¨ Food security, community gardening, community-supported agriculture
¨ Re-localisation, community & bioregional development
¨ Transition and Energy Descent Planning
¨ Alternative technologies, building and energy systems
¨ Operating an eco-business, cottage industry, or collective enterprise
¨ Community education and professional development
¨ Domestic & community-based self-reliance, and earth-friendly living
¨ Sustainable aid and development
"The rate at which everything I learned at Djanbung Gardens, and am continuing to learn, is becoming so important and relevant in the world blows me away everyday." - MW Cert IV graduate
• Full time, short course & part time flexible learning
• Short/long-term internships, occupational training
• Professional development and RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning)
Erda Institute Inc at Djanbung Permaculture Gardens is committed to quality training in sustainability practices through practical and class-based training and participation in a living learning community environment.
The integrated learning approach combines experiential and accelerated learning techniques, participatory process, practical projects, research, field trips and opportunities for workplace experience, WWOOFing, and flexible learning.
Students learning needs and aspirations are discussed individually to ensure selection of training level, units and assessment activities meet personal goals, skills base and situation, and to acknowledge individual prior learning and experience.
RPL Assessment
Recognition of Prior Assessment available for experienced permaculturists seeking an APT qualification. Robyn Francis, Permaculture Education, is an approved APT RPL assessor. Information about RPL assessment please download the RPL documents here
Accredited Permaculture Training™ (APT) at Djanbung Gardens
Djanbung Gardens is a purposed designed international permaculture education centre, established in 1994 by Robyn Francis. The 5.5 acre property is packed with diverse applications of permaculture and sustainability in practice to facilitate hands-on learning in wide range of systems and climatic contexts.
In 2005 the first full-time APT courses were introduced and have been running successfully for the past 3 years. The initial 2 years of APT at Djanbung Gardens were conducted by Permaculture Education and in early 2007 Erda Institute Inc was incorporated as a not-for-profit association to take over the APT courses, expand the core management team and faculty, and to develop the bioregional campus in cooperation with Permaculture Education.
Each year has seen further development of course resources and adjustments to the program to better meet the needs and aspirations of students and people wishing to access aspects of the training program.
The Accredited Permaculture Training package is currently undergoing a five-year review process as part of its National Recognition requirements. The 2010 program with Erda Institute will introduce the new revised APT program.
2009 Highlights
The year comenced with full house including a number of 2-3 month international interns joining the APT program. Robyn Francis gave a transition presentation at the Towards a Sustainable Nimbin forum in the town hall, and with the support of Erda Institute Interns facilitated some fun and thought-provoking participatory processes. The Growing Abundance/Plants in Permaculture module proved to be an exceptional hit with students, as werethe Bamboo Workshop, Cheese Making Workshop Bushfoods Course, and Approproiate Technology practical workshop with Geof Moxsham and black-smithing workship with Gilbert. It was a big shock to learn of Geoff's untimely fatal accident just 2 weeks after the Djanbung event. He will be sorely missed as a friend as well as regular guest tutor here.
The annual June Open Day was a resounding success. The organising and promotion of the Open Day has now become an annual tradition for the practical component of the community development stream and other units. The students also conduct the workshops and manage the canteen. In 2010 we will be introducing a spring equinox event in late September for Semester 2 intakes.
While Robyn Francis was absent for a 3-month teaching and speaking tour in the USA, the winter school PDC at Djabung Gardens was in the capable hands of the local faculty under direction of Janelle Schafer and support of guest tutor Lisa Talbot from Zew Zealand. The course and locals were treated to a visit by another New Zealander, Robina McCurdy, who gave a public evening presentation and was guest tutor for the urban day of the PDC.
Djanbung Gardens and Erda Institute once again set up a major display and information stall at the Sustainability Expo in Lismore late October. The major end-of-year task apart from the usual assessments, is finalising the revised program and course materials for 2010 and the indtroduction of the reviewed, updated and re-accredited APT qualification courses.
2007 Highlights
The 2007 APT Cert III and IV courses introduced the inclusion of the PDC (Permaculture Design Course) as the foundation training in the first half of semester 1. While most APT students had not previously completed a PDC, the few who had appreciated the opportunity to refresh and found they learned as much second time round as during their initial PDC. The PDC will continue to be included in the initial foundation training for APT 2008.
The 2007 APT class took on organising the monthly Nimbin Climate Action Group meetings as a Passion Café forum, a fantastic hands-on opportunity to develop real skills in community organization, facilitation, event management and promoting community initiatives, and in the process developed friendships and connections with numerous individuals and community groups in the area. The class has collectively produced a handbook on the Climate Action Group organization, promotion and facilitation process for future reference. International social planner, Wendy Sarkissian, gave special instruction on community facilitation and affinity matrix process. The Food Security forum was a resounding success with over 70 participants which resulted in a new weekly market in the village
Key tutor, Robyn Francis, travelled to Brazil in May as keynote speaker for the 8th International Permaculture Conference, to attend the IPC8 designers convergence and tour permaculture projects in the Amazon, and has enriched the courses at Djanbung with upates on international permaculture initiatives.
Some of the highlights of 2007 practical projects included constructing a batch composting toilet by fitting out recycled wheeli bins, bamboo construction and crafting, and consulting on several real-life design projects for clients in Nimbin and Lismore.
The semester 2 intensives attracted additional participants from interstate and overseas, including long-term permaculturists sharing their wealth of experience and practical insights. Definite highlights were the Working with Cultural Diversity, Sustainable Aid and Sustainable Settlements and Ecovillage Design courses.
Like to plan ahead? Well, now you can with the new 2010 Permaculture Diary and Calendar. A year of permaculture inspiration with a different design principle featured each month.
New pathways to careers in sustainability
ERDA Institute Inc and Permaculture Education in partnership with the National Environment Centre TAFE NSW offers AQTF accredited courses in:
¨ Designing & creating sustainable urban and rural environments
2009 Highlights
