P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic

Website: none, school no longer in operation

Location: Golden Bay, New Zealand

P.L.A.N.E.T. stands for Permaculture, Low-impact Agriculture & Natural Ecology Training

 Please note: This institute is no longer operating but still serves as a model for the New U Cooperative to learn from

Kia Ora. Welcome to P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic.

P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic is a training centre for organics, permaculture, community planning/action and facilitation.

P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic provides individuals with knowledge and skills that empower them as facilitators for bioregional self-reliance.

P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic's educational approach is a combination of experiential and academic learning.

P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic is for highly motivated people who want to work towards the provision of healthy food, the creation of a well balanced ecosystem and the flourishing of a holistic, prospering culture.

P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic is intended for committed individuals who want to make a positive contribution to change - from those who who want to design and manage their own organic properties to those who want to help reverse the trend of global degradation caused by unsustainable practices.

Broad learning outcomes for P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic participants:

Organic Growing, Nature, Environment, & Ecology

a.. Solid understanding of natural systems and organic growing principles.
b.. Development of a personal connection with Nature and the Planet.

Permaculture Design

a.. Confident ability to follow the Permaculture design process to create an original Permaculture design and familiarity with design implementation.
b.. Familiarity with intentional sustainable settlement design.

Community Planning/Action

a.. Solid understanding of conventional & alternative economic systems.
Basic understanding of:

b.. how to work with local government re resource management and sustainable development;
c.. public relations, social marketing & community engagement, fundraising;
d.. bioregional inventories-social & resource.

Self-development through acquiring competence in:

a.. communication skills,
b.. group facilitation,
c.. conflict resolution,
d.. wholistic goal setting,
e.. teaching (specifically workshops),
f.. and community project development & management.


P.L.A.N.E.T. Organic participants experience a combination of hands-on activities, in-class teaching, group work, guest speakers, work experience, field trips to organic properties, multimedia presentations, creative expression and facilitating workshops with the wider community.

Courses

To provide our participants with greater flexibility we have arranged our programme into ten courses. Each course has been carefully developed and sequenced so that it naturally builds upon the ones that precede it. Depending on your interests and goals, you can take one, several, or all of the courses.

Introduction to Organic Gardening 28 March - 9 April
with Cathy Mountier & Sol Morgan
Intensive course for people who want to begin growing their own healthy organic food. Sets foundation for all permaculture studies. No experience required.

Earth-Spirit Nature Retreat 16 April - 1 May
with Robina McCurdy, John Massey, Rose Diamond, John Gilardi, Chris Hill & Arohanui Rapata
Immersion into the natural world, to deepen relationship, develop 'ecological literacy', understand bioregion and cultivate stewardship.

Permaculture Design Certificate 15May - 29 May
with Joanna Pearsall & Bryan Innes
In this 72-hour residential PDC course you will learn to harmoniously integrate land and people in such a way that the needs of food, energy and shelter are met without diminishing the natural world.

Urban Property Design* 6 June - 16 July
with Leigh & Donna Astill
Learn advanced small-scale permaculture design skills through guided practice, applying the skills of design & implementation to real situations with real clients.

Rural Property Design* 25 July - 3 Sept
with Bob Crowder, Richard Walker & others
Learn advanced large-scale permaculture design skills through guided practice, applying the skills of design & implementation to real situations with real clients.

Workshop Facilitation 12 Sep - 24 Sep
with Daniel Nepia
Learn organisation, processes, techniques and content for facilitating permaculture workshops. The skills are applicable to any sustainability-focused workshop. The course concludes with participants planning and facilitating an introductory two-day permaculture workshop.

Developing Compassionate Culture* 26 Sep - 8 Oct
with Mirjam Busch & Rudolf Jarosewitsch
A shared, guided exploration of a new paradigm that embraces knowledge, skills & processes for compassionate, cooperative, mutually empowering & sustainable relationships. Explore & practice skills of communication, conflict resolution & group facilitation.

Living Economics 17 Oct - 29 Oct
with Christoph Hensch, Deirdre Kent, Ro Piekarski & Murray Begg.
Economics as if all life mattered. An introduction to money, globalisation, alternative systems, bioregional economics and prosperity.

Community Planning & Action 31 Oct - 12 Nov
with a team from local government and NGOs
Overview of eco-politics introducing the functions and operation of local government, NGOs & interest groups in order to achieve sustainable development.

Sustainable Ecovillage Design 15 Nov - 10 Dec
with Robina McCurdy, Christoph Hensch & Richard Walker and others
A comprehensive introduction to ecovillage visioning, design, planning, and building.

* A Permaculture Design Certificate is a prerequisite for these courses.


 To enhance and extend their learning during breaks between courses, participants may arrange for WWOOFing or other hands-on experience at local properties and projects around Takaka and Golden Bay.