Experiential Education Programme Crystal Waters Permaculture Village, Australia .

Global Ecovillage Network Oceania & Asia Inc. (GENOA)

Crystal Waters offers a unique environment where students are able to supplement what they have learned at University with hands-on experiential learning. Here daily life follows natural rythms, students are able to observe a variety of innovations in wastewater treatment, water harvesting, agriculture, building and habitat restoration.

The course we offer is designed to accommodate the needs and wishes of the university and the students. The course covers all of the criteria necessary for the awarding of a Permaculture Designer Certificate and also includes additional components. The course is extensively practical with many outdoor activities within Crystal Waters to supplement classroom tuition. The Pacific Lutheran University offers four credits on this course.

Major Subject Groups:

• Reading The Landscape: site planning and analysis; land assessment for optimal use; observation of patterns & cycles of nature

• Water In The Landscape: water storage and management with dams and swales; aquaculture and edible water plants; waste water treatment and use

• Building A Healthy Soil: basics of soil structure, texture and pH; strategies for improving your soil using green manures and intercrops; mulching and compost; erosion control; mechanical and mineral rehabilitation of soils

• The Cultivated Ecosystem: establishment of organic vegetable gardens; how-to basics of selection, establishment and maintenance of orchards; ecological pest management; free range poultry systems, chicken house design; integrating animals into backyards and farms, forage systems

• Forests: forest ecology; design of windbreaks; trees for firewood, timber and other yields; wildlife corridors and habitat creation; succession

• Shelter: selecting a house site; energy efficient design and least toxic materials; appropriate technologies.

• Community Support Systems: urban renewal strategies; village and community design; community economics

Additional topics covered:

• Introduction to Permaculture, Zones
• Urban strategies, City Farms
• Energy: Issues, Alternative energy, Appropriate technology, Tour of Solar house
• Introduction to Botany - Plant classification system (Kingdom, division, class, order, family, genus, species)
• Forestry: Issues, Management, Selection of species, Positives and negatives, Tour of old growth forest
• Fire: Designing for fire, Fire retardant species
• Healthy buildings: biological architecture, materials, pollutants
• Community and economic development: Alternative currency trading systems
• Revitalisation of communities, Community Supported Agriculture, Money issues
• Aboriginal history: a chance to discuss issues with an indigenous Australian
• Design skills: Presentation tips, Observation techniques, Reading a compass

Additional Activities

For the PLU course we also organise accommodation in Brisbane, and a 3 day tour of Fraser Island (a nearby World Heritage listed island).

During the stay at Crystal Waters students have the option of visiting excellent beaches and rainforest, enjoy horse riding and have the opportunity to interact with community members on a regular basis. Wildlife, particularly birds, kangaroos and wallabies, is very visible at Crystal Waters due to our ban on dogs and cats.

In addition to the main two week course, we also offer optional courses which are detailed here.

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

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Page last updated: Thursday, 30 March 2000