Dates: Monday November 28th – Monday December 12th

This two-week program is designed to give participants:

1) An integrated experience living at an intentional community
2) Experience in natural building
3) An introduction to Permaculture design

Participants will take part in all the activities of daily life, from cooking to composting, as well as work on specific projects such as working with natural plasters & paints . Throughout the 2 weeks, we will mix in Permaculture lessons, both in the classroom as well as on the ground. We hope that participants go away from this course understanding not only the basics of natural building and Permaculture design, but also understanding what it takes to be a successful intentional community.   Community Living: At the Panya Project we involve all present in the daily activities that keep a community rolling, from cooking and cleaning to feeding the animals and watering the garden. We value the opportunity to share what skills we have and to learn from all present.  During this two-week workshop, we will enjoy a healthy and balanced diet, intellectual stimulation, plenty of physical work, as well as time each evening to socialize, play music or take time for one’s self. The schedule for each day includes a morning work session, followed by lunch and a mid-day siesta and an afternoon work session. There will be a day of rest in the middle of the workshop to allow everyone to recharge their batteries for the second part. Three vegetarian meals will be provided. The evenings are an opportunity for us to socialize, watch videos & slide shows, have a potluck with neighbouring communities, or squeeze in another lesson or “skill share” activity. Natural Building: This is one of the topics that we will be focusing most of our attention on during this workshop and participants will be involved in plenty of hands on work. Our aim is that participants will leave motivated & with plenty of experience. We will learn about different styles of natural building through discussions, slide shows & site visits. Together will shall learn how to make adobe blocks – a wonderful method of construction using natural materials. We will also do some plaster work on adobe walls, learning how to mix & apply base layers & final coats. Using tried & tested methods, applying both Earthen & Lime plasters. We will also learn about natural paints, decorative & sculpture work. During this workshop there will be plenty of opportunity for creativity & play. Permaculture Design: The Panya Project has been greatly influenced by the design principals of Permaculture. We started our project about five years ago by hosting a Permaculture Design Course, which concluded with an integrated Permaculture design for our property. Since then we have been working towards achieving the aims of that design, including earthen buildings, an edible food forest, a large kitchen garden and a broad acreage of fruit crops. We have also put in an extensive water harvesting swale system to help us return water to the watershed.  During your time here you will be exposed to the principles and underlying ethics of permaculture. This is a great opportunity to get a taste for what it is all about. Organic Gardening: We also have a large kitchen garden which we are working on expanding. Our hope is to continue to produce a higher percentage of our own food each year. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in every aspect of garden management, including planting into seed trays, making a potting mix, transplanting, trellising and harvesting when the time is right.     In addition to all of these things, we have an a resevoir an easy 15 minute walk away for cooling off and swimming in at the end of each day, a beautiful forest around us, and two more wonderful communities next door, including a Thai cooking school and café that serves the best fruit shakes in Thailand!

Come and join us for these two weeks; We would love to have you.  There is a possibility that you could stay on afterward as a volunteer, depending on space and other course scheduling.   Costs: 2 week workshop:………………………….14,000Baht (US$450) We ask all participants to pay a $200 deposit to secure your place.     for more info check out: http://www.panyaproject.org/natural-building-permaculture-and-community-living-workshop-november-28th-2011/