Introduction to Permaculture

Are you someone who is looking for an agricultural and/or sustainable lifestyle that is in harmony with nature?  Do you have a deep longing to live in nature and to regenerate our Earth?
 
Then Gaia Ashram invites you to join our 5-days Introduction to Permaculture course.
 

who is this course for?

– People with land or would like to have land in the future. Whether small plot or a large plot, and in need of guidelines to design a sustainable and regenerative lifestyle on a plot of land.
– People who are interested in adjusting their lifestyles to be more eco-friendly and are looking for a sustainable living practices.
– People who work with schools, communities, government or private establishments who are interested in finding ways to improve their facilities to become more eco-friendly and sustainable.
– People interested in gardening or dreaming of having a farm house and need guidelines for designing a sustainable farming lifestyle.
– People who want to make a farm cafe on a piece of land and want to find a way to design.
– People who just want to know what permaculture is and want to experience a permaculture lifestyle and learn permaculture practices.
 

What is permaculture?

Permaculture is a design system to create a sustainable and regenerative lifestyle that can be applied both in urban areas and rural farms. The permaculture design system was created by Australians, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren who compiled research studies, collection of experiences of sustainable farming practices in various cultures and self-experiment. The permaculture system is based on three key ethics: Earth Care, People Care, and Fair share. Permaculture also provides design principles that can be applied in different geographic areas.
  
 

why permaculture?

Permaculture guides us to deeply analyze the functions, inputs and outputs of each element that we want to place on the land and its connections with other elements. This design is important for the flow of energy input and output through the farm which minimizes our time and the energy we have to use to manage it.
Permaculture not only emphasizes on the flow and efficiency of the system but also emphasize on the yields. Yields in Permaculture terms can include agricultural yield, biodiversity, soil fertility, social connections, etc.
 

what this introduction to permaculture course covers?

This course will cover the following points ;

Theoretical sessions 

  • History of Permaculture as a design system
  • The Ethics of Permaculture
  • Permaculture Design Principles
  • Zoning
  • Structures and Building

Practical sessions

  • Making Composts and preparing Biofertillizer
  • Gardening
  • Earthen Building
  • Design Practice

course schuedule

DAY 1

9-12:                    Arrival at Gaia Ashram

12:30 :                  Lunch

14.30 – 16.00 :   Opening, Orientation, introduction 

16:30-18:00 :    Gaia’s farm tour

19:00 :                 Dinner

DAY 2 

 5:30 – 6:30 :     Meditation

6:00 – 7:15 :        Yoga

07:30 :                 Breakfast

8:45 – 12:00 :    Introduction to Permaculture

  • History
  • Ethics of Permaculture
  • Principles of Permaculture Design (1)

12:30 : Lunch

14.30 – 17:30 :      Biofertilizers/Compost making (hands on)

17:45 -18:20 :      Dance (body awareness practice)

18:30 – 19:00 :    Quiet time/ Meditation 

19:00 :                   Dinner

DAY 3

5.30 – 6.00 :        Meditation

6:00 – 7:15 :         Yoga

07:30 :                   Breakfast

8:45 : 12:00 :      Zoning

12:30 :                   Lunch

14.30 – 17:30 :    Gardening

17:45-18:00 :     Dance(body awareness practice)

18:00 – 18:30 : Quiet time/ Meditation 

19:00 :                 Dinner

DAY4 

5:30 – 6:00 :      Meditation

6:00 – 7:15  :      Yoga

07:30 :                Breakfast

8:45 – 12.00 :   Structures and buildings

12:30 :                Lunch

14.30 – 17:30 :  Earthen building (Hands-on)

17:45 -18:20 :   Dance

18:30 – 19:00 : Quiet time/ Meditation 

19:00 :                Diner

 

DAY 5

5:30 – 6:00 :   Meditation

6:00 – 7:15 :    Yoga

07:30 :              Breakfast

8:45 – 12:00 : Practice on designing permaculture farm

12:30 :               Lunch

14.30 – 16:00 : Presentation of Permaculture Farm Design / Q&A Session

 

course fee

  • Adults – 5,900 baht
  • Youth under 16 years old – 4,500 baht
  • Children under 10 years old – 4,000 baht
Price includes vegetarian food and dormitory accommodation throughout the course. There are limited private single rooms and double rooms available for an extra cost, please check out below for the prices.
 

canceLlation policy

  • Cancellation 30 or more days prior to the course, Gaia Ashram refunds 100% of the fee.
  • Cancellation 15-30 days prior to the course, Gaia Ashram refunds 50% of the fee.
  • Cancellation after 15 days before the course, Gaia Ashram reserves the right to not refund the full fee.

food & accommodation

Included in the Introduction to Permaculture Design fee is accommodation in our dormitory, 3 vegetarian/vegan meals per day, as well as yoga, dance, and meditation. We also have private accommodation available that can be booked for an additional fee.

Accommodations :

  • Dormitory : hostel style. Mosquito nets, cushions, bedding, and blankets are provided.
  • Private rooms for an extra fee (big room 1,750 THB for course duration depending on availability at the time, Ideal for couples and/or small family). Single Room is  1250 THB for course duration. 
    dormitory
Double Room
single room
Single Room

Food :

Healthy local vegetarian and vegan food will be served by local cooks.

P

common space for class

Indoor sessions will be held in our naturally built sala or our mini sala out of bamboo. Practical sessions will be happening on the land.

classroom

toilets & showers

Showers : 

 There are two indoor shower rooms and three simple outdoor showers. The showers are separate from the dormitory and the rooms.

Toilets :

 As Gaia Ashram likes to cycle nutrient and aims to produce no waste we two dry Compost Toilets and two water based Vermi-compost toilets. The toilets are separate from the dormitory and room.

other facilities

  • GAIA CAFE on our land. Here you can get your daily dose of coffee and tea, and have a look at our GAIA ESSENCE natural products.
  • The ponds to swim, enjoy boating and there is a little Sala where you can relax.
  • Internet: We provide Wi-Fi in our cafe and you usually get good reception with AIS.
  • Library and work space with desks and tables.

where Is Gaia Ashram located?

We are located in the Northeast of Thailand, in between Nong Khai and Udon Thani. Where exactly we are and how you can get to us can be found here.

THE COURSE DATES FOR 2022

June 22st – 26th (Wednesday is arrival day and Sunday afternoon around 16 pm program closes).

August 24nd – 28th (Wednesday is arrival day and Sunday afternoon around 16 pm program closes)

 

 

how to register?

Send us an email to gaiaschoolasia@gmail.com
 
Introduce yourself, your name, why you want to join and how long you want to stay at Gaia Ashram. We will reply and confirm the availability.
 
We will then ask you to fill a registration form and we will sent you the payment information for the fee for the 5-days Introduction to Permaculture Course.

Payment can be done through Paypal, Banktransfer or Wise.
 
After payment your booking is confirmed.
 

contact

For more information:
 
Mob: 080 579 1006, 096 308 5184
WhatsApp : (+66)(0)805791006
Line : 0805791006
Email: gaiaschoolasia@gmail.com

“May all the work we do be of benefit to Mother Earth & All Her Beings!”