Discover Permaculture
Designing for a Regenerative Future
A one-day immersive Introduction to Permaculture course. It will give you the inspiration, practical tools and confidence to begin creating positive change in your home, community and life.
Why do we teach this course?
Do you ever feel there must be a better way to live? A way that feels more connected to nature, more rooted in community, and more hopeful about the future? Permaculture offers practical answers to some of the biggest questions of our time.
In a world facing climate change, biodiversity loss and increasing uncertainty, permaculture helps us understand how we can create positive change, starting where we are, with what we have.
Course Content
Discover how the patterns and wisdom of nature can help us design better gardens, homes, communities, businesses, projects, and lives.
The course is taught through interactive activities, discussion and real-world examples. Part of the day will be spent outside, observing nature.
You’ll leave with practical ideas, renewed optimism and a clear sense of how you can take the next steps on your own journey. High-quality self-learning resources will be available after the course.
Because creating a better future doesn’t start with having all the answers. It starts with learning to see the possibilities.
Who is this course for?
This welcoming day is for anyone who wants to:
• Connect with like-minded people
• Feel less overwhelmed and more empowered
• Reduce their environmental impact
• Learn to design for a resilient future
It is open to anyone aged 16 or over. No prior knowledge of permaculture is needed.
This course is an ideal starter. From here, we hope you’ll be inspired to enrol on our full Permaculture design course and/or take some of our practical courses in ecobuilding or food growing.
Recommended introductory material
Living with the Land Short films on permaculture design application
Essence of Permaculture by David Holmgren – Free permaculture introduction download
Recommended Books (optional):
Permaculture design – step by step, Aranya
The Permaculture Way, Graham Bell
Permaculture – a beginner’s guide, Graham Burnett
Introduction to Permaculture or Permaculture One, Bill Mollison
Permaculture In A Nutshell, Patrick Whitefield
More details about these books can be found on the Permaculture Association website.
Course Tutors
Stephan Gehrels
Stephan Gehrels is a key member of our orchards team with many years of teaching experience. He completed his Permaculture Design Course in 2003 and his Diploma in 2009. Passionate about permaculture, Stephan has worked extensively with children through eco-school projects and forest garden plantings. He is known for his engaging, approachable style and is especially popular with younger learners at our juicing events.
Ttai Morra
Ttai completed her Permaculture Design Course in 2023, and is now working on her Permaculture Diploma designs.
Fran Pickering
Fran is a permaculture tutor, carpenter, and has oversight of our Permaculture Plot forest garden at Stanmer.
Polly Charlton
Polly completed her Permaculture Design Course in 2018 and is on her Applied Permaculture Diploma Pathway with five designs signed off and implemented.
Course fees explained
Our fees are worked out on a fair share basis, to make sure we cover costs and make courses as accessible as possible.
Standard Rate
By choosing the Standard Rate, you're covering the basic costs of your place and helping sustain the work we do. Your contribution supports our mission and makes it possible for others on lower incomes to join our courses.
Benefactor Rate
If you’re in a position to pay the Benefactor Rate, thank you. Your generosity helps us subsidize places for other people who can’t afford the full cost. Your contribution enables us to continue our charitable mission: Inspiring, Connecting, Learning – for people and planet to flourish.
Supported Rate
This reduced rate reflects our commitment to making participation possible for more people. Please only book on this rate if you are not able to cover the Standard rate.
This is a 1 day course
2027 Courses
BOOKING LINKS COMING SOON!
Venue
Old Boat Corner Community Centre
Carden Park, Carden Hill
Hollingbury
Brighton
BN1 8GN
Map
Fees
Fees include tuition, refreshments, handouts and information sheets.
Standard Rate
£170
Benefactor Rate
£210
Supported Rate
£95
Concessionary places are limited.
Our commitment to affordability relies on voluntary support.
ACCOMMODATION
If you intend to book accommodation, please check availability before booking a place, as accommodation in Brighton can be hard to find, especially over the summer months.
Get details of local accommodation and Brighton Permaculture Trust supporters who can provide accommodation in their homes.
BOOKING
Booking is essential, as most of our courses/events are fully booked weeks in advance. However, if places are still available, then bookings can be made until midday the day before the course/event. A place is not secured until we have received the requested payment.
If you have completed the booking process but you haven’t received a confirmation email from us please contact us to check your booking has gone through.
If you are booking within two weeks of the event, or the event is nearly full, you will not have the option to pay by BACS. Instead, you will need to pay immediately using a credit/debit card or PayPal.
ACCESSIBILITY
If you have any accessibility needs or concerns, please contact us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Have questions?
For any enquiries or if you need further information, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!