Dates –The course is one weekend per month for seven months.

30 / 31 January is the first weekend
27 / 28 February
27 / 28 March
24 / 25 April
22 / 23 May
19 / 20 June
10 to 11 July is the last weekend

Cost –

Employed and/or household income over £15,000: 

Sliding scale £300 - £650 based on your income and what you can afford. This is up to you. No less than £300 but you can pay more than £650 if you wish. Please bear in mind that this charge covers - admin, tutors, venue hire, handouts and permaculture association membership.

Concessionary rates:  people in receipt of benefits (household income less that £15,000): 

Concessionary places limited based on first come, first serve basis: 

Weekly income less than £70 per week:  Course cost is £120 + £18 Permaculture Association membership + cost of certificate (£3)  

People on other means tested benefits with household income less than £15,000:  Course cost: sliding scale:  £180 - £300 based on income and what you can afford, but concessionary places limited based on first come, first serve basis.   

We will be asking for voluntary donations each week to cover teas, donations to projects we visit, travel costs etc – £1-2 each weekend from everyone is usually enough to cover the extras we like to include.  Transport for trips will be at students’ expense.  

We prefer full payment in advance, however we can accommodate some staggered payment plans:  call Joanna Dornan to arrange. 

Deposit – Deposit required to secure a place on the course. 

Please

Employed person’s deposit: 

£100

Concessions deposit: 

£25

How to pay and secure your place – Please include a cheque for payment of deposit (or full payment if you can) with your contact details i.e. your full name and the name of any others you are paying for, address, e-mail and contact phone no.

And send this to Joanna Dornan at:

19 Montpelier Terrace
Leeds
LS6 2EX. 

Venue – the main venue will be the training room at BTCVs (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) Hollybush Conservation Centre in Kirkstall, North West Leeds. This is a good space, allows walks in nearby countryside, has opportunities for practical sessions and is warm and comfortable. Additionally it means that we can use the resources of the Permaculture Association, which is based there.  There will be visits to other permaculture sites around Leeds and beyond and the details of venue for these specific days will be included in the finalised timetable for this year.

Times – we will open each day at 8.30, ask people to arrive by 9.00 and sessions will start promptly at 9.30. We will generally continue on till 5pm, although it is likely that we will show an optional video from 5.30, depending on how many people are interested.

Syllabus – we are still finalising the timetable for the course, and will of course be going through it on the first day to ensure it meets everyone’s needs. It is based on the internationally agreed syllabus and will cover permaculture ethics, principles, design methods, a group design exercise and lots of information about ecological thinking, sustainable living and appropriate technologies. A timetable from the 2009 Leeds course is attached as an indication of what we will cover.

Tutors – The main tutors will be Andy Goldring, Joanna Dornan and Niels Corfield, who have considerable teaching and project experience. We will also have a good mix of guest tutors, and of course 20 students each with a lifetime of experience, which we will draw on throughout the course. The course will be participatory, fun, challenging and we hope, deeply rewarding and life enhancing.

We have got lots of interest so far and a limit of 20 places, so booking now is recommended to avoid disappointment.  We will send a timetable after our tutors meeting in early January and a list of what you need to bring with you. You are encouraged to read and research permaculture before you come to the course, but this is not essential. A list of recommended reading and other information is available on the Association’s website – www.permaculture.org.uk

If you know of other people that may be interested to receive this email, please forward it to them

Regards
Joanna Dornan

Joanna’s contact details: 0113 3504943 (hm), 07923221268 (mb). Email Joanna here.