Experiential Education Programme January Permaculture Design Certificate Course Crystal Waters Permaculture Village, Australia .

Global Ecovillage Network Oceania & Asia Inc. (GENOA)

A message from Program Director Max Lindegger

Past PLU students will tell you that our old classroom space was quite hot during sunny summer days and not up to standard. The 2001 Course students had the opportunity to get a glimpse of our new EcoCentre which was then under construction.

The 2002 Course students made good use of the completed facility.The building is roomier, allows for excellent circulation of air and daylight penetration. It features indoor as well as shaded outdoor learning spaces and niches for small group discussions. Many building materials have been recycled, none were chemically treated, paints used were natural. No rainforest timbers were purchased. Local suppliers were important to us, and we tried to purchase everything as locally as possible. The EcoCentre is designed to be solar passive and to be cooler in summer whilst warmer in winter without energy inputs.

See photos of our new EcoCentre under construction here.

We have installed 16 PV (Photovoltaic) panels and we sell surplus energy to the mains electricity grid. We use the grid as our 'battery bank' for the power.

We collect rainwater from our roof in a large tank, for use in the commercial kitchen building below.

The EcoCentre is of world standard quality because we believe that learning should be enjoyable.

As a not for profit incorporated association we earn our working capital from courses and consultancy work. We are also supported by a small grant from the Gaia Trust in Denmark, but with our ever expanding networking mission (we work throughout Oceania and Asia) funds are tight.

If you or any of your friends are able and willing (or if you know of a Trust with suitable aims) to support the ongoing maintenance of our EcoCentre, we would be very grateful to hear from you.

Donations from the USA are tax deductible and should be sent to Albert Bates at the GEN-Americas office, PO Box 90, Summertown TN 38483-0090, and clearly marked GENOA ECOCENTRE.

Many thanks
MAX LINDEGGER

Global Ecovillage Network Oceania/Asia Inc - committed to experiential education

Co-ordinated by the Global Ecovillage Network Oceania & Asia Inc. (GENOA) Crystal Waters, MS 16, Maleny, Queensland, Australia 4552 E-mail GENOA