Permaculture Design Strategies for Regenerative Futures

Are you tired of ‘the problems’ and want to be more solutions-focused? Do you seek to live compassionately without the unnecessary exploitation of people, animals and the environment? Are you concerned about climate change and future generations?

This condensed 5 day Permaculture Design Course led by experienced teacher and author Graham Burnett is about positive design for your life, your community and your world by empowering the genius inside all of us! Through a regenerative learning approach we will come together to create empowering solutions to the real world challenges we are all facing in these times of change. Adapted from the Permaculture Association (Britain)’s PDC core curriculum, this is a person-centred, fun, lively and inclusive course, exploring and utilising concepts such as Systems Thinking, Holistic Design, Community Empowerment, ‘Whole Person’ Health, Skill Sharing, Critical Thinking, Appreciative Inquiry, Right Livelihoods and much more.

The format is participatory and dynamic using diverse visual, audio and kinesthetic learning methods such as individual and group work, games, problem solving, discussion, observation, field trips, practical activities, lectures and slideshows.

Themes and subjects covered will include; What is Permaculture? • Why do we need Permaculture? • Ethics • Principles • Ecological design • Systems Thinking • Permaculture and the natural world • Climate and micro climate • The living soil • Trees and forests and their energy transactions • Water in the landscape • Nature’s Cycles • The web of life • Mycology and fungi • Patterns in nature • Permaculture and the built environment/human world • Bioregionalism • Futures • Kitchen gardening • Fruit growing • Organic techniques • Natural Pest Management • Composting • Forest gardening • Community building • Transition Towns • Consensus building • Shelter and ecological building • Alternative energy and conservation • Livelihoods • Alternative Economics • The Ecology of the Self • Urban Permaculture • and much more!

About Graham: 

An activist for social and environmental justice since leaving school in the late 1970s, Graham Burnett has regularly co-organised and taught permaculture workshops and courses for over 20 years, working with projects and organisations including Comic Relief, Bioregional, Capital Growth, One Love Foundation, Naturewise, OrganicLea, Birmingham Decoy, Trust Links, Green Adventure, the Vegan Organic Network, Empty Cages Design, Thrive, Metal, Ars Terra (Los Angeles), Ekosense Eco Village (Croatia), NuArc (Puglia), Wild Earth (Kentucky), as well as a number of Transition Town initiatives.

As well as cultivating his own garden and plots, he is actively involved with his local community in Westcliff on Sea, including setting up a number of community gardens and projects and has extensive experience of working with adults with learning disabilities in horticultural settings. Graham has held the Diploma in Permaculture Design since 2001, and was a member of the Council of Management of the Permaculture Association (Britain) from 2006 to 2011. He founded Spiralseed in 2001, and is a regular contributor to publications as diverse as Positive News, The Sunday Times, Permaculture Magazine, Permaculture Activist, New Leaves, The Raven, Growing Green, Funky Raw, The Vegan and The Idler. He has written The Vegan Book of Permaculture and Permaculture A Beginners Guide, and is currently writing ‘The Regenerative Allotment and Garden’ for Permanent Publications.

Price: €400 (including all food and accomodation)

Accomodation: 

There are numerous camping spots under the shade of Linden and Elderflower trees and 6 dormitory beds in a one-room hostel. The site has wi-fi, electricity and outdoor toilets and showers.

Please bring:

Tent, if you are camping. If this is not possible, let us know and we might be able to provide a tent for you

Sleeping bag/bedding, if you are camping

Ecological body products

Swim-wear for the lake

Materials for note-taking

Special medical requirements 

How to get here:

– We will arrange a taxi to collect you (approx €40)

– Alternatively, make your own way: There are good bus connections from Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade to Sremska Mitrovica, where pick-up can be arranged. Trains also from Zagreb and Belgrade (not from the airport). We are just 15 minutes off the Zagreb – Belgrade motorway (E70). There is plenty of room for parking.

How to book a place:

Email us at info@balkan-retreat.com

Fill out our registration form.

Please make a €50 deposit to secure your place.