1. The Principle of Diversity - Aims to integrate a variety of beneficial species of food, plants and animals into design. This builds a stable interactive polycultural system which provides for human needs and also for the needs of other speices

n2. The Principle of Edge Effect - In general, there is more energy and more diversity of life on the edge where two types of natural systems overlap. On these borders one can access the resources of both sides. Using the edge effect, and other natural patterns that you observe, creates the best effect.

3. The Principle of Energy Planning - Placing the elements of your design in such a way as to minimize the use of energy(including fossil fuels& human labor). Utilizing the energy and resources that you have, first on-site and then from outside the system, as effectively as possible. Onsite energy resources include natural forces such as gravity, windpower , waterpower. This saves time,energy and money.

4. The Principle of Energy Cycling - In a natural system there is no waste or pollution. The output from one natural process becomes the resource for another. Recycle and reuse all of resources as many times as possible.

5. The Principle of Scale - Creating “human-scale” systems.
Choose simple, appropriate technologies for use in designs. Only create systems that are manageable. Start small and take achievable steps towards an ideal goal.

6. The Principle of Biological Resources- Using natural methods and processes to achieve tasks. Find things in nature(plants, animals, microbes)that are supportive of the system design and minimize outside energy input.

7. The Principle of Multiple Elements -Support each vital need and essential function in more than one way, so that a temporary failure in one element will not stop the functioning of others. Also, recognize that there is almost always more than one way to achieve any task.

8. The Principle of Multiple Functions -Most things can be used in a variety of ways and for a variety of functions. One rule of thumb in Permaculture is to try to design three uses for every element of the system. This can save space, time and complication in any particular project.

9. The Principle of Natural Succession -Work with nature and the processes of natural systems. Anticipate future developments through research and observation when necessary.

10. The Principle of Relative Location -Place every element of your design in relationship to others so that they benefit from each other. For example, store tools near where they will be used.


“This innovative and pioneering full time course is about practical sustainability, ideas and skills to enable us to make our lives and our communities more abundant and harmonious with the environment.”


Permaculture Design
Permaculture is the design of sustainable human settlements, covering all aspects of sustainable living, from natural building and gardening to waste water treatment and renewable energy. Practiced around the world, it gives you a tool kit for implementing a more sustainable future.

Sustainable Woodland Management: How can we design woodlands to be productive as well as pleasant places to be, good for wildlife and hosts to a diverse range of livelihoods and activities? This course will transform your ideas about what woodlands can be.

Natural Building
Can we create beautiful homes from natural materials, designed to be energy efficient and in harmony with the landscape? We can, and this practical course will look at why and how you can build with a range of natural materials, as well as looking at building design.

Organic Production Principles & Food Production
These modules compliment permaculture design, offering a very practical approach to organic gardening. These combined modules will deal with: organic standards, soils and fertility, pests and diseases, the organic market, cultivating and manuring, weed control, health and safety, growing vegetables, herbs and fruit.
Natural Nutrition: is designed to provide the learner with knowledge of the composition of food and an understanding of how food affects an individual’s personal well-being. We’ll look at the nutrition we need for health and vitality and we’ll discuss the various options for obtaining this nutrition, while maintaining permaculture ideals.

Start your own business
is designed to provide the skills required to start a business and the knowledge to understand the issues involved in doing so. It will provide the learner with real life experience of investigating and evaluating a business idea.

Community Leadership
is about learning how to be confident in front of other people, as a team member, team leader or group facilitator. This approach to leadership means that it is a role that everybody can temporarily take on, rather than a person in a position of authority. The emphasis is on participatory group processes and decision making. This module leads to a skills demonstration in group facilitation.

Conflict Resolution
raises awareness of how conflicts unfold, how they can escalate and strategies to de-escalate them. Topics include Active Listening, Basic Agreements, Effective Feedback, ‘I’ Statements, Rank Awareness, Non-Violent Communication and Mediation – the art of helping others managing their conflicts. This module leads to a mediation skills demonstration.
These two modules cover the people’s aspect of sustainability. The skills of non-violent conflict resolution, negotiation, team-working and participatory group facilitation are important in every area of life. Sustainability activists need to be particularly well versed in these skills if they want to be agents of positive change in the current times of transition.