permaculture

INTRODUCTION: Permaculture Workshops 15

You may also have your own ideas for activities, which you can integrate into your lesson

plans as options to replace or complement those suggested in this handbook.

Useful additions to enhance the Permaculture modules may include:

• Local stories and personal anecdotes that illustrate the concepts presented.


• Local versions of the exercises provided.


• Games to help remember and internalize the concepts and principles presented.

Step 4. Planning field practice that best illustrates the subject matter

Meaningful learning takes place in the context of authentic practice. It

involves linking the hands, heart, and mind.

Working with your hands is critical: at least 50% of the

Permaculture workshop should take the form of hands-on

practice in the field. This field practice is as important, if not

more important, than the classroom work.

Field practice bridges the gap between theory and

practice.

This handbook contains numerous examples of hands-on field practice activities

designed to help the participants assimilate the concepts presented in each module.

These hands-on activities will give participants a chance to directly apply the concepts

being taught, and in doing so gain practical skills they can continue to use later on.

Before the start of a Permaculture workshop you should plan a series of small but effective

field activities that will be integrated into a larger project, for example, the design and

construction of a demonstration garden or a wastewater treatment system, which the

class should complete over the course of the training. You will need to gauge weather

conditions and carefully consider the duration and feasibility of each field activity to avoid

getting stuck with activities that cannot be completed in the time available.

A main demonstration site should be located on a piece of land close to the classroom

and include as many integrated components as possible. For example, a home garden

demonstration attached to a small farm, which has access to water and can be easily

secured from roaming animals and poultry. The purpose of this demonstration is to unify

and focus the course around a tangible demonstration of Permaculture in practice, as

different components of the modules are applied during its construction.

A home garden demonstration will offer several opportunities to practice

design methods, apply Permaculture design principles, and use specific

mulching, composting, and pest control techniques.