Learn to Design Regenerative Homes, Gardens and Communities
Blue Mountains, NSW
Imagine being able to transform your home, garden, workplace or community space into a thriving, resilient system that works with nature rather than against it.
Our Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is a comprehensive and inspiring journey into the principles, ethics and practical application of permaculture. Whether you're dreaming of growing more food, reducing your environmental impact, creating a more sustainable lifestyle, or pursuing a career in regenerative design, this internationally recognised course will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to begin.
Delivered over multiple weekends between March and May 2027 in the beautiful Blue Mountains, this course combines hands-on learning, design thinking, site visits and community connection.
What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable and regenerative human habitats.
Originally developed by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, permaculture draws inspiration from natural ecosystems to help us design productive gardens, resilient homes, thriving communities and meaningful livelihoods.
Permaculture is much more than gardening.
It explores how we meet our needs for food, water, shelter, energy, community and wellbeing in ways that regenerate both people and planet.
Our Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is a comprehensive and inspiring journey into the principles, ethics and practical application of permaculture. Whether you're dreaming of growing more food, reducing your environmental impact, creating a more sustainable lifestyle, or pursuing a career in regenerative design, this internationally recognised course will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to begin.
Delivered over multiple weekends between March and May 2027 in the beautiful Blue Mountains, this course combines hands-on learning, design thinking, site visits and community connection.
What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable and regenerative human habitats.
Originally developed by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, permaculture draws inspiration from natural ecosystems to help us design productive gardens, resilient homes, thriving communities and meaningful livelihoods.
Permaculture is much more than gardening.
It explores how we meet our needs for food, water, shelter, energy, community and wellbeing in ways that regenerate both people and planet.
At its heart are these simple ethics:
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Earth Care
Caring for the living systems that sustain us. |
People Care
Supporting the wellbeing of ourselves, our families and our communities. |
Fair Share
Using resources wisely and sharing surplus where possible. |
What You'll Learn
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Our curriculum follows Rowe Morrow's text, Earth Restorer's Guide to Permaculture (Second Edition) and covers the internationally recognised Permaculture Design Course syllabus.
Topics include: Foundations of Permaculture
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Design Project
Throughout the course, participants work on their own permaculture design project, applying the tools and concepts learned during the program, as well as a group project.
Learn Beyond the Classroom
We believe some of the most powerful learning happens when we step into real-world examples.
That's why our course includes visits to local permaculture properties and regenerative projects throughout the Blue Mountains region.
These site visits allow participants to see mature systems in action, ask questions directly from experienced practitioners and gain practical insights that can't be learned from books alone.
You'll also hear from a range of local guest facilitators who bring specialist knowledge and lived experience across diverse areas of permaculture practice.
That's why our course includes visits to local permaculture properties and regenerative projects throughout the Blue Mountains region.
These site visits allow participants to see mature systems in action, ask questions directly from experienced practitioners and gain practical insights that can't be learned from books alone.
You'll also hear from a range of local guest facilitators who bring specialist knowledge and lived experience across diverse areas of permaculture practice.
The Perma-Blitz Experience
One of the highlights of the course is our community Perma-Blitz.
A Perma-Blitz is a collaborative, hands-on project where the entire group comes together to design and build a practical permaculture project in a single day.
Where possible, this is hosted at the property of one of our course participants.
Past projects have included:
A Perma-Blitz is a collaborative, hands-on project where the entire group comes together to design and build a practical permaculture project in a single day.
Where possible, this is hosted at the property of one of our course participants.
Past projects have included:
- No-dig food garden beds and planting
- Herb spirals
- Hugelkultur bed
Who is This Course For?
This course is suitable for:
No prior experience is required.
Whether you're completely new to permaculture or already have experience and want a deeper understanding, you'll find valuable learning and support throughout the course.
- Home gardeners
- Small acreage owners
- Farmers and growers
- Educators
- Community leaders
- Sustainability professionals
- Property owners or investors
- Renters, students or retirees
- Career changers
- Off-grid enthusiasts
- Anyone seeking practical skills for a more resilient future
No prior experience is required.
Whether you're completely new to permaculture or already have experience and want a deeper understanding, you'll find valuable learning and support throughout the course.
A Learning Community for the Long Term
Many participants tell us that one of the most valuable aspects of the course is the community that forms around it.
You'll learn alongside a diverse group of people who share a common desire to create positive change in their homes, communities and the wider world.
These connections often continue long after the course has finished through friendships, collaborations, skill-sharing and local projects.
You'll learn alongside a diverse group of people who share a common desire to create positive change in their homes, communities and the wider world.
These connections often continue long after the course has finished through friendships, collaborations, skill-sharing and local projects.
Supporting First Nations Participation
We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years and hold invaluable knowledge about living sustainably within ecosystems.
We warmly welcome First Nations participants and offer a limited number of scholarships each year to support participation in the course.
Scholarships are available through an application process and will be announced when enrolments open.
We warmly welcome First Nations participants and offer a limited number of scholarships each year to support participation in the course.
Scholarships are available through an application process and will be announced when enrolments open.
Course Details
Location: Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW
Dates: March to May 2027
Includes:
Dates: March to May 2027
- MARCH 6/7, 20/21
- APRIL 3/4, 17/18
- MAY 1/2, 29/30
Includes:
- 12 days of tuition (typically Sat & Sun)
- Site visits
- Guest facilitators
- Hands-on practical activities
- Community Perma-Blitz
- Design project support
- Permaculture Design Certificate upon completion
