Permaforest Trust

Website: http://www.permaforesttrust.org.au/
Location: New South Wales, Australia 

Education and Training for Sustainable Living

General Summary and Comments:

from http://www.permaforesttrust.org.au/about.htm

The Permaforest Trust is a not-for-profit education centre and demonstration farm created to promote sustainability. The Trust is a living example of sustainable practices where people may learn together through participation:  eating together, painting timber, dam building, dojo in morning, etc.

The Trust is located on a 170 acre farm at Barkers Vale, New South Wales in the humid subtropics of Australia adjacent to the World Heritage listed Border Ranges National Park.

Our primrary practice, philosophy and basic approach is to promote Integral Sustainability: health and evolution in body, mind and spirit; self, culture and nature.

A primary goal is to restore the 170 acre Trust property to ecological health and vitality through practices including sustainable forestry, rainforest regeneration, permaculture and organic farming.

We offer a diverse educational program, including Weekend Getaways for guests, Accredited Permaculture Training ™ internship programs, tours, courses and workshops. Our main focus is on practical, on ground skills in ecological restoration, organic farming and permaculture while emphasizing a balanced and integrated approach to sustainability.

By visiting The Permaforest Trust you will be participating in an ongoing demonstration of sustainable practices. These include living in community, restoring the land, leading a conserver lifestyle, and growing organic food.

We are an ' educational community for sustainability'- a center where people may come together temporarily to live, learn and work toward a sustainable future. Our approach is grounded in ecological restoration, farming, forestry and permaculture, providing a solid foundation for demonstrating positive alternatives and sustainability education.
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Accredited Permaculture Training™

The Permaforst Trust is now offering nationally accredited permaculture training at Certificate 4 and Diploma levels at our sustainability education centre and demonstration farm at Barkers Vale on the North Coast of NSW, Australia.

What Makes Our Program Special

The Permaforest Trust is a purpose built sustainability education center on 100 acres next to the World Heritage Listed Border Ranges National Park located in the humid sub tropics of Northern New South Wales, Australia. Here you will live what you are learning on a day to day basis. Growing, preparing and eating healthy organic food along with permaculture, rainforest regeneration, sustainable forestry and organic farming form the basis of our 'educational community for sustainability'.

We are passionate about what we do and we attract motivated, skilled and passionate people. Our value lies in providing a model of sustainable living that is demonstrated every day that you stay with us. We place a great deal of emphasis on living well together, and we have evolved effective community systems that create a harmonious and positive environment.

The Permaforest Trust was established in 1998, growing slowly and organically into a full fledged sustainability education centre and demonstration site. The Trust has excellent infrastructure including, orchards, forestry trials, commercial organic plots, big organic kitchen garden, rainforest regeneration plots, permaculture earth works, alternative off-grid power, alternatively constructed energy efficient buildings, waste treatment and reuse systems, tools and equipment and a well rounded permaculture design including many examples of guilds, strategies, plantings and structures. View our facilities here.

The Pemaforest Trust is an example of Integral Sustainability: health and evolution in body, mind and spirit; self, culture and nature. It provides and excellent example of what a small group of people can achieve using effective alternatives.

What you will learn

Who should do APT internships

Admissions Criteria:

Email them with the following:
1. Your background.
2. Why you would like to join our internship program.
3. How long you would like to stay.
4. The Qualification you would like to attain (if any).
5. The type of internship you would like to do (see costs).

Tuition Costs:

Entrance fee: $160 AUS (i.e. Australian currency)

Work Exchange Student - Certificate 4 APT
Tuition: $3200 AUS (CAN-$2735) and 300 hours work exchange per semester (may be paid in instalments of $160 AUS (CAN-$136 per week and 15 hours work per week).
Must commit to at least 40 weeks.
For other arrangments see http://www.permaforesttrust.org.au/secondary%20pages/apt%20costs.htm