Permaculture
Design Course in the Darjeeling Hills
Mineral
Springs, Darjeeling
9th March to 23rd March 2019
The course fees, inclusive of training
material, food and lodge:
International Candidates Rs. 39,000
Indian Nationals residing outside
Darjeeling but working in India Rs. 31,000
Discounts available for Darjeeling Hills’
residents. Please contact for details
Training
venue “Mineral
Springs, Dabaipani, Darjeeling”
Mineral
Springs Dabaipani is an internationally certified organic area and fair-trade
labeled collective of 456 small farmers since 2002. The farmers have come under
the Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sanstha since 1996. The collective has been
marketing small farmers organic tea in the international market, which is grown
as a polyculture crop.
The
participants will have home stay accommodations facilities with the
members of Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sanstha.
For
further details
Darjeeling
Ladenla Road Prerna
c/o
Hayden Hall Complex,
42
Ladenla Road,
Darjeeling
734 101,
West Bengal,
India.
Phone Number
91 354 2255894
A working knowledge of English is required by the participant.
We do not look for academic qualifications for the course, except an interest
to be part of a sustainable lifestyle and be the change you want to see in the
world.
NB: ****
DLR Prerna and Rico reserves the right to admit candidates to the course.
Candidates will be notified of their participation on receipt of the completely
filled application form.
Permaculture Design Course
Description
Permaculture is a design system to create regenerative, sustainable systems.
Envisioned over 25 years ago by Bill Mollison and Dan Holmgren, from Australia,
it has now spread to over 120 countries. Though its conception was as a land
based system, its effectiveness has moved it into urban settings and to being
applied in various social, political, and economic environments.
Permaculture was created through the synthesis of many design systems, with the
emphasis on nature as the penultimate one. Similarly, the insights and value of
traditional and indigenous practices and knowledge are acknowledged along with
the necessity of molding these with our current understandings and the
appropriate technologies of today's world. What Permaculture seeks to do is to
create three-dimensional designs that are site specific and sustainable. By
bringing together elements (orchard, water system, farmer, cow, etc.),
techniques (organic framing, natural building, etc.) and strategies
(microclimate, relative placement, etc.) a system is designed or altered based
on regenerative relationships. It is these regenerative, beneficial
relationships that give a system complexity, three dimensionality, and thus,
resiliency.
The world can be looked at as the convergence of many different flows. From
‘natural’ (wind, water, soil, etc.) to human (social, resources,
transportation, etc.) to invisible (economic, information, etc.) which interact
and create patterns. These flows form our world. Recognizing this, Permaculture
teaches Pattern Literacy and Pattern Application. This, along with Sector
Analysis (site specific flow mapping), Zonation (a tool for structuring time)
and other techniques and tools, Permaculture focuses on creating regenerative
relationships that are the key to resilient, sustainable systems.
From its inception Permaculture has quickly spread to over One hundred and
twenty countries where farms and other sites are successfully applying its'
ideas, techniques and strategies. As further testament to its applicability,
Permaculture is now being applied in many urban and suburban areas. In many
developed countries these applications hold much promise for dealing with the
many issues associated with mass populations.
Permaculture in the last few years has been moving into the invisible structures.
In the United States a Permaculture credit union has been formed and 'green'
investment firms are using Permaculture principles and ideas to create
resilient, sustainable investment systems. Environmentalists and social
activists are using Permaculture to give depth and complexity to their
approaches to many issues we are dealing with today. These applications are
possible because Permaculture is a design system that focuses on relationship
and not so much on object.
Permaculture is a multi-faceted, in depth design system that will help us
create appropriate, site-specific designs that are both sustainable and
regenerative.
Permaculture principles are a list of attitudes, approaches, and actions that
are practical and not system specific. These along with certain tools and
techniques allow for a holistic approach and interaction with any type of
system. As a tool of analysis it is an excellent way to look at existing
programs, strategies, and interventions to assess their interactions, linkages,
and success'. It is a way to reach an understanding of the various influences
and flows involved in a system, be it self help groups, village, or
organization. Second, it provides insights and principles by which to intervene
or interact with a system. As there is neither a truly independent system, nor
sterile 'environment' this aspect is of significant importance. Thirdly, as we
have already stated, Permaculture is an excellent approach for designing
resilient, site-specific systems, be it disaster preparedness, HIV/AIDS, or
women's empowerment.
It is important to understand that Permaculture is not so much about giving you
new and improved ideas, techniques, and strategies, though there is some of
that. What Permaculture does is allow for a deeper understanding of the
situation at hand and, with its principles and strategies, a more holistic,
effective way to interact with or design a system. What Permaculture
offers are skills and principles by which we build our awareness of why or why
not something was successful. Through this insight we can build on what is
successful and modify others to become more successful.
Stepping up another level, Permaculture is an excellent way to weave together
the different parts of an organization so that a unity and synergy can be
created. In this way unforeseen benefits and ease will raise within the system.
This workshop will present Permaculture with all of these applications in mind.
We will focus on land systems with as much hands on work and examples as
possible. In addition, many discussions and examples will be explored of
possible applications in what are called the 'Invisible Structures', the
social, cultural, political, and economic structures that shape much of our
world today.
Subjects will include:
Permaculture Ethics and Principles
Pattern Literacy and Application (physical and invisible)
Energy and Flows
Sector Analysis and Zonation
Water; Harvesting, Holding, and Recycling
Soil, Plants, and Environments
Agriculture; From Your Doorstep to the World
Buildings
The Design Process
Urban Permaculture
Permaculture in the Developing Countries
Permaculture and Organizations
This workshop will culminate with several groups doing a real life design
projects that will be relevant to the site of the workshop. Not only will the
teaching be about Permaculture, but it will also model it by its structure and
the environment we create together in the course.
This workshop will contribute to the enrichment of its site and each of its
participants. With the goal of having half international students and half
local students this workshop will not only be an opportunity to learn about
Permaculture, it will also offer an opportunity to understand we can create a
regenerative, sustainable world together.
The person attending the Permaculture Design Course will not only gain
theoretical and practical knowledge on Permaculture at the end of the workshop
but will be handed a Permaculture Design Course Certificate. This certificate
will enable the participant to be a certified Permaculture Practitioner. This
course has been specially designed for the many enthusiasts who are unable to
invest two weeks at one go in the East Nepal and Darjeeling and Sikkim
Himalayas to get certified.
Richard Rico
Zook
Permaculture Designer, Consultant and Educator
Richard Rico Zook is a
Permaculture designer, consultant and instructor. He works with private
individuals, farmers, villagers and local organizations to create cultural and
environmentally appropriate life systems in northern New Mexico, India,
Cambodia, and places in between. Mr. Zook's work focuses on assisting
local and indigenous cultures to preserve traditional knowledge and
technologies while adapting to and becoming active members of our rapidly
globalizing world. Rico is a
founding member of the groundbreaking firm Permaculture
Design International, a full
service, high quality design and build firm specializing in ecological design
for farm, ranch, homestead, business, community, development and organization.
Rico was instrumental in the 13th annual
International Permaculture Conference and Convergence that took place for the first
time ever in India on November 25 - December 2, 2017. He was part of a team
that taught the Teachers Training and extended Permaculture Design Course prior
to the conference and convergence.
In India, many of the projects he is involved in are based out of Darjeeling,
West Bengal, which is his home for part of the year. These include a
bio-conservation project utilizing a participatory model, DLR Prerna (a local
NGO) and Mr. Zook are training five forest villages in permaculture and working
with them to internalize and cycle their resource needs, thus minimizing their
impacts on the critical bio-corridor in which the villages are located. A team
headed by Anugyalaya (another local NGO), and including Prerna, the Catholic
Diocese and Mr. Zook, have initiated the design process on a 16 acre
Permaculture demonstration and education site. This process and the
design implementation will be a hands-on experience for several local,
long-term students of Mr. Zook.
In south India Mr. Zook works with several private clients whose projects
include a university, a healing centre, a children's camp, and assisting local
farmers and tribals convert to organic agriculture. Past projects have
included wetlands construction for wildlife, a children's school, and many
private consultations on farms and homesteads. An ongoing focus is the
conversion of a traditional family farm into a model of sustainability and
Permaculture. Located 15km south of Udipi in the state of Karnataka
Punarvasu Farm annually hosts several work weeks for foreigners and Indians
with hands-on learning and cultural immersion.
In Cambodia Mr. Zook is building a network of projects and associations with
NGO’s similar to that in India. He also conducts several trainings for
Khmer farmers, as well as assisting in the development of several demonstration
sites. This past year he trained a group of teachers from the Teacher’s
College in Siem Reap, and is working with them to develop a curriculum that
will become part of the government’s Life Skills Program that is part of the
public school’s curriculum.
In Taos, New Mexico (USA) Mr. Zook is working with the Hanuman Temple in
creating a 5 acre urban Permaculture farm. He is also working with the
San Cristobal Youth Ranch in converting to a holistic ranch model, as well as
interacting with youth campers in educating them with hands-on applied
Permaculture techniques and strategies. At times he provides
consultations to private clients.
Every year Mr. Zook visits new sites, meets new NGO’s, and teaches numerous
courses, from 1 day introductions to 2 week design courses with certification,
for farmers, villagers, NGO workers, and foreigners. The Darjeeling PDC
is the longest running course of this type in India. He is always
open to inquiries and requests. He also accepts qualified apprentices.
In addition to academic
and professional credentials, Mr. Zook has spent more than 25 years living in
nature, including long-term residencies in California’s Yosemite National Park,
the demanding Sangria de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico, and as a
homesteader in Northern California wilderness. For more than a decade as Land
Manager for the Lama Foundation, a spiritual community and retreat center North
of Taos, NM, Mr. Zook designed and transformed the rugged, semiarid
high-altitude site that had been decimated by wildfire into one of beauty and
productivity. Using permaculture practices and a lifetime of observation and
interpretation of the natural world and how to create human harmony with it, he
has built a visible and successful permaculture demonstration and teaching
site. It is a model of design integrating the needs, resources and yields of
community and nature in proactive and abundant ways with respectful and
restorative impacts on the environment.
Mr. Zook is a graduate of
Sonoma State University, from which he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Environmental Studies focused on land restoration, with minors in Biology and
Philosophy.
DLR Prerna is
a Darjeeling based NGO working in the Darjeeling Hills since 1996.
Vision Statement
Darjeeling
Ladenla Road Prerna believes in a world that sees the need to live as one
family where the environment is preserved and protected, where conscious
efforts are made to remove unjust structures while striving to build a just and
humane society.
Mission statement
Our
mission is to build sustainable human communities in the Darjeeling hills and
the adjoining areas by promoting people's participation, gender equality and
living in harmony with the environment.
Goals
1.
Promote, facilitate and strengthen people’s organisations.
2.
Promote sustainable agro-ecology and appropriate technology
3.
Undertake Development and Environment Education with educational institutions
and community based organisations.
4.
Provide support to other organisations.
5.
Undertake research, development and dissemination on developmental issues
pertinent to the Darjeeling Hills with special focus on conservation and
climate change.
Darjeeling Prerna partners
with small farmers, forest villagers, tea plantations workers, CBOs, CSOs,
Educational Institutions and NGOs in furthering the vision of the organisation.
We are a Darjeeling based organisation and believe that our interventions are
grounded in the specificities and long term lived experiences within the
Darjeeling Himalaya. This has direct correlation with Sikkim, so our partnered
interventions there, and implications across the Himalaya that we bring to the
discussion tables. Darjeeling Prerna believes in a participatory, inclusive and
environment friendly approach to development and is the organisational
philosophy of good governance within and in all our interventions.
Current focal areas:
1. Community conservation
Working with communities living next to forests especially protected
areas in Darjeeling and Sikkim focussing on sustainable agro-ecology, and
managing mountain human wildlife conflict and advocating for mountain human
wildlife conflict policies. Agro-biodiversity conservation is an integral part
of the intervention.
2. Climate resilient communities
Working with small farmers in Darjeeling and Sikkim evolving and
promoting climate smart agriculture and agro-forestry. Promotion of diversity
of local food cultures is a critical aspect of our climate resilience
intervention.
3. Community Health
Working with tea plantation workers, small farmers and educational
institutions within the community in Darjeeling.
a.
Water and Sanitation: Knowledge, institution
and infrastructure strengtheniasng to access clean and safe water for all.
b.
School Health:
i. Health education inclusion in curriculum,
screening and referrals – CHHIP
ii.
TeaLeaF: Teacher leading frontline addressing
mental health.
c.
Sustainable livelihoods.
4. Zero Waste
Promoting zero waste principles and practices across the Indian
Himalayan Region through Integrated Mountain Initiative. We facilitate direct
interventions in Darjeeling and Sikkim with local self governance institutions,
community based institutions, government institutions and educational
institutions as member of Zero Waste Himalaya. Zero Waste discussions include
changing food choices and the need to go local and unpackaged.
5. Knowledge
Contextualised sustainability knowledge within the Darjeeling and
Sikkim Himalaya.
a. Permaculture:
DLR Prerna is pioneering
Permaculture Design Courses in the Darjeeling Hills, offering certified basic
course with Mr. Richard Zook as the trainer since 2005. Shorter term courses
for farmers are being facilitated by Rico and the DLR Prerna team in the local
language.
b. Sustainable agro-ecology, small farmers organic
farming, certification processes and market linkages.
6. Platforms, Networks and Partnerships
We believe that our effectiveness, reach and impacts are made manifold
through Platforms, Networks and Partnerships. Our intervention experiences are
transferred to policy landscapes as well as bring solidarity across the Indian
Himalayan Region through the Integrated Mountain Initiative a platform of
elected, bureaucrats and civil societies advocating for mountain sensitive
policies. Our waste interventions are taken forward under the Zero Waste
Himalaya, a pan Himalayan platform of individuals and organisations promoting
principles of zero waste.
Current partners:
Primary School Students,
women’s group, forest villagers, communities living in tea plantations ,
youths, small farmers.
Darjeeling, Kurseong
Sub-division and Sikkim.
Projects and measures
currently in implementation: Comprehensive Health & Hygiene Programme
(CHHIP); Teachers Leading Frontline (TeaLeaF); Climate Change Resilient Sittong
II; Agro Forestry Programme; Community-based management of Human Wildlife
Conflict in Darjeeling and Sikkim and Enhancing Mediascapes in Eastern
Himalaya.
** IMPORTANT NOTE **
Full Fee
deposit is required to secure your spot in this course. Registration without deposit
will only hold a spot in the course until we are filled. If you have not
deposited the fee by this time your spot will be given to someone who does make
the deposit.
International
Candidates please contact Darjeeling Prerna for details.
CANCELLATION POLICY
This
course is offered at the lowest possible pricing to make it accessible to as
many people as possible. As such a late cancellation can have a significant
impact on our budget. For this reason we have the following cancellation
policy.
6 weeks or more
notice: full refund minus 5% processing fee
4 to 6 weeks notice:
refund minus 25%
2 to 4 weeks notice:
refund minus 50%
2 weeks or less
notice: refund minus 75%
