Autumn 2017 Permaculture Design Course

23 September – 5 October (12 days, 80 hours certificate)

Led by Andrew Jordan and Elena Symeonidou

We are excited to announce the second FULL PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE (PDC) that will be hosted in Tinos Eco-lodge with two knowledgeable teachers Andrew Jordan from Ireland and Elena Symeonidou from Greece.

The Permaculture Design Certificate

The Permaculture Design Certificate is an 80 hour theoretical course based on Bill Mollison’s Designers Manual, teaching how we can use today’s tools and technology to create a more sustainable world. Permaculture is not only about growing vegetables and animals, it is a whole sustainable lifestyle. Permaculture ethics are Earth Care, People Care and Return of Surplus and this is taught by showing students to focus on local resources and their local community, and to have well thought out design practices to create abundance sustainably.

Andrew and Elena aim at inspiring students with their own very real examples of transforming their lives with permaculture in a contemporary context. Having worked in a broad spectrum of climate and social conditions, they will share with their students the thrills but also the challenges they faced. Oftentimes permaculture is being presented as a panacea for world problems and the road to resilience and abundance is depicted as straightforward and easy. Andrew and Elena will challenge this notion and try to prepare their students in a realistic manner for their own fascinating journey towards change.

Nikos will share his hands-on experience of building the ecolodge and designing the energy, water, plant and waste systems. We will have the rare opportunity to discuss and elaborate on Nikos’ and Marilia’s choices on different aspects of their project, reflect on the challenges, opportunities and limitations.

Anyone who wants to bring a big change in his life and gain a thorough understanding of how we can use our natural environment sustainably is welcome to participate. There is no need of previous knowledge of the subject.

The Location

At the Tinos Ecolodge you will have the opportunity to see stone built houses with local materials, an off-grid system for energy production for the whole lodge which is powered by solar panels, a collection of rain water system, a reedbed filtration sewage system, indoor compost toilets with the Aquatron separation system, outdoor compost toilets, outdoor kitchen and shower filtration systems and a lot more to be built and learned during the seminar. Location info

PDC Teachers

Elena Symeonidou: With a background of computing engineering and cinematography, Elena got in touch with Permaculture in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008 and has not looked back since. For 10 years she has been broadening and deepening her knowledge in sustainability and regenerative agriculture both in theory and in practice in three continents. She has been certified by the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia taken PDC courses with the one and only Bill Mollison, Geoff Laughton, Rod Everett and Mill Millington, and last but not least Darren Doherty, whom she considers her mentor and whose courses in Greece she facilitated.  She had practical experience in Australia, Asia and Europe in private and community projects. She is currently running a small farm on Paros an island not far from Tinos and is the curator of an urban permaculture project in Eleusis, Cultural Capital of Europe 2021. She has been training and consulting people in regenerative practices with an emphasis in the Mediterranean climate. Check also her website http://permaculture-greece.org/

Andrew Jordan: Andrew was first introduced to permaculture while volunteering on a farm in Australia. Bitten by the bug, he proceeded to track down as many permaculture people and projects as possible, learning the principles and practice through direct experience. His work led him to realise a particular passion for agroforestry, natural building, and botanical medicine. In pursuit of working models and mentors, Andrew spent almost ten years working on permaculture farms and communities around the planet, developing new skills and knowledge, centred around; food production, land management, shelter building, energy systems and the design process. Recently returning to his homeland of Ireland, Andrew has focused on small scale bio-intensive food production, following biodynamic principles. He currently manages the gardens at Sonairte, Ireland’s National Ecology Centre, where he and his team produce a wide range of fruits, vegetables and animal products for the local community. He also gives courses on growing, permaculture and natural building.

Some Pictures from last years PDC

for more impression read this article

Accommodation and food

Tinos Ecolodge is situated in a beautiful island setting with great sea views and sunrise from the sea, traditional terraced landscape, with a nearby stream and lots of old oak trees to camp under. There is also limited space in the 2 lodges which can host up to 8 people. There will be a communal outdoor kitchen were we will eat all together 3 meals per day, and outdoor showers and compost toilets for those who camp. Max number of participants is 20 people.

Booking info

Cost: early bird prices 450euro/tents and 550euro/houses if booked until the 10^th of July, after that 550euro/tents and 650euro/houses.

There will be also a special price for Greek participants which are suffering from the economic crisis at 380euro early bird – 480euro only for tents.

The price includes 3 meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner, 2 field trips, plus the PDC certificate.

For booking a place a deposit of €100 must be paid on application, full balance to be paid upon arrival. Please download the application form below and send it to Marilia or mail her if you need any further information and details about the course.

Download the application-form-pdc-2017

Contact details

Marilia Kalouli, [email protected]

Tel.0030 6974467611