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

Global Ecovillage Network Oceania & Asia Inc. (GENOA)

The Crystal Waters Learning Experience

Max Lindegger and the GEN have been running courses on eco-village design and permaculture for years, all over the world.

These courses are in the process of being developed at the Global Ecovillage Network Oceania & Asia's (GENOA) home base in Crystal Waters Permaculture Village, in South East Queensland, Australia.

The combination of course content and location means these courses offer something quite unique. The experience of living and breathing ecovillage life whilst learning, cannot be duplicated in a university classroom environment. The beautiful surroundings, friendly residents, abundant wildlife and subtropical climate also add to the experience.

Proposed Course - Permaculture and Ecology
(2 weeks minimum)
This course can be specially designed to suit.

It generally deals with aspects relating to reading the landscape; site planning and assessment; observation; water storage and management, wastewater treatment and use, aquaculture; building healthy soil; cultivation; animal management; forests; habitat creation; healthy housing; energy efficiency; community support systems.

The course includes hands on work and practical design.

Proposed Course - Ecology of Subtropical Environments
(1 week)

Australia is a very old island continent which has been virtually unaffected by such major changes as the ice ages for millions of years. It thus offers a unique opportunity to observe the evolution over time of plants and animals, land forms and ecosystems.

The course includes a theoretical introduction to the subject and visits to a number of sites which may include riverine systems, rainforests, coastal environments and/or island environments. The course extends from the natural environment to the built environment where water/waste-water systems, building types and materials and energy issues will be explored.

Proposed Course - Village Design and Community
(1 week)

Issues discussed include site selection criteria; viability assessment for existing settlements; market demand; legislation, legal aspects; by laws; size - the numbers issue and how it influences harmony; village work; sacred sites and spirituality; privacy; design issues; finance and profit; common land; communication and conflict resolution; infrastructures - energy, water, waste. This course uses the examples of Crystal Waters and other settlements from around the world to illustrate the challenges involved in getting a project from a good idea to reality.

Proposed Semester Courses
(12 weeks)
This programme is designed to meet the needs of individual students.

The core curriculum includes all three courses above.

Students will have regular contact with members of Crystal Waters who have specialised knowledge in their chosen field. Each student is required to work on a project during the semester which will include hands-on experience, observation, research and recording.

Examples include - river restoration, reforestation, organic gardening, climate observations. Each student will be mentored by a community member with suitable skills and have access to his/her home/college/university via internet link. The projects are designed to challenge students' innovation and co-operative abilities.

All students in this programme will work, live and study within Crystal Waters. Some time will be devoted to work on community projects and/or with the host family.

Possible projects are tree planting and maintenance, care of the young or old, building and maintenance, cooking, animal care, food harvesting and preservation. This aspect is seen as an important part of community immersion and will add to the whole experience.

Students will usually live with families of various cultural and religious backgrounds for 2-3 weeks before moving to the next host in a rotational system, thus experiencing different foods, languages and environments.

They will become part of our community and will experience a wonderful landscape, a typically Australian climate and a growing community. They will share with us our highs and lows, our disappointments and our triumphs.

Swimming in sparkling waterfalls and crystal clear streams; bushwalking through rain and sclerophyll forests and nearby National Parks; cycling; volleyball; birdwatching and kangaroo-counting; get a massage, do yoga, aikido, ....there's lots to do around here!

Need more information?

Faculty and volunteers from previous courses can be contacted from here.

Courses can be structured to suit different situations and requirements.

Please don't hesitate to write to us with your questions and requests.

A background video on Crystal Waters is also available from Dr. Charry Benston, Prof. Lawry Gold or Prof. David Seal.

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