cultivate.ie

Why do the course?

The permaculture design course has become one of the benchmark accredited courses in sustainability, and as such, is an essential part of the toolkit of real and practical ways to face the difficult challenges of our times.  Whether your interest is in building community, organic horticulture or engineering, designing a homestead or how to best navigate the transition to a resilient and more self-reliant society, studying the principles of permaculture and regenerative design will be invaluable.

No prior knowledge is necessary to take the course, although, as permaculture is such a wide ranging discipline, it is recommended that participants do some basic research. 

Recommended reading will be sent out prior to the course.
Wondering what to expect from a 10-day PDC experience?

Course Payment & Fees: 

Basic package /  €600. Early bird./ Conc. €550 

Basic Package Includes:

-9 days of immersive tuition - classroom & hands-on practical learning plus evening sessions 

- Welcome dinner on arrival

- A hot hearty lunch each day of the course. 

- Mid-morning and afternoon refreshments

- Permaculture Course Handbook

- Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Certificate. 

Add €70 to include x 6 dinners (not including the Crawfords Farm Buffet & Pizza Night) dinners 

will cost (€14 x 6) €84 if paid for individually.

Add €40 to include camping for  x 9 nights or €320 for Hostel B&B

Some concessionary places are available for low or no wage participants.  Enquire to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Irish based applicants can also contact your local DSP case officer or Intreo office to find out and apply for training support and available Training Support Grants available in your area. 
To secure a place
- €220 deposit guarantees your place. Deposit refundable until 31st May 2023. 
- Pay in full before 31st May to avail of the Early Bird rate 
- Full payment can be made in installments and all places must be paid in full by the end of July. Please apply to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 We also accept Bitcoin. 

Book and Pay guide PDF link

Accreditation

This course is UK Permaculture Association Accredited

Successful graduates of the course will be fully accredited by the U.K. Permaculture Association with a Permaculture Design Certificate. 

Students must complete the full course (72hrs learning) to qualify for the Permaculture Certificate

This course is designed, hosted & organised by Cultivate in association with Sustainable Projects Ireland and Cloughjordan Community Farm.

Overview and location

This course is full-time from Friday evening (starting with dinner approx 6pm) until the following Sunday afternoon (finished by approx 4pm) 

Course Venues

Cloughjordan EcoVillage

This training offers a unique hands-on opportunity to gain permaculture skills in Cloughjordan Ecovillage a unique and innovative project that is striving to create a fresh blueprint for modern sustainable living  The Ecovillage, is easy to reach,  in the centre of Ireland and approachable by public transport from Cork, Limerick and Dublin approx 1hr 40 by car from Dublin and 2hrs by Train.  The project was created using permaculture design, giving students the opportunity to see the permaculture principles in action within a lively and diverse community. 


Located on beautiful land in County Tipperary, and adjacent to the village of Cloughjordan the EcoVillage features over 50 eco-homes, a renewable energy heating system, wood-fired bakery, a community farm & our course centre - WeCreate Workspace and FabLab. 

WeCreate Enterprise Centre

The venue for indoor sessions is in WeCreate Workspace -  Enterprise Centre and FabLab.  This is the home of Cultivate, the Sustainable Ireland Cooperative and also houses a local food hub, one of Ireland’s only digital fabrication workshops, a coworking space, events space, offices and training rooms.  

Course Content

Course participants will have online lectures with international tutors while also engaging with local tutors through outdoor classes, hands on experience and project-based explorations of permaculture design. Sessions will include: Regenerative Agriculture, Market Gardening, Green and Natural Building, Sustainable Economics & Local Economies, Forest Gardening, Renewable Energy, Permaculture in Work and Livelihoods, Tools & Open Source Technology including Digital Fabrication.

Highlights:

Focused sessions on natural building with cob with Eileen Flannagan, 

Market gardening and how to obtain the best yeild with Bruce Darrell 

Local economics, forest gardening, renewable energy, ponds and aquaculture, the ecovillage and bioregional design along with specialist knowledge from our local tutors on social permaculture, community practices, digitial fabrication, perma-facture and open source design. 

Also including tours of Cloughjordan Community Farm, Crawfords Farm and Riot Rye Bakehouse and Breadschool.

Accommodation

Options range from camping at €5 per night to affordable accommodation at Django's Eco-hostel, plus some local B&B options. 

Some guidance for campers: 

Please note the camping area  is beautiful and basic, situated in the in the Ecovillage 2 minutes skip from our centre. 

Campers will stay in the allotments area, with access to a compost toilet, a covered outside kitchen (gas rings and rainwater sink), a fire area and an off-grid shower (plus access to the shower in WeCreate in the mornings and evenings with the building open 8am to 8pm). 

Camping in Ireland can be challenging at times, even during the summer months and warm socks, a hat, warm clothes & blankets are often needed, as well as an additional waterproof ground cover for most tents.  Flip-flops are quick and easy for hopping in and out of the tent in the wet grass and a nice camping mattress is essential for those camping for the duration. 

If you are properly equipped for 9 nights camping in the Ecovillage you will be rewarded by beautiful and peaceful surroundings in the eco-village, a communal outside cooking space, a hot shower and the late night camaraderie of the camp fire.

Camping: €45/9 nights/person

For camper-van users, you can park at WeCreate parking for €35 for the duration of course.

Book here for Django's EcoHostel or call Pa at +353 87 256 9348.

For other accommodation options please contact Philippa. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tel; 0505 42683

Course Materials 

Aside from camping gear for the campers, participants should bring; sturdy boots, notebook and pens and a laptop/ tablet if you have one - desktop computers are available in our centre though if needed.

We will supply course notes -  and all equipment needed for practical work, feel free to bring your own work gloves for the cob and forest gardening session if needed. 

Food

Included in course fees are delicious vegetarian lunches, morning and afternoon coffee/tea biscuits and  cakes each day plusdinner on arrival. 

During the week dinners are organised in various ways including, cooking in groups, community meals shared with other villagers and so on. There are low cost supper options available during the week, e.g. pizza, barbeque nights, available for booking at the beginning of the course. Our caterers are happy to cater for vegan diets and any allergies and use fresh local ingredients from the Community Farm, Red Gardens and Riot Rye Bakehouse. 

Transport

Situated 143km from Dublin (Cork 156km, Limerick 57km) Cloughjordan is just off the M7 motorway and easily accessible from all parts of Ireland by bus, car, or train. 

- Cloughjordan has its own train station and you can book at www.irishrail.ie 

- J.J. Kavanagh's buses run regularly from Dublin Airport to our local towns of Roscrea & Nenagh.  Just let us know and we can organise lifts for you from there to Cloughjordan. 

Useful websites:

Getthere.ie

Jjkavenagh.ie

irishrail.ie

Testimonials:

"If you're looking for a pragmatic and inspiring insight into an incredible and life-changing way of living, I can't recommend this course enough. If you look at society, the future, the climate crisis and modern living and worry its all fucked, this may well change your mind. If you’re looking at a 9-5 doing something you're indifferent about and a 40 year mortgage just to have somewhere to live and think there must be another way, this might give you an insight to an alternative way to design community."  - 2020 student

 "This course is a unique opportunity for a full immersion in topics fundamental to the transition to a more sustainable society; a great experience supported by passionate and highly skilled people." - 2020 student

“The PDC is an intense, whistle-stop tour through the exciting world of permaculture. Led by knowledgeable people who are really trying to implement these principles in their lives."  - Mags Synnott, 2018 student.