This Permaculture Design Course is now over, and was a fabulous experience for all concerned. At the present time we do not have another PDC scheduled for 2013, but please contact us if you would like to be informed of our 2014 dates when they are announced.
In the meantime, take a look at some of the other courses still to run this summer 🙂
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Full Permaculture Design Course, Intensive, with Helder Valente
Tuesday 4th June – Wednesday 12th June 2013
What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a sustainable design system that provides for human needs while having positive effects on the surrounding environment. It is based on the ethics of earth care, people care and fair share, and provides practical solutions to the global crises we are currently facing.
Who is the Permaculture Design Course for? 
Permaculture is for EVERYONE, regardless of their education, background, or previous experience.
Permaculture is NOT just about trees, or just about gardening! You don’t need loads of land to practice it and it’s a design method that can be applied to all social systems.
Whatever your plans for the future, the Permaculture Design Course will give you the perspective and tools required to find positive solutions towards a sustainable life.
This is an intensive course, where we will concentrate fully on the permaculture immersion for the whole nine days. You’ll receive the full 72 hours teaching plus practical sessions, but we’ll be working hard! It’s ideal for those who are time short or just prefer a more intense experience. For those who are able, there is the opportunity to stay on at Casalinho as a volunteer after the course and try some additional permaculture in action.
Official Permaculture Design Course
When? Tuesday 4th June – Wednesday 12th June 2013
What? The official 72 hours Permaculture Design Course
Where? Casalinho e Escabelado, Aradas, 3320-361 Unhais o Velho, Pampilhosa da Serra
The course follows a 72 hour set syllabus and leads to the internationally recognised Permaculture Design Certificate. Taught in English by Helder Valente. Helder speaks fluent Portuguese, so please don’t worry about translation for troubling words or ideas.
Helder studied permaculture with Bill Mollison and now teaches all over the world. You can read about Helder and see examples of his design work here.
Andrea and Jeroen are your hosts here at Casalinho. Andrea’s Permaculture Design Course inspired her so much that she insisted Jeroen also do one, and the first PDC taught at Casalinho was born! Last year our eldest son also did the PDC here, making him one of the youngest graduates 
We’re now working towards the Diploma in Advanced Permaculture Design with Casalinho as our focus. We’re assisted in our projects by the international volunteers that we host, a fabulous opportunity to bring permaculture to a wider audience and expose ourselves to new ideas and inspirations. The rest of this website should give you the flavour of our project.
The subjects covered during this Permaculture Design Course include:
- The ethics and principles of Permaculture
- Learning strategies
- Pattern in design
- Biodiversity
- Water in the landscape
- Forests and trees
- The importance of Soils
- Climate
- Buildings and structures
- Formal / informal economies
- Community development
The course includes a combination of classroom and practical sessions and culminates in a design workshop.
Participants in Casalinho’s 2011 PDC hard at work surveying the field and creating a mulch bed
Prices and Payment
The total cost of this Permaculture Design Course is €350.
The price includes:
- Permaculture course tuition, practical sessions and certificate.
- Camping space for your own tent.
- Use of compost toilet and washing facilities.
- Vegetarian meals. Additional meals available at a small cost if you wish to extend your stay with us following the course, or are joined by a non-participating guest.
Places are limited. Contact us via email to reserve your place and we will provide you with bank transfer details. Or telephone us on (00351) 235512171 or 934542254 (mobile).
A minimum deposit of 50% is payable at time of booking, with the remaining 50% payable on arrival. When your deposit is received we will acknowledge it by email and confirm your place on the course.
Payments cannot be refunded for cancellations by the student less than 10 days before the course commences.
We reserve the right to cancel the course and refund monies paid in the unlikely event of illness or that insufficient bookings are confirmed. We cannot be held responsible for other costs.
PDC class with Lesley Martin & Bonita the goat. Participants have joined us from Portugal, UK, Australia, Philippines, China, Norway, Holland, Italy, Spain, Israel, Brazil, Hungary, Denmark and USA.
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