Open to all students regardless of prior experience or education. This course is designed to teach you the basic concepts of permaculture and then directly show you how they can be applied to any site. You will leave here knowing, not only how to implement the permaculture techniques but also why and when. A complete package for students wanting to master permaculture or sustainable techniques without having to study a full design course.

This is our planned schedule for the 2 weeks.  We strive to be flexible during the course, and if any aspect of the plan doesn’t match the interest of the participants, we are happy to adapt.  A description of each project can be seen below.

• No dig garden methods; We’ll spend a couple days in one of our many gardens, and you’ll be able to practice with a few methods of weed control and soil preparation that can be applied anywhere, and for any crop.
• Seed Saving:  Did you know that some countries (USA and New Zealand for example) have made it technically illegal to save seeds and grow organic food?!  Although it’s not enforced yet, the measure is there for ‘security’ purposes.  Time to fight back and save our precious seeds from the big Ag corporations who fully understand the concept of, ” Control the food, and you control the people.”  - Thomas Jefferson.
• Irrigation techniques: Drip irrigation for the gardens, the most efficient way to water. 
• Composting in all it’s glory, both short and long term methods.  The essential skill for every gardener.  Plus, might as well make a compost shower while we’re at it
• Soil Fertility – the natural way; ground cover, legumes, Compost teas and EM (effective microorganisms).
• Community living – The plural version of self-sufficiency.  We’ll have workshops in the kitchen on cheese and yoghurt making, kombucha and wine making, fermentation, and if we have time maybe even some soap!  Also as part of the course, participants and the farm community will share in cooking and cleaning roles.  Sounds like work?  Don’t worry, it’s a lot of fun, and one of our awesome Thai cooks Dtun will teach you some delicious Thai dishes.  Oh, and did we mention the Pizza Party?  :)

• Vermiculture – Worms your silent partner in soil repair and maintenance.  We have one already, and you will help us make a new and improved model of our worm-bin grease trap as part of our grey-water system.
• Natural building – Everyone’s favorite!  Clay, sand, straw, bamboo, and energetic people is all you need to build your dream house!  Or in this case, our dream composting toilet stalls!  Fun work, artistic, creative, and inspiring.   You’ll also get to work with bamboo throughout the course on many projects.
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• Greywater systems – Starts with our worm bin, ends with our banana circles and wetlands.  We all gotta clean up after ourselves, fortunately, nature loves to help!
• Food Forest establishment – Trees and their community of companions.  We have a few areas where food forests are being established, and you’ll be able to learn and put into practice the steps to starting a healthy system of food production full of functions.
• Wild food foraging -Learn from the best; the Thai’s.  Some of the members here at Rak Tamachat grew up here their whole life and know everything there is to eat and use. Bet you can’t wait to know the difference from that poisonous vine and that delicious green!  Or how to make a frog or beetle catcher from a pop bottle?  Red ant soup perhaps?  Free-range chicken slaughter anyone?
• Aquaculture: We have 3 big ponds, and they need more life in them!  Help us with rejuvenation of both the vegetation on the edges and in the deep green with introduction of more water plant and fish species, as well as a floating garden!   We’re in the process of making a practice model, so after observing and interacting and accepting feedback we will plan up any modifications and have the supplies ready for the new version during the course.

For some pics and info of our last Permaculture in Practice, which was not planned but just done for fun after our last PDC, visit http://www.raktamachat.org/july-pip-2/

The cost for this course is 400 USD, or 12,500 Baht.  This cost includes transport from Si Khiu on arrival, as well return for departure, 3 meals a day+ snacks, and accommodation in either our dorm or our tents.  And of course, a lot of fun, experience, and inspiring people. See the pages below for payment info.

You also have the option of staying on after the course to join our community at a discounted volunteer rate.

Hope to see you here for some fun in the sun!

http://www.raktamachat.org/introduction-to-permaculture-and-permaculture-in-practice-nov-4-17-2012/