Permaculture Design Course in Dartington & Totnes, South Devon
May 4th to 22nd 2027
The Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is a 72-hour internationally recognised training engaging head, heart and hands to discover the principles and techniques of permaculture. We will explore the patterns of our predominant consumerist culture and compare them to the sustainable and regenerative patterns of the natural world. We will not only apply those patterns and principles to the example of ecosystems and the land but also communities and our own embodied selves.
"This PDC course has opened my mind up to so many possibilities, connected dots in my mind, inspired me to integrate the tools and principles to many aspects of my work and family life. This knowledge is priceless, and the course delivery has been exceptional. Thank you so much."
- Blue, previous course participant
As such, permaculture offers us practical tools for creating change in our own lives and the wider world around us. You can expect this course to be engaging and connecting, fun and creative, thought provoking and heart opening.
The curriculum explores the whole field of sustainability and the regeneration of land and culture. Topics covered include:
Ethics & principles of Permaculture
Embodied observation techniques for connecting to & understanding ecology, climate & landscape
Permaculture design methods and tools
Mapping & design exercises
Soil science, soil food web & natural soil improvement
Organic food production & integrated animal systems
Water management including harvesting, conservation, & management
Land regeneration
Agroforestry & forest gardening
Appropriate technologies & renewable energy systems
Urban permaculture including techniques & design strategies
People & permaculture: personal ecology & the art of collaboration
The course caters for diverse learning styles and includes demonstrations, practical exercises, group work, site visits, engaging lectures and inspiring slide shows. As part of the course participants will work in groups on a design project to put their learning into practice.
The photos below were all taken by Harvey Gorst on a PDC in Wales. They might give you a good flavour of the sort of activities we’ll be doing. Here is also a personal reflection by one of the previous participants.
More About the Certificate
Participants will receive an internationally recognised Permaculture Design Course Certificate awarded by the UK Permaculture Association.
This certificate is the standard within the permaculture movement and is required if you would like to go on and study for the Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design.
Permaculture opens doors to a new vision for our planet. Joining the permaculture movement can lead on to developing a passion into work. It allows you to build new practices into the work you are currently doing or discover new strands of work such as land regeneration, ecological consultancy, community gardening, garden and landscape design, renewable energy and appropriate technology consultant and more.
Your Tutor
Photo: Harvey Gorst
Michel Thill
Michel is currently based in Totnes, South Devon, UK, where he’s been engaged in various land initiatives and developing new courses exploring embodied ecology. He previously lived and worked in London where he set up the community interest company Social Landscapes, exploring predominantly community-led urban regeneration. His work has always been about resilience and aliveness, exploring the question of how we, as human beings, find our rightful place within the ecosystem and the world.
He has previously worked at the Happy Farm, a food growing project in Plum Village, France, the Panya Project, a permaculture education centre in Thailand, completed is Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design with the UK Permaculture Association and studied Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning in Germany. In his master thesis at university he explored the socio-ecological dimension of a large scale ecosystem restoration project in Maharashtra, India.
Michel is a registered certified permaculture teacher and diploma tutor with the UK Permaculture Association and has thought in the UK, Thailand, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg.
Guest Teachers and Site Visits
We are currently organising for guest teachers to join us and site visits to happen to some of the inspiring projects in and around Totnes.
The Venue - Droridge Barn
The main venue is Droridge Barn in Dartington. It is a creative barn with indoor accommodation and a piece of land that includes vegetable gardens, polytunnel, orchards, a stream, a newly installed natural swimming pool and some wild edges. Droridge Barn hosts multiple retreats every year and includes a cosy kitchen and living room space, a large spaceous teaching room, 4 shared bedrooms. There are also 3 cabins in the garden which we will use for beds.
Camping is also a possibility and for locals joining us, you can also sleep in your ownhomes and join us in the mornings.
Food
Food and drinks are provided. We will organise to cook most of the food ourselves in teams of 2. This will most likely mean everyone needs to cook lunch and dinner twice (once per week). This is a great community experience and integrated into the spirit of the participatory course.
We will aim to cater for most dietry needs. Please mention those needs in your registration.
Pricing & Registration
To register your interest in the course, please fill the form below. We will then be in touch within a week to complete registration with you.
The full fee for the 2 week Permaculture Design Course is £975 or £875 for camping and £775 for locals don’t need on site accommodation. We have a pay-it-forward option available of £1200 for those feeling more abundant.
The preferred mode of payment is via bank transfer. We will initially require a deposit of £250 which becomes non-refundable by March 4th. The full fee will need to be paid by April 4th, a month before the start of the course. You can pay in instalments leading up to April 4th.