This practical course will bring the possibility of significant and positive life changes. Although permaculture is most commonly thought about in connection with gardening & farming, its principles, ethics and design methods can be adapted and used in each individual's own work, interests and home to bring about a more harmonious & sustainable lifestyle. Permaculture offers a perspective on all aspects of building a sustainable future. Permaculture encourages us to use our individual skills, knowledge and interests, whilst drawing on traditional wisdom, science and our innate ability to observe and learn from the world around us.

The Permaculture Institute of Italy is based at the Rainbow Tree smallholding located in Scagnello, a small village of 200 inhabitants, on the Ligurian alps, 163 miles from Mont Blanc (15774 ft) and 40 miles from the Mediterranean. The village operated as a stop for travellers during the Roman age, in fact it's name means “seat” in the local tongue, a place where you can find somewhere to rest after a long journey. There is one shop in the village where you can have a coffee or eat a panino, plus a bar managed by the local community during the evening. Scagnello is famous for its black truffle mushrooms, fruits of all sorts and it is very close to the famous wine making area of “Langhe”. The area is one of the most diverse in wildlife and flora in Italy because Scagnello is located on the edge of the Mediterranean sea and the Alps. Also, the village has some old churches where it is possible to admire renaissance paintings. The Rainbow tree smallholding will be the venue of this course; the smallholding is very young (one year) but it is already possible to see a vineyard at it's second year, a contour vegetable garden, the first two layers of a forest garden (high canopy and bush layers) and a micro-scale keyline system with a dam and feeder channels. The small holding will keep grazing guinea fowls and chickens in the near future. It is possible to observe a wide range of wildlife from deer, badgers, hares, buzzards, eagles, foxes, praying mantis, a great variety of butterflies, damselflies, ladybirds and more.

Website: www.permaculturaitalia.com

We use group work, discussions, videos, slide shows, observation, guided walks & practical activities as learning methods. These are supportive of different learning styles & for people with learning difficulties. We will also be visiting other projects where permaculture theory is being put into action.

Design courses are not just about imparting information to the students, there is plenty of knowledge out there, the important thing is knowing how to use this & feeling confident to do so.

Empowerment is the essence of the course. We will be using practical and theoretical teaching methods to create a fun, lively & inclusive course. The course culminates in the main design activity that helps to consolidate all of the learning & empower students to take permaculture back into their own homes, lives & community. As a group we will benefit from collaborative learning & from having fun together. We don't expect any previous knowledge & recognise that everyone has their own unique skills, knowledge & areas of interest to bring to the course.