ecological grief, Deep Time

Meetings and facilitation skills

Conflict resolution, non-violent communication, sociocracy

Garden design. Companion planting

BioDynamic farming 

Footprint analysis

Bioregions and transport

Ecovillages, Global & Norwegian Ecovillage Network

House design, building techniques from tipis and shelters to “Earthships” and “Tiny Houses”

Site design, zones, use of materials

Water, energy, and heating. Sosial and spiritual conditions. 

Permaculture in the world, diploma, the LAND project

Hands-on practical projects vary with the weather and may include reading landscape, planting and working with soil & compost, mushroom growing, natural building, earthworks, water harvesting, earth connection, deep observation practices. 

Participants will be part of developing the forest garden at Dharma Mountain.

Our onsite projects are designed to include diverse physical abilities and ages. The course is taught interactively, and designed to be a safe, inclusive space to experience community.

Registration

Use this form to register for the course. You will receive an invoice via email. Welcome!  

Refund policy
By signing up, you agree to the following refund policy:
Due to our commitments to the venue, we have the following refund policy. 
Full course fee payment is required before the start of the course, otherwise you risk losing your place. In the unlikely event that we have to cancel the course, all fees paid will be refunded, minus any card payment fees and deposit. In the event that a participant does not complete the course, we cannot refund fees. In the event that a participant cancels within 2 weeks of course start, we cannot refund the deposit and refund of other fees will be negotiable. In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak or cancellation, we may offer a credit to a future course. 
Norsk permakulturforening
Studie-forbund Solidaritet